Has Anyone Measured Their Noise Levels?

[welshpug 1,657]

100 Db at Combe - http://www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk/trackd...information.asp

Edited May 4, 2010 by welshpug

[Cameron 16]

Prolonged exposure doesn't constitute going for a drive, it means being exposed to it in your working environment for 8 hours a day every single day. Decibels are a logarithmic scale, so 85dB (which IS actually the estimated threshold for POTENTIAL hearing damage) is actually not that loud. 85dB is probably around the levels of a noisy classroom but do you see teachers wearing ear plugs?

 

I think you're being way too fussy here, and the wearing ear plugs on a night out confirms my suspicions about you just being super anal.

You're expecting to have a performance exhaust that is as quiet as the standard item and it's just not going to happen!

[Veero 1]

FFS Cameron you don't give up do you. There's a massive difference between enjoying a car that makes a throaty noise on giving it some beans and one that's uncomfortable to drive even when pootling along at 60 on an A road. Did you not read my initial post? I said I have sensitive hearing, so my definition of loud is clearly going to be very different from your definition (should that be deafinition judging by your previous post?)

 

I'm not expecting a 'performance' exhaust to be as quiet as standard, I had a standard centre section with a Magnex backbox fitted for 3 years and I was perfectly happy with it until one of the baffles went in the centre section then it sounded like a tractor. In fact I regret now not just replacing the blown centre section and getting the downpipe modified properly. Firstly I wouldn't put off driving the 205, secondly it would have worked out cheaper but not longer lasting. Instead of cobbling together a standard downpipe onto a new centre section I thought I would splash out. Since Longlife offer "factory quiet" which is what I went for, is it not reasonable to expect at least in the same ballpark as civilised noise levels?

 

As for being super anal, I just didn't see the point in being made prematurely deaf by listening to overly loud music. What's the problem if I can still hear what people are saying, still enjoy the music without having ringing ears the following day? Sorry if I'm not down with the cool kids as you clearly are, I don't fancy having to have a hearing aid later in life. You seem absolutely unable to grasp that concept.

 

I know damn well what prolonged exposure technically means in terms or workplace exposure to noise, I put it in as a reference. Besides I would count a 2 hour drive listening to 75odd dB along the motorway as prolonged. For reference our 2000W hoover is 85dB, that's with the muffler over the microphone on the noise meter, held a metre away from it. A wee bit noisier than your average classroom.

 

Thanks Surgie and Welsh. Cameron, if you must say anything else, please remove your head from the dark place it is inserted and maybe engage brain before typing. Thank you.

[205Rallee 59]

My 205 Euro Rallye with single box stainless system made by Torque Tube at macclesfield, twin 40's, semi helical quaife box, no soundproofing etc sounds awesome and the boy racers love it, but OMG the sound is pure torture after 5 mins. Ok it's used for sprints and I drive it to events, but I always run with ear plugs and I agree your hearing is sooo important. I'm an oldie and struggle to hear conversations in noisy pubs and that could well be due to spending far too much time in and around noisy cars when young.

 

When noise tested at events it has been known to fail the noise test at 100+dBs.

[Cameron 16]

Ok, now breathe.. Seriously you need to stop getting so worked up! I started out trying to help you but you quickly got your panties in a twist over some pathetically mild sarcasm meant as a harmless bit of banter. I did my industrial placement at a top performance exhaust manufacturer and while I was there learned quite a lot about silencer design, hell I even wrote a paper for them on it! Forgive me for thinking that I knew enough about the subject to offer you some decent advice, and explain the difficulty in designing a straight-through system that will be as quiet as the standard baffled one. You seem to have ignored my advice just because it doesn't back up your frustrations about your system being "too loud". If you ask me, 85dB is pretty bloody quiet for a performance exhaust, especially when measured at the peak frequency.

 

75dB is nothing, that's probably less than a standard GTI would be, bearing in mind that normal talking is around 70dB. And just FYI that isn't a muffler you put over the end, it's a pop / hiss filter that removes wind noise, it's designed to have no effect on the actual reading.

 

Anyway, unbunch your panties, have some Feminax, whatever. Just chill out.

Edited May 4, 2010 by Cameron

[Veero 1]

Helpful as ever Cameron...

[Cameron 16]

"Zen-like calm" on the public forum, string of insults in the PM.

[willmounsey 1]

Anyhoo, measured it all on Sunday.

 

85dB inside the cabin under load at 4000revs and since according to a government website permanent hearing loss can occur at prolonged exposure to 80dB+ sounds then frankly I'd rather be picky than deaf.

 

Can i ask where you got the dB reader from? i need one for NCT reasons, bit worried about my own

 

 

Tell me about it iv had three serious ops on my ears and both ring louder than the constant door bell ringing. Iv found that the busier i am the more i dont notice it and there is a new technology coming out to reset the brain if you like, as its the brain that causes it. The main thing for me is il never have any silence again until they fix it. Also have you tried having a special thing that makes bird noises and other noises so it distracts your brain when trying to sleep ? Iv heard that meditating can help as well.

 

Most cases are caused by loud music that the youth listen to too much with their headphones, loud car stereos and clubs etc. A big percentage of the population will have tinnitus at some point in their life, so be careful with your ears as its the most horrible thing ever, id prefer a leg missing tbh.

 

I haven't had any ops, but 3 CT scans and annual hearing test's which are now finished and basically I've been told I've just to deal with it.

I totally get you when you say to keep busy, its just a case of ignoring it really and as for sleeping I've music on really low each night just to drown it out a bit, seems to help you know.

 

Its been working in kitchens that caused this for me, the roar from cooker hoods and the general noise for 8-14 hours a day (depending on how busy it is) has taken its tole.

 

It is horrible to have but livable, still though as Surgie said be careful with your ears!

[Anthony 1,003]

85dB inside the cabin under load at 4000revs and since according to a government website permanent hearing loss can occur at prolonged exposure to 80dB+ sounds then frankly I'd rather be picky than deaf.

Obviously I've not measured mine in the same manner ot compare, but that strikes me as pretty loud - for what it's worth, my 205 usually gets similar figures when sound tested at trackdays - and that's *outside* the car at ~4000rpm around a metre from the exhaust! I'd guess that's too loud in the cabin to hold a conversation without raising your voice? That's my general benchmark for whether it's too loud.

 

Certainly I've driven some 205's that have been loud enough that my ears have been ringing for hours afterwards, and I've little doubt that driving one of those constantly would give you long-term hearing damage. Cars that have done that have all been stripped-out "track cars" (I hate that term) with aftermarket exhausts - I've yet to drive a car with standard interior that makes me ears ring so I'd guess that the interior makes a huge difference to sound levels inside the cabin.

 

I don't have access to a sound meter I'm afraid, but if you're passing Swindon you're welcome to do a similar test on both my cars if you like? One has a standard exhaust (with a slight blow mind), and one has a standard system and Magnex backbox (the one mentioned about that soundtests around the mid-80's dB mark).

[Alastairh 47]

I know how you feel. I can't help, but i've owned a few cars which are fully trimmed up and have sent me spare after a 45 minute journey. The worst was a 500 mile drive in my Mi with a 4" Magnex.

 

Take it back, if you asked for a standard noise level and they have now done everything they can, then as far as i am concerned you should get your money back. But thats not really the point.

 

Al

[Batfink 201]

Go to a bike shop and get some ear plugs. Cost me 99p and they cut out the engine noise when I race, but I can still have a proper conversation with people...

[SurGie 54]

Or if you want ones that fit perfectly in your ears and have them any colour you want, then go down to the hearing aid shop at any local hospital and get moulds done. They are mainly used for swimming with and are better than ear plugs because they wont fall out, and are more comfortable to use IMO. Mine did cost £15 though but last a lifetime and can be personalized, just make sure you clean them well each time.

[Veero 1]

Cheers Anthony, actually I think I will take you up on that offer out of pure curiosity.

 

I'll be going to Southampton towards the end of May and can easily nip in on the way past.

 

In the meantime I will be taking it back. The only problem is that the old exhaust was chopped into waffer thin pieces...

[welshpug 1,657]

I dont see the old exhaust being disposed of as being a problem at all, they would be instaling a different silencer to the system currently on your car normally if they need to alter the sound.

 

dont happen to have any or be able to get a picture of the system they made up? or just the dimensions of the silencers and tube, I'll go and check mine shortly, though I have no idea if mine is particularly loud, it is on a relatively standard healthy 8 valver and I find it bearable.

[one-lady-owner 1]

I live about 4 miles from the centre of Southampton (in Hedge End) and have a completely factory 1.9, you are welcome to pop over and test it on mine when you are down.

[welshpug 1,657]

just measured my Longlife exhaust and it seems as close as you can get to the standard system apart from the centre box being a tad longer by the looks of it.

 

2.25" pipe from downpipe to centrebox, which is a 100x200 oval, 400 mm long, then 2" pipe to the backbox, a 150mm round 350mm long affair, with a 2.5" tailpipe.

[Veero 1]

Right third backbox they've tried and it is a little quieter. I would say it's bearable now. Going to take it for some long drives today and tomorrow and see if I can put up with it. It is much better than before, definitely taken the harsh ear resonating pitch off it. Alos need to get some sound matting and line the boot with it. If that makes any real difference then the exhaust can stay.

[RossD 44]

Car Builder Solutions do a nice sound level meter for £20 - I popped down there a couple of weeks ago and got one (Only 10 mins from me!). It does both A and C weightings and can be calibrated.

I've yet to do a proper static test on the 205, but under full bore acceleration in the cabin I hit 104dB. (Compared to my totally standard Xsara Hdi, at full bore inside it was only 83dB) This is very misleading way to meaure it though as it's like being inside a drum. My car is stripped inside from the front seats backwards and has throttle bodies but a standard Euro Rallye exhaust (Which is the same a a GTi one incidentally, but with a different downpipe).

 

Best way to meaure is how they do it in motorsports, static 0.5 45 degree tailpipe test and then the drive-by test.

 

I work for Siemens Hearing so this topic seems quite apt. The main consideration for hearing damage is Itensity Vs Time, for example an explosion is a very high intensity but very short duration but it does massive damage to your ears. Obviously as intensity falls, time can rise - they are inversely proportional.

 

Another misconception is that loudness = high dB, whilst this is true in some cases, the human ear can be misleading. What can seem very loud to the ear will not register as loud on the sound meter in some cases. Also the opposite is true, what does not seem very loud to the ear can sometimes be well over 90dB on the soundmeter, it all depends on the frequency of the sound\noise.

 

Edited May 27, 2010 by RossD

[Guest itshowiplay]

Im gonna have to borrow your tester thingy!!

 

My standard exhaust has more holes than a Swiss cheese factory and sounds like WW2s finest flying machines!

 

Gets filthy looks from granny on the country lanes and furious looks from the plod when we pass but as there aer no noise restriction laws down here in Jersey the loudest part of it all is me and my mate laughing our asses off at their expressions as we only happen to be doing 40ish!

 

Before you all point out that a holy exhaust (and no, not one bleesed by the Pope) is not good I do have a new one on order but once again as an island everything here takes ages to arrive!

 

On a serious note, don't go for tinitus, my mother has developed it this past year to a point where it has driven her back to smoking after 25 years off te fags!

[Baz 421]

Out of interest (mine mainly) , what is your sound level 0.5 m from the exhaust at 45 deg to the car ( this is one of the std ways of measuring dB(A) for motorsports)

 

My standard 1.6 with standard Ph2 system; 89db

 

Longman GpA 1.9 engined car on twin 45s with Maniflow 4 branch system and Piper Evo3 backbox; 93db.

 

Both usually around there anyway, and tested as you mention above at around 4k rpm.

Edited June 1, 2010 by Baz

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

Stainless is your problem, I do both mild steel and stainless system's and the mild one is a fair amoutn quitier than the stainless, Mind the centre box I use is huge on both, No idea on DB but I;d say quite a differance