Resonator question.
 

Sorry for the noob question. I tried to email the folks at fast intentions, but I never got a reply. Do the resonators quiet the exhaust? is that their only function? To be more specific, I'm talkig about the CBE alone, no HFC. I would like to get the system, because from what I've read they come highly recommended, but I don't want to get any evil stares from my nieghbors.

What? The louder the better, my neighbors loved when I had LTH+exhaust and would get up and start the car at 6AM. :p
Resonators help control the exhaust note, which can eliminate rasp, lower volume, alter tone.

The non-resonated vs resonated comes to down to pitch imho. Theres 3 of us with FI exhausts at our local weekly meets.

I have the 18" carbon fiber FI exhaust with Motordyne ART pipes. The note is VERY deep and ZERO rasp, almost V8 sounding:eekdance: and I love it.

Another guy has the same catback with resonated test pipes and his is almost as deep and it has twice as much hiss on deceleration, and no rasp.

Another member has the NON Resonated carbon fiber verison with STOCK cats and his is just as loud as mine(I don't think it's any louder than mine), not nearly as deep sounding, and has some rasp.

The resonators don't do much to quiet it down at all(in my opinion). My exhaust still is very loud. Much much much louder than the HKS I had on the car last week.

Same set-up and it's gotten quite quiet after the break in period. Initial start-up is still pretty loud though.

Hey, thanks for the info, guys. I'm glad I asked before I pulled the trigger!

So just to be clear, stock cats + no resonator = a little rasp and not quite as deep as stock cats + 18" resonator? Ooof. I hope I didn't screw up. I want to run stock cats and I figured it would be a little louder and deeper with no resonators....at least that's how I've ordered itl. Maybe I should do the 18" resonators.... sorry, didn't mean to hijack this thread.

Yes in my opinion that's correct. The resonators muffle the sound, thus creating a deeper tone. Non resonated, are free flowing. Even though they advertise as having zero rasp, there is definitely some rasp. However, it is minimal.

All of the FI exhausts are rather deep and loud but they just have slightly different tones depending on the options.

I have NOT ridden inside the Z with the non resonated catback but my 18" CF FI has some drone inside too whereas my HKS had none at all.

My observations of the non resonated are just from the outside of the vehicle as it speeds away and moves about the parking lot.

The major difference from going with Resonated and Non-Resonated is the Drone inside the car and the rasp outside the car. Resonators reduce drone inside the car and the rasp outside. The do slightly decrease the volume overall. The lack of rasp with the resonators causes people to call the resonated systems deeper but its really just removing the rasp. I have the 18" Resonated system with the standard mufflers. I have not yet received my Headers and have the stock cats.

No matter what setup you go with FI you are going to make a great choice! As for Tony's customer service it has been impeccable. He always returns calls as soon as he can. If you call him and tell him what you are looking for he will explain all the options and what the differences are. He spent over 30 minutes on the phone with me when I ordered my system back in July.

Thanks for that. You cleared it up a little more for me.

I wasn't trying to bash the customer service. I was telling you guys that I didn't get a response so you know I at least tried before I posted. Not saying you were implying that, but what you said did trigger the thought to clear that up. Thanks again.

This whole thing made me change my order from no resonators to going with the 18". Man, I can't wait! Like a kid waiting on Christmas!

Glad I could be of some help.

It is so worth the wait! I drove the car over 600 miles this week just to enjoy the sound! I am sure I will do it again once I get the headers from Tony.

I have the non resonated with stainless mufflers and non res 200 cell hfc's. Everyone says its very very loud, I want it louder though. I do have some rasp around 4k rpm but the sound is incredibly deep below 3k rpm and very exotic above 4k. Crusing 80 in 6th @ 3k rpm there is drone there. It's not annoying though with the windows down, but when they are up it's very annoying. Whichever FI system you choose, you will be happy. These things are amazing and great quality. If you don't want it very loud or drone, go with a resonator and keep stock cats.

Take the time and call Tony on the phone. He will explain everything you need to know. He makes the best exhaust for the 370z period. He runs his business like i do and prefers the one on one conversations over the phone rather than the text email stuff.

So I have resonators at the back, they replace the mufflers; so four resonators; just before the tips. Will this cause any performance or emission pass/fail. It sound good.