Hmm, that was something else I noticed as I was trying to plough through my wiry beard with the Wahl earlier and it was catching a baulking pretty often (ouch). I even thought "you couldn't shear a sheep with these, like I could the other things ..."
Again, the ones I remember from the barbers were quite 'loud' as well.
It's funny isn't it with this sort of stuff. I can't *remember* trying many different trimmers when I stated doing my (remaining) hair and beard myself, I think I just bought the Remingtons and have been happily using them ever since .
From memory the rechargeable function didn't last very long (and / or I probably didn't charge them very well) so have been using them directly from he mains in any case (so have had to re-connect the cable where it joins the clippers a couple of times). Once up to speed and before the actually cutters wore out they would cleanly, quietly and efficiently plough through my beard at nearly whatever pace I fancied.
Cheers, T i m