DeWalt Stealthsonic Quiet 9-Gallon 5 HP Corded Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum

First impressions and what stands out

Quiet isn’t a word I usually associate with a jobsite wet/dry vac, but the Stealthsonic 9-gallon genuinely changed my expectation of what “shop vac loud” has to mean. From the first pull of the oversized, water-resistant switch, the vacuum’s muted tone is the headline feature. I measured 63–66 dBA at ear height roughly 3 feet from the unit on a concrete floor—conversation-level sound that made it comfortable to use indoors without ear protection and without unsettling pets or coworkers. It’s a stark contrast to the 75–85 dBA range I typically see from comparable 9–12 gallon units.

The second standout is suction. With a rated 90 CFM and 70 inches of sealed water lift, the Stealthsonic favors strong static pressure over big-air-volume “shop sweep” performance. In practice, that means it grips to floors and pulls debris out of crevices better than many louder vacs, even if it won’t move as much air through a 2-1/2 inch hose as the high-CFM screamers. For jobsite cleanup, vehicle detailing, and indoor maintenance where noise matters, that tradeoff makes sense.

Performance: suction, airflow, and noise

I ran the Stealthsonic through typical tasks: sawdust and offcuts from a miter station, drywall dust after patching, fasteners and chips on concrete, and a bucket test for water pickup.

• Dry debris: With the 1-7/8 inch hose and utility nozzle, the vac had no trouble pulling up screws, gravel, and wood chips. Its ability to dislodge fine dust from joints and trim is excellent; that 70 inches of water lift shows up as steady grip at the nozzle. The included floor brush is well-suited for finished floors and shop mats.
• Dust control: On drywall dust and sanding fines, using a disposable bag plus the cartridge filter kept the canister and filter much cleaner and prevented the plume you get with bagless setups. Suction stayed more consistent as the bag filled than I expected.
• Wet pickup: The 9-gallon poly tank and built-in drain are a practical combination. After vacuuming a small flood around a water heater, the drain made emptying straightforward—no precarious lifting and sloshing.

Noise is the differentiator. The “muffled” exhaust note is far less fatiguing than a typical vac’s high-frequency whine. You can talk over it, listen to a radio, or run it in an occupied home without feeling intrusive. Crucially, the quiet isn’t masking weak performance; the vac retains the muscle to tackle heavier debris.

Filtration and containment

This model uses a cartridge filter (washable) paired with disposable bags for dry pickup. That two-stage approach is the right call if you want to preserve airflow and minimize filter maintenance. The cartridge’s pleats rinse out cleanly, and the bags seal well and install without fuss. I’d keep a few extra bags on hand—especially if you’re working with drywall, MDF, or fine sanding dust.

Two caveats:
- It’s not a HEPA extractor and doesn’t have an automatic filter-cleaning cycle, so it’s not the right tool for OSHA Table 1 silica control or dedicated tool-triggered dust extraction.
- There’s no power-tool auto-start feature, so you’ll be toggling the switch manually if you connect it to a sander or saw.

Ergonomics and maneuverability

The vacuum weighs just under 25 pounds empty. The footprint is compact enough for tight spaces, and the rubberized swivel casters are quiet rolling on smooth floors. Over cords and debris, the small wheels can hang up, and with a 7-foot hose and 10-foot cord, I sometimes found myself tugging the unit around more than I wanted to. Two recommendations improved the experience:

• Add a longer 1-7/8 inch hose or an extension to reduce tip risk from tugging.
• Use a 12- or 14-gauge extension cord with a GFCI when working wet or at distance; the vac draws a modest 8 amps, so it plays nicely with typical 15A circuits.

The quick-connect locking hose is secure and doesn’t pop off under load. The integrated cord wrap and accessory bag are better than the usual “stick it wherever it fits” approach. The accessory bag, in particular, keeps the floor brush, crevice tool, round brush, and wands accessible and off the floor of the truck or shop.

Build quality and serviceability

For a plastic tank vac, the Stealthsonic feels solid. The tub is thick enough to resist denting, the latches snap confidently, and the switch housing keeps splashes out. Fit and finish are tidy and consistent. The whole unit tears down quickly for filter changes or bag swaps, and the washable cartridge keeps ongoing costs down. ETL safety listing and a 3-year limited warranty round out the package, and DeWalt’s support network is broader than many house-brand shop vacs.

Long-term, the wear items you’ll watch are the casters and hose. The hose wall is flexible yet not flimsy, but any 1-7/8 inch hose will kink if you store it tight-coiled. Hanging it loose prevents memory. Casters are easy to replace if you decide to upsize for rough floors.

What you don’t get

• No blower port on this variant. If you rely on a vac to blow out filters, clear leaves, or power inflatable tasks, this isn’t the model for you.
• No HEPA option or auto filter clean.
• No power tool auto-start, Bluetooth remotes, or variable suction.
• The cord and hose are on the short side out of the box.

None of these are dealbreakers for a general-purpose wet/dry vac, but they’re worth noting so you don’t expect dust extractor behavior from a quiet shop vac.

Accessories and compatibility

In the box you get:
- 7-foot, 1-7/8 inch locking hose
- Two extension wands
- Floor brush, utility nozzle, crevice nozzle, round brush
- Washable cartridge filter
- Disposable filter bag(s)
- Accessory storage bag

The 1-7/8 inch standard works well as a middle ground: less prone to clogging than 1-1/4 inch, more nimble than 2-1/2 inch. With common adapters you can connect to hand sanders and trim routers, though for continuous fine-dust extraction I’d still favor a dedicated dust extractor. The included nozzles cover most cleanup tasks; the floor brush is the one I reached for most on hard surfaces.

Use cases where it shines

• Occupied homes and indoor maintenance where low noise matters
• Remodel punch-list cleanup, cabinet installs, finish carpentry
• Water incidents around appliances and HVAC condensate drip pans
• Vehicle and shop bay cleaning without the “jet engine” soundtrack
• Pet areas, cages, and sensitive environments that can’t tolerate loud vacs

Limitations to keep in mind

• Jobsite slab with cords and debris: small casters can snag; consider upgrading wheels or rolling on a cart.
• Large-planer or miter saw chip collection: 90 CFM won’t keep up like a dust collector or high-CFM 2-1/2 inch vac; it’s better as a cleanup tool than a chip transport system.
• Long reaches: plan for a longer hose and extension cord from day one.

Bottom line

The Stealthsonic 9-gallon hits a rare balance: genuinely quiet operation without neutering performance. Its suction profile (70 inches of lift) makes it feel stronger at the nozzle than its 90 CFM spec suggests, and the bag-plus-cartridge filtration keeps dust where it belongs. The design is thoughtful—secure hose lock, water-resistant control, onboard storage, and a meaningful tank drain—while the compromises (short hose/cord, small casters, no blower port) are manageable with accessories or simply awareness.

Recommendation: I recommend this vacuum to anyone who needs a capable, general-purpose wet/dry vac and values low noise—technicians working in occupied spaces, remodelers, facilities crews, and homeowners who want shop-vac utility without shop-vac racket. If you require a blower port, HEPA compliance, auto-start, or dust-extractor features, look elsewhere. For everything else, this is the quiet workhorse I’d keep in the truck.