Sound level difference: 2.5" vs 3" exhaust

[Apex Motorsports]

Originally Posted by BowlingSS

What happen to the first video?

Bill

Fixed.

[flowmann]

Originally Posted by plastrd

Is there an appreciable difference in volume between 2.5" and 3" exhausts?

It seems choices in exhaust come into two main categories:
Raspy (Corsa, Stainless Works, etc)
Deep (Borla, Flowmaster, etc)

The raspy systems seem to have a reputation for being drone-free probably due to the higher sound frequency while the deeper sounding ones are more likely to resonate in the trunk/cabin and cause drone.

I'm kind of torn between the sounds I like best but currently my number one concern is total volume. I live in a condo complex where my garage is directly underneath my upstairs neighbor's unit and faces another identical condo so I'm a little concerned about the bark at startup. I also have to drive slowly through pretty much the whole complex to reach the exit.

I'm leaning towards either the Corsa or Stainless Works systems right now, but these also seem to be the loudest and I don't want to wake the dead when I take off for work every morning. Almost none of the sound clips point out if they're 2.5 or 3" systems so I'm wondering if the smaller exhaust will have the same tone but be less loud?

Long story short, has anyone else been through the stock-is-too-damn-quiet-but-I-don't-want-to-piss-off-the-neighbors ordeal and reached a satisfying conclusion?

Plastrd – There’s a fine line between stock and an aftermarket system that won’t upset the neighbors. Then there’s always the one neighbor you’ll upset even with a stock exhaust.

We have the sound ranges covered for Camaro owners because we offer seven different 409S Stainless Steel exhaust systems for the SS Camaro. The sound ranges are Mild, Moderate, and Aggressive. The sound levels vary due to tubing diameter and muffler construction. Muffler choice is usually the biggest factor in sound level. We offer systems for your car that have chambered mufflers and also come with Pro-Series mufflers.



Here’s the Force II Axle-Back with a Mild tone. The muffler is a 2.5” inlet with a 3” outlet.




The American Thunder series Axle-Back has a moderate tone



We offer a few different aggressive Axle-Back kits and a Cat-Back (which upgrades the system to a 3” system and has more power potential).

[plan-b]

I'll throw another wrench into the works here. I live in a condo complex too and have to consider the same thing. I went with SOLO performance on my convertible and would say that the startup bark is right at the upper limit of what I would consider acceptable given my living arrangement (this is a good thing). Idle is probably 20%-30% louder than stock so I don't worry one bit about giving it some time to warm up. This system has less drone than the stock system as far as I'm concerned. At WOT, you might consider earplugs. For me, this is the best of every world.

I have a Ducati Monster with a Leo Vince muffler and when I fire that bad boy up in the morning, my neighbors know it. I've seen a couple of them peak out of their blinds. So I have a pretty decent idea of what is or isn't going to end up on my HOA's radar.

[ZombieEatsYou]

Originally Posted by plan-b

I'll throw another wrench into the works here. I live in a condo complex too and have to consider the same thing. I went with SOLO performance on my convertible and would say that the startup bark is right at the upper limit of what I would consider acceptable given my living arrangement (this is a good thing). Idle is probably 20%-30% louder than stock so I don't worry one bit about giving it some time to warm up. This system has less drone than the stock system as far as I'm concerned. At WOT, you might consider earplugs. For me, this is the best of every world.

I have a Ducati Monster with a Leo Vince muffler and when I fire that bad boy up in the morning, my neighbors know it. I've seen a couple of them peak out of their blinds. So I have a pretty decent idea of what is or isn't going to end up on my HOA's radar.

I'll second Plan-b's description of the SOLOs.

[kmcd]

Originally Posted by plastrd

...Long story short, has anyone else been through the stock-is-too-damn-quiet-but-I-don't-want-to-piss-off-the-neighbors ordeal and reached a satisfying conclusion?

Cutouts. Loud when you want. Quiet when you want.

[mike25]

not sure whos telling you the corsa is raspy- but it definitely isnt..

[brantley847]

Originally Posted by mike25

not sure whos telling you the corsa is raspy- but it definitely isnt..

Side by side, comparatively speaking versus SW, Magnaflow or Borla (S type / touring)... yes it is

Been to many shows, meets, and Camaro exclusive shows in Central FL. Where all of the above are present... Most Corsa owners will even admit this. It isn't a bad thing?... Is it raspy like a riced out import? Absolutely not.. but compared to others on the market... yes.

Corsa deserves a hell of a lot of credit for being one of the best companies at providing a drone free system... that seems to be achieved by creating a bit of a "higher" tone than the Borla or MF systems.

[The Stig]

Just to add to the conversation. I switched out my JBA 3" for Bassani 2.5" and I noticed a few differences. Firstly, much less drone (and my JBA had J-pipes on it). The Bassani system is a decent bit quieter as well (though I do still set off car alarms )

[mike25]

Originally Posted by brantley847

Side by side, comparatively speaking versus SW, Magnaflow or Borla (S type / touring)... yes it is

Been to many shows, meets, and Camaro exclusive shows in Central FL. Where all of the above are present... Most Corsa owners will even admit this. It isn't a bad thing?... Is it raspy like a riced out import? Absolutely not.. but compared to others on the market... yes.

Corsa deserves a hell of a lot of credit for being one of the best companies at providing a drone free system... that seems to be achieved by creating a bit of a "higher" tone than the Borla or MF systems.

Next to other systems it might have more potential to be raspy..but IMO i dont think so-- but when it comes to exhausts its all user preference i suppose.

[caverman]

You also need to decide if you are ever going to add LT headers or HF cats. Either one of those are really going to change the way a cat-back sounds.