Are budget Thermalright air coolers really as good as Noctua?

Verified testing at tomshardware.com put the Peerless Assassin 120 SE within striking distance of much pricier dual-tower coolers for around a third of the price. The trade-offs reviewers cite are fan acoustics (the bundled fans are good, not class-leading), less polished mounting hardware, and weaker long-term brand support than Noctua or be quiet!.