Fake cabin exhaust added, yes or no?

[brad65ford]

While i've owned my share of M cars that I've removed the added fake exhaust sound pumped through the cabin at times. Wondering if Audi has done similar with these C8 Rs6/Rs7's?

[two+2]

Not that I can tell. There is a solid group of us (pre performance model) looking for ways to get a more pronounced exhaust note as the cabin is very well insulated.

I hated it in F80.

[SK8]

Yes they do pump fake exhaust sound into the cabin. It can be disabled via VCDS or OBEleven.

Search for "Soundaktor".

[brad65ford]

have you done this, if how much of a difference did it make?

[Jprieur]

I seem to recall a video out there, I will try and find it again, that showed someone with the VCDS hooked up to detail the difference between 10(max volume setting) and 0 (off) for the soundaktor on a C8 RS model. It was not very noticeable on camera nor to him sitting in the car between both settings.

Previous to this I was under the impression that this model did not have the soundaktor. Have had it before (TTS) and it was very noticeable between drive settings. Remember as well that the Soundaktor uses the windshield to transmit the sound, so it should bypass all the sound insulation near the firewall. I agree the car is still a little too quiet in dynamic mode.

[PunjabiM3]

Yes they do pump fake exhaust sound into the cabin. It can be disabled via VCDS or OBEleven.

Search for "Soundaktor".

When configuring RS1 and RS2 modes, there is an option for quiet vs loud (something along that line) for sound. Does this not change the settings on the Soundaktor? Or does it only control the valves being open vs closed?

[SK8]

have you done this, if how much of a difference did it make?

I've always been able to hear the fake sound in Audi vehicles and turn it off. To me it makes a difference getting rid of what I know is a manufactured exhaust note.

If you're looking for some real exhaust notes in the cabin then cutting the two front resonators out and replacing with straight pipes is the answer.

[brad65ford]

Would like a low cost solution to removing this. If I’m right it’s the smooth tone I’d like to get rid of.

[two+2]

When configuring RS1 and RS2 modes, there is an option for quiet vs loud (something along that line) for sound. Does this not change the settings on the Soundaktor? Or does it only control the valves being open vs closed?

In RS1 and RS2 there is a setting for Engine: Quiet / Auto / Present

Is this the setting for the artificial exhaust note in the car?

[GR8VTen]

The C8 RS6/RS7 doesn't have a Soundakator, those settings are purely to control the exhaust valves. Soundakator sounds are very distinctively fake and Audi primarily uses them to make the V6 engines sound like they have a bit more grunt - We also have an '21 RS5 and it sounds very synthetic, but at least it sounds like it has grunt from the drivers perspective as the device is right ahead of the windscreen, the C8 sadly sounds like a hairdryer in comparison.

The C8 is so darned packed with sound insulation even with an Akrapovic, the sound within the car is very muted and disappointing - outside of the car is a totally different story, so exhaust upgrades tend to be for the benefit of passersby, not the driver. The Performance model removes 45 lbs of the soundproofing crap to liven the thing up! clearly Audi got the memo.

[SK8]

The C8 RS6/RS7 doesn't have a Soundakator, those settings are purely to control the exhaust valves. Soundakator sounds are very distinctively fake and Audi primarily uses them to make the V6 engines sound like they have a bit more grunt - We also have an '21 RS5 and it sounds very synthetic, but at least it sounds like it has grunt from the drivers perspective as the device is right ahead of the windscreen, the C8 sadly sounds like a hairdryer in comparison.

The C8 is so darned packed with sound insulation even with an Akrapovic, the sound within the car is very muted and disappointing - outside of the car is a totally different story, so exhaust upgrades tend to be for the benefit of passersby, not the driver. The Performance model removes 45 lbs of the soundproofing crap to liven the thing up! clearly Audi got the memo.

The C8 RS7 does come with a Soundakator which is bolted to the firewall to replicate an exhaust sound. It can be turned off via VCDS, ODIS, or OBDeleven under a control module listed as "Structure Borne Sound Actuator". The unit is located under the wiper cowl on the passenger side of the vehicle.

Eliminating the the two front resonators makes a huge difference in the exhaust note and overrun (bangs and pops), which can definitely be heard within the cabin in sport mode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5UMl032f34

[brad65ford]

Seems there is different opinion for if we have fake sound or not lol. All i know is I would unplug the damn thing if I could find it lol

Anyone have this to test against?

[allenyao09]

Seems there is different opinion for if we have fake sound or not lol. All i know is I would unplug the damn thing if I could find it lol

Anyone have this to test against?

damn, this sounds exactly like the C8 RS6/RS7

[oripaamoni]

The C8 RS7 does come with a Soundakator which is bolted to the firewall to replicate an exhaust sound. It can be turned off via VCDS, ODIS, or OBDeleven under a control module listed as "Structure Borne Sound Actuator". The unit is located under the wiper cowl on the passenger side of the vehicle.

Eliminating the the two front resonators makes a huge difference in the exhaust note and overrun (bangs and pops), which can definitely be heard within the cabin in sport mode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5UMl032f34

I didn't think that the C8 RS6/7 had a sounds actor but looking at an auto scan with my HEX-NET of my 2021 RS7 I do see it listed in the module list....

Here is the list of modules from my scan.


01-Engine -- Status: OK 0000
02-Auto Trans -- Status: OK 0000
03-ABS Brakes -- Status: OK 0000
09-Cent. Elect. -- Status: OK 0000
13-Auto Dist. Reg -- Status: OK 0000
15-Airbags -- Status: OK 0000
16-Steering wheel -- Status: OK 0000
17-Instruments -- Status: OK 0000
19-CAN Gateway -- Status: Malfunction 0010
1B-Active Steering -- Status: OK 0000
32-Differential Locks -- Status: OK 0000
36-Seat Mem. Drvr -- Status: OK 0000
3C-Lane Change -- Status: OK 0000
42-Door Elect, Driver -- Status: OK 0000
44-Steering Assist -- Status: OK 0000
46-Central Conv. -- Status: OK 0000
52-Door Elect, Pass. -- Status: Malfunction 0010
5F-Information Electr. -- Status: Malfunction 0010
61-Battery Regul. -- Status: OK 0000
65-Tire Pressure -- Status: OK 0000
6D-Trunk Elect. -- Status: OK 0000
74-Chassis Control -- Status: OK 0000
75-Telematics -- Status: OK 0000
81-Gear Shift -- Status: OK 0000
82-Head Up Display -- Status: OK 0000
A5-Frt Sens. Drv. Assist -- Status: Malfunction 0010
A9-Struct. Borne Sound -- Status: OK 0000
BB-Door Rear Drv -- Status: OK 0000
BC-Door Rear Pass -- Status: OK 0000
C4-DC/DC Converter -- Status: OK 0000
CA-Sunroof -- Status: OK 0000
CB-Rear Axle Steering -- Status: OK 0000
CC-Starter-Generator -- Status: OK 0000
CF-Lane Chge Asst 2 -- Status: OK 0000
D6-Light Ctrl Left 2 -- Status: OK 0000
D7-Light Ctrl Right 2 -- Status: OK 0000
DB-Frt Corner Rdar 1 -- Status: OK 0000
DC-Frt Corner Rdar 2 -- Status: OK 0000
DE-Charger 1 for mobile dev -- Status: OK 0000

[brad65ford]

anyone try removing it and trying on with rs2 mode on to hear of there is a difference?

[Kczach]

I'm not sure about current models but it's very noticeable when it's on versus off. On my C7 S6 that was one of the first things I did with Vag Com was turn the fake engine noise off.