mikes2017gt
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- Feb 21, 2017
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- Location
- San Antonio, TX
- Vehicle(s)
- 17 GT Prem M/T 3.55
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- #1
Hi all,
Here is the exact exhaust I purchased and installed:
https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-5200-M8TB
The video is 12+ minutes long. For those who want to cut to the chase: First 5:30 of the video is the stock exhaust. After that is the Borla.
This video has been two months and 2,300 miles in the making. Bought my 2017 GT back in Feb and immediately wanted a better exhaust note. But what's "better?" As I found out, that's pretty subjective, and that's what led me on a long, S550 aftermarket exhaust video watching spree. One guy's "killer exhaust" sounded like an open pipe in a tunnel to me. Another sounded like bubble wrap being popped inside a bathroom. Audio quality has a lot to do with this, so I attempted to make this video with quality equipment, under semi-controlled conditions.
Here's the setup:
The SPL was measured with a USB miniDSP UMIK1 into an HP laptop. The mic was exactly 6 feet from the rear bumper, centered on the car, both before and after. UMIK's come with a calibration file that you load into the measurement software (REW, below). The mic was calibrated using a 90db 1KHz test tone played over my PC's speakers, which are KRK studio monitors. https://www.minidsp.com/products/acoustic-measurement/umik-1
Mic was placed exactly 6 feet away from the rear bumper each time, and pointed at the same mark (the license plate).
"Test Chamber" was my garage, with the door open so I didn't die from carbon monoxide poisoning.
SPL measurements done with REW, which is typically used for EQing/measuring home theaters. https://www.roomeqwizard.com/
The "after" part of the video is a very good representation of what the Borla Touring is like once it's broken-in. The after-video shows the exhaust as it is today. I actually have 2 months/2,300 miles on the Borla since installing it. It's as broken-in as it's going to get at this point.
The video you see and sound you hear was recorded with a JVC HM-170U recording 1080P and a Rode NTG1 shotgun mic.
And here's the video in all it's undedited, unpolished glory. I suggest a decent pair of headphones if you don't have decent speakers for your computer if you really want to hear what things sound like:
[ame]
Some interesting numbers for you:
STOCK EXHAUST
Idle: 85db
Throttle Blip: 88db
2K rpm: 77db
3K rpm: 80db
4K rpm: 87db
Revs to around 5K rpm: 92 db
BORLA TOURING CATBACK
Idle: 82db
Throttle Blip: 97db
2K rpm: 92db
3K rpm: 93db
4K rpm: 96db
Revs to around 6K rpm: 105db+
Keep in mind this was recorded in a semi-closed space, my 3-car garage with the 2-door part's door wide open. A truer SPL measurement would be done outside, in a space like a football field. While my experiment is inherently flawed b/c of the garage aspect, where it has some good points is that the measurement equipment is decent and the test was repeated with the same controls. Same equipment, same space, same mic distance, etc.
It's interesting that the stock exhaust is actually louder at idle than at 2k rpm. Not sure how that happens, but the video doesn't lie. The stock resonator/mufflers do a damn good job of keeping the sound very tame.
With the Borla Touring, there is almost zero drone below 1800rpm. Problem is that in 6th gear at 80mph, which is my daily commute, rpm is about 2200 or so, and there's a little drone. I covered my entire trunk area in Dynamat Xtreme (thread on these forums in the Infotainment section) and that killed most of the drone. The rest I drown out with the radio or the loud pedal. I'm very sensitive to drone. "What's "sensitive" mean?" Good question. Again, very subjective.
I'm very happy with the Borla Touring. It was easy to install, the quality of parts and fitment is first-rate and it's exactly what I wanted. At idle and under about 1800rpm, it's pretty docile. When you put your foot in it, it is LOUD, make no mistake about that. 2nd-3rd gear blasts to 70mph up highway entrance ramps lets everyone within a 1/4 mile know you're coming. But once you're at 70mph in 6th, it's very close to stock...a bit louder but close enough.
I've never used any other aftermarket exhaust, so I've nothing to say about them. I hope this helps someone looking at the Borla Touring catback for their S550.
Here is the exact exhaust I purchased and installed:
https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-5200-M8TB
The video is 12+ minutes long. For those who want to cut to the chase: First 5:30 of the video is the stock exhaust. After that is the Borla.
This video has been two months and 2,300 miles in the making. Bought my 2017 GT back in Feb and immediately wanted a better exhaust note. But what's "better?" As I found out, that's pretty subjective, and that's what led me on a long, S550 aftermarket exhaust video watching spree. One guy's "killer exhaust" sounded like an open pipe in a tunnel to me. Another sounded like bubble wrap being popped inside a bathroom. Audio quality has a lot to do with this, so I attempted to make this video with quality equipment, under semi-controlled conditions.
Here's the setup:
The SPL was measured with a USB miniDSP UMIK1 into an HP laptop. The mic was exactly 6 feet from the rear bumper, centered on the car, both before and after. UMIK's come with a calibration file that you load into the measurement software (REW, below). The mic was calibrated using a 90db 1KHz test tone played over my PC's speakers, which are KRK studio monitors. https://www.minidsp.com/products/acoustic-measurement/umik-1
Mic was placed exactly 6 feet away from the rear bumper each time, and pointed at the same mark (the license plate).
"Test Chamber" was my garage, with the door open so I didn't die from carbon monoxide poisoning.
SPL measurements done with REW, which is typically used for EQing/measuring home theaters. https://www.roomeqwizard.com/
The "after" part of the video is a very good representation of what the Borla Touring is like once it's broken-in. The after-video shows the exhaust as it is today. I actually have 2 months/2,300 miles on the Borla since installing it. It's as broken-in as it's going to get at this point.
The video you see and sound you hear was recorded with a JVC HM-170U recording 1080P and a Rode NTG1 shotgun mic.
And here's the video in all it's undedited, unpolished glory. I suggest a decent pair of headphones if you don't have decent speakers for your computer if you really want to hear what things sound like:
[ame]
Some interesting numbers for you:
STOCK EXHAUST
Idle: 85db
Throttle Blip: 88db
2K rpm: 77db
3K rpm: 80db
4K rpm: 87db
Revs to around 5K rpm: 92 db
BORLA TOURING CATBACK
Idle: 82db
Throttle Blip: 97db
2K rpm: 92db
3K rpm: 93db
4K rpm: 96db
Revs to around 6K rpm: 105db+
Keep in mind this was recorded in a semi-closed space, my 3-car garage with the 2-door part's door wide open. A truer SPL measurement would be done outside, in a space like a football field. While my experiment is inherently flawed b/c of the garage aspect, where it has some good points is that the measurement equipment is decent and the test was repeated with the same controls. Same equipment, same space, same mic distance, etc.
It's interesting that the stock exhaust is actually louder at idle than at 2k rpm. Not sure how that happens, but the video doesn't lie. The stock resonator/mufflers do a damn good job of keeping the sound very tame.
With the Borla Touring, there is almost zero drone below 1800rpm. Problem is that in 6th gear at 80mph, which is my daily commute, rpm is about 2200 or so, and there's a little drone. I covered my entire trunk area in Dynamat Xtreme (thread on these forums in the Infotainment section) and that killed most of the drone. The rest I drown out with the radio or the loud pedal. I'm very sensitive to drone. "What's "sensitive" mean?" Good question. Again, very subjective.
I'm very happy with the Borla Touring. It was easy to install, the quality of parts and fitment is first-rate and it's exactly what I wanted. At idle and under about 1800rpm, it's pretty docile. When you put your foot in it, it is LOUD, make no mistake about that. 2nd-3rd gear blasts to 70mph up highway entrance ramps lets everyone within a 1/4 mile know you're coming. But once you're at 70mph in 6th, it's very close to stock...a bit louder but close enough.
I've never used any other aftermarket exhaust, so I've nothing to say about them. I hope this helps someone looking at the Borla Touring catback for their S550.
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