Invidia Gemini CBE & ERZ HFC Review (with db comparison)
 

*UPDATED 2/23/2010 w/ Updated Video footage (10 min total )*
OK guys….here it is. I have been collecting footage over the past few months. You will find below all the sound readings that should quantify that adding HFC’s onto an Invidia Gemini CBE does not tip the scales on db levels. I am SOOO glad I made the purchase. The butt dyno felt major gains with the adding the HFC to the already existing CBE and CAI setup. Not to mention…the HFC’s will add a slightly raw sound to your setup that will put a huge smile on your face when you hear it driving away.

I am one of those guys who spend a lot of time watching, and re-watching the exhaust videos and contemplating weather a CBE and HFC setup would be too loud. I would like to stress…I have a fairly low tolerance to loud exhaust noise. I believe the Invidia Gemini and ERZ combo is a perfect setup. It is ONLY loud at WOT. Daily cruising readout show only 70-80 db average.
Also…a special thx to ERZ for their unbeatable price and great customer service.

So here are the results…

Stock DB – I do not have stock WOT or 80mhp cruising read outs (if someone wants to give it to me that would be great)

Invidia Gemini and Stillen CAI (A weight)
0-100mph (WOT) – 85 db
Launch (outside car) – 90db
80mph Cruising – 77-82 db
Day to Day Driving - 70-80 db

Invidia Gemini, Stillen CAI, ERZ HFC’s (A weight)
0-100mph (WOT) – 87 db
Launch (outside car) - 93
80mph Cruising – 78-82 db
Day to Day Driving – 70-80 db

Some other interesting facts….
-Invidia Gemini and ERZ combo has NO HISS. I believe all other documented combos have hiss.
-Invidia Gemini and ERZ combo has only a small amount of RASP (typical with HFC add on) To be honest with you I think the RASP sounds kinda cool…gives it a more aggressive sound IMO
-Between the CBE or the HFC’s – the butt dyno says HFC’s you feel way more gain. I still cannot believe that after I have the CBE and CAI installed that the HFC’s felt so much gain. High RPM shifts pull so much harder.
-Check out spearfish25's thread …. also a good ERZ review

Nice! Looking forward to your review. I will say this. The first time you fire it up and drive around, there is a good deal of rasp. This will settle down dramatically in the next day or so and the sound gets deeper and deeper. I couldn't be happier with my setup now. It has nice off-throttle pops and burble, gets to the perfect loudness level, never drones....it's just sweet. I'm glad you decided to make the purchase. You'll be happy you did too. The price makes it a no-brainer.

That's a nice set up you put together. You'll be happy with the sound.

So do you have the videos of just the CBE? I cant wait for the videos for both as I'm deciding on just the CBE alone or with HFC.

Yea man...I have lots of footage of just the CBE. I was trying to wait until I had the HFC installed so I could have one large video of my progress. Let me know...if your itching to hear it ASAP I will upload them to YouTube for you. Other wise I will have my video done in entirerty in about a week or so (soon as it stops f'ing snowing and I can get out to get the HFC installed).

haha fair enough, if you dont mind yeah upload them. You can pm me the links if you dont want to post them yet.

thanks

No problem...i will get them uploaded tomorrow.

See post update at the beginning of this thread. My video is incomplete but several guys requested I post my review on the Gemini so here it is…. Enjoy

Any chance you can provide a video of a launch and drive by with the invidia cbe? And later with the hfcs?

Thanks for the info and vids!

My video about has a clip already of a launch with the Gemini. And yes, I will include a video of drive bys with CBE only and CBE w/ HFC with my final video in a week or so.

Sorry a launch from behind the car not inside the car. I wanted a cbe that is loud and a little rasp is cool. Nothing is perfect. Thanks again. :excited:

:tup:Oh snap you did in the middle! Sorry I had to play back through. Sweet. Great job and great setup. :tup::tup::tup:

:happydance::ughdance::happydance::ughdance:

Any problems so far with the Gemini ?

Holy mother of god...I just creamed my pants. I installed the ERZ HFC's today and omg. The sound is freekn nuts. While I was outside my car...my buddy did a hard pull away and wow...not sure what the words are to describe how sick it now sounds. And I definitely feel a HP gain. I feel the power especially on high RPM shifts; the pull is much smoother and harder going in the next gear (2rd through 6th).

I will update my videos above tomorrow night and give a more detailed description of the experience

I gave you a rep point for this review. Thanks for all the DB readings. Everyone's PC has different speakers and may make the video sound different then in person but DB readings don’t lie about how much volume the exhaust is producing.

I had ruled this exhaust out because of the burnt tips now I find out they offer the Gemini with Stainless Steel tips as well, that’s great! I have the ERZ HFC with the Stock exhaust and am dying to get a real after market cat back now to complete the system. Love the power from the HFC’s but my Z sounds a bit raspy, the stock exhaust has to go.