For fan control, I've used both the Zalman fanmate and an
el cheapo fan-controller, and they work fine. I'm actually against the more expensive fan controllers due to the problems that can arise with more complex methods (like PWM). But a lot of other people have had success with those controllers, so YMMV.
As for the sound output, I'm not sure what you might be thinking, but the reality is that for a given voltage, the H1A spins faster than the M1A (and likewise for the L1A). Because it spins faster, it will subsequently be louder. Now if you can get a fan to spin at the same speed, then generally yes, the sound output should be roughly the same.
For example: An M1A at 5v spins at roughly 1000 RPM. An L1A spin at about 1000 RPM at around 7-8v. And at both those voltages, they sound roughly the same.
Note though that fan speed does not always dictate the quality of the sound. There are other fans that can spin that slowly, but are very audible due to motor buzz or bearing clickiness.