Intake vs Exhaust to improve sound

clee078 · 03-22-2016, 05:13 PM

I'm looking to improve how my 370Z (sport package manual) sounds from INSIDE the cabin (I don't care how it sounds to outsiders). In particular, looking to have a nicer purr/growl at LOW to MID RPMs. Performance gains is less important, but I don't want to lose performance.

Does the intake, or the exhaust, help more at low/mid RPM for SOUND?

I've seen opinions on each in isolation, especially associated with a brand of intake/exhaust. But I'm asking this, pitting intake vs exhaust, and regardless of brand.

barncobob · 03-22-2016, 06:42 PM

depends on how old U are,,im an old fart and the stock Nismo is perfect for me,,had FI 18" resonated for 2 months and the interior drone is terrible, to each his own..

clee078 · 03-22-2016, 07:12 PM

Well, I'm nearing 40, but the intent of the question is to know which component (intake vs exhaust) contributes more to the sound at low and mid RPMs. I'm not trying to be loud or obnoxious, just want a better experience for myself inside the cabin so it doesn't sound like a blender when I drive.

xxAGAVExx · 03-22-2016, 07:47 PM

Exhaust will give u that nice low tone u want, intakes will help with that whining at high RPMs that almost makes u feel scared to redline it, I recommend both.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

wanker · 03-23-2016, 10:05 AM

Unless you're going to go FI, modifying the intakes will do nothing. The exhaust is where it's at.

Mysilverz · 03-23-2016, 10:08 AM

Exhaust. I would disagree though about the fast intentions setup. With stock cats and the 18 resonated exhaust I had no drone. I would get that low deep growl on harder acceleration. The intake, which is what I bought first, could only be heard at wide open throttle at high rpm.

gomer_110 · 03-23-2016, 10:12 AM

Purely from the sound perspective, exhaust will help you down low and intake will help up high.

clee078 · 03-23-2016, 12:54 PM

Thanks all. Looks like exhaust is what I want.

TBatt · 03-24-2016, 04:52 PM

The Fast Intentions TDX has a VERY deep growl to it from idle to about 2.5K rpm. When my wife rides with me, I keep it in the lower gears to stay out of that rpm range. I, however, LOVE IT!

If you have an automatic and do a lot of in town driving then the deep sound could be annoying to some. With a manual tranny, you get to pick the gear at any speed.

03-22-2016, 05:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
clee078 Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 31 Drives: 40th Rep Power: 16	Intake vs Exhaust to improve sound I'm looking to improve how my 370Z (sport package manual) sounds from INSIDE the cabin (I don't care how it sounds to outsiders). In particular, looking to have a nicer purr/growl at LOW to MID RPMs. Performance gains is less important, but I don't want to lose performance. Does the intake, or the exhaust, help more at low/mid RPM for SOUND? I've seen opinions on each in isolation, especially associated with a brand of intake/exhaust. But I'm asking this, pitting intake vs exhaust, and regardless of brand.

03-22-2016, 06:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
barncobob A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: hangtown, CA Posts: 1,164 Drives: 16 370Z auto Rep Power: 589	depends on how old U are,,im an old fart and the stock Nismo is perfect for me,,had FI 18" resonated for 2 months and the interior drone is terrible, to each his own.. falconfixer likes this.

03-22-2016, 07:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
xxAGAVExx A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Tampa Posts: 1,014 Drives: 09 370Z BLK M6 Rep Power: 20368	Exhaust will give u that nice low tone u want, intakes will help with that whining at high RPMs that almost makes u feel scared to redline it, I recommend both. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ l 09/6MT l BP Twin Turbo Kit l E-85 w/Fuel Return l FI 18" Res CF CBE l Powertrix Ultra-Lite Coilovers l Wavetrac LSD \| Lots of SPL and Carbon Fiber \|

03-23-2016, 10:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
wanker Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: San Diego Posts: 443 Drives: 2011 370Z S/T A7 Rep Power: 2901	Unless you're going to go FI, modifying the intakes will do nothing. The exhaust is where it's at. Last edited by wanker; 03-23-2016 at 01:24 PM.

03-23-2016, 10:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mysilverz Base Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Birminham Al Posts: 205 Drives: 2013 370z silver M6 Rep Power: 9	Exhaust. I would disagree though about the fast intentions setup. With stock cats and the 18 resonated exhaust I had no drone. I would get that low deep growl on harder acceleration. The intake, which is what I bought first, could only be heard at wide open throttle at high rpm. cooltoy and TBatt like this. Last edited by Mysilverz; 03-24-2016 at 12:13 AM.

03-22-2016, 07:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
clee078 Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 31 Drives: 40th Rep Power: 16	Well, I'm nearing 40, but the intent of the question is to know which component (intake vs exhaust) contributes more to the sound at low and mid RPMs. I'm not trying to be loud or obnoxious, just want a better experience for myself inside the cabin so it doesn't sound like a blender when I drive.

03-23-2016, 10:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
gomer_110 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Perrysburg, OH Posts: 17,992 Drives: '11 Nismo #528 GM Rep Power: 36940	Purely from the sound perspective, exhaust will help you down low and intake will help up high. __________________ '11 370Z Nismo #528 Fast Intentions \| Stillen \| Motordyne \| Uprev \| CSF \| Zspeed \| Z1 Motorsports \| AST \| Swift \| SPC \| SPL \| Whiteline \| Hotchkis \| Bride \| Schroth \| Robispec \| Cusco \| Nismo \| Volk \| Forgestar \| Hoosier \| RJM '17 Titan Bone Stock

03-23-2016, 12:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
clee078 Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 31 Drives: 40th Rep Power: 16	Thanks all. Looks like exhaust is what I want.

03-24-2016, 04:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
TBatt Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 832 Drives: 2019 GT-R Rep Power: 20168	The Fast Intentions TDX has a VERY deep growl to it from idle to about 2.5K rpm. When my wife rides with me, I keep it in the lower gears to stay out of that rpm range. I, however, LOVE IT! If you have an automatic and do a lot of in town driving then the deep sound could be annoying to some. With a manual tranny, you get to pick the gear at any speed. __________________ RJM pedal, Hotchkis Sway Bars, FI TDX, FOG Light, Z1 Slotted Drilled rotors, Stillen SC, Quaife ATB, Z1 Oil cooler, AEM Gauge Set, Galeforce gauge mount, Avant Garde M590 Hypersilver w/RE-11, TopgunZ A2A kit., ECUtek tuned by Seb: ROLL TIDE!

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