if I clean my northstar bearing would the increase the sound of it or make it less noticeable?
Decrease if there is something in the bearing, increase if nothing. After you clean put some lube in to keep it quieter.
It would make it louder, but you can make it quieter with a dab of lube from the tip of a needle.
The designs of the Northstar and Protostar actually amplify the noise of the bearing. A lot of plastics do that. Plastic is less dense than metal, and the shape of the rim helps amplify this.
Cleaning the bearing may decrease the overall volume, provided you’ve cleaned the bearing out completely and properly. You may also want to then try a little bit of lube for additional quieting.