Best sound

[BB]

I am looking to enhance the sound of my stock 91 NSX...

One of the things I like best about this car is the awesome sound that starts kicking in at around 4000 rpm and above-- it sounds very high tech and exillerating.

In improving the sound of the NSX, I would like to make this sound louder and more agressive without sacrificing the wonderful characteristic sound of the NSX. I do not want my car to end up having an extremely deep rumble that sounds like an American muscle car!

From what I've read here, it sounds like an aftermarket intake/airbox is the cheapest way to accomplish what I'm looking for. With the favorites being Gruppe M and K&N....

Gruppe M carbon fiber intake - Many claim this one sounds the best, period. It's defintely cool looking, but quite expensive. Around $800.

K&N cone filter - Many claim this sounds awesome too. It cost only around $200.

Aren't K&N and Gruppe M made by the same company? Why the big price difference? Does the Gruppe M unit sound significantly different/better than the K&N or does all the extra money buy you nothing more than carbon fiber good looks?

Also, I've read some messages claiming the Gruppe M won't fit under the engine cover. But on Dali's web site it claims it fits fine under the Targa's engine cover. Is there a clearance difference between the coupe and targa engine cover I'm unware of?

 

[Edo]

I dont know about the Gruppe M's but so far I've been incredibly happy with my K&N Cone filter. The sound is VERY nice, and deep. You get to hear more of a deeper baritone come from the engine. Something that is definitely missing with the stock airbox. And well, for 200 bucks its a screaming bargain compared to the Gruppe M, and Comptech Carbon Fiber intake...

 

[maomaonsx]

first of all,

gruppe M is a NSX tuner in Japan.
the owner of Gruppe M is also the distributor of K&N products in japan.
the $800 you pay for Gruppe M is for the Japanese quality, the looks, and the sound. Performance difference is too little to notice.
It fits fine under the engine cover, all you have to do is to relocate the engien cover struct to the right side.
as far as sound goes, the M really screams! at mid-range RPM, I cannot even hear my exhaust. And my exhaust is L-O-U-D.
Just goto the "my exhaust sound clip" topic below to get a clue of how loud my exhaust is.


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Please visit my NSX tuning page! Mods, Japanese NSX related stuff, pics!
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/6073/index.html

 

[BB]

maomao,

I just listed to your dynorun.mpg sound clip. Sounds really good! Can you tell me where the microphone was located when you recorded that?

How much of that sound would you attribute to the Gruppe M intake vs. the exhaust? From your comments and others on this board, I would assume the intake tends to account for most of the in-cabin sound you and your passangers hear while the exhaust is mostly what the other drivers around you hear??

Also, how would you describe the sound you experience from the driver's seat at high rpm as compared to the exhaust sound clip?

 

[flaminio]

Originally posted by BB:
I just listed to your dynorun.mpg sound clip. Sounds really good! Can you tell me where the microphone was located when you recorded that?

I was there when George dyno'd his car. There's a reason no one is in the gargage -- his car is !!!LOUD!!! The microphone is the one on the camcorder taking the shot. That's about as close as one can get to the car without ear protection.

-Bob

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

Yep, I was in the car on the dyno. It is extremely loud. It can bust your ear litterally. I would say it probably over 130dB inside that dynoplace at that time. It definitely was louder than my stereo system, and my stereo system hit 130dB

 

[Edo]

What kind of exhaust is that anyways? All that was said about it was that it was a GT exhaust..
I take it it is MUCH louder than the RM?

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

Edo, the RM is not loud at all compare to this. RM is only slightly louder than comptech. But this one is Waaay louder than RM. I'll let George tell u guys what is the brand.

 

[maomaonsx]

OK, one by one now:

At mid-range RPM, say from 4000-6000, all I can hear is my intake. When I was in Laguna Seca running a stock muffler(sound restriction) w/ M intake, all I can hear was the intake. My friend video taped me coming down the cork srew and blowing by the front straight. The intake makes a lot of noise and it sounds very cool. Even though it is an intake system, it gives a sound like that of the F355 exhaust! I'll try to get that clip online ASAP. Instead of the deep rumbling tumbling bubbling sound most intake system makes(I used to have Comptech), this one screams.

Now, with my loud-ass exhaust, all you ca hear outside of the car is the exhaust. However, I havn't listen to my car from the outside with the silencers yet. So, it might be quite different. The silencers makes a lot of difference for sure. I would say at least 7bd reduction in noise, and it also makes it sound more refined. BTW, I use test-pipes. Actually, I think Andrie's car w/ HKS and no cats sounds very nice!

as far as RM muffler goes. I used to have one, and my curent exhaust is without any doubt, louder.

------------------
Please visit my NSX tuning page! Mods, Japanese NSX related stuff, pics!
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/6073/index.html