TomG2 wrote:"...an obnoxious whine that can be heard for hundreds of feet in all directions" is an exaggeration. However, keep in mind that they start out whisper quiet and then get louder as the load increases. An open contractor style generator STARTS out ridiculously loud, and also gets louder as the load increases. Everything is relative.
Those who brag that their Hondas are almost silent either don't own one or ever run theirs. When used at or near overload, they put out an obnoxious whine that can be heard for hundreds of feet in all directions. Had one. They are very quiet with little or no load.
