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.

Sweet job!! :icon18:

ok...my video that includes the HFC's is done but I am running out of time to post it tonight. Tomorrow it will be updated :)

Tick tock, tick tock....just kidding dude. How is the video coming? Still loving the cats?

haha... stupid YouTube kicked back an error last night when i went to upload it. I guess videos have to be under 10 minutes. I have to re-edit the damn thing and try again tonight. Promise :)

oh and yea...i freekn love the HFC's

No problems with the Gemini...still as shinny as the day I bought it :)

WOW.. very nice setup man. Big congrats. I can't believe how sweet the exhaust sounded after the HFC. The setup STILLEN G3 and Invidia was great but it was missing something. The second you installed the HFC, the sound just got soo much sweeter. It's simply perfect! As you've noticed, the sound level didn't go up as much after the HFC install which is great. I really like the drive by :drool:. I think the exhaust tip matches your paint as well. and last but not least, your informational video. If anyone looking into this setup (or simply looking for more options in 370z exhaust/intake system), they will find this video VERY helpful. You've covered pretty much EVERY angles in your video.

Thanks for taking your time and making the video/thread. rep point added as promised ;)

This setup gets Two :tup: :tup:

bluestyle55 you have the exact induction and exhaust setup I want on my G37 sedan. Thanks for the video!

Thanks for the props AK! :tup:

I love this setup so much and I hope my video will provide the needed feedback and encouragement for others to buy this setup as well.

I know the Invidia Gemini crowd is small on here and ERZ is new on the market for 370Z HFC’s but I could not be happier with both in terms of the quality, sound and performance improvements!!!

And if anyone overlooked my one point….there is NO hiss with this setup.

OH...and I pulled the trigger on the Cobb AP tonight. Car will be dyno tuned in a 2 weeks.

I will post:
Baseline Dyno graph
Stillin G3, Invidia Gemini, ERZ HFC graph
Stillin G3, Invidia Gemini, ERZ HFC, Cobb Tune graph

Nice review and video! I saw your vid before your post as i just uploaded a horrible video to you tube around the same time you did. I will be uploading some new stuff with my recent purchase of a tripod!

First thing i noticed was NO HISS!! I have been reading post after post and most have explained it to be an inherent problem with our engine. I was convinced that it was not the exhaust set up or HFC's but i think we have a credible reason to believe otherwise. I hope this is further looked into because i do not like my hiss at all, i feel it gives a cheap sound to a not so cheap set up. As i have just installed my HFC and gen 3s to go with my Stillen CBE i to will be creating a post with pics of the install and troubles my mechanic came across. There is a considerable amount of hiss in my setup which my soon to come post will detail.

Thanks again for the great review, you have tempted me to think about a different cat back after only having mine for a week, Cheers!

2009 370z - Stillen CBE, Berk HFC, Gen 3 intakes.

Thanks again for taking the time to do a very detailed review of your HFC, CBE, Intake setup. I really like the way the Invidia Gemini CBE sounds with the HFC's. Damn your car sounds sweet! :tup:

I was really having a hard time making a choice between Stillen, Invidia Gemini, and Berks. This review sealed the deal. I'll be purchasing the Invidia Gemini CBE in the next few weeks. I'm hitting the Drag Strip tonight to see how my Z performs with my current setup. Then I will head back to the track once I get the Invidia CBE installed to compare the difference between the stock exhaust. My wife is going to video so I will post the videos along with my time slips.

I think I'm going to go only with injen cai and invidia gemini for a start cause the stock 370 does not sounds as good as the 350 stock :(

So what would be your guess on how much whp you got now !

Your welcome dude...glad you found it valuable!!! And honestly...the video does not do it proper justice...sounds even more sick in real person.

You will no be unhappy with the Gemini... 950$, polished stainless steel, titanium tips, eliminates the Hiss of a HFC....CAN'T GO WRONG!! :happydance:

great video

:iagree:

Awesome. Can't wait :excited:

Great review and vids. Reps for you. Does anyone know if the F.I HFC specifically the resonated one will fit this invidia CBE? I want the power from the hfc but without the added cabin noise and hoping the resonated hfc from FI combined with design of this invidia can give me that.

I know in you vid the ERZ cats only gave a slight db increase but there were points where the humm Noise sound like it could get annoying.

The setup sounds sIck! Great job. Hope you are looking into getting LTH too.
:excited::excited::excited::excited::excited:

bluestyle55 thanks for the great video, Those Subaru guys give me 10 second videos with video camera right on the tip (I was like that took a lot of time)

Track Update from last nights runs:
The ERZ HFC’s definitely improved my 370z performance check out my trap speeds! Best time for the night was 13.165 2.03 60'ft @ 108.85 mph. The fastest trap speed and time was 13.23 2.18 60'ft @ 109.49mph. Need to work on my launch. But I am only about 1mph away from the best time I have seen on this forum 12.80 @ 110.33mph with Stillen G3, CBE, and HFC. I maybe able to trap 111mph with the Invidia Gemini and I should already be in the high 12’s just need some practice!:tup:

I'll have some vids in early April of my car on the track. Figure that should make for some nice sound clips :).

great job on your review. Sounds nice.

resonated test pipe are in stock now

Any plans for resonated HFC like F.I. Would they reduce the noise the hfc add

Sorry we don't have any plans as of now making those.