Recommendations for vacuum cleaners?

I am in desperate need of a new vacuum cleaner - I have just bought a vax after the sales lady recommended but am taking it back due to its poor performance its so noisy my neighbours hear me hoovering at the end of the street ! far too heavy and hardly picks up a thing !! I have had a dyson before which was fab but really cannot stretch to a new one far too pricy - perhaps i am always going to compare performance to this anyone know anything as good but not as expensive all opinions greatly appreciated