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Old 12-03-2013, 12:18 AM   #1
blckout7
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Default How loud is your subie?

Hey guys, I came across the following article posted on Jalopnik regarding how loud the new Jaguar was.

http://classiccarclubmanhattan.kinja...065604/@orlove

It sparked my interest to do a quick test of how loud my car was.....was hoping to see how it compares with my fellow subie family. I'd be really interested to see comparisons done between different temps, exhausts, cold start vs warm start, etc.

Here is how my car faired:

2013 WRX Stage 2 - Cobb Catted Downpipe, Nameless Axelback with 4" Mufflers
Decibel Reader Placed 1 foot Away from Tailpipe (Mic facing Exhaust)
Outside Temp - 37F - Cold Start - Test done for 30 secs.
Peak dB - 100.8
Average dB over 30 sec - 95.8

Interestingly enough, once warm the cabin noise in my car at full WOT peaked at 102db....louder then the cold idle exterior reading....
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Old 12-03-2013, 03:53 AM   #2
Zefy
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noise is totally relative to how close you are to the source. 1 ft away is SUPER close. And your cell phone mic is a less than precise instrument for measuring this sort of noise.

Anything can really kick it over 102 like you observed like tapping he mic accidentally or the phone sliding around and it can really throw off your average.

But it's kind of difficult to imaging how loud something actually is. Going from 80db to 100db sounds like a modest increase but it is actually 10x the amplitude (or 10x louder) as it is a logarithmic scale.

sounds restrictions are enforced heavily at my local autoX events. The rules are 92db at 50 feet. I have seen stock jettas (2.5L induction noise) go well over that rule. Let alone corvettes, mustangs, civics, miatas exceed that easily with only minor exhaust mods.

Overall it's a neat concept to see how loud every is but I think it's important to know what you're actually measuring and from where. 1foot is to close. I think the normal "cop test" is 15 feet directly behind revving to 3000rpm steady. SPL competitions and noise control tests done inside the cabin typically hang the mic from the rear view mirror. And to do this properly you cannot rely on a cell phone app...
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Old 12-03-2013, 04:54 AM   #3
blckout7
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Well put. Oh well lol, there goes that idea..
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Old 12-03-2013, 05:28 AM   #4
Uncle Scotty
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oh boi...heeer comes JOHNNY.....
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Old 12-03-2013, 05:42 AM   #5
Daniel Dudley
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The decibel is the unit of measurement for sounds. When you speak at a normal volume, it is around 60 decibels. A whisper measures in at around 35 decibels. When walking down a busy city street, about 85 decibels are hitting your ears. The sound of a lawnmowers measures in at about 90 decibels. Rock concerts, loud music through headphones, and gunshots are all usually over 100 decibels.

Any sound over 85 decibels can cause noise-induced hearing loss. You will have to repeatedly be around sounds that measure in at around or just above 85 to start noticing symptoms, but you can notice symptoms from sounds that have decibel ranges in the mid- to upper 100s after far fewer exposures.
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Old 12-03-2013, 05:48 AM   #6
Zefy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel Dudley View Post
The decibel is the unit of measurement for sounds. When you speak at a normal volume, it is around 60 decibels. A whisper measures in at around 35 decibels. When walking down a busy city street, about 85 decibels are hitting your ears. The sound of a lawnmowers measures in at about 90 decibels. Rock concerts, loud music through headphones, and gunshots are all usually over 100 decibels.

Any sound over 85 decibels can cause noise-induced hearing loss. You will have to repeatedly be around sounds that measure in at around or just above 85 to start noticing symptoms, but you can notice symptoms from sounds that have decibel ranges in the mid- to upper 100s after far fewer exposures.
and lets not forget the critical 120db mark... after that, the noise won't get any louder according to your ears, it just hurts... a lot...
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Old 12-03-2013, 06:47 AM   #7
HinshawWRX
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Huh? I can't hear you!

See where the flaw is?
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Old 12-03-2013, 07:12 AM   #8
Jack
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel Dudley View Post
The decibel is the unit of measurement for sounds. When you speak at a normal volume, it is around 60 decibels. A whisper measures in at around 35 decibels. When walking down a busy city street, about 85 decibels are hitting your ears. The sound of a lawnmowers measures in at about 90 decibels. Rock concerts, loud music through headphones, and gunshots are all usually over 100 decibels.

Any sound over 85 decibels can cause noise-induced hearing loss. You will have to repeatedly be around sounds that measure in at around or just above 85 to start noticing symptoms, but you can notice symptoms from sounds that have decibel ranges in the mid- to upper 100s after far fewer exposures.
85? Really? I play guitar in a band where the sound board is at the back of the room and he sets the average sound at 90dB......in a church.
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Old 12-03-2013, 07:34 AM   #9
drewhumphrey
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack View Post
85? Really? I play guitar in a band where the sound board is at the back of the room and he sets the average sound at 90dB......in a church.
I'm pretty sure that OSHA says 100 dB+ is when hearing damage starts...and that's only if you listen for an extended period of time. 85 dB is an underestimation I think, but don't quote me here.
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Old 12-03-2013, 08:23 AM   #10
joewrx628
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I'm catless q300 in a 11 sti sedan. Anyone got a db reading on that?

Not loud but its got a tumble
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Old 12-03-2013, 08:54 AM   #11
Bak3rSkat3r
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I have an Invidia catted downpipe mated to a 3" ebay n1 catback... It's definitely loud and people always tell me they can hear me a mile away haha and still I wish it was louder......
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Old 12-03-2013, 09:31 AM   #12
panasyncp17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack View Post
85? Really? I play guitar in a band where the sound board is at the back of the room and he sets the average sound at 90dB......in a church.
85 is OSHA's limit for an 8 hour shift if I remember correctly
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Old 12-03-2013, 09:36 AM   #13
Brother EddieJ.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by panasyncp17 View Post
85 is OSHA's limit for an 8 hour shift if I remember correctly
7 hours actually anything longer needs hearing protection.
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Old 12-03-2013, 09:38 AM   #14
panasyncp17
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7 hours actually anything longer needs hearing protection.
I guess that's why my company requires OSHA 10 hour every 3 years I hate ear plugs!
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Old 12-03-2013, 09:41 AM   #15
PinoyRascal05Sti
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I lost my hearing next to a emo chick next to me at a traffic light. She was listening to Justin Biever ><
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Old 12-03-2013, 11:47 AM   #16
HinshawWRX
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Quote:
Originally Posted by panasyncp17 View Post
I guess that's why my company requires OSHA 10 hour every 3 years I hate ear plugs!
While ear plugs can be annoying, they are a great tool. Trust me, being in an industrial area for the last 8 years has killed my hearing.

Quote:
Originally Posted by PinoyRascal05Sti View Post
I lost my hearing next to a emo chick next to me at a traffic light. She was listening to Justin Biever ><
Who?

(Your joke failed)
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Old 12-03-2013, 12:25 PM   #17
Loyale93
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drewhumphrey View Post
I'm pretty sure that OSHA says 100 dB+ is when hearing damage starts...and that's only if you listen for an extended period of time. 85 dB is an underestimation I think, but don't quote me here.
Done and done.
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Old 12-03-2013, 12:32 PM   #18
e-wrx-ion
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My car goes vroom vroom. I bought quiet exhaust for it because I like my neighbors.
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Old 12-03-2013, 03:30 PM   #19
forester06x
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack View Post
85? Really? I play guitar in a band where the sound board is at the back of the room and he sets the average sound at 90dB......in a church.
It's all relative. Higher frequencies will hurt your ears at lower volume because the sound waves are hitting your eardrum more often. Also discrepancies in A/B/C weighting for SPL meters are sometimes why you get different numbers for "how loud is too loud".
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Old 12-03-2013, 03:55 PM   #20
EdekitRex
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My STi is very loud with a catless n1 setup but I think the best part is when I start it in the winters and go back inside to make some coffee and various items on my mantles inside shake and fall off...best part of waking up
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Old 12-03-2013, 04:03 PM   #21
shredhead511
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Quote:
Originally Posted by e-wrx-ion View Post
My car goes vroom vroom. I bought quiet exhaust for it because I like my neighbors.
I hate my neighbors.....
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Old 12-03-2013, 04:08 PM   #22
etirums
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zefy View Post
and lets not forget the critical 120db mark... after that, the noise won't get any louder according to your ears, it just hurts... a lot...
As the NO Saints found out last night
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Old 12-03-2013, 04:15 PM   #23
Danthrax
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Full invidia catless turbo back and I don't think I've lost any hearing because of it. It's pretty loud at WOT but otherwise bearable to the general public.
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Old 12-03-2013, 04:24 PM   #24
Ernest
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Prodrive oval - pretty mild at stage 2.
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Old 12-03-2013, 04:30 PM   #25
Zach Thomas
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Is this what you are looking for? http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=677926

My subie is LOUD. Blitz Nur Spec R and no cats. It's almost unbearable for a daily driver, but my commute is short enough to endure it
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