I am considering keeping the resonator and deleting the muffler on my 1.8.
My local scca autocross locale has a strict sound limit of 90 db measured at 75 feet. The local track has a limit of 96 db, but they don't state from what distance(side of track, I guess). I understand that decibels are basically calculated with a logarithm that increases in a non-linear way, similar in effect to how earthquake magnitudes are calculated. So while a quiet library may be 30 decibels, and a jackhammer would be 90 db, the jackhammer is obviously waaay louder than 3x the sound of a library.
Annnnyyyways, the point I'm making is I understand that 90 decibels is really freaking loud.
It seems like a muffler delete wont make a dramatic decible difference on our cars, but will instead give them a much better exhaust tone. However, someday I will want a new downpipe and that would obviously change things...
Luckily it seems that there are plenty of free apps for sound meters available on Google play and in the app store. And judging by the reviews some of them are actually fairly accurate(within ~10%). Sure, probably not as accurate or precise as a pro decibel meter, but good enough to give us some reference points, perhaps.
So, I am hoping that those of you who have done any sort of exhaust modifications(but particularly muffler deletes) might be curious enough and kind enough to help me compile some data on how loud our pipes can really get.
I'm sure I will get plenty of "it's not that loud don't worry about it" responses, but I am enough of a nerd to appreciate some good(half baked) stats!
Anyone interested in downloading the app and having a friend record you from the side of the street while you redline your 1.8?
My local scca autocross locale has a strict sound limit of 90 db measured at 75 feet. The local track has a limit of 96 db, but they don't state from what distance(side of track, I guess). I understand that decibels are basically calculated with a logarithm that increases in a non-linear way, similar in effect to how earthquake magnitudes are calculated. So while a quiet library may be 30 decibels, and a jackhammer would be 90 db, the jackhammer is obviously waaay louder than 3x the sound of a library.
Annnnyyyways, the point I'm making is I understand that 90 decibels is really freaking loud.
It seems like a muffler delete wont make a dramatic decible difference on our cars, but will instead give them a much better exhaust tone. However, someday I will want a new downpipe and that would obviously change things...
Luckily it seems that there are plenty of free apps for sound meters available on Google play and in the app store. And judging by the reviews some of them are actually fairly accurate(within ~10%). Sure, probably not as accurate or precise as a pro decibel meter, but good enough to give us some reference points, perhaps.
So, I am hoping that those of you who have done any sort of exhaust modifications(but particularly muffler deletes) might be curious enough and kind enough to help me compile some data on how loud our pipes can really get.
I'm sure I will get plenty of "it's not that loud don't worry about it" responses, but I am enough of a nerd to appreciate some good(half baked) stats!
Anyone interested in downloading the app and having a friend record you from the side of the street while you redline your 1.8?