General exhaust sound question

HighIron · 12-09-2018, 01:18 PM

I love the overall sound of the exhaust in the 6th generation LT1: Low-mid, to mid, to higher RPMs make for an earthy commanding roar. It's just that the idle and low RPM sound is kinda' "meh" to me. It sounds good from inside the car, but outside the sound....irrespective of volume...is more of a flat bellow/drone to my ears.

I say "irrespective of volume" because the modes of the NPP ( well, it has more "bark" at lightoff in sport mode ) and all the aftermarket exhaust videos I've seen, while louder, all seem to affect the sound signature more in the mid to high rev range. In turn, some sound ferociously mean at full boil, but still have the same bellow/drone sound at idle/low-rpm, albeit lounder.

What is it about the exhaust packaging that makes the low rpm range sound so different than the 4th generation SBC and LS1 sound...which had a more throaty....ehhh....textured...sound to it?

For what it's worth, the later model Corvettes ( C5 to present ) exemplify the bellow-ey sound I refer to....and just the other day I was next to a C7 in traffic, and being driven mellowly, the exhuast sounded almost 4-cylinder-ish.

USAFS197 · 12-10-2018, 05:48 AM

There are so many factors at play that determine the exhaust note of a vehicle. All the way from the intake tract, cylinder heads, firing order, materials and diameter of the exhaust, etc., etc. As far as that Corvette is concerned, it was likely an automatic and what you were hearing, was it in DoD mode, where only four cylinders were chiming off at a given time and therefore, presented the 4-cylinder tone that you heard.

These engines have gotten raspier and raspier as the years have gone by. It all boils down to the fine details. Try as we might, our engines will never sound like an old SBC, for better or for worse.

HighIron · 12-10-2018, 04:43 PM

I don't really think it's a small block Chevy vs LS1 thing. Late model Suburbans and Silverados sound deep and throaty at idle and low rpm, unlike the droning muffled rasp of Camaros at the same engine speeds.

LT4Greg · 12-10-2018, 06:11 PM

My ‘16 has the NPP exhaust and I leave it in Track mode and pulled the fuse. Of course it sounds different than before and I like it. If it had LT Headers it would sound different too. Like was said the new engines will never sound like the old classic Gen1 smallblock and the old Chevy bigblock is music to my ears!

12-09-2018, 01:18 PM	#1
HighIron Drives: 2024 2SS Summit White Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: US Posts: 156	General exhaust sound question I love the overall sound of the exhaust in the 6th generation LT1: Low-mid, to mid, to higher RPMs make for an earthy commanding roar. It's just that the idle and low RPM sound is kinda' "meh" to me. It sounds good from inside the car, but outside the sound....irrespective of volume...is more of a flat bellow/drone to my ears. I say "irrespective of volume" because the modes of the NPP ( well, it has more "bark" at lightoff in sport mode ) and all the aftermarket exhaust videos I've seen, while louder, all seem to affect the sound signature more in the mid to high rev range. In turn, some sound ferociously mean at full boil, but still have the same bellow/drone sound at idle/low-rpm, albeit lounder. What is it about the exhaust packaging that makes the low rpm range sound so different than the 4th generation SBC and LS1 sound...which had a more throaty....ehhh....textured...sound to it? For what it's worth, the later model Corvettes ( C5 to present ) exemplify the bellow-ey sound I refer to....and just the other day I was next to a C7 in traffic, and being driven mellowly, the exhuast sounded almost 4-cylinder-ish.

12-10-2018, 05:48 AM	#2
USAFS197 Drives: 2018 Audi TT RS Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Navarre, Florida Posts: 1,915	There are so many factors at play that determine the exhaust note of a vehicle. All the way from the intake tract, cylinder heads, firing order, materials and diameter of the exhaust, etc., etc. As far as that Corvette is concerned, it was likely an automatic and what you were hearing, was it in DoD mode, where only four cylinders were chiming off at a given time and therefore, presented the 4-cylinder tone that you heard. These engines have gotten raspier and raspier as the years have gone by. It all boils down to the fine details. Try as we might, our engines will never sound like an old SBC, for better or for worse. __________________ 2018 Audi TT ▊RS 2.4X 0-60, 1.6X 60', 120+mph 1/8th, 4.XX 60-130, 150+mph traps on 255/35/18 R888R tires on the street (unprepped). 2019 Audi RS3 About as fast as the TT RS 2019 Camaro ZL1 1LE Sold 2018 Camaro SS 1LE Sold 2019 Corvette Z06 Sold 2021 Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody Sold

12-10-2018, 06:11 PM	#4
LT4Greg Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 Coupe Join Date: May 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,875	My ‘16 has the NPP exhaust and I leave it in Track mode and pulled the fuse. Of course it sounds different than before and I like it. If it had LT Headers it would sound different too. Like was said the new engines will never sound like the old classic Gen1 smallblock and the old Chevy bigblock is music to my ears! __________________ ZL1 Coupe, PDR, Exposed carbon fiber hood insert, My Link with Nav, M6 6 speed and Silver Ice Metallic. Mods done: ceramic window tint, GM Accessories Camaro floor mats and Roto-Fab CAI.

12-10-2018, 04:43 PM	#3
HighIron Drives: 2024 2SS Summit White Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: US Posts: 156	I don't really think it's a small block Chevy vs LS1 thing. Late model Suburbans and Silverados sound deep and throaty at idle and low rpm, unlike the droning muffled rasp of Camaros at the same engine speeds.

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