I have the HB shocker XL kit on my 05 silverado single cab. I wanna get a Nathan. Is there a volume difference between the k3 and k5? Sorry if this is a dumb question. I’m new to the Nathan’s! Any info is appreciated!
Thanks
-Thomas
Welcome to the forum!
There is a significant difference between the K3 and K5 due to the simple fact of adding to extra bells. Both are ridiculously loud!
There is a chart somewhere that says a K3 is 2db louder or something like that.
Maybe with less bells sharing the incoming air, they’re louder.
IDK - I can’t wrap my head around having 2 extra bells and not being as loud. Especially if properly fed.
To me, the K5 is a fuller / more musical chord and sounds better - whether it’s louder or not.
I do know that the K3 is not as air hungry as the K5 so this may very well be a true statement. I will see what I can do to come up with the true DB. All Nathan’s come with documented paperwork on the DB levels but we don’t see them. They are packaged in with each individual horn that doesn’t get opened in between when Nathan packs them and the arrive at our customer’s doorstep.
It is possible that each individual horn tested could give a difference in 1/2 - 1 DB between each other. They could test one K3 at 143db and another K3 at 144 db back to back.
From my understanding, the K5 is 1/2 - 1 db louder than the K3
Welcome to the forum Thomas!
Although this chart shows information about the horn, it is extremely confusing to me. This chart tells me that they tested the K3 at about 85-95 PSI and the K5 tested at 75-80 PSI? This makes no sense to me as to why test two horns at different PSI.
Nathan tests them in an anechoic chamber, at 100 PSI and a meter in distance. That is the documented numbers that come on the sheet with a brand new Nathan.
Wow thanks for the warm welcome and all the great information! I’ll try and find myself a Nathan soon if I can find one cheap enough!
Angie, I don’t really like this chart either…but keep in mind, that pressure is measured at the manifold inlet while blowing. That ~might~ mean they all start with 100psi air source. More bells/openings lowers the pressure in the manifold while blowing.
That’s why I say if you properly feed each horn, how could less bells be louder?
Well, the chart above is probably why people say that. And all it really shows is that at any given air volume or consumption, less bells are louder. So feed more bells more air.
Sounds about right. I really can’t fathom less bells being louder, even if they don’t need a lot of air.
In any sense…they’re all ridiculously loud! 
Amen to that!
If you want louder you’ll have to look at a Leslie RS5T I reckon.