...could it be the reason behind a new increase in noise of each shot? I've set a new string up on my bow, same as my old one, except that the serving is quite a bit thicker. Could this be a reason behind the excess noise I'm picking up? The material is different as well, but it should actually be QUIETER than that of my old string...

Nevermind...this one answered it for me...

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=061829

Yeah, tight nocs will really make a bow loud because it plucks the string on every shot.