[Quo]

i just got my 360 replaced... build date was March 2008.

I can't answer in terms of db levels, but to me it's a LOT quieter when the disc isn't spinning now (at startup and in the dash mainly). When the disc spins up, I'd say the difference is less, but it's still a bit quieter. Not scientific at all, but that's what I've observed. Either that, or I've had so much hearing loss from the first version that the 2nd now seems remarkably quiet...