Singing: What RPM is Sweetest?

{My opinion}

The F355 engine makes its sweetest noise at 5750 RPMs. This is where the headers are tuned, and one of the resonance points of the helmholtz resonators (air box manifolds). In addition, the exhaust valve is open, we are at Peak TQ and accelerating as fast as the car will accelerate in any particular gear.

Up top, near 8200 RPMs, the noise is louder, has taken on a bit more urgency, turned a bit more metalic, and lost the sweet air of the vast midrange.

That said, the sound track from 5750 to 8200 is to die for.

 

Cool.

Venusone, I would think that each individual car would have it's own sweetness range, accounting for differences in exhaust choices and modifications.
Probably needing additional consideration is individual aural responses and preferences.

On my TR, I actually enjoy best listening to it at start-up and idle; but at almost 51,000 miles, I do a tad of driving as well.
Cheers!

 

I'm looking forward to exploring the sound of my new euro 308, but first impressions are the mid range is the sweetest, 4-5k rpm. I also have an early 16v 928 with a modified exhaust - 3" y-pipe to a Borla muffler. Probably my favorite is the sound cruising at 3-4k rpm, just a beautiful sweet burble. Flat out and revving to 6800 has a much harsher, almost NASCAR sound which is also very cool and definitely generates some stares. Quick sound clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOUM6YReFDQ

 

So far, I've heard nothing to compare the flat-12 boxer engine of my 365BB climb over 6,700rpm. In the last 1,000 revs to the redline of 7,700 she screams a rich lush sound like a banshee covered in double cream. Very, very special. It is the reason I bought a 365 and not a 512 as the 512 has a lower redline and stops just short of the madness that defines the 365 Boxer for me.

The Colombo engine in my 330GTC sounds mighty fine too, as does the 550 above 5,000, but the BB is awesome before 6,700 and then otherwordly after.

I miss that BB engine note - will be glad when the restoration is fully done!


Onno

 

Like all the women I've known before, each has it's own special character, and each range offers something slightly different.

 

My 308QV is right about 6k RPM, especially on the way down with a vicious bunch of burbling and popping....freaking awesome.

MB

 

+1 As the saying goes: There is something to love about an woman...or F car.

 

The sound of a Tubi-equipped 550 at a 1,600 rpm idle seizes your chest and turns it into a hollow box. The reverb is intense.

 

F430 from inside the car anywhere between 6,000 RPM and 8,500 rpm...to die for.

-G.B.

 

right around 3000 RPM on a steady incline, on my euro carby 308 the engine burbles and growls and huffs and puffs like no other engine i have ever heard. yeah, it shreiks all the way to 8K, but this low RPM growl is what a lot of folks notice also.

 

V8?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxZMEwrehJo&feature=related

...at any RPM

V12?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtD9eci3yXE

...at every RPM.