Air conditioning for audiophiles.

I am into 8+ years full time RV and noise from the  AC was not bad on moderate days, only 90+ when I had to run both units but the energy used was huge. I installed a small window unit Evap cooler, into a wall and setup for easy removal for the winter. It uses almost exactly 20% of the energy, low enough to run on solar when I finish that project(very DIY)

So, I run the Evap most of the time as needed seasonally and run the AC unit on the other end of the RV, shared and ducted, when listening warrants paying attention or just get a bit hot to have almost no background noise.  Then again I just want to get a buzz and really crank it up and dance with the wonderful woman that blesses me with her presence.

Rick

Got a bit of a buzz on right now so maybe not posting my best....

This is a great thread, thanks OP, my comments might not pertain to most here but some great posts have been made, good topic:)

Rick

Another vote for the Midea U-shaped window unit. I just installed their 8000 btu unit in our bedroom and it’s very quiet. It also maintains a set temperature, meaning, the fan and condenser don’t run at all once it meets the set temperature, so there’s not a constant hum of the condenser or fan noise. They spool up as needed.

I honestly wish it was louder for my use. I find the white noise helps me sleep better. 

What about a portable, stand-up type that is windowless?  They simply exhaust through a window.  With this type of unit you can use it elsewhere if needed.  Like, say, a bedroom.

I sometimes forget there is a big world out there that has not been introduced to the magic of central air. But I feel your pain. I lived in a post-WW2 3-story walk-up in Alexandria VA for several years and it had no air. I had two window units, one in the bedroom and one in the living room. This helped cut the cooling demand by 1/2 on each unit and made for quieter operation as the unit wasn’t constantly cycling on and off or constantly running. If you’re electrically handy and have a centered overhead light, swap that for a ceiling fan. Moves more air than portable fans and much quieter.

Lastly, if you’re trying to enjoy quieter more nuanced listening or movies, I still revert to headphones. Especially in the evening when I don’t want to the household with explosions and John Wick gun fight sequences. I found quality headphones were great for my apartment as I could crank up the A/C on hot summer evenings, fix myself a cold beverage, put on my tunes or movie and block out the noises of city living - fighting neighbors, a/c hum, police sirens, traffic, the roommates who didn't want to listen to the subtleties of my music selection that evening.