After using the Champ to charge us up for a year I can tell you that solar is much more preferable. That said, most of the time we ran ours, we were in the trailer. We can't here it in there with the AC running or if we are cooking breakfast with the radio or TV going. Being out side while it's running is obnoxious.
As far as being able to hear things from long distances goes, I feel if you are close enough to hear my generator, you are toooooo close.
There is the concept of reasonable expectations. I've hear others generators. The farthest away was a open frame at a half mile. IF you had your head turned just the right way and IF the wind stopped you could just pick it up for a minute here and there.
The last time we were out I could hear one nearer to us. It didn't have the same tone as the champ so the next time I was out I walked the dogs that way. Sure enough it wasn't a Champ, it was two Honda 2000's. Yep that noise carries too in the silence of nature.
Other than that we here much more ATV use, target practice, music, yelling and would some one please turn off the thunder and lightening. it scares the dogs.