My fourth DCT6416 is once again very loud. The first one a tuner died, the second had the loud revving fan and the third a failed HDMI jack. Now that I'm on the fourth, it has a very loud fan as well and the unit sits on a well ventilated shelf with nothing else around it.

I'm considering cracking it open and seeing what cheap fan is installed and finding a replacement, after all, it's just a standard computer fan and most likely they found the cheapest one to put in the unit. Probably a firmware update would do nothing to correct the problem.

I don't recall my 6416 being loud. The only problem I had other than the slow guide and temporary black shots is the HDMI port that I broke just before I got my Pace Summit and PVR Expander. My PVR Expander and 3400 both have loud fans but not as loud as my parents and my brother 3400. They both had them replaced because they were so loud.

My 6416 III fan is not particularly loud -- I don't notice it unless I listen for it with the TV audio off. It is four years old and has performed flawlessly within the constraints of the flawed firmware and software.

It sits alone on an open glass shelf with vibration absorbing pads under the feet.

My experience is identical to RalphG's. I'm happy here.