Should not be as the chip set in each is the same. Whether the spinner on the top loader is better is an open question, some claim it has lower jitter. I have the front loader and I did listen to the top loader a long time ago, finding no difference then. If you compare the factory spec's there is real no difference, but since all these machines are in the used market it is hard to tell whether the current condition meets the original spec. As an aside, the top loader's have had a worst service record.
