Hi all, I was wondering if anyone had any sound clips of their HKS SSM exhaust paired with either a test pipe or a HFC. There wasn't really much to look at on YouTube. Thank you.

 

Ya gotta hear these noises in person to make any judgement. Neither the microphones available to record sound clips nor the speakers in your PC system (or iPhone!) are capable of accurately recording or playing such clips. Videos with a sound meter in dBA are useful regarding volume. This applies to any exhaust not just this one. I got burned by owner comments of "Barely louder than stock." that required ear plugs and offended my entire neighborhood.

"Test pipes" (nudge wink) are irresponsible off-track anyway but continue to be used on the street by folks politely termed Alpha Hotels. (Let's see what that starts. )

-- Chuck

 

Sound is surprisingly complex to capture and convey. Especially in this age when high fidelity video is so accessible and ubiquitous. Makes it seem audio should be even easier.

There is at least something to be gleaned from exhaust sound clips. Especially the ones that back to back compare to stock, using same recording setup. Distance, equipment, location, etc.

Or that compare several to each other, along w some sort of narrated notes to help interpret what is being presented (these two may not sound that much different on this recording, but it was shocking how much louder X was vs Y, that sorta thing).

Between what you hear, and what is explained, at least you have a starting point. But there is no substitute for hearing them in person. That is indeed the only way to really know.

So regarding helpful narration, I'll add this. The difference between stock cat, hfc, tp, on any given exhaust is highly related to how loud it is on its own.

So stock catback, none of these make much difference. Side by side, youmight be able to note some minor difference. But before and after, add one to your car then listen, ypu won't note much difference if any at all. But the same comparison w an aftermarket catback, or even just uk mod stock, the difference is dramatic. Even just hfc vs stock cat. Significant, noticible difference. For good or bad, depending on what you're looking for.

This partly explains how one system might seem tame to one, and extreme to another. One had stock cat, other used tp. Huge difference even though same aftermarket catback.

Between that and personal preference and perception, and you can't take anyones word.

 

The testing procedure is explained nicely at time stamp 4:12 of Of note the app on my iPhone reports sound levels within 1 dBA of the OSHA calibrated sound meter I use when testing industrial areas.

-- Chuck

 

TP stinks bad