lovetoturn

Thanks alwaysdriving. My thoughts are based on theoretical assumptions, which as we all know, don't always translate into real world benefits. As you said, Soul had to try many iterations to come up with their valved rear section and I don't think the Helmholtz pipes were much help for them. I think they have a great dual pathway rear section. Having said that though, JCR's rear section is certainly well executed too and sounds pretty good with the Helmholtz section on it. Again science and reality don't always match up the way we want them to.

Mainiac

The UPS man just showed up! Soul valved exhaust system to pair with the Soul OAPs which have been on the car for a few months now. Hopefully get it installed this weekend and I'll let y'all know what I think.

HooosierDaddy

OMG... I'm envious right now! Patiently (not really) waiting for mine!

IL_Pete

Awesome, congrats!

I am really looking forward to your report. I have had the OAP + Valve Controller combination for about a month now. I really like it, but I am looking for something "more", and I am considering adding the Soul Valved Exhaust or the Street Headers.

I don't want louder, I think the current setup is plenty loud already, I just would like to go for an increased visceral sporty tone, without being too loud or over the top.

Thanks!

Mainiac

Ok, the Soul valved rear section is on! While I wouldn't recommend it, I did the install on my garage floor with a low-profile jack and a jack stand. It is a tight space to work in, but everything came apart went back together again with zero issues.

By way of background, I purchased my car on New Year's Eve. I only drove it 2-3 times with the stock exhaust configuration and valves operational before the car went into winter storage. Before I pulled it out of storage, I installed the Soul over axle pipes (again, a very easy install) and wired the OEM exhaust valves open. I've driven with that setup for almost 1200 miles. The only thing I didn't care for after installing the Soul OAPs was the "unrefined" sound of the exhaust note at idle. Some have described it as hollow and I tend to agree. The fact that there is no mixing between the two 3-cylinder banks did nothing for me. Once off idle and underway, I thought it was great. No drone, just louder than stock and a massive wail when running in the upper RPM range.

After the rear section install, I have driven the car for about 3 days. With the X-pipe design the sound is certainly more exotic and what I would have wished for directly from Porsche. It's got a great rumble at idle and I don't really mind having the valves operational. I think the transition from valves close to open is more seamless than with the valves operational with OEM rear section. I only drove in the factory setup for a few days and that was back in January so I may be off base with my comment. With the Soul rear section, the sound isn't much louder than just running the OAPs (to my ear at least). No drone with the Soul OAPs and valved rear section if valves are opening/closing with PSE on. I plan to unplug the valves later this week and leave them open to see if there is drone and if so, is it something I can live with.

My drives over the past few days suggests this setup does remove a restriction in the OEM rear section. I feel like the RPMs build noticeably quicker than with just the OAPs. Not sure if it's real or just me; no scientific data to support my position.

Very pleased with this addition thus far but I think I can still stand for a little more sound up top. I may need to look at the street headers at some point....

A note about Soul. I did have a question on my install and when I called customer assistance I was fortunate enough to connect with John. Extremely helpful and I texted him after my first test drive to let him know how impressed I was. John immediately called me and we chatted about the exhaust set up and the car. Pretty cool when you get a call from the owner. Great fit and finish and it delivered on the promises for a huge improvement in sounds. The car is now complete (well, almost).

I will get a photo or two of the exhaust tips later today. I selected the brushed aluminum and I think they look great against my GT silver.

Skydude

Do you have a measurement of how loud the exhaust is when using the Soul Race headers and over-axle pipes with the stock rear section of the exhaust? It is very loud but I need to know whether it exceeds 98db since that is the limit at Atlanta Motorsports Park where I am doing a track day on Sunday.

Soul Performance

There are no standardized testing variables for dB, therefore we feel testing that could provide false expectations for an exhaust manufacturer. Simply put, the results that you test or a track tests could be completely different from what we test. Distance, angle, rpm, gear, load, environment, testing equipment, etc can change dramatically and effect the results. The Race Header/OAP/PSE Muffler configuration with valves open is Loud, and from my experience at sound restricted tracks I would not expect this setup to pass a 98dB limitation. In your shoes, if they give warnings I would lift where you know they are recording sound and also practice wiring your factory valves shut just in case as that factory muffler should reduce the sound greatly. If they don't give warnings, that may be something you'll just want to do ahead of time. While this is not ideal in any scenario, it's the only way people have been getting by sound at Tremblant (the most sound restricted track in North America) for years with PSE equipped Porsches and we have not heard of any owners suffering issues with their cars doing so.

Regards,
John Gaydos

Skydude

Awesome, thank you. Yeah I can wire them shut if needed.

spyderphile

@BWJ Any change in your observation? Would you say the drone is gone for good in all RPM range, with valves open? (I'm assuming you have this setup: valves open + GPF-delete + slip-on exhaust) Thanks.


@Westcoast : Were you able to try? If you haven't yet, could you give it a shot? Thanks.

This is a breakthrough discovery! Thanks to all who theorized and experimented. In my view, Sound Symposer is dumb idea, breaking away from a purist-notion; the one I am planning to rip off during PDI any way. If it's indeed the cause of drone, more reason to hate it and get rid of! We just need a few more confirmed, repeatable observations.

jefflj

Shout out to Soul. I ordered my OAP's back on 4/15 and was told there was an 8 week lead time. Soul did say they might arrive a little earlier. Well, my installer called today to tell me they have arrived... a full 4 weeks early. What an awesome surprise! Getting the install along with the value controller on Friday.

Bob Z.

Quality work takes time! Are you have the VC installed using Method 1? That is my plan when the car arrives next month, along with the Street Headers/Cats.

jefflj

Yep, Method 1... the partial install... either values open or stock PSE.

Bob Z.

Looking forward to your thoughts upon completion!

IL_Pete

Great, thanks so much for your report!

I had a long chat with John Gaydos on Tuesday, and I decided to also go ahead and order the Valved Exhaust to add to my existing setup of the OAPs plus Valve Controller. John was great to speak to, and really helped with regards to making my decision. We also chatted about a bunch of other stuff, including my recent GT4 to GTS 4.0 comparison (see my thread on that), and my discovery that the GTS 4.0 in Sport Mode has more burbles on overruns than a GT4. He hasn't been able to get his hands on a GTS 4.0 yet, their work to-date has been done with GT4s and Spyders.

Now the wait begins! (The wait shouldn't be too bad - I really like it as is now with the OAPs and the VC, plus I have some other mods in play to keep me entertained in the meantime...)

Goodwood

My OAP is going on this Tues, finally. What's the name of this rear section you got? I'll have to see if I need more.