Background <p>One common and undesirable issue in pulse-width modulated inverter-controlled AC motors is the generation of acoustic noise. At motor startup, the Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) strategy often initiates with an asynchronous phase, which is a primary source of this noise. The industrial evaluation of acoustic noise is a multidimensional objective that encompasses regulatory compliance, product quality, user comfort, and maintenance efficiency. It also serves as a key design criterion in the selection of PWM strategies for noise-sensitive applications.</p> Purpose <p>This study evaluates the acoustic noise generated in PWM inverter-fed induction motors using both numerical analysis and experimental validation. The primary objective of this work is to assist researchers in selecting an appropriate PWM method based on its acoustic noise performance.</p> Methods <p>Three PWM techniques, the Conventional Space Vector PWM (CSVPWM) and two schemes designed to minimize the impact of Common Mode Current (CMC), are implemented in the inverter driving the AC motor. Their theoretical principles are established, and their performances are evaluated experimentally. Experimental tests are conducted on an induction motor powered by a two-level voltage source inverter, controlled using a Virtex5 LX50T Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) board.</p> Results <p>The simulation and experimental results reveal that voltage and current harmonics affect not only the motor’s electrical performance but also its noise emission. While the CSVPWM exhibits poor CMC characteristics, it outperforms the two CMC-reducing PWM strategies in terms of acoustic noise.</p> Conclusions <p>Although CMC is widely recognized as a contributor to acoustic noise in inverter-fed motors, our findings suggest that noise generation is influenced not only by the amplitude of CMC, but also by its spectral characteristics and interaction with motor resonances.</p>