Has anyone tested the active exhaust vs stock exhaust? Is it a necessary option?

[LOL WUT]

So glad I went with AE. There is a quite a difference from regular to track. Adding an H or X pipe is nearly perfect.

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[Nickyweg]

I don't know about it only being 4 decibels between standard exhaust and Track mode on active exhaust.



Have you watched this video? You can ignore the H-pipe measurements and just listen to the OEM active exhaust. Compare the track setting to a non-active car. Pretty big difference.

Yeah that’s where I got that number. Normal is 111 and track is 114.

 

[opengl]

Yeah that’s where I got that number. Normal is 111 and track is 114.

You should understand that decibels are on a logarithmic scale. That means that 114 is not "3 more" than 111. It's a much more substantial increase than the number alone would make it sound. For every 10db, the volume is doubled.

https://salfordacoustics.co.uk/sound-waves/waves-transverse-introduction/decibel-scale

 

[David Schmidt]

Borla did a nice video about how the vanes behave in each mode. Quiet will still open the vanes up some when you get on it:

 

[Dark Stallion]

I have AE and it’s amazing for the price. Quiet start option is nice and then track gets it really loud if you want it. Louder, deeper, and meaner for sure than non active exhaust. I recently did a resonator delete/h pipe and it made track mode even louder and meaner sounding. And quiet mode is still quiet .

 

[Night Mare]

I love my active exhaust and with an H pipe it's perfect for me.

 

[spectreman]

On my Bullitt, I find it all quite gimmicky. I leave mine in track mode and, even tho it sounds good, I still think it's too quiet. Given my druthers, I could easily go back to a simple aftermarket exhaust w/one volume & save the $$.

 

[Järn]

I test drove both the standard exhaust and the Active Valve. The Active Valve is fantastic and a must-have option unless you wish to put on an aftermarket exhaust.
Perhaps the best reason to choose the Active Value is you can pick one of the four settings to meet your needs. I always start in quiet mode and if I want to listen to music I use quiet mode. I love the growl of sport mode. For an additional $200 you can modify the Active Valve with either an X-pipe or H-pipe, but it is not necessary.

 

[SpeedLu]

I just checked. It seems like it’s only 4 decibels different revving in normal vs. track. That doesn’t seem significant.

Have you compared them in person? There's a huge difference in sound volume.

 

[NoVaGT]

Hey! So I have a standard GT W/O active exhaust and have never actually heard a car with the active exhaust. Is it really worth the money / make a huge difference?

I test drove a 2019 GT without AE, and was stunned by how much louder the stock exhaust was in comparison to my 2016. I was worried that would get annoying with time, especially on long trips. With the AE my car is just as quiet as my 2016 when I want it to be, and loud (without being obnoxious or farty) when I want it to be.

Best of both worlds.

 

[Zooks527]

I just checked. It seems like it’s only 4 decibels different revving in normal vs. track. That doesn’t seem significant.

So, the difference between a chainsaw and a hammer drill. Having used both, neither is pleasant and the hammer drill is nasty.

 

[Spork3245]

The difference in db at top rev between modes isn’t significant because the AE will open as needed so the exhaust isn’t choking the engine. The difference at lower revs and the overall sound is significant. The AE on a GT is one of the best sounding stock exhausts I’ve ever heard, in track mode it basically sounds like a straight-pipe set-up. It’s worth every penny for the sound difference vs the non-AE, let alone the ability to not piss off your neighbors when turning back down your block or starting your car at odd-hours.

 

[dfanucci]

Yes there is a big difference. Revs don't do a good job of showing it...

 

[MidwayJ]

On my Bullitt, I find it all quite gimmicky. I leave mine in track mode and, even tho it sounds good, I still think it's too quiet. Given my druthers, I could easily go back to a simple aftermarket exhaust w/one volume & save the $$.

You need to swap in an H-pipe. Just this past weekend someone I know with a Bullitt showed up to a meet with his new H-pipe installed. His exhaust sounded great.

 

[MidwayJ]

I test drove a 2019 GT without AE, and was stunned by how much louder the stock exhaust was in comparison to my 2016. I was worried that would get annoying with time, especially on long trips. With the AE my car is just as quiet as my 2016 when I want it to be, and loud (without being obnoxious or farty) when I want it to be.

Best of both worlds.

The stock non-active exhaust in my '19 was louder than I expected, especially on cold starts, but cruising on the highway it was very quiet. What I didn't like about it was the tone, rather tinny, so I got a Roush AB. The AE sounds much better I think than the non-AE option. If I had AE I would just do a resonator delete H pipe and be done.

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