boxdriver

I have wanted PSE on my 2014 CS since I bought it in 2020. It has been out of stock for the last couple of years. It is now back in "stock", so I was finally able to order it. I installed it last week and did the install and programed the button myself. I used the Thinkdiag to program the button. It is up and running and sounds great!
My question is in the sound difference from when it is activated and when it is off. I can barely tell the difference. It sounds like it is on all the time. The quiet mode is closer to the open sound than it is to my old stock non-PSE mufflers. I have checked the valves to make sure they are opening and closing correctly, and they appear to be.
How much difference is everyone else hearing that have the PSE? How much difference is there supposed to be between the non-PSE and the PSE in quiet mode?


Valve closed


Valve open

CaptainSlowly

the difference is pretty minor, definitely louder than the non-PSE exhaust

nhnguy12

The difference was pretty minor with stock headers + PSE. It became much more apparent once I installed longtube catless headers.

Cayman Ed

I have a PSE but did not bother installing the switch so it is open all the time which I actually like very much.
I tested the PSE valve closed once by putting a spring to hold the lever in place and if my recollection is still good, idle is only very slightly louder than non-PSE but maybe more than 10% when PSE valve is open at idle. Higher RPM and WOT is of course night and day.
PSE is still my best mod to date.

john981

Is PSE worth it for the base boxster? I heard it makes absolutely sense for the S models but the base models have already a great sound and it is not worth spending all the money for the PSE.

Dana R

I installed the PSE on my 987 Spyder and I left the valve open 100% of the time. It's the "right" loudness and tone to my ears. A much cheaper way to get that is with the Carnewel exhaust modification, and that is probably what I'll do to my base Cayman, which already has a much better sound than my Spyder did with stock exhaust.

Cayman Ed

2.7L will even sound better with PSE

Ernest72

Mine did for sure. And now it sounds even better with long tube headers. I love the PSE.

boxdriver

So, if I'm understanding the replies correctly, when you have PSE, there isn't much difference in sound from when the valves are open or closed. Also, the PSE with the valves closed does not sound like having a stock non-PSE exhaust. Correct?

thecajunboy

Partially true.

• The PSE open vs close sound is not much different at idle and light load conditions, and lower RPMs.
• At moderate throttle conditions the closed sound will be somewhat quieter, but only if RPMs are under ~3300 or so (I may be a bit off here).
• Under full throttle they will sound the same except for the short period of time it takes for the DME to recognize the condition and get the valves open. In On mode the valves are always open. In Off mode the valves will open under full throttle, but that might be RPM related as well. Perhaps someone else can chime in on that.