Exhaust Resonator, How much hp would it take away if I put one? Options

[Jeunesse]

Hey guys... I need some help here... first of all, I am getting tired of the loud exhaust that I have right now and thinking of getting a resonator. I have a 2.25 straight pipe with a CLA muffler (I bought the car with the muffler in it). I am looking to change that in a year or two but it is not in my priority right now. Like I said I am getting tired and annoyed of the sound loud... it doesn't have that ricey sound but it just annoys me and my wife. So, I'm thinking of getting a resonator but concerned about the HP drop. I know that my car isn't that fast enough too but why whould I go slower if my car is already slow . If anybody could just tell me if it's worth getting the resonator or maybe just point me in the right direction please. Many thanks to all......

[Galcobar]

Ack.

A resonator is not the same as a glass pack, or even a modern straight-through muffler.

A resonator, well, resonates. It's an echo chamber which bounces soundwaves into each other, cancelling them out and transforming the energy into heat.

A glass pack (e.g. Cherrybomb) is 1950's technology which can actually decrease the ability of your exhaust system to evacuate the combustion chambers. Cherrybombs have louvered interiors, meaning they have a lot of little lips inside designed to direct some of the gas stream onto the fibreglass insulation surrounding the centre pipe. Think about what happens when you stick a finger into the stream from your garden hose -- doesn't flow as well. All those louvers create turbulence in the exhaust flow and reduce the forward momentum, which defeats the whole point of the system.

Modern straight-through mufflers, such as MagnaFlow's MagnaPack or its round universal mufflers, are a significant improvement on the glasspack design. They are also absorptive technology, using a combination of stainless steel wool and ceramic insulation to absorb vibrations from the exhaust flow. However, they use a perforated inner pipe, rather than a louvered one, so as not to disrupt the proper flow. This way, you can use a longer muffler and reduce the sound level with minimal impact on the efficiency of the exhaust system.

Short form: resonators are better at smoothing the sound than making it quieter, while absorbtive mufflers are better at quieting the sound than smoothing it. Neither will have any appreciable effect on your car's performance, unless you can notice the difference between driving with a full stomach.