Honestly I hated the LDS and I'll probably skip it for the years to come. Impossible to test any sort of gear due to the "no noise" restriction. Still trying to understand what's the point of a general audience fair that you cannot even try the gear.
If they just made each booth have a specific time to make noise each hour this problem would be solved. This way I really fail to see what's the point of a fair.
I mean I loved seeing guru's drums but I couldn't try them and understood that the way to try them is paying Andy a visit.
I'll explain the noise rules from the other side of the coin.
If you're in the room for three full days, it is incredibly fatiguing to have to deal with the noise, even with hearing protection. The quarter-hour rule is limiting I admit but it's the easiest compromise. Many of the stands are very poor at self-policing (hence the constant presence of noise wombles with air horns) and on more than one occasion, I've seen stand holders going over to other stands to lambast the owners because of the noise. If you're trying to discuss the gear and make deals, it's impossible with what goes on.
Punters are welcome to try the drums on the top of every hour during the noisy period. It said an awful lot that when the LDS management put on a loud song over the PA at the end of the show (when the stand owners were packing up), words were exchanged and the music was turned off quickly after complaints, to a rapturous round of applause.
If that's a problem, then the show isn't for you and that's fine - but if you do come another year, stay around for a few hours and believe me, you'll feel it.