Dishwasher Decibel Rating

[Derek B.]

I am looking for a new dishwasher for our personal residence and have not bought a new one in a long time.  I know they have made great strides in the noise levels over the past 10 years, but I am getting conflicting stories from the big box stores and the local appliance specialist.  

What in your opinion is a reasonable decibel rating on a dw that we can run while we are home but not interrupt the entire house?  I have friends who have a Kenmore Elite that is 48 db and I can barely hear it run.  How much louder would a 51 or 55 be?  This is our personal residence, but will be a rental within a year or two, so I need to strike a balance between reasonable price but still quiet enough that we can use it while we are home but still be in the family room and hear each other talk.

No help from the stores so I am here asking the people who know.....    Thanks for your feedback.