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Old 12-02-2012, 10:28 PM   #1
gotboost2jz
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Default What's the deal with hella tones?

Hella tone horns seem to be used exclusively in the Subaru community. I don't know one person that has them outside of subaru owners. So what gives? Why are red horns so popular? Not hating, just really curious.

I tried searching.
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Old 12-02-2012, 10:35 PM   #2
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http://wallpaperinstaller.com/scooby/horns.mov

Here's my car with FOUR horns. According to my dB meter, they put out 127dB. Pain occurs at 125dB. Why go "beep beep" when you can scare the Jesus out of that woman in the brand new 3 series who rolls through the stoplight at the Lynnhaven Mall as you are pulling in? LAY on the horn and watch her launch a FULL Starbucks into the middle of the windshield as she wrenches the wheel due to the sonic terror. She learned something that day.....and so did her dashboard.
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Old 12-02-2012, 10:35 PM   #3
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No clue, but I was thinking of getting FIAMMs if I ever upgrade mine. Cheaper and have a billion reviews, almost entirely positive.
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Old 12-02-2012, 10:47 PM   #4
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I know of other cars that use them.
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Old 12-02-2012, 10:56 PM   #5
gotboost2jz
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But why do Subaru owners so frequently upgrade their horns? I've never even had the idea cross my mind for my S14, my old 350z, or my old S13. The idea "I sure would like to have a louder horn than the one I already have, which works perfectly fine" has never come into my head. I don't get it. Do factory subaru horns lack in quality? Are they abnormally quite?

If you google image search "hella tones" not a single car comes up other than a subaru lol
(at least not for me)
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Old 12-02-2012, 10:59 PM   #6
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i dont know why subarus seem to have them maybe bc the horns suck so bad! I replaced mine to scare the **** out of people who cut me off or pull in front of me. plus they look like mean eyes haha
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Old 12-02-2012, 11:01 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Unabomber View Post
http://wallpaperinstaller.com/scooby/horns.mov

Here's my car with FOUR horns. According to my dB meter, they put out 127dB. Pain occurs at 125dB. Why go "beep beep" when you can scare the Jesus out of that woman in the brand new 3 series who rolls through the stoplight at the Lynnhaven Mall as you are pulling in? LAY on the horn and watch her launch a FULL Starbucks into the middle of the windshield as she wrenches the wheel due to the sonic terror. She learned something that day.....and so did her dashboard.
it might have been a resonance surface or your weighting was off.

they should be closer to 121db, 3db louder than the 118db a single set is rated at. still though, thats louder than the average rock concert (FOH mixes are done at 105db, front row will see anywhere from 110-115db from backline + stage noise).

Both can cause immediate hearing damage.
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Old 12-02-2012, 11:09 PM   #8
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I really want the white set for my SWP wrx, but I am having a hard time justifying spending money on something totally unnecessary. The stock horns are fine, I dunno why everyone says the aren't. I think everyone tells themselves the horns blow so the can justify spending $75 on them
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Old 12-02-2012, 11:14 PM   #9
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4 horns + 2 stock horn = 127dB View my youtube video to hear 200+dB
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Old 12-02-2012, 11:23 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gotboost2jz View Post
Do factory subaru horns lack in quality? Are they abnormally quite?
Well, I can tell you that there is a huge difference between my '03 Outback's horn and my '99 Impreza's horn. The Outback is a hell of a lot more convincing. It's not quite an American horn, but compared to the Impreza, it's a ****ing semi air horn. I imagine that when I hit the Impreza's horn, people look around and are confused because they don't see a moped.
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Old 12-02-2012, 11:25 PM   #11
05.wrex
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Seems like most buy them for looks and some for function. Sometimes it would be nice to have a louder horn but I just cant see spending money on them.
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Old 12-02-2012, 11:53 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Unabomber View Post
4 horns + 2 stock horn = 127dB View my youtube video to hear 200+dB
The difference could simply be a matter of the distance you measured them at?

If sound the sound waves from 2 pairs constructively interfere the amplitude should double which means a 6dB increase.

What distance does hella say they measure them at?
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Old 12-03-2012, 12:50 AM   #13
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I still dont get why its almost exclusively a subaru thing though. Why wouldnt other cars do it for the look, you know? What made it so prevalent here?
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Old 12-03-2012, 01:05 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gotboost2jz View Post
I still dont get why its almost exclusively a subaru thing though. Why wouldnt other cars do it for the look, you know? What made it so prevalent here?
Who knows? It became a trend, and trends catch on for no reason.

It's like viral videos. It just happens, and it spreads.
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Old 12-03-2012, 02:22 AM   #15
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I find these horns about as stupid as these overly large mudflaps so many seem to buy.
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Old 12-03-2012, 02:42 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MaddMax View Post
I find these horns about as stupid as these overly large mudflaps so many seem to buy.
Agreed
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Old 12-03-2012, 02:43 AM   #17
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I rarely use my horn, its more for show. I knew them long before I got my first car.
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Old 12-03-2012, 04:43 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J-hop View Post
The difference could simply be a matter of the distance you measured them at?

If sound the sound waves from 2 pairs constructively interfere the amplitude should double which means a 6dB increase.

What distance does hella say they measure them at?
its actually a little less than that. a doubling of source = 3db increase.

10 * log10 (2) = 3.01 dB, where 2 is the double in power (volume).

agreed on the distance though, as that perceived volume will change.

Last edited by sc00by4life; 12-03-2012 at 04:48 AM.
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Old 12-03-2012, 05:31 AM   #19
97legwagon
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The question isn't why, but why not!? My horn sounds like a squirrel yelling for attention. I feel like people laugh at me when I honk In all seriousness tho, this is America! The bigger, louder and more obnoxious the better
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Old 12-03-2012, 05:59 AM   #20
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You can get 2 for $40 during the common sales. They look cool and are highly functional. Why not?
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Old 12-03-2012, 06:34 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gotboost2jz View Post
I still dont get why its almost exclusively a subaru thing though. Why wouldnt other cars do it for the look, you know? What made it so prevalent here?
When the first generation of Imprezas (GC) came to the USA in the late 1990's the horns were very weak and underwhelming. At the same time the cars were getting popular due to their association with rallying. Many GC owners were buying aftermarket fog and driving lights (aka rally lights) for their cars, and most of the time those lights were Hellas because they are the best performing light for a low cost. Therefore it was no surprise that they also bought Hella Supertones at the same time. Later Impreza owners looked back at their hero's from the previous generation and copied their style.

.

Last edited by Howl; 12-03-2012 at 05:45 PM.
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Old 12-03-2012, 07:09 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MaddMax View Post
I find these horns about as stupid as these overly large mudflaps so many seem to buy.
I know this may sound wacky, but some people actually find them to be helpful protecting Subaru's pathetically weak paint from chips.
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Old 12-03-2012, 08:23 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sc00by4life View Post
its actually a little less than that. a doubling of source = 3db increase.

10 * log10 (2) = 3.01 dB, where 2 is the double in power (volume).

agreed on the distance though, as that perceived volume will change.

Actually no. Doubling POWER is 3dB. Doubling amplitude is 6dB. NEITHER relates to a doubling of perceived volume, that is a much more complex calculation as you have to deal with weighting. Two signals of equal amplitude perfectly constructively interfering should equal twice the amplitude.
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Old 12-03-2012, 08:24 AM   #24
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Originally Posted by War Bunny View Post
I know this may sound wacky, but some people actually find them to be helpful protecting Subaru's pathetically weak paint from chips.
maybe on the sides/rockers, but the places most likely to get chipped (the entire front end) will still get damaged.
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Old 12-03-2012, 08:30 AM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Unabomber View Post
Here's my car with FOUR horns. According to my dB meter, they put out 127dB. Pain occurs at 125dB. Why go "beep beep" when you can scare the Jesus out of that woman in the brand new 3 series who rolls through the stoplight at the Lynnhaven Mall as you are pulling in? LAY on the horn and watch her launch a FULL Starbucks into the middle of the windshield as she wrenches the wheel due to the sonic terror. She learned something that day.....and so did her dashboard.
I think Una is the reason I buy most of my stuff. He could be the new Billy Mays with his sarcastic comments
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