You can use that perk from sneaking called muffled movement. I am assassin-thief but I use Ebony mail + ebony boots and gauntlets with Shrouded hood. Yes it's not very effective but I like the look of it. Anyhow with all that, I can stand in front of the enemy while it's dark, and he can't hear me. Just completely the same as if I had light armor. No problems with sneaking at all. Well my Sneaking is at 98, could have a thing to do with it but I doubt you will have issues if you have muffled boots + muffled movement (requires only 30 sneaking).