Rate That Mod Day 15: Ark DTS Catback

[FaytalsCamaro]

THE VOTING FOR THIS MOD IS CLOSED!!! NEXT MOD IS UP!

Alright! Here we are again for another day of Rate the Mod! The Scores So far!

Special thanks to PoorMansCamaro for the idea for linking scores to original threads!

Anvil Notched Spoiler 9.21
Muffler Delete (V8) 8.29
Terminator CF Hood 3.89
Razzi Body Kit 2.30
Kooks LT Headers 9.47
NS-1 Stripe Package 7.46
Cold Air Inductions Intake 9.59
Plasti - Dip 8.15
MRT v2 9.38
ZL1 Bumper Swap 8.39
Stainless Works Retro Chambered Catback 8.94
Rideskinz Aggressor 2 5.63
Sinister Hood 6.77
Muffler Delete (v6) 1.32

Before we talk about today's mod I want to put something out there. When rating these exhaust mods it is growing more and more apparent they are by far the hardest to rate. Mainly because additional mods and variations can change the way it sounds. From horrible to descent and descent to great. So with that being said when it comes to exhaust mods I'll try to do some more digging to find more videos with different variations of the exhaust mods. Like with and without LT headers. Just to give an idea. If you feel the need please feel free to give a score for with and without such and such additional mod. Only thing I can think of is averaging both of your personal scores together for the overall average. So with that being said....Back to the subject on hand!

After putting together yesterdays score it becomes pretty apparent that the Muffler Delete (Muffler-Deletion for Grammar Nazis) is not well liked. Some of the replies had me laughing out loud. We do have a new low score though.

Anyways on to today's mod, By request of a member the Ark DTS Catback. Not too shabby of an exhaust note And sounds great at WOT. It almost sounds more like an exotic car. In my opinion i still prefer the axleback MRT v2 but this one does sound a little bit more aggressive at WOT. Also not too much rasp from what I can tell in the video!


I also want to say that when applicable I will try to use pictures and videos to represent the mods in question just to give people an idea of what the mod is like if they do not already know. I pull these at random either from Google, YouTube or even this website. If you find that I have used something you submitted and want me to take it down please let me know and I will immediately!


If you have any suggestions on what you would want to see next on Rate That Mod please let me know and send me a PM!

WOT skip to 00:27


LT headers with Ark DT-S
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=Rhu06uaKGU4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=DaC4xKe_Eg4

Driving with GoPro



*Edit*
Would help if I gave a rating rofl
7.5/10

[KMPrenger]

EDIT....first link above is not just the ARK catback...it is Stainless Works LT headers with the ARK DTS catback. Wrote the comments below without even watching b/c I've listened to both setups many times. lol. Woops.

Thank you for putting this out there!

Now I say this:

ARK DTS: 7/10. Very refined smooth sound. Tame. Wish it had a tad more growl, but thats what the ARK N-II version is about (a bit more raw). There is a very fine line for a V6 when adding exhaust and having it have growl and not sound like a raspy tin can.

ARK DTS with the BBK headers: 9/10. Honestly, this is one of, if not my favorite exhaust combo for the V6. Its just glorious...deep sound, nice rumble. ARK DTS controls the LT headers wonderfully, whereas with some other exhausts the LT headers turn them into a loud raspy annoying mess. I'd give it a 10/10, but its hard for me to rate something absolutely perfect lol.

[alanhurst]

ARK DTS 8/10 Under WOT this sounded very good, but the almost silent idle kept this score from being higher.

ARK DTS w/headers 8.5/10 Idle was much better this time but when reving the sound kinda turned into a muffled rasp. however this may have had to do more with the placement of the mic during recording than the actual exhaust itself.

[GretchenGotGrowl]

7/10

[PoorMansCamaro]

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

Thank you for putting this out there!

Now I say this:

ARK DTS: 7/10. Very refined smooth sound. Tame. Wish it had a tad more growl, but thats what the ARK N-II version is about (a bit more raw). There is a very fine line for a V6 when adding exhaust and having it have growl and not sound like a raspy tin can.

ARK DTS with the BBK headers: 9/10. Honestly, this is one of, if not my favorite exhaust combo for the V6. Its just glorious...deep sound, nice rumble. ARK DTS controls the LT headers wonderfully, whereas with some other exhausts the LT headers turn them into a loud raspy annoying mess. I'd give it a 10/10, but its hard for me to rate something absolutely perfect lol.

took the words right out of my mouth. I concur with this.

7/10 by itself
9/10 with LT headers

only way a 10/10 happens, is if it's a corsa catback with long tubes.

[SoCalThug]

I chose the N-II over this because of the bigger piping and its a little louder. But you cant go wrong with ARK, great quality systems. 8 out of 10

[Lil' Nasty]

Buddy of mine has this on his LFX and I'd give it a 7/10 very nice exhaust, looks and sound wise but wish it was a little louder and had more growl.

[Dznts]

8/10

[fsusmithc2]

Originally Posted by Lil' Nasty

Buddy of mine has this on his LFX and I'd give it a 7/10 very nice exhaust, looks and sound wise but wish it was a little louder and had more growl.

So close, but not quite. I have the N-II system.

I just went to Ark's site to make sure but here's the differences between the two for those that are curious:

- DT-S uses 2.5" OD piping vs. N-II with 2.75"
- Both have 4.5" tips but DT-S is rolled and burnt while N-II is slanted (see my avatar)
- DT-S has resonators, N-II does not

According to Ark's data, the DT-S is 90db @ 3000rpm while the N-II is 92db @ 3000rpm (unknown as to 3.6l or 6.2l for those stats)

In theory my setup should be louder than the DT-S but still doesn't seem as loud as Lil' Nasty's setup with the BBK long tubes and MRT v1.0 on his LLT. But, then again, loud doesn't always mean good (such as muffler delete for V6, it would seem).

I can't watch the YouTube videos from where I am right now but my guess at a score would be 7/10 with the N-II being an 8/10, if it were up for debate.

For anyone curious, here's a link from my HFC install, inside which is an admittedly sloppy before and after. I still aim to produce a drag run clip as well but the last time I was out I didn't get a comparable video.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289627

[Lil' Nasty]

Originally Posted by fsusmithc2

So close, but not quite. I have the N-II system.

I just went to Ark's site to make sure but here's the differences between the two for those that are curious:

- DT-S uses 2.5" OD piping vs. N-II with 2.75"
- Both have 4.5" tips but DT-S is rolled and burnt while N-II is slanted (see my avatar)
- DT-S has resonators, N-II does not

According to Ark's data, the DT-S is 90db @ 3000rpm while the N-II is 92db @ 3000rpm (unknown as to 3.6l or 6.2l for those stats)

In theory my setup should be louder than the DT-S but still doesn't seem as loud as Lil' Nasty's setup with the BBK long tubes and MRT v1.0 on his LLT. But, then again, loud doesn't always mean good (such as muffler delete for V6, it would seem).

I can't watch the YouTube videos from where I am right now but my guess at a score would be 7/10 with the N-II being an 8/10, if it were up for debate.

For anyone curious, here's a link from my HFC install, inside which is an admittedly sloppy before and after. I still aim to produce a drag run clip as well but the last time I was out I didn't get a comparable video.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289627

Agreed but I was actually referring to a guy I use to work with, he has the DTS on his LFX, but Imo I like the N2 better...

[Speed2acer]

I have the ARK N2 setup with Doug Thorley Shortties, love the sound. [IMG]http: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...ize=1632%2C920 /[/IMG]

[KMPrenger]

OH....I didn't actually watch the videos when I commented above b/c I had seen them all before....

But actually in the first video, the ARK DTS has LT headers on it as well....so its not actually just the catback. Woops.

Here is the ARK DTS by itself: Go to 1:11 mark

[fsusmithc2]

Originally Posted by Lil' Nasty

Agreed but I was actually referring to a guy I use to work with, he has the DTS on his LFX, but Imo I like the N2 better...

Woops. You know somebody else with an LFX that has an Ark system? I guess they're more popular than I thought. That'll teach me for assuming.

After listening again to all the DT-S clips and then at my own, I continue to agree that the N-II is my favorite. Louder, deeper, more "throaty" sound imho. Still glad I got a good deal from a fellow club member on the setup.

Hence why my vote is still 7/10 for DT-S