McBurn4ever

You will probably think I'm some kind of NooB asking this...but keep in mind, I'm from Sweden..

I've seen the word "drone" many times in threads about exhastsystems, but I just can't figure out what it means.
Can someone please explain?


Thanks!
Regards! /Pär

Mike/A.W.E.

Pär,

Actually, that is a very good question.

Drone to a lot of people means the resonance or harmonic commonly found
between 2000 and 3000 rpms on a lot of aftermarket exhaust systems. In
a lot of cases, the "drone" can be so bad, that the interior bits of the
car or the loose coins in your ashtray may vibrate. But what really
irritates people about drone is that it can make your eardrums vibrate,
making the driving experience uncomfortable at times. It is most
evident when cruising on the hiway at a steady speed.

Now, why your question is so good is because some people are more
sensitive to drone that others, and when one person says that their
aftermarket exhaust does not drone but someone else with the same system
says it does, it becomes confusing.

Regardless, once an exhaust is designed to produce more power than the
stock one it is replacing, a common downside is drone and it is very
difficult to massage out in the design. However, this is where one of
main differences lies between exhaust systems. Some just open up the
pipes to make more power, and some take more sophistacated methods to
create the same power while minimizing or eliminating the dreaded
drone.

When designing our 996TT systems (not to toot our own horn too much), we
spent several *months* and 7 different designs to eliminate the drone
that was apparent between 2-3000 rpms. It meant road testing up and
down hills, on the hiway, in different ambient conditions, and with
sound frequency and level measurement devices. Ultimately, the only
real test was to have several different people drive the car in its
final prototype phases and give us feedback.

Drone can be somewhat subjective, but the bottom line is that if an
exhaust sound irritates you more than pleases you after a long trip, it
is most likely droning.

rbcsaver

Excellent response Mike. I have exactly what you desribe on my 84 after I installed a B&B header and dual outlet system. I will be much more guarded on which "brand" replacement I choose for my TT996.
regards,
Steve

Mike/A.W.E.

No problem.

We are located in Willow Grove, PA. If you want to take a drive down from Hershey, I will gladly take you for a ride in our car.

McBurn4ever

Mike,
I can only agree with Steve, "excellent response"!!
Now I finally understand what what you people mean the word "drone"

gunther1

I would not buy any system that I personally had not listened to!!! I did and got stuck with a system that was not as advertised. For those of you that have the fabspeed and like it great. I hate mine it is way to loud and gives me a headache within two minutes of driving. Sound is subjective, but the treatment I received from Joe was wholly unprofessional and I wonder how he can stay in business with such poor customer service. But I have digressed.

Listen before you buy. PS My fabspeed system is for sale $2000 delivered in the USA.

Rodis

Techart sport, sounds loud, deep and bubbly

Neil@Orton

Rodis A Techart sport is in fact a Supersprint system
Neil

Greco

Can someone post a sound byte of the Techart one? I've heard Fabspeed, Europipe, I would love to hear Techart/Supersprint.