Enhanced engine sound

[thedisbeliever]

Are any 3.3T owners noticing a big difference between the in-cabin sound of the engine with the enhanced sound to full vs. completely off?

I have to admit, I struggle to notice a difference.

 

[Edmguy]

I played with it one day and I can definitely notice the difference. Especially if you go from off to full or lowest setting to full.

I personally keep mine off. Doesn't sound bad (my kids like it) but I just find it silly.

 

[Buckdes]

I can tell a bit of difference but not major, i like the enhanced sound just as most people like sound. Alot of people poo on the sound coming through speakers but most companies do it and dont tell you or dont give an option to turn it off, people want quiet cabins but also want raspy throaty exhaust and engine noise but it is hard to have both.

 

[Edmguy]

I do think it is great that we have the option of off, low, med, and high for the settings. Most vehicles like you mention have some form of 'enhanced' sound but don't give you a choice about it.

 

[devellis]

If I end up with a G70 (or some other car with a similar system), I really wonder how I'll end up using it. One one hand, I do sometimes like to hear an engine's music, especially if I'm opening it up. On the other hand, if every time I hear it I'm reminded that what I'm hearing is actually fake, that could sour me on it. Not sure how it would play out. I wish the car just had an exhaust system that passed more of the engine's natural sounds through at high throttle openings. That would be the best of both worlds for me.

 

[TOGuy242]

I honestly don't notice much of a difference either ... in fact I was trying the different settings yesterday and struggle to say it's doing anything.

 

[Edmguy]

Well it definitely doesn't sound fake imo. It really just seems to make the natural sound louder. That might be why you struggle to hear the difference. I know the first time I played with it I didn't think it did anything, but I was out one night with my kids and they asked about it so on a quiet road with the stereo off I tried each setting and you can definitely tell the difference. I kept the car in 2nd gear (manual mode) and each time took the car from ~2000rpm up to ~5500rpm.

 

[Gianttama]

i tried different settings and i could hardly notice any difference, i am probably deaf.

 

[Beefer]

I sure how you guys are not trying this at idle...LOL. You need to move and give er

 

[Edmguy]

lol Definitely needs to be under load to notice the difference. Even just at a steady speed you can't notice the difference. Like I mentioned above, put it in manual mode and do a strong pull with each sound setting. You will notice the difference.

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[thedisbeliever]

I think that may be the key factor. I wasn’t on an open road while trying out the different settings, so I couldn’t give it more throttle (or how we say in Canada “give ‘er”).

If I was programming the “enhanced” sound, I would definitely make it loudest at higher revs and fuller throttle, so it makes sense.

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[Beefer]

I think that may be the key factor. I wasn’t on an open road while trying out the different settings, so I couldn’t give it more throttle (or how we say in Canada “give ‘er”).

If I was programming the “enhanced” sound, I would definitely make it loudest at higher revs and fuller throttle, so it makes sense.

Thanks for the input everyone.

Hey...I did say "give er" !!!! I kept my Canadian lingo !!!

 

[thedisbeliever]

Hey...I did say "give er" !!!! I kept my Canadian lingo !!!

I noticed
Just educating our American friends on our weird lingo.

 

[GenesisYEG]

There's a big difference but as what @Edmguy mentioned you need to put the engine under load to notice the enhanced sound. If you turn the Active Engine Sound off the cabin will be very quiet but I like noise. The enhanced sound setting sounds very tasteful although in some cases I wish there was even more noise (my previous car had a factory Sport Exhaust in it and I turned it on all the time).

 

[KDX]

I read or saw a video somewhere that said the sound used is recorded from the 3.3 with a open (or very low restriction) exhaust.

 

[edyago]

As has already been said, I think the biggest effect is when you're at higher revs. When I'm using the paddle shifters without the enhanced engine sound I sometimes have a hard time hearing where I am in the RPM range when I have music on.

So when I want to use the shifters, I have to have it on.

 

[TOGuy242]

There's a big difference but as what @Edmguy mentioned you need to put the engine under load to notice the enhanced sound. If you turn the Active Engine Sound off the cabin will be very quiet but I like noise. The enhanced sound setting sounds very tasteful although in some cases I wish there was even more noise (my previous car had a factory Sport Exhaust in it and I turned it on all the time).

Alright maybe I need to take it to a country road and try some proper tests - so far it's really just been in the city from light to light and realistically I probably haven't been getting high enough revs for it to be noticeable ...

 

[devellis]

A good real exhaust doesn't need high revs. It's the throttle opening that should bring the engine's tone to life. When I had my BMW Z3, I really liked the deep burble the exhaust would put out when I gave it some throttle at very low revs. That sound was actually more appealing in some respects than the high-rev sound.

 

[LoLaWy]

I didn’t like it at first, but after I installed an external 12” subwoofer in my trunk the engine sound does appear fuller and deeper .. I love it now!

(The subwoofer gets signal from the rear deck speakers)

 

[lenR]

Are any 3.3T owners noticing a big difference between the in-cabin sound of the engine with the enhanced sound to full vs. completely off?

I have to admit, I struggle to notice a difference.