I have also heard that it was loud as hell due to the tips going supersonic.
It was indeed loud as hell, although at all speeds, regardless of sub- or supersonic flow. Just imagine eight 5.6 m propellers on four 15000 hp turbine engines.
By the way, there was a civil version as well, called Tu-114, used in 1958-1976 on long-haul international and domestic flights - not only by Aeroflot, but also by Japan Airlines. So, it was loud but not so loud as to preclude civil operation.