Discussing intakes in an intake thread isn't hijacking it...not sure why you would think that.
I agree with you on most of your points but still can't fathom why you think comparing
all intakes (when considering purchasing one) isn't a logical decision. Just because manufacturers
approach design elements differently doesn't preclude them from comparisons.
When you say "The AEM/Injen intakes are not even in the same class as the Comptech/PRM/Snorkel types"
I'm baffled as to your implication. As you know, I've owned all but one of these intakes (skipped on the Injen). The best intake
I've owned (out of eight) to date is the AEM V2. They are ALL in the same class (defined by me as intakes
under $350). If by "class" you're implying method of air delivery, of course. However, people
don't generally approach buying an intake with the decision of "short ram vs. long tube" already
decided.
As for my own personal experience, I test all my intakes with the Tazzo unit. It
is much more relevent to the discussion than mulling over physics sites and discussion
boards.
Remember Blade, the questions posed were " So is an intake that gets ride of the stock air box bad for the engine? What about hte intakes that kind of have there own box (like the mugen for example). Do they harm the "design of the VTEC engine"? Is the Mugen a good idea? Any chance of water getting sucked in? Also does the Mugen intake make the VTEC any louder like the AEM and Injen ones?"
I think they've been answered.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Russ
I'm not anti-Mugen, hell, it's a gorgeous intake but J's Racing one-upped 'em on it
and charge LESS.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JL9000

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Russ

 

Sure, you can remove the baffles, but do it for the sound - you may actually reduce HP/TQ, because a properly tuned resonance chamber (a Helmholtz application) can actually optimize the airflow rather than allow scattered pressure waves.

The modern use of vent tuning in loudspeakers is a classic example - in the 50's, before the math models and principles of Thiele-Small made the science clear, there were Karlson cabinets, folded horns, etc. They almost universally had terrible, one-note resonant bass. These guys were dancing in the dark, and often would just drill holes in a sealed "infinite baffle" cabinet at different locations and with different hole diameters until they got something more or less acceptable.

With the Thiele-Small parameters, you know the box size, placement of the vent, the characteristics of the drivers, etc, and can "dial-in" the results with dstartling precision.

The same thing can happen with an "improved, gutted" S200 airbox - one note honk, but possibly less efficient airflow.

 

When I removed my baffles, I gained 3 horsepower (actually 3.2). That was
determined from about 10 assorted Tazzo runs (no shifting, same gear). Never
showed a loss, always a gain. That was around two years ago and about seven
intakes ago!
It would be nice to get the J's Racing and Mugen airboxes together for a shoot-out.
Same car, same road. No dyno crap. These are intakes. Use a Tazzo and have at it.

 

what did the curve look like?

 

tazzo.com
The Tazzo gives peak hp, average hp and elapsed time between two rpms. It is not
a dyno. Threw away my GTech after buying the Tazzo and using it for the first time.
It even has temperature correction. For intakes, I prefer this to a dyno test. It gives
real world information as opposed to a fan blowing mildly towards your vehicle.
In the end, most buy intakes for peak power so if said intake gets me to Point B .15
(for example) quicker, for me it doesn't matter WHERE in the RPM band I got that power...unless of course I'm specifically looking for mid-range gains or top end gains.

 

I bought the AEM V1 for the sound...and I love it. I think the engine bay looks better w/o the stock airbox as well, but thats just an opinion. The stock hp is enough for me so power gains isn't really an issue, just a bonus if it is there. But you guys are dead on about heat soak/bogging on hot days with the log tube style intake.

 

As RR said about resonance,

similarly along that line of thought, Honda may have added baffles to the intake to reduce the audible intake sound levels or tone (or even something to do with emissions/compliancing?) rather than for increased airflow.