Well folks, I finally managed to get out there today with both cars to record a direct comparison between the Shocker horns and the K3.
I tried to record the decibels on the phone with a sound meter, but unfortunately it totally maxed out at just over 100 decibels wich seemed to be all the phone could handle. So no idea how loud the actually are but the Airchimes reign supreme
Yeah, when will people learn that too much pressure distorts the sound and K3âs are loud enough at their recommended operating pressure. High pressure can damage diaphragms faster too.
Thereâs a few factors that make them sound a bit different. In my opinion of hearing them both in person and on tape, here they are in the order of greater to lesser impact:
1) The recording device.
Well⌠it sux to be blunt about it. Itâs an iPhone, so donât expect the wordâs best audio from something the size of a peanut. These kinds of microphones are totally overstressed with high output events like this. Do a google on the frequency response charts for various phones and youâll quickly discover that they are pretty useless. Anything approaching 40db is above their capacity so they simply canât record an accurate representation of audio levels like the horns (which come in at over 100db). When I edited the video, I could see the level meters were all off the charts so the audio is severely clipped.
I think the only way Iâll be able to get a truer representation of the sound is to give myself a hundred yards or so in distance between car and phone.
2) Is the way the horns are mounted in the car.
In my case, the K3 bells are removed from their stock manifold. Although that in itself doesnât change the sound, it does come into play when you consider the space they are mounted in. The 1 bell for instance is so large that it just barely fits inside the front. It is partially blocked by a bash plate which leads onto the nudge bar. It slightly changes the pitch of the sound of the deepest bell (unfortunately) - kind of like a trumpet player using his hand in front of the horn. Iâve given them the full juice treatment testing with the front bumper off and they do sound different.
3) Last but not least is the pressure.
This actually doesnât have much of an impact on the sound of the bells⌠more so the sound level. These horns were brand new and when I bench tested them the first time, I used the stock manifold, 100psi and they sound pretty much the same then as they did at 150 or at 200. Upping the pressure has given them a bit more scream (volume mostly) and a slight aggressive snarl at max pressure. Mind you, the 200psi would only affect the horns at about a second or less. Unless you have one of Danâs mega compressors on hand, or a HUUGE air supply - your tank pressure drops very very quickly (you can see that on the gauge in the video). The horns sound pretty consistent in their tune right through the pressure drop. They just keep getting a little quieter as the air pressure drops down.
You should do this again, but do these things to give us a better comparison.
Donât even worry about a decibel meter. Those ones in phones only max at about 100 db anyways, so theyâre useless. Instead, gives us a distance comparison of about 1000 feet. It will be easily noticeable in the recording which one is louder.
Also, make sure both of the horns have the same size air line and run them both at 150 psi to lessen the changed variables between horns. This is an experiment after all, right?
Careful about running them at 200 psi, those horns are not designed for that kind of pressure. They are designed for 150 or under (most trains are 140). Going above this will wear out the diaphragms faster.
Yea thatâs awesome. I love your setup (especially the finish you have on those horns). Bit more bottom end for sure. Youâre lucky to have the luxury of being able to mound them on the stock manifold, in clean air and facing forward. Thatâs always going to make a difference. With the bash shield removed I probably get closer to the extra bass youâre throwing but then I run a high risk of shovelling them full of sand when I go off road (no go!).
Still⌠a K3 is a K3⌠good fun all round even if it does sound a bit harsher. Iâm not complaining
