The YS-Tech, Sunon and Silverstone fans I've been working with have no motor noise or next to none. But they push 104 to 125 CFMs. If an Enermax or Panaflo pushed 100 CFMs, the "noise-level" would be just as great. That's my compromise between cool and quiet. Your compromise is more between quiet and cool. 🙂
Looking at it closely, you could actually find two 80mm fans to push 150CFM at a noise level that would permanently damage both your ears and your sanity. So that statement is true. You actually can get two 80mm fans that push a little more air than a single 120. But for a difference of 25 CFMs in that range (100 to 150 CFM), the noise level for some of the 120mm alternatives are actually quite acceptable -- depending on "your compromise". 🙂