How do you choose a Direct Drive garage door opener?

As of 2014, there is only one general type of direct drive garage door opener currently available on the market, which is manufactured by Sommer of Germany. These garage door openers are identical but are featured under a variety of brand names like Direct Drive and Sommer, among others.

Direct drives, in contrast with conventional chain, screw or belt-driven openers, have fixed chains that the motors move along. Consumers claim in reviews that direct drive openers are among the quietest currently available, although they generally move more slowly than their conventional counterparts. Sommer engineers and manufactures all of direct drive garage door openers in Germany and exports worldwide.