I don't know of any rowing machine where you can really power up without increasing the volume....

The noise depends on your performance. As long as you have over 2:30 per 500m, it is relatively quiet. Below 2:00 per 500m, however, the device gets progressively louder. Below 1:45 you have to turn the TV up very loud I think.

In my opinion, the Concept2 is quiet for a rowing machine. It's probably very subjective and depends on what you watch and how loud you usually watch TV, whether it's annoying. The noise would be too loud for me in the living room, but in our basement room, I just turn up the sound system more...