You, as a pilot, are in a bad place to observe prop noise, since 98% of the
extra noise comes off the prop, at high RPM, only in the plane of the prop,
or another way of saying it, is, right off the ends of the tips.

But you already knew that, didn't you? g

Actually, no. But whatever the level to others, it is probably proportional to
the level I get, no? So I can still make the judgement call.