Originally Posted by ajeffrey10

Originally Posted by drcollie

The PSE button is nothing more than on over-ride system that opens the valves early. Without it, the values are opened by a combination of the Engine Vacuum, and RPM's through the DME. It's not going to quiet the system moreso than non-PSE cars. What it does is let you open the valves at low RPM's and make it louder under 3,400 rpm.

RON1X - that's too bad you had to fight for your refund. I suspect mine went through easily as I did self-install and removal, and told them I had no issues paying 2-way shipping. I even told them to deduct 3% for the charge card fees because I own a retail business myself and know they don't get those merchant back card fees back on processed refunds.

Originally Posted by drcollie

I think you will have to decide which thread you deem viable. Some praise the center-muffler-delete systems, others (like me) absolutely hate it. It all depends on what you want out of the car. Kind of like Harley's (of which I own one of those, too). Some owners think loud is great, others (like me) think the boom is annoying to everyone around - including the operator. The most humorous part of the Harley owners are the guys that say straight-through sounds GREAT - but they have to wear earplugs when they ride to keep from going deaf ????????

I have a good friend who works for Fiat / Chrysler as an exhaust/emissions engineer and he's a big Porsche fan as well (doesn't own one yet). We got into some very interesting discussions regarding the 991 exhaust and he says it's a brilliant design that was very difficult to engineer. The car has the engine in the rear so there is literally no room to work with in getting a viable design in the amount of space they have to work with, verus a front-engined car which gives them space to dissipate and dampen sound. He tells me the center muffler is necessary to control resonance and boom, and literally laughed when I mentioned the center-delete options out there. He said "Well, that's one way to F*K up your nice car".

Did I listen to him? No I did not. I bought the AWE Switchpath for my 991S and installed it because they had a money-back guarantee and I wasn't sure he was 100% right. He WAS right. I had it on the car for 1-day and removed it and returned it. TAG motorsports (seller) and AWE did honor the refund, so props to them for that. All I was out was the 2-way shipping. So try it - maybe you will like it. They still have their guarantee and you can put it on yourself in under an hour once the car is on the jacks, it's not hard. If you like it - then you are golden.

For me, it was way too boomy and loud, even at low rpm's to the point I could not enjoy the stereo or use my bluetooth on the phone. I did buy a Tubi Cat Back exhaust for 4x the price of the AWE and its perfect - that gives you what you are seeking. My engineer pal said with a grin "Now you did it the right way." He was right again.

Originally Posted by RON1X

Interesting to read this. I too ordered the AWE from TAG ~1 year ago, and I ended up in the most frustrating buying experience of my life... I've never made a post on my experience because I was so sick of thinking about it and dealing with it, but after I drove the car 100 yards from my tuning shop after the install, the drone was ridiculous and ruined everything I loved about enjoying the car. I honestly couldn't believe I'd read so many positive comments on the system, and felt like I'd received a damaged product. I had friends, and technicians ride in the car and they thought it sounded like some cheap Borla system for a domestic car, and said they would never even think about keeping it on either after the drone kicked in 3200rpm. I couldn't get TAG or AWE to fully honor the sound satisfaction guarantee that they advertised, and ultimately why I felt so safe purchasing the product. After weeks of back and forth (literally), I ended up discussing legal ramifications with the president of AWE as they continually refused to FULLY pay for the install/ removal of the system as their guarantee states:
"AWE Tuning is offering an unprecedented return or replace policy for this system. In the unlikely event that you don’t love the sound of the AWE Tuning Porsche 991 Carrera Performance Exhaust for any reason, you have thirty-days after purchase to replace it or return it, and we’ll cover your labor to remove the system, put your stock system back on, even the labor retroactively for the initial install." (just pulled that from their website)

I am a lawyer, and truly hated to even bring it up, but I was being treated like a child. I have all of the email correspondence on this, I sent tons of videos, and despite having screen shots of their advertising language, I ultimately felt like no one thought my car was droning despite my offer to take the car to ANY shop of their choosing. Ultimately, I was reimbursed for part of the shop labor costs and I was ready to be done with the experience, but obviously I will never order an AWE product again. For context, I had the Tubi system on my 997.2 and it was 10/10 Amazing, the Europipe on my 997.1 Turbo that was quite loud and I'd also had aftermarket exhausts on some M cars.

Immediately after my experience with AWE, I installed the PSE, was VERY happy with it. I just recently wanted to try a louder system and found on Rennlist a Soul Performance exhaust barely used. I still have the PSE button to use with the Soul exhaust, but I can tell you, it does have some level of drone (which I'd read about), but damn it sounds so good I don't care. It is very aggressive in Sport mode and barks and crackles like crazy, which some people would find probably too much.

As others have said, the gross majority of the aftermarket systems seem to be quite different at low rpms vs when the valves open. I would love to experience a Tubi on the 991.1S

Originally Posted by JEllis

So the Soul performance exhaust is another center muffler delete system. Extremely similar to AWE switch path.

Again, comparing experiences between non PSE and PSE enabled systems is not apples to apples since the logic in the systems isn't the same and there is no manual way to control the valves on the non PSE cars. With non PSE cars, you are basically getting a combo of quiet and extra loud that cannot be controlled.

How does the Soul performance sound with the valves closed compared to your OE PSE with valves closed/open?

Jason

Originally Posted by RON1X

You are exactly correct regarding the non-PSE/ PSE not being truly comparative. Frankly, my experience with the AWE system helped me better realize what is happening with the valve controls by the ECU. As DrCollie state above, all the PSE button is doing is allowing you to over-ride the valves being open at lower rpm, which is nice when you want to hear a louder exhaust note cruising around (which I love). The valves open automatically around ~3200rpm, regardless. When you have the valves closed, and then they open automatically ~3200rpm that is where I experience drone up until around 4000rpm. I will also state that even with the PSE there was some drone... *some*. I've found with the Soul the drone doesn't seem to be as bad with the valves open and then crossing into the 3200-4000rpm range. I wish there was more info on this with other people's experience, I just state my own.

For what it's worth I think its even harder to compare some of these aftermarket solutions across the car's transmission, i.e. PDK vs MT because PDK can play into droning a bit more.

The Soul performance and AWE systems are extremely similar in overall sound but the drone I experience with the soul is easily lived with, and in MY personal experience with the AWE, it was absolutely not. That being said, I think the Soul is a bit louder/ more aggressive at lower rpm than the AWE was. At higher rpm, I think they are generally similar. It's been a year since I last heard the AWE though.

To directly answer your question: The Soul exhaust is significantly louder compared to the PSE in both in open/closed modes. I keep the valves closed more often than I'd anticipated, so I'd say about 50/50 for cruising around. As others have said, it is a loud exhaust, but I really do like the barks/crackles off throttle and roar at higher rpm. I just had a track day at Road Atlanta, and had a lot of people comment on how great it sounded as I drove by (for what that's worth). With the OEM PSE, I kept the valves open 99% of the time unless I was on the highway and needed to take a call.

Originally Posted by RON1X

Immediately after my experience with AWE, I installed the PSE, was VERY happy with it. I just recently wanted to try a louder system and found on Rennlist a Soul Performance exhaust barely used. I still have the PSE button to use with the Soul exhaust, but I can tell you, it does have some level of drone (which I'd read about), but damn it sounds so good I don't care. It is very aggressive in Sport mode and barks and crackles like crazy, which some people would find probably too much.

As others have said, the gross majority of the aftermarket systems seem to be quite different at low rpms vs when the valves open. I would love to experience a Tubi on the 991.1S

Originally Posted by JEllis

Awesome feedback. I will give Soul some consideration.

Thank again,
Jason

Originally Posted by Axxlrod

Just something to mention.

I put the AWE Switchpath exhaust on my 991.1 GTS. It boomed/droned a little for me. But then I read on here about closing off the sound tube under the rear deck that connects to the intake/resonator.

I stuffed a microfiber towel down the tube, sealing it off. It worked! No more boom or drone. Just amazing exhaust sound.

I recommend you try it.