2019 Comprehensive Exhaust Discussion

[Secondchance]

The point is that they are not some crappy speakers and there is no outside noise interfering with the audio. I'm just saying when I listen to your video and my video I hear ZERO difference your the one that wants to argue that people shouldn't use cell phone mic's for audio comparison but then you are doing exactly that yourself.

I fail to see how suggesting that better tech would yield a better comparison deprives me of being able to also easily determine from the audio clips the Stark difference between your exhaust and mine ? The difference exists, period. You not being able to hear it amounts to nothing more than a "placebo" effect if you ask me. Better mics would only emphasize the difference, not limit it to a nominal level you're hoping for.

 

[itguy61]

There is no way a microphone on a cell phone has the dynamic range and frequency response performance to give a decent recording of the exhaust system. Does not matter what you use to listen to it with the audio out is not better than the audio in. No way the tiny diaphragm on a cell phone has the headroom or response to accurately capture the deep and loud tone of an exhaust system.

To properly hear the differences you would probably need to hook up a mic like a Shure SM-58 and connect it to a recorder with decent dynamic headroom and record different exhausts in the same place so that the conditions are the same. Then you can probably do a good A to B comparison.

Again, playing back a crappy recording on a pair of $20K speakers still sounds crappy.

 

[Secondchance]

There is no way a microphone on a cell phone has the dynamic range and frequency response performance to give a decent recording of the exhaust system. Does not matter what you use to listen to it with the audio out is not better than the audio in. No way the tiny diaphragm on a cell phone has the headroom or response to accurately capture the deep and loud tone of an exhaust system.

To properly hear the differences you would probably need to hook up a mic like a Shure SM-58 and connect it to a recorder with decent dynamic headroom and record different exhausts in the same place so that the conditions are the same. Then you can probably do a good A to B comparison.

Again, playing back a crappy recording on a pair of $20K speakers still sounds crappy.

I happen to still have 3 shure SM-58 microphones kicking around. I sadly no longer own a mixer compatible with my laptop making such a recording possible

 

[xot1]

Too much off-topic talk on speakers/microphones.
I am closing this thread for 24 hours.

 

[Ozstung]

Strange, I recorded my Ark grip exhaust on my phone and the recording to me is a fair representation of the actual sound. It might not be 100% perfect but it'll do me.

 

[Fortune]

OP here - I agree that a lot of thos discussion devolved into tech talk on microphones etc. (Though I believe it is a valid point)

I had mentioned "borla sounded too close to stock" for my liking, and am very capable of accepting that I COULD BE WRONG. I haven't heard one in person. I hardly see other STINGERS in person. All I have to reference are borlas own (very few) videos, as well as personal videos by customers (even fewer).

If someone here with the Borla system TRULY believes this exhaust is that promising, I am more than willing to hear them out.

That's the point of a discussion.


On another note - I spoke with a representative of ARK PERFORMANCE (their setup is fairly decent if you haven't seen it already) and if you were unaware, their headquarters is just east of the los angeles area. They said they have a Stinger on-site and are more than willing to rev it up for a live taste of their exhaust setup.

Just thought I'd let y'all know if anyone was interested.

 

[Rakker]

If someone here with the Borla system TRULY believes this exhaust is that promising, I am more than willing to hear them out.

I have a Borla and my wife says it's "embarrassingly loud"

 

[Gtecko]

I only heard the same thing, I am not sure how one could say Borla sounds like stock.... Borla people would be p.o to hear their system sounds like the oem exhaust haha

 

[Hacksaw907]

The Straightpipes YouTube video for the Kia stinger exhausts showcases the borla exhaust - give that a look-see. I found that video is one of the few that captures the tone of the exhaust, but not volume - it's much louder than how it sounds in that video.

 

[Joeygt]

I think I’ll leave mine stock.
I think I have watched all the different types and makes of exhausts available for the stinger on YouTube.
My conclusion is that if you want a V6 to sound good.....buy a V8!

 

[StungBlueGT2]

I think I’ll leave mine stock.
I think I have watched all the different types and makes of exhausts available for the stinger on YouTube.
My conclusion is that if you want a V6 to sound good.....buy a V8!

There are a few great sounding Stinger exhausts and just muffler deletes by themselves make our car sound similarly to a Maserati. But if you are wanting or expecting a V6 to sound like a V8 you will always be disappointed. It’s just not physically possible and not a fair comparison to be honest.

 

[itguy61]

It is different. Different does not mean bad though.

 

[Rynil2000]

OP here - I agree that a lot of thos discussion devolved into tech talk on microphones etc. (Though I believe it is a valid point)

I had mentioned "borla sounded too close to stock" for my liking, and am very capable of accepting that I COULD BE WRONG. I haven't heard one in person. I hardly see other STINGERS in person. All I have to reference are borlas own (very few) videos, as well as personal videos by customers (even fewer).

If someone here with the Borla system TRULY believes this exhaust is that promising, I am more than willing to hear them out.

That's the point of a discussion.


On another note - I spoke with a representative of ARK PERFORMANCE (their setup is fairly decent if you haven't seen it already) and if you were unaware, their headquarters is just east of the los angeles area. They said they have a Stinger on-site and are more than willing to rev it up for a live taste of their exhaust setup.

Just thought I'd let y'all know if anyone was interested.

Hey OP - thought I'd cross post this thread in here as it has some good insight and opinion on the Borla exhaust. @nhcowboy28 and I provided some dB readings stock, with cat back, and with sound deadener added for comparison.

I've had the Borla pipes installed for nearly one month and ~1500 miles on them and I love them. Exactly as the car should sound IMO. Loud when you put your foot down, but quiet when cruising.

I did experience some resonance going through low RPMs, 1.5-2.5K, moderate throttle in comfort mode. This is now gone since I installed some sound deadener in the trunk area. I'm chalking this up to the hatch shape of the car and the lack of any stock deadener, not necessarily all due to the exhaust.

Hope this helps your search. It's very difficult to choose based solely on randomly recorded internet videos.

 

[Yangl123]

Bumping this old thread. Did anyone ever find out what material the stock exhaust is made of? I'm leaning towards getting the MBRP exhaust - I plan to drive the car in canadian winters, so I assumed the SS would be the way to go but someone raised a good point of the stock exhaust being non-stainless so I am thinking it might not make a difference.