My friend has the quietest machine ever. Many ask her if it is turned on, not one noise comes out of it when she is sewing, you don't even hear the needle go up and down. It's an older Brother sewing/embroidery machine. If one can be made that is that quiet there is no reason why all the others can't be either in my opinion. I have an older Bernina 1260. It has to have frequent oiling. Sewing machine oil is made to evaporate so it doesn't gum up in the machine. If you sew a lot then more air is circulating in the machine making the oil evaporate faster.