I like the Pfaff Passport.

this is a good question - can you go to a store that has floor models and try them out ? maybe ask a class teacher that is exposed to a lot of students sewing machines ?

I have a Featherweight, and you can't beat it for quietness and good straight sewing. Perfect for taking to class. It is not really a light weight, but lighter than any other machine of that age. It's made of metal, so lasts . . . forever? And it's soooo cute.

My great 11 year old has a Brother JX2517 and it is pretty quiet and sew good I have used it myself. She got it from Walmarts for less than 80.00

I am partial to the Walmart version of the Brothers. I have three I use, one at home, and one at each of my son's house. All very basic and none have ever failed me over the years.

An inexpensive machine may or may not be a "cheap" machine.

I would save my pennies and buy a Janome Gem Platinum. I am so impressed with that little machine..

I've had the Brother cs6000i for three years and love it. I sew on it several days a week as it's close to the computer where I can watch videos while sewing--piecing, really. At the last quilt retreat I sat by a person with the small blue Kenmore and I'd say both machines were about the same noise level. The Brother has a lot more features than either the Kenmore or the Janome Gem.
The thing I don't like about the Kenmore or Gem is they have very few stitch sizes and I couldn't find one I liked for piecing. The small stitch was impossible to pick out and the next size too large.

I would get a brother, they are good little machines and mine is not too heavy.

Brother machines are reputed to be user friendly. I have an es2000 and love it. Not so good for quilting a large quilt but then I am a hand quilter on big quilts and machine quilt charity lap size quilts on machine.