How authentic sounding is the synthetic V6 engine roar?

[AndyGT]

Hi guys,

waiting for my car I saw so many Stinger reviews. Esspecially in the GT(S) reviews almost every reviewer mentioned the „synthetic“ engine sound in the cabin. I am wondering what this sound is all about? How authenthic is it? Is it fully digital generated? Is it at least adapted from what the engine would sound like if the engineers had not deaden the real sound? Is it some kind of piped in real sound coming from the engine? (Unlikely as you can choose the volume - unless there is a microphone somewhere under the hood) Summarized how much authentic sound do we hear if we hit the pedal. Honestly the Stinger is such a proper designed car that I cannot imagine that this engine sound is something completely artificial which has nothing to do with the real thing. Even if it would be 100% artificial, it has to be based on something - is it more a typical V6 or V8 sound (which was also stated by some reviewers)? So let‘s get into that and find out what it is.

We‘re discussing every detail about the Stinger here but nobody talks about that sound up to now. ;-)

Greetings
Andy

 

[Kia Stinger]

Hi guys,

waiting for my car I saw so many Stinger reviews. Esspecially in the GT(S) reviews almost every reviewer mentioned the „synthetic“ engine sound in the cabin. I am wondering what this sound is all about? How authenthic is it? Is it fully digital generated? Is it at least adapted from what the engine would sound like if the engineers had not deaden the real sound? Is it some kind of piped in real sound coming from the engine? (Unlikely as you can choose the volume - unless there is a microphone somewhere under the hood) Summarized how much authentic sound do we hear if we hit the pedal. Honestly the Stinger is such a proper designed car that I cannot imagine that this engine sound is something completely artificial which has nothing to do with the real thing. Even if it would be 100% artificial, it has to be based on something - is it more a typical V6 or V8 sound (which was also stated by some reviewers)? So let‘s get into that and find out what it is.

We‘re discussing every detail about the Stinger here but nobody talks about that sound up to now. ;-)

Greetings
Andy

Very good question, Andy! I'm interested as well...

 

[Irish]

I notice that it sounds very nice and aggressive but only if the radio is off. If you listening to music you can barely notice it.

 

[eflyguy]

The exhaust is not particularly exciting compared to cars of similar performance from Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, but in the cabin it is enough to remind you that it is a performance car.

 

[EchoesMyron]

Everything I have read says it's 'piped in' which to me, means that it is the actual engine sound mic'd and played inside the vehicle.

I think it sounds good. To me it sounds just like the engine normally does, only louder. It has a fairly deep growl to it although it is a V6 sound and not a V8 sound.

I'm not a fanatic about engine sounds and I don't get all bent out of shape if the car isn't waking up the neighbors. I like cars that are quiet.

I can hear the exhaust note from the driver's seat; the car is not completely silent. I recently sold a C5 Corvette and the exhaust volume on the Stinger is about the same...maybe even a touch louder from inside the car. (My C5 had the stock exhaust on it).

In my opinion, it's a good volume and the 'piped in' sound complements the normal sound.

 

[Clearly Canadian]

I doubt it’s actual Stinger engine noise.

 

[eflyguy]

Well the engine noise is just a lot of clanging and whirring, not much to hear under there - it would come from the exhaust somewhere, if at all.

It's not that hard to emulate a nice exhaust sound...

 

[AnyVare]

There is no piping of real engine noise or exhaust. It is 100% simulated, generated and fake and controllable in the radio/system settings. But the industry has been doing this for years now, here's an article for 2015 that talks about it. But don't wory...you can buy more fake sounds to make it sound like a V12. Checkout these fun products

SoundRacer product
XLR8 on the App Store

Or you could replace the exhaust with something like Borla and install some CAI; but it's never going to be a V8 sound.

 

[eflyguy]

I had read or heard somewhere that turbos effectively mute any hope of a traditional "muscle car" sound.

Now, if we put one of those simulators underneath, attached to a durable speaker?

 

[bugaboo90]

I like the extras sound.. I know its fake but I'm good with it, doesn't sound too fake.

 

[Mike_TX]

I'm the one guy who feels like a lot of sound makes it seem like the car is having to struggle to make power. Maybe an ideal car would make no sound, making it seem like it was effortlessly delivering its power. But no, I'm not ready for a Tesla.

 

[CDv6]

I've decided I actually like the artificial sound. It's not that I get off on fake engine "growl," but with all of the sound dampening these days, it does allow me to hear a little of what the car is doing during acceleration. This would be way more important with a manual transmission, but I like it with the automatic too. And, yes, I realize that synthesized sound isn't going to clue me in to any problems with the motor; I'm only talking about during normal, non-fault operations.

 

[Kia Stinger]

I've decided I actually like the artificial sound. It's not that I get off on fake engine "growl," but with all of the sound dampening these days, it does allow me to hear a little of what the car is doing during acceleration. This would be way more important with a manual transmission, but I like it with the automatic too. And, yes, I realize that synthesized sound isn't going to clue me in to any problems with the motor; I'm only talking about during normal, non-fault operations.

I don't think it would bother me either. It's just entertainment...

 

[Marc Collins]

Needs to be able to be turned 100% off. Of course use it if you like, but do not force it to be used by all at all times.