[AreAte]

Does anyone have any experience with the Rev9 Titanium Valved exhausts? It appears the V10 version (CB-201-TI) was just released. The V8 Version (CB-202-TI) has been out for about a year.

The reasons I'm interested in this exhaust are:

• Loud when open: it's basically a 3" straight-piped exhaust (with a crossover X-pipe) when the valves are open, so it should produce maximum sound levels
• Quiet when closed: all exhaust is routed through the large muffler, so it should be quiet with no drone when closed
• Price: I want a valved exhaust and I don't want to spend more than $2500
• Titanium: I guess titanium is a little better? The higher stiffness should be a little better for the higher frequencies and it should be somewhat lighter weight. (But I'm not sure it really matters that much.)
• Here's the link: Rev9 V10 Titanium 3" Cat Back Exhaust with Valve Control

​

I'm also looking at the Topgear Valvetronic Performance Exhaust. I've read great things about it, and it looks like a quality exhaust. However, I don't think it's going to be as loud as the Rev9 when the valves are open. This is because all exhaust flow is routed through the 2 mufflers, regardless of valve position. I'm sure the internal routing inside the mufflers is much more direct then when the valves are open, but my guess is that probably doesn't produce the more extreme sound levels that the Rev9 does with its valves open.

Questions:

1. Does anyone have any experience comparing the two exhausts?​
2. Is there another valved exhaust in this <$2500 price range to consider?​

Thanks!

 

[ntg44]

Don't have experience with Rev9, but as a top gear owner, in my opinion, valve open mode is already louder than any exhaust has any business being on a street car. Definitely hearing damage under bridges/tunnels at full throttle. It's also "piss off other drivers" loud if you drive aggressively enough. The good thing about it is that it has minimal drone around 3000 RPM, but goes away instantly if you move a few hundred RPM either up or down, or close the valves.

Valve closed is as quiet as stock. Stock has better tone than valve closed on TG system. TG sounds kind of hollow. But when you open the valves, you forget about all that. It sounds like a blend between cross plane and flat plane V8s, very race-y. Has the cross plane growl with flat plane-like harmonics. Resonates around 6500 RPM and makes you grin like a 5 year old.

In reality, I'm sure there isn't a bad choice between the two. I don't know if it's possible to get an actually bad sounding aftermarket exhaust for the R8 honestly. But I will say, I'm pretty young (at least to me ), and even with the TG system, there are times where I close the valves because I'm thinking it's too loud for the area I'm driving in. So take this for what it's worth, there can be such a thing as too loud . But go with your gut and I really don't think you'll be disappointed either way. Unless Rev9 fitment is awful or something. TG fits perfectly according to my installer.

 

[ForceFed]

Valve closed is as quiet as stock.

That's kind of a buzzkill in many cases. Because if you're buying an aftermarket exhaust, it's likely because you have joined the masses and agree the stock exhaust is stupid quiet haha. So with the TG your options are too quiet, or ungodly loud?

I'm pretty sure those that have purchased the Rev9 say that valves closed is louder than stock, which is ideal, and then valves open is instant smiles.

Hoping more people can chime in with experience with the Rev9, seeing as for the price, it's the best sounding/versatile/lightest system available.

 

[AreAte]

It's good feedback that the TopGear is that loud.

It would be great to get some feedback on the Rev9 Valved.

I started looking at other exhaust manufacturer designs, and it appears there are about 3 general configurations that are used. The Rev9 Valvetronic uses the exact same configuration as the Fi Valvetronic: no muffler x-pipe when valve is open, all flow through the muffler when it's closed. The biggest difference is that the Fi Valvetroinc has large radius bends and the Rev9 exhaust has much tighter bends and more straight pipes (which helps reduce the manufacturing cost.) The Capristo Valved X-pipe also has this layout, but the pipe joints and angles are a bit different.

The more I read and look at designs, the more I'm convinced that most aftermarket valved exhausts are more similar than different. And pretty much everyone loves the exhaust they buy. The only negative complaints I've read are from people with non-valved straight pipe (or X-pipe) exhausts - and the complaint is that they eventually get tired of the constant loud sound and highway drone.

 

[ntg44]

That's kind of a buzzkill in many cases. Because if you're buying an aftermarket exhaust, it's likely because you have joined the masses and agree the stock exhaust is stupid quiet haha. So with the TG your options are too quiet, or ungodly loud?

I'm pretty sure those that have purchased the Rev9 say that valves closed is louder than stock, which is ideal, and then valves open is instant smiles.

Hoping more people can chime in with experience with the Rev9, seeing as for the price, it's the best sounding/versatile/lightest system available.

I wouldn't call it ungodly loud. Not even close. You can have a conversation with valve open. I said I wouldn't like it any louder, but my tastes are on the quieter side anyways. My point was by no means is the TG system quiet with valve open. People notice.

Valve closed leaves a bit to be desired, but in tone, not in volume. I personally like the fact that it can go absolutely full stealth when necessary. And under light load, I can't even tell the difference between TG valve closed and stock, but I need that level of quiet for when the situation comes. But once I can open valves again, I drive with them open all the time.

Maybe Rev9 does it better, but my original post was just trying to point out that louder is not always better. All I can give is great feedback for TG, I love it. And maybe the other systems have a better valve closed tone, but I'm not willing to spend more to get that when I drive with valves open 98% of the time, and it suits my tastes. But again, I don't think any aftermarket system is going to sound bad. That would be an impressive accomplishment.

 

[PxD]

I have the Rev9 titanium exhaust on my 2010 4.2.

Under normal driving driving conditions it's definitely louder than stock and does intrude into the cabin some, but not much. There is minimal drone in some rev ranges around 3000 RPM but the amount of drone depends on how much you're pressing into the gas. If you're cruising at low speed/low RPM down a city street, it's not noticeable at all. It can also be defeated by shifting revs up or down by switching gears. My rating for regular driving is 7/10 - good, but a little too loud in certain rev range/gear combinations.

Under valve open conditions, it's a different story. The sound is absolutely intoxicating. Think of a Formula 1-style shriek that reverberates as you climb up in the revs. It's addictive. It's head turning. You find yourself doing WOT pulls just to hear that sound. When I take friends for rides they giggle every time I wind out to 7k+ RPM in 2nd gear. My rating 10/10.

The cold start is brutal. I've scared little children and neighbors' dogs when they were passing by the garage on the sidewalk next to my house, when firing up the car. Also made my wife wince and cover her ears when I started the car once in the garage and didn't realize she was standing right next to the passenger door.

The weight savings are significant. The whole thing only weighs 17lbs and can easily be carried in one hand. I believe the stock exhaust is about 60lbs, so that weight saving of ~40lbs is pretty good. I do think between the weight loss and the more open flow, the car accelerates faster and revs faster as well. Blipping the throttle in 3rd gear at 3500RPM when downshifting to 2nd can easily hit the rev limiter if you're not super quick/delicate with the accelerator pedal (my car is a 6MT). This didn't use to happen as much before with the old exhaust.

 

[AreAte]

My rating for regular driving is 7/10 - good, but a little too loud in certain rev range/gear combinations.

The cold start is brutal. I've scared little children and neighbors' dogs when they were passing by the garage on the sidewalk next to my house, when firing up the car. Also made my wife wince and cover her ears when I started the car once in the garage and didn't realize she was standing right next to the passenger door.

I ordered the Rev9 valved version for my V10 and it should be arriving in the next few days. I guess your review makes me worry a little about the noise levels with the valve closed - I was hoping it would be close to the same as stock when in "stealth mode".

Those noise levels at startup shouldn't be a surprise - it's basically straight-piped when the valve is open (which it pretty much always is at startup.) But maybe that will be too much as well.

It's too late for second guessing now though! Hopefully it's everything I'm looking for. But it not - there's nothing preventing me from switching. I hope to have the time to get it installed before the end of the month.

 

[PxD]

It's definitely not stealth mode when the valves are closed. Keep in mind the lightness of the exhaust means there is much, much less material to muffle the sound waves. It's definitely louder than stock when the valves are closed, but it's not a deal breaker for me. I drive the car on weekends, on trips of 5-6 miles, here and there, around town/highways. The only time I've taken it for an extended drive was on a round trip to/from the airport (50 miles), all on the highway, about 90 minutes of driving total and at that point it was starting to get a bit tiresome. I'd say all in all it's OK though.

 

[Uya]

It's definitely not stealth mode when the valves are closed. Keep in mind the lightness of the exhaust means there is much, much less material to muffle the sound waves. It's definitely louder than stock when the valves are closed, but it's not a deal breaker for me. I drive the car on weekends, on trips of 5-6 miles, here and there, around town/highways. The only time I've taken it for an extended drive was on a round trip to/from the airport (50 miles), all on the highway, about 90 minutes of driving total and at that point it was starting to get a bit tiresome. I'd say all in all it's OK though.

Hi PxD,

Thank you sooooo much about the deep impression on it. Not able to send the reply by some limitation so posting this in stead.
If you are okay, could you post your sound clip??

 

[PxD]

Hi PxD,

Thank you sooooo much about the deep impression on it. Not able to send the reply by some limitation so posting this in stead.
If you are okay, could you post your sound clip??

You know what, I just remembered that Supercars of London has a video on YouTube where they review the Armytrix titanium exhaust for the V8. The sound is very similar to the Rev9, which makes sense since they are almost identical in design and construction, except that the Rev9 is 1/3rd the price.

When the driver goes under the bridge and through the tunnel at 3:26 and 4:17, and his jaw drops open, that’s exactly what my R8 exhaust sounds like when I do the same (and my reaction was the same the first time I did it). Like I said, the sound is brutal and intoxicating when accelerating. Aural viagra.

 

[PxD]

Two more clips, these are of the Rev9 exhaust:

 

[Uya]

Two more clips, these are of the Rev9 exhaust:

Hi PxD, thank you very much! That should make my interest go up!

 

[jaspirr]

Okay, this could be a dumb question. Everything on the Rev9 website lists only the model years 2009-2012. Would these also work on the 2014 and 2015? I don't believe the exhaust changed at all between those model years.

 

[AreAte]

The exhaust hangers are different for the Gen 1 facelift vehicles. You’ll need additional model-specific hangers.

 

[stray123]

The exhaust hangers are different for the Gen 1 facelift vehicles. You’ll need additional model-specific hangers.

Every Rev9 exhaust they sell says they need hangar modification for the 2013-2015 years. So whats the difference?

 

[jaspirr]

Yeah, I'm ready to pull the trigger and buy a Rev9 exhaust but I don't know what needs to be modified to fit 2014/2015 and it isn't explained anywhere. I'm sure an exhaust shop could fabricate this up and make it work, but I'd like to be able to just generally describe what needs to be changed. My guess is that the existing hangars need to be cut off and a custom hangar welded in a similar spot?