P.S. I find that there are three levels of noise: library-like silence, individual conversations and coffee-shop blur of conversation. In my experience with cu

P.S. I find that there are three levels of noise: library-like silence, individual conversations and coffee-shop blur of conversation. In my experience with cubicles, the middle-level of noise was most common. Since there was often only one conversation happening in the office, it could be heard by many people and it was hard for me to tune out. (Sometimes people would be in their own offices but on the same conference call, so the only noise would be that one conversation in stereo!) However in the open-office, we often end up with enough noise to be at a coffee-shop level of noise which is easier to tune out. (My preference being Library > Coffee Shop > 1 conversation)