Exhaust sound clips (PSE, Fabspeed, B&B, GHL, Ruf)

I have been trying to decide if I need to upgrade the sound of my 996. I have done the research and come up with the following sound clips. Please understand that the best way to hear any of these is in person. Thanks to all that have taken the effort to post their sound clips. Enjoy. PSE: PSE 1 & 2 sound clips PSE parked Fabspeed Videos: Mufflers Bypass pipes video B&B: A few to choose from GLH: GHL - after 500 miles GHL - Loud So far, the Fabspeed bypass got the loudest reaction out of me. I like it! I am still looking for a Ruf sound clip. Drive safely, Darren ::EDIT:: Ruf: Ruf 1 Ruf 2 ::EDIT 2:: Post 42 for Kreissieg Post 43 for Cargraphic

I love my GHL exhaust!

I've got the bypass pipes on my GT3 and they're VERY loud. Much louder than that clip would lead you to believe.

I used to have a Ruf sound clip somewhere, I'll look tomorrow.

Drivable around town without attracting too much attention (keeping your foot out of it, of course)? CHP glares? Does it rattle your brain in the car?

Attracts attention even at idle. I get nervous everytime I see a cop (a motorcycle cop followed me for a few blocks the other day, but didn't hassle me). I love the sound inside the car, but it's only for hardcore car nuts... Because I have a GT3, it may be louder than a regular 996 (just my guess, maybe not). Also, relative to the Fabspeed video, mine really "gurgles and pops" when I back off the throttle (which I think sounds really cool).

GHL's by a million miles sound the best of all of these clips. No comparison to the Fabspeeds in the clips where the cars are at idle. I am not counting the bypass pipe clip. These I feel are too loud and just a front row ticket to harrasment by the cops.

the fabspeed muffler video as said by holger can't even compare... it's extremely extremely loud... ever been to a track and heard a straight pipe 7-8 second v8 muscle car take off? at WOT it's that intense... i really didn't think the little 6 behind the car could make the sound it does... but it does indeed.... as i've said before, if the porsche is your only car, or even your only second vehicle, or you intend to have a conversation with anyone in your car... i wouldn't consider it.. you won't be able to hear the person next to you.. but NOTHING beats the sound it makes when you put the key in the ignition and start up the car..

I must be an idiot--I can't decide--they all sound great--bypass pipe is too loud--GHL or Fabspeed--I think the Fabspeed sounds better but it's really close--what about the fact that materials used on the Fabspeed are thicker--does thicker mean better quality--the Fabs are polished and seem more like jewelry--#%$@--I still can't decide. my new-used car is being delivered in two weeks and I can't decide--HELP....Jeff

wait a couple of weeks i will have my GHL "loud" and headers installed . i will add a sound byte to my porsche page.

the PSE sound files don't do the PSE any justice... the GHL is too soft... PSE in real life sounds friggin awesome... that's the one I bought!

Did you happen to run across the sound clip?

Drop me an email I'll send it your way. I can't seem to upload a wav file here.

Damn, some of you guys change mufflers like underwear!

yah... somebody should create a multi-tone exhaust that mechanically alters the airflow within the mufflers to produce different sounds and have a switch on the dashboard that gives you 3 distinct sounds... any takers?? that would be one cool mod...

That reminds me of a funny thing I saw on an old Discovery Channel show, Beyond 2000. They had this small Citro�n the size of a Subaru Justy/Geo Metro. They installed a �sound package� that had 8 or so different car exhaust sounds that was synched with the engine speed that fed into the car�s stereo. Select Chevy V8, Ferrari V12, Lotus Esprit or such and it would give you the sense you were driving that car. We need that to simulate the following exhausts: Ruf GHL Fabspeed speedART Porsche Gemballa B&B TechArt Roock Dansk Cheers, Darren

Darren I sent you the files, hope it helps. Sorry about the poor quality.

Darren, is the GHL clip the loud ones or regular? I am leaning towards the GHL....when they are ready for the 997....

I�m guessing the clip is not the �loud� GHLs, but I am not sure. Anyone know how long the �loud� version has been out? I recently just heard of them. Maybe we can get someone from GHL to record both for a comparison. Sweet looking car, btw. -Darren

I added 2 Ruf clips to the first post. Doug sent me these. Darren, here you go. The recordings are from a PDA so the quality isn�t great. In person the Ruf is a very raspy sounding exhaust, more so than PSE. Doug Thanks Doug! -Darren

By far the best sound ,and I had the PSE previously, is the GHL mufflers with the FVD sport cats.If complements and questions are any guide Invariably folks at the track want to know what I have done to the car. I was warned that I might get CEL's from the o2 sensor past the cat and I have only once.The car is running better in my mind and seems less stressed.I instruct a lot for PCA and so forth and spend a lot of time at VIR before the mod top speed on the back straight was 135 now it is 142.

The Ruf is a really well made exhaust with a very German sound if you will. Too bad the exchange rates have made it very hard to buy ($2K ). If it wasn't for that they would have been my first choice, way better than PSE IMHO. I am very happy with my Fabspeeds, can't beat them for 1/2 the Ruf price.

I've just installed the Fabspeed pipes and, although I love the sweet music, they are much, much louder than the video clip! The exhaust note on my car definately gets louder when the engine is hot also, at first I thought this was just with the mufflers but it has been the same with bypass pipes too. I removed the fabspeed mufflers which I did really like; great sound, no resonance (they are for sale together with some RUF tips)

Mitty, you're a GOD for putting all of these clips together. So far, I like the PSE and the GHL's the best. Who's got a Billy Boat they can share? Other updates?

I'm glad you found it useful. I have not heard much about Billy Boat on this forum. You can hear them on the link in the first post. They are the B&B link. Dansk is also a brand I have not heard much about here. -Darren

Haven't seen a lot of Cargraphics clips either, although I understand they are fairly popular.

Im happy to say I just picked up an 03 996 TT.. and my only dissapointment with it is that it sounds like a honda , even when I get on it... I come from nice throaty AMGs, still have the E55.. I want my turbo to sound like an evil demon coming to send you to the reaper!!!! I thought the fabspeed bypass pipes sounded the best by far, but im now scared off by the guys saying they are too loud, and cant talk in the car, etc... But the other clips, like the fabspeed sport exhaust, and ghl.. sound kinda quiet to me.. Im hoping its all just from the camera recording , etc.. Also, it seems like the prices on the Fabspeed Sport are kinds high. $3k+.. It seems an awful lots for an exaust system. Are the GHL / PSE priced similarly? thanks

congrats on your purchase, i am jealous unfortunately, there isn't PSE for the TT. a lot of TT guys have gone to europipe . i think there are 2 levels, quiet and loud. quiet is kind of a misnomer. it is louder than stock but not as loud as "loud". you should really check out the 996TT board either here or on 6speedonline. actually there's a fabspeed loud for sale in the 6speed "for sale" section.

If you're hardcore like Holger and me, you will love the bypass pipes. I love the way it sounds inside the car too. It's really not that loud inside even with the windows down. This is probably because the sound is going out the back as you are moving forward. With the windows up, I can still have a decent cell phone conversation even on the freeway. I do believe the GT3 with bypass is louder than my standard 996 3.4. Keep in mind that I am referring to civilized throttle control, keeping the rpms below 4500. If you go WOT, you can hear the thing from 2 blocks away. I wish I had a GT3

I have to say... I love the GT3.. they had two at the shop I got the Turbo from. They were only about 4k more then the turbo.. I drove one of them, and loved it.. But then I drove the turbo.. and it was just so much faster, there was no choice left.. and I dont mean it just felt faster.. Butt dyno aside.. I did a little 0 - 60 count silently, and the turbo was just plain fast.. But there is also no doubt, that its far more "unbalanced" and a brute. Gt3 was smooth and buttery.. Thanks for the exhaust info.. I plan to take pics this weekend, and will join up here and 6speed..

I meant to add.. If the volume is controllable via throttle, and I can tip toe around to some extent that way.. I will certainly get the bypass pipes then.. My biggest concern will be my immediate neighbors, and when the wife is riding along and wants me to be calm...

No problems tip toein' around, I just try not to take it out after 9pm when the neighborhood is all quiet. Just a side note, the bypass seems louder at start up then when the engine is warm. Like someone else said, it's probably not a great idea if your car is a daily driver, but the plus side is power gain and removing about 60+ pounds from the rear of car.

Do you have to swap out the bypass every year to go through emissions inspection? That is something I would certainly forget. Any resonance issues with any of the systems listed?

I have yet to smog the car with the bypass. According to Fabspeed it shouldn't be a problem, the pipes are past the cats. In Ca. we only have to worry about smog every 2 years. There seems to be no resonance at all.

one man's resonance is another man's noise. HAHAHA. have you ever been near one of the obnoxious new mustangs? plenty of resonance, and they have mufflers :O.

ordered the GLH today.

ok stupid question... Do the FabSpeed muffler bypass exhausts work on a TT? Their site doesnt say it, but I cant see any reason why it wouldnt other then spacing / fit issues.... Man, I wish there was a way to check em out on a car before getting them.. Anyone in Denver / Boulder have them?

the TT exhaust is totally different the NA996s. the bypass pipes on the NA sound great but can be obnoxious to some, especially for long drives. i have heard that, inherently, turbos muffle more sound so the bypass pipes on the TT are less loud than on the NA996. first pic is for the TT and second is for NA996s. looks like the TT pipes are 100 bucks cheaper than the NA version, $450. not to shoo you away from the NA996 forum but you should follow this THREAD on the 996TT forum.

Ahh, thanks.. dont know how i missed that on the site..

i also have GHL in my 996 and it is awsome system. all the welds and finish is great and it is best sounding system out there. it is perfect system for street and weekend racers. no other makers and do better than GHL for porsche.

Any other updated sound clips out there. Am looking to make this thread as comprehensive as possible. Thanks!

I had thought about adding the Kreissieg sounds, but that exhaust is very expensive and not talked about much here. For example, there least expensive GT3 system is $7,498.62. Here is their web page anyway . They do look fantastic. Here are their videos . I love this one. The engine is bouncing off the limiter. -Darren :EDIT: 8-29-2005 Price is now $8989.68.

I remember seeing Michele's (Porsche Babe on 6Speedonline.com) upgrades a while back. She went with the Cargraphic exhaust. Here is the well documented mod history. Well done Michele! Here are the videos. Drive by Another drive by Standing still -Darren

FABSPEED - Bar NONE ! PSE Sounds Cute - IHMO Nice for the 987, not for the 996.

If Kreissieg I found a spare $7500. I'd put the Kreissiegs on in a jiffy.

cute? yah right... PSE sounds like a bad *** grizzly bear compared to Fabspeed... Fabspeed = cute.

Added GHL - Loud in original post .

Mitty, Great post. Decisions..decisions.

This was such a great post. It ought to be in the tech section.

I think the Kreissieg sounds awesome. Anyone have an idea as to the comparison soundwise to PSE? In relation to volume and sweetness of sound. $9K for an exhaust, WOW. Sure sounds nice though.

I thought to add the link for the Cargraphics exhaust for the Porsche 996 C2. It sounds very nice. Plus, the quality of the sound file is very good.

GHL sound http://homepage.mac.com/jrlphoto