You'll get bad examples in all filters - I've had issues with Ehiems - but you'd hope more expensive filters would have better quality control as well as maybe a better build quality.
My APS 2000 is great if you don't expect it to perform like a filter 5 times it's price. It's as quiet as my Ehiem (and they are running next to each other on my 750l tank), it has a larger capacity (though I leave it half empty to improve the flow rate) and it's easy to clean with strong, positive clips (better then my Ehiem 2128 IMO).
Downsides - the plastic used for baskets and inlet/outlets is very cheap and brittle, the inlets aren't air tight and don't fit well, the outlets are too narrow and would restrict the flow too much (so I use the 45 degree bits of pipe from a Juwel filter as they are the right diameter) and it can be a pain to get all the air out after cleaning. Overall I'm happy with the balance between ups and downs and will enjoy using mine. And if it gives up in a couple of years I can get another for £60!