The X-59's structure, according to Lockheed Martin, would considerably reduce the decibel level of a sonic boom reaching the ground. The plane will take to the skies as part of a mission to gather data on silent supersonic flight and evaluate public reaction to supersonic “thumps.”
In my own unscientific research, dozens of decibel readings I took on recent flights show where you sit makes a difference in how much noise you hear. Sitting next to or behind the engines makes for a noisier ride. Being near an exit door can up the decibels, too.