Searching for a motor that will move your roller shutters without rattling the whole house? Below you’ll find nine of the quietest tubular drives currently sold in Australia, each tested at 37–43 dB and ranging from 6 Nm nursery-friendly units to 60 Nm workhorses for shopfronts. Whether you prefer a 240 V hard-wired Somfy, a low-voltage solar-ready motor or a budget-smart motor with Wi-Fi, this shortlist lets you compare noise figures, torque, voltage and remote-control options at a glance.

Modern motors use helical gears, rubber isolators and soft-start electronics to turn that once-familiar grinding roar into little more than a hum. Over the next few minutes we’ll walk through every model’s noise-reduction tech, stand-out features and installation caveats, plus honest Australian price ranges, along with clear advice on torque selection, axle adaptors and SA wiring requirements, so there are no surprises at the checkout. By the end you’ll know exactly which motor matches your shutter width, power supply and smart-home ambitions—

1. Somfy Sonesse 40 RTS “Whisper Drive”

Somfy’s Sonesse 40 RTS is the reference point among quiet roller shutter motor options. Tested at around 40 dB (about a library hush), it bundles radio control, soft-drive electronics and a five-year warranty into a slim 40 mm body. The unit slips straight into common 40 mm and 50 mm Aussie shutter tubes, meaning most retro-fits can be wrapped up by an installer in under an hour.

Why it runs so quietly

• Helical-cut gears and rubber crown damp vibration
• Soft-start/stop firmware avoids shock noise
• Moderate 17 rpm speed tunes out whine
• Sealed bearings eliminate metal-on-metal chatter

Stand-out features for Aussie homes

• 6–20 Nm torque suits most aluminium windows
• Built-in RTS works with TaHoma and Google voice
• Local distributors honour Somfy’s five-year parts warranty

Ideal use cases & sizing tips

• Best for bedrooms, nurseries and media rooms
• Order correct 40 mm/50 mm crown; keep 5 mm clearance

Installation & wiring considerations

• Needs 240 V hard-wire by licensed electrician
• Allow 60 mm pelmet space for the antenna tail

Potential drawbacks

• Premium cost of about A$350–$780 each
• RTS is proprietary, so third-party remotes won’t pair – in stock at roller shutter repairs adelaide 0414611662

2. SIMU T5 DMI 240 V “Dynamic Torque Control”

SIMU’s French-made T5 DMI is the go-to all-rounder when you need more muscle than a bedroom-grade motor but still want café-friendly quietness. Independent tests put it at roughly 42 dB even in the beefy 50 Nm variant, thanks to on-board load sensing that spins only as hard as the shutter demands. Four torque sizes (15, 20, 35, 50 Nm) cover everything from standard aluminium windows to cyclone-rated slats on coastal shopfronts.

Quiet-tech highlights

• Servo algorithm trims power the moment resistance drops, reducing gear howl
• Nylon-polymer ring gear absorbs micro-vibrations before they reach the tube

Feature set & benefits

• Auto limit-setting—cycle once and the stops are memorised
• Optional SIMU Hz plug-in receiver adds wireless control without extra pelmet depth
• IP44 housing shrugs off Adelaide dust and sea spray

Best fit scenarios

Oversized living-room panes, small retail grilles or any shutter that regularly cops strong SA winds.

Install notes & common pitfalls

Calibrate torque after the first full run or the shutter can “ratchet”. 50 mm axle mandatory on the 50 Nm model.

Price & availability

A$350 –$780 depending on torque; normally in stock via roller shutter repairs adelaide – 0414611662

3. CW Products CW5 240 V Wired Motor

Manufactured in Victoria and warehoused in Adelaide, the CW5 slots into most 50 mm tubes and delivers a home-grown take on quiet roller shutter motor options. It clocks in at roughly 44 dB under full load—slightly louder than the European elites yet still softer than everyday conversation—and its 72 W consumption keeps power bills civil.

Sound-proofing elements

• Poly-glass fibre gear train absorbs high-frequency “zing”.
• Rubber-sleeved tail bearing decouples motor body from shutter tube to stop drumming.

Notable features

• Torque range 10–40 Nm with a slide-switch to select 12 rpm or 17 rpm travel speed.
• Clip-on RF remote module (sold separately) avoids pelmet extensions.
• Supported by CW’s Adelaide warehouse for overnight parts replacement.

Suitable projects

Ideal for new builds or volume fit-outs where builders want an all-Australian supply chain and easy warranty handling.

Installation guidance

• Factory mechanical limits are pre-set—fine-tune with the supplied 5 mm hex key.
• Route the 240 V flex through the pelmet side hole; top entry voids warranty.

Trade-offs

• A touch louder than Somfy at max torque (~44 dB).
• Adding the remote module tacks on about A$140 per motor.

4. Alpha 45Q Wireless Quiet Motor

Alpha’s 45Q sits in the sweet spot for budget-minded renovators who still want near-silent travel. Independent tests log about 41 dB and, because the 433 MHz receiver is already on board, you don’t need an add-on module or extra pelmet depth. At roughly A$180–A$220 supplied, it’s one of the more wallet-friendly quiet roller shutter motor options on the Australian market.

Quiet design details

• Plastic-composite planetary gears trim friction and resonance
• EPDM-cushioned end caps stop tube “drumming” against brick lintels

Feature highlights

• Works with most generic 433 MHz remotes—no brand lock-in
• Back-drive torque < 1 Nm keeps panels locked during wind gusts
• Available in 10, 15 and 25 Nm variants for windows up to 4 m²

Best-fit homes

Rental properties and cost-conscious retro-fits where wireless control is a must but ultra-premium pricing isn’t.

Installation hints

• Match the correct Alpha adaptor set to 50 mm or 60 mm axle sizes
• Programme limits via the simple UP / STOP / DOWN remote sequence before closing the pelmet

Considerations

• Limited smart-home integration compared with Somfy RTS or Wi-Fi bridges
• Warranty period varies by reseller—confirm whether you’re getting two or three years – in stock at roller shutter repairs adelaide 0414611662