Supercharger whine regrets?

[Austin88]

Whine or no whine?

Debating 034’s open new intake vs. their silicone tube + stock air box mod (drill hole in bottom). 034 claims heat soak not an issue since it uses factory air scoop and makes seal with hood. $250 Black Friday sale seems like a no brainer but concerned I won’t like constant supercharger whine. I have Polo exhaust and love the sound so leaning toward stock air box. Anyone have open intake and regret it?

[hunter_killer]

Man there’s nothing better than a supercharger whine. I’m running a modded stock box and ECS hard silicone tube and I’m leaning on opening up my box some more to hear the whine better. My exhaust 50% of the time drowns it out. That Black Friday sales price isn’t bad tho.


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[Austin88]

Man there’s nothing better than a supercharger whine. I’m running a modded stock box and ECS hard silicone tube and I’m leaning on opening up my box some more to hear the whine better. My exhaust 50% of the time drowns it out. That Black Friday sales price isn’t bad tho.


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Coming from a modded 03’ mustang cobra with open intake so I’m no stranger to supercharger whine. Just not sure if I want my $60k German sports sedan to whine. Have mixed feelings about it curious what you guys think!

[hunter_killer]

I just look at it as it has a supercharger so let it be heard. Kind of like throwing a cam in a muscle car and making it quiet as can be (aside from a performance aspect). Ultimately it’s to each their own, but if you like your exhaust more than a supercharger then stick with a stock air box. I modded the air box before the silicone tube and barely heard an increase in noise. The silicone tube is what really brought out the whine.


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[minman26]

Demographic may play a part in answers. I’m 38, not old by any stretch, but I could do without the whine now.

[MSq5]

I'm a bit different. In the past I've enjoyed open intake muscle car engines with huge induction noises, and turbo cars with open intakes and turbine compressor spool whine.

But, now, I'm older with family and with a car that is also used in business. I still like power. So, Stage 2 dual pulley and ZF8 tune with higher and firmer shift points satisfies that craving. I feed the supercharger with the 034 silicone throttle body tube, aFe inverted cone filter in modified stock air box with now two holes at the cool side bottom. I've also opened the baffle behind the passenger foglight grill, making the grill opening functiinal. It is very free breathing. I doubt I'm giving up much flow over an open intake - probably well outflowing the maximum air the engine can use.

There is a little supercharger whine, but its subtle. Just what I like. For the same reason I have stayed with stock exhaust. Its quite free-flowing. Now, when my cats finally melt or clog, I'll gut them and add resos to keep it quiet.

Loud is not the same as fast.

[fstr n u]

I'm 42, in healthcare admin, love my vehicles so much. The supercharger whine from the CTS intake is awesome. Turns heads and confuses my colleagues/peers when i'm on bluetooth having conversations. Between my studded winter tires, radar detector beeping and supercharger whine...I couldn't ask for something more real. People young and old all enjoy what my Stage 2 6MT car has become. No regrets.

[s4la1]

I just replaced my ecs intake with my oem due to needing to pass my smog check however I know exactly how you feel. I really got sick of the whine noise so I think I am going to leave it off.

[timmyzr1]

Supercharger whine IS the reason why i bought this car!! Reminded me my bolts on 03 SVT lightning!!

[king_j]

Don’t really like the loud whine.
Prefer the turbo spool sound more.
I did the silicone tube to stock air box mod.
Open intakes can take away from the exhaust sound.


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[Austin88]

Supercharger whine IS the reason why i bought this car!! Reminded me my bolts on 03 SVT lightning!!

Yeah me too! I loved my SVT Cobra. I think I might try their open intake. Just don’t want it to sound like Roc Euro (way too loud IMO). I want to hear it but not overpower exhaust. Polo exhaust is fairly loud so I bet it will sound good. Thanks for everyone’s input!

[Glacier_S4]

Injen is a good middle of the road sound.

[Silver Streakin]

Loud, which will never change with age. I don't care what the neighbors think.

Open intake and AWE Track with resonated downpipes , here.

[Mass6mtB8S4]

Imo the supercharger wine is intoxicating! I'd much prefer it over a turbo blowoff wosh that every wrx has. When driving normally its hardly noticeable but once you get on it alil oh man that sweet sweet sound it makes. It's all preference though to each his own.

[BR11S4]

I would take supercharger whine over exhaust sound any day.


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[Banko1]

Demographic may play a part in answers. I’m 38, not old by any stretch, but I could do without the whine now.

I’m 44 with lil kids and a loud exhaust is just too much to me. I don’t wanna be mistaken for a jdm racer-boy... although I really am a racer boy... just not jdm. I have an AWE intake stock air box and it’s perfect low key power...just like the S4 is. Soon I will be running a stage 1 tune... will that make a difference with the whine sound?
Oh.... and let’s not forget the burping shift this car comes with STOCK! Lol I’m good on an exhaust! Maybe I’ll get some tips and a diffuser eventually.

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[MSq5]

I’m 44 with lil kids and a loud exhaust is just too much to me. I don’t wanna be mistaken for a jdm racer-boy... although I really am a racer boy... just not jdm. I have an AWE intake stock air box and it’s perfect low key power...just like the S4 is. Soon I will be running a stage 1 tune... will that make a difference with the whine sound?
Oh.... and let’s not forget the burping shift this car comes with STOCK! Lol I’m good on an exhaust! Maybe I’ll get some tips and a diffuser eventually.

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Supercharger whine is not likely to change much. Maybe just a little. My wife is sensitive to "ricer sounds" as I went through that phase in my younger days. So I was concerned when I replaced the stock accordion resonated throttle body hose with the 034 reinforced silicone hose and did the stock "air box mod" and aFe filter upgrade. She didn't notice. You can hear the supercharger, but its subtle.

I proceeded to add a second hole the same size, just above the first. She still raised no complaints. Didn't notice, even though I can detect a very slight increase in whine.

Believe me, if it bothered her "I hate ricer sounds" ears, she would let me know.

Just to be clear, I'm dual pulley stage 2.

[timmyzr1]

Yeah me too! I loved my SVT Cobra. I think I might try their open intake. Just don’t want it to sound like Roc Euro (way too loud IMO). I want to hear it but not overpower exhaust. Polo exhaust is fairly loud so I bet it will sound good. Thanks for everyone’s input!

believe me, there is no such thing as too loud blower!! Specially if you have polo exhaust!! BTW how do you like it?

[Austin88]

believe me, there is no such thing as too loud blower!! Specially if you have polo exhaust!! BTW how do you like it?

I went ahead and bought 034’s new open intake yesterday. Life is too short to silence that beautiful blower lol. Regarding Polo I love it! I’ve heard other options (Touring, Track, Miltek, custom) and to me it sounds the most expensive/exotic. Sounds muscle car down low, GTR howl when it’s time to shift (I’m 6MT) and hate to sound cliche but “supercar” at WOT. It’s hard to describe but it just sounds expensive and not ricer or raspy at all. This coming from someone who owned modded STI and modded SVT Cobra both with open intakes and exhausts.

[timmyzr1]

I went ahead and bought 034’s new open intake yesterday. Life is too short to silence that beautiful blower lol. Regarding Polo I love it! I’ve heard other options (Touring, Track, Miltek, custom) and to me it sounds the most expensive/exotic. Sounds muscle car down low, GTR howl when it’s time to shift (I’m 6MT) and hate to sound cliche but “supercar” at WOT. It’s hard to describe but it just sounds expensive and not ricer or raspy at all. This coming from someone who owned modded STI and modded SVT Cobra both with open intakes and exhausts.

How's the drone on highway? Im also 6mt!

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[Austin88]

How's the drone on highway? Im also 6mt!

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It has 1/4 wave resonators (J-pipes) so as long as you keep them adjusted the way they come from manufacturer there is practically no drone. Only time it does is lugging the engine in 5th or 6th which you should never do anyway.

I would say slightly less drone than AWE Touring and WAY WAY less than AWE Track. My second choice was Touring but I like how Polo has same exotic tone but louder and more clear. FreshS4 says it best, he says it sounds like Touring has its mouth covered once you hear Polo. Hope that helps!

[timmyzr1]

It has 1/4 wave resonators (J-pipes) so as long as you keep them adjusted the way they come from manufacturer there is practically no drone. Only time it does is lugging the engine in 5th or 6th which you should never do anyway.

I would say slightly less drone than AWE Touring and WAY WAY less than AWE Track. My second choice was Touring but I like how Polo has same exotic tone but louder and more clear. FreshS4 says it best, he says it sounds like Touring has its mouth covered once you hear Polo. Hope that helps!

Yes a lot! I have awe touring right now, and wish it was louder!!!

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[oaybar007]

I considered an intake but just put an afe dry filter in my stock air box instead. I'm 37 and love loud cars as much as the next enthusiast, I just can't live with more noise than I have to in a daily driver. There's a faint hint of whine now which did surprise me though.

[timmyzr1]

I considered an intake but just put an afe dry filter in my stock air box instead. I'm 37 and love loud cars as much as the next enthusiast, I just can't live with more noise than I have to in a daily driver.

You don't hear it unless you get on it!! No sound whatsoever on daily driving.

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[evanb]

Demographic may play a part in answers. I’m 38, not old by any stretch, but I could do without the whine now.

I'm 71 and love the whine. Go figure.

[audigsr]

Same boat here. Ordered the x34 intake last night too, deal is too good to pass up. I also don't want a loud whine all the time, especially light to medium throttle. Medium and up, bring it on. I think 034 did say the intake is loud, I'm guessing maybe a few notches quieter than roc euro and probably the same as IE's.

[evanb]

Demographic may play a part in answers. I’m 38, not old by any stretch, but I could do without the whine now.

I'm 71 and love the whine. Go figure.

[MSq5]

I'm 71 and love the whine. Go figure.

I'm 70 and would much rather hear it just a little - subdued.

[Austin88]

70 year olds representing! I think I just got spooked when I heard a Roc Euro on YouTube. I bet the 034 sounds good and tasteful. It’s backordered but I’ll post a video when I install

[JRYtheS4]

Supercharged sleeper sedan. What's not to like? Bought my car with a roc euro installed. Test drive, first step into the throttle sold me. You won't get this experience much longer, enjoy it while you can and let it whine. If you're driving sanely you don't get into much whine anyway. Your foot controls it.

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[fstr n u]

When you have a car like ours and an aftermarket intake....bystanders will take notice of the supercharger whine. It catches people off guard as they don't expect it. If you want fast and no sound buy an electric car (tesla, etc).
Life is short and we should all find ways of maximizing the fun factor in life! Do what you love and love what you do.

[fstr n u]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoziXoSV8WQ

A vid of my 6MT car stock tune with CTS intake...love this so much!

This is a vid showing a takeoff and watching from behind with stock exhaust and CTS intake.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1IUEodDTl4

[footworks]

When I originally bought the car stock, I could faintly hear it when I had the radio off, but I wanted it just a bit louder. Then I bought the ECS silicon inlet tube, and I still wanted it just a little louder. I then modified the stock box to open it up and pull air from under the passenger headlight... still want it louder. So I just pulled the trigger on the 034 intake, and I'm hoping that I don't regret it hah.

[coop3422]

I bought mine with an aftermarket intake already in there. Unfortunately it's an AWE S-Flo, which is stock sound. I'll be replacing it one of these days, just have other priorities.

[countrydoc]

"There's too much whine" said, no one ever.
Sorry, I love the whine with the IE cold air intake. Love the AWE track exhaust note, except when it wakes my wife on morning start up.
57 yo Family doctor with my first real sports car.
2014 S4 6MT
Stage 2.
Watkins Glen addict.

[evanb]

57 yo Family doctor with my first real sports car.
2014 S4 6MT
Stage 2.
Watkins Glen addict.

What took you so long.

[Twi7ch]

I just ordered the X34 Intake. My wife thinks the supercharger whine is dumb but I disagree. Hopefully once she hears it in person she'll change her mind.

[RoofRails]

70 year olds representing! I think I just got spooked when I heard a Roc Euro on YouTube. I bet the 034 sounds good and tasteful. It’s backordered but I’ll post a video when I install

I believe the intake pipe plays a role in it too. The intakes that come with a metal pipe have a different pitch to them then a silicone tube like the 034. To me the metal pipe sounds more frantic.

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[JRYtheS4]

"There's too much whine" said, no one ever.
Sorry, I love the whine with the IE cold air intake. Love the AWE track exhaust note, except when it wakes my wife on morning start up.
57 yo Family doctor with my first real sports car.
2014 S4 6MT
Stage 2.
Watkins Glen addict.

"Watkins Glen Addict" - Me too! I was so disappointed when they had to cancel IMSA this year. Saved my tickets for 2021. Really wanted to see the debut of the C8, but will miss the rumble of the C7.

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[pausenot]

"There's too much whine" said, no one ever.
Sorry, I love the whine with the IE cold air intake. Love the AWE track exhaust note, except when it wakes my wife on morning start up.
57 yo Family doctor with my first real sports car.
2014 S4 6MT
Stage 2.
Watkins Glen addict.

Except for whiny patients. Good to see another medical car guy on the boards.


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