I bought this player. He seemed quite loud. I heard both quite distinct fan noise, and drive noise. In quiet scenes absolutely intolerable. I sit relatively close to the player, distance less than 2m. I then bought the BP420, both devices set side by side, and put in sequence the same (!) Blu-ray Disc in the one and then the other player. The difference was absolutely no doubt. The BP420 is much quieter than the BP440. The BP440 is indeed the newer machine, but the only changes appear to be cheaper components and fewer connections. The BP440 is significantly lighter and smaller than the BP420. I have, however, chosen large, heavy equipment for the 'old'.