This sounds crazy, but I'd like to know how loud the stock exhaust is in quantitative terms. I have heard people comment that the stock exhaust is quiet compared to aftermarket. At times the stock exhaust actually seems quite loud to me. In fact, I am surprised that it passed the federal sound requirements. I suppose in high gears/low RPM it is fairly quiet but when cruising at 4500+ or full throttle the stock exhaust seems quite loud. This is my first convertible, so maybe I'm just not used to the lack of sound proofing. Don't get me wrong, I love the sound, but I am curious as to the actual decibel sound rating inside and outside the car. I have not yet had the pleasure to hear an S2000 from the outside during VTEC. Anybody know the actual decibel sound ratings for the car?

 

the oem exhaust is too quiet for me, but does have a nice exhaust note when in 5th or 6th gear, punching it from it from 3k+.

 

The stock exhaust is too quiet for me also. Although I have never kept the stock exhaust on anything I have ever had. You are prob. right about the convertible top thing, that seems to make it a little louder. If you stayed around me, I would take you for a ride in my S with my J's single and no converter, and afterwards, you would think the stock exhaust is silent.

 

It's quiet but I don't know the dB.

 

I wouldn't really say it is that quiet when you get it up to 8/9000 RPMs (especially when you compare it to the noise other cars make at their redline).

BTW I'm not sure of the dB a stock S2000 makes either sorry!

 

I would love to get myself a nice deep tone aftermarket one. but cops in VA are a-holes. any alteration to the exhaust is an auto ticket.. i got 4 in just a few months in my last car. so unless i get a Spoon or Mugen one (i hear they arent that loud, but have nice deep tone) i'm gonna stick with the stock.

i'm not sure of the dB either though

 

i got the invidia setup with no cat and it is loud as hell....the stock is like a wisper in comparison

 

You may want to stay away from aftermarket exhausts if you think stock is loud.

 

I can perform an audio spectrum analysis using FFT - where do you want it measured? From the driver's seat. 1 meter behind car? What RPM? Do you want me to scan all the frequencies and look for the loudest at X frequency?

 

Wow, I'd like to know the db of the stock exhaust about 1 meter behind the car at idle and max db up to redline (at any frequency). I know there are federal tests on all new cars, and that those test results are recorded, but I can't find them anywhere. There is a federal limit on db level, and I'd like to know how close to that limit is the stock exhaust system. I do not know what testing procedures are used on the fed test - idle, shift at 2000, etc.