New split AC System impact on sound.

OP,

That is great. Congratulations on such a great long run. We sold our last house with an ancient heat pump.

You are in for a treat. The new heat pumps are unbelievably quiet and efficient in comparison to older technology. Out exterior unit is right off our porch... as in I could drop something on it from my porch. Generally I can’t hear it in lower cooling modes... we can talk easily at full on. Now the neighbor’s unit is about thirty years old and on the other side of the wood fence thirty five feet away and that is MUCH noisier.

I’ve had heat pumps for at least 35 years. The heat pumps have been very reliable. The condenser on my last one not so much (the external radiator core).. only lasted 11 years. I simply have a maintenance contract with the company that installed it. They charge ~$20 / month and come out once a year (pre summer) and spend several hours and check everything.

I like outside Portland Oregon… so high humidity in winter… but never a problem. The variability of the air handler and pump… is great… much overall less noise.

I research the highest reliable unit… buy it, then don’t worry about it. I’m retired… I try not to worry about anything.

can you have the outside unit moved a little ways away from being right outside your listening room?

Also, I got the thermostat that I can control from my Iphone. So I can shut it off during a listening session. Also, when on a trip and having forgotten to put it in the “away” state… I can do that from anywhere… and warm up the house before returning. 

You are not getting a heat pump? New heat pumps are an order of magnitude quieter than they used to be. Also, you can put sound absorption panels either outside or inside. I use a variable speed air handler with variable heat pump... so much of the time it is on really low. All this makes sense. Look at specs when you choose your system. There is a lot of difference in how much sound they make.