MX-5 Sound Tube Delete Installation and dB Meter Test!

[@DriveMX5]

After doing some more testing, including cold start, idle, and revs outside of the garage (top and windows up) and some hard 3rd gear pulls, I found basically the same results as in this video. There was an almost imperceptible difference in the sound level and type coming into the cabin in all conditions. Playing the footage back, the sound was a bit deeper with the sound tube delete in place during cold start, idling, and holding the revs around 2k rpms. I'm guessing this is due to the lack of sound tube allowing the exhaust to occupy more of the sound space. During hard 3rd gear pulls, the supercharger-like whine sound was there regardless if the sound tube was in place or not. Overall noise was about 2 dB lower, but this could also be due to other small variations during the test. In the end, I do not see a significant difference between the sound tube and the delete. I imagine the difference would be more noticeable if the stock exhaust were in place, as one commenter mentioned. Thank you guys again so much for watching and all of your feedback so far!

[@johntechwriter]

Thank you for showing the tube removal process so clearly. Unfortunately, the rest of your comparison is invalidated by 1) running the test in an enclosed garage (!); and 2) the added noise from your aftermarket exhaust. That tube is one ugly mofo and without it the MX-5’s engine bay, complete with alloy cam cover and WITHOUT any black plastic “shroud of mystery,” puts many more expensive sports cars to shame. For that reason I’ll probably do the swap.

[@GogogoFolowMe]

You should have recorded outside with the top and windows up. There is too much reflected noise from the exhaust and it might cover the differences (convertible already offering less soundproofing).

[@DriveMX5]

@@GogogoFolowMe it sounded the exact same outside with top and windows up, as my pinned comment mentioned. Like I and others said, I think the exhaust is a big factor here, but I wouldn’t spend the money again on the sound tube delete.

[@GogogoFolowMe]

@@DriveMX5 Thanks for the reply and publishing your results. Indeed if they took the engineering time to include it, it must make somewhat a difference on a stock vehicle. Sometimes unconclusive results are still results, at least it reduces the engine bay clutter ;)

[@DriveMX5]

@@GogogoFolowMe those are all valid points. Thank you for commenting and watching!

[@airlaurian]

Simple answer to the question: Yes, Install this! After watching numerous videos and contemplating doing this, I just did it. And YES it really sounds so much better in the cabin, or doesn't sound for that matter. It is not about the noise volume, it is about the unwanted sound that came through. I like a quiet cabin. If I want sound, I'll go for louder pipes, not the ramble bumble coming through the tube. Do it, you'll be glad for it.

[@raizen82]

I was on the fence with it in the beginning so I did a trial by disconnecting the sound tube, plugging both open ends and multiple test drives. I found I preferred the quality of the sound without it and purchased the OEM sound delete. There is lesser "mechanical clatter" and maybe even some of the deep rumble or lower frequencies from the engine bay. Not much difference on sound volume as you said but I'm happy I did it.

[@DriveMX5]

Agree!

[@gustavette8487]

I guess that if you just unplug any end of the tube and cap it, the result would be similar to installing this "delete" part. Its a good test to see if there will be a siginificant difference before performing any mods.. If no significant difference, I would just leave the car oem.

[@nosefirst]

I did the same mod on my 2020 ND2 RF with about the same results. I boxed up the removed parts and now they are adding to the clutter in my workshop.

[@johnnyd768]

I think the big take away for me is that it makes the engine bay look cleaner.

[@hellaacapella]

I don’t understand why you would want to remove the extra sound… I personally love how loud the engine sounds! I honestly wish it was louder!

[@Jake-im2lv]

Yeah I don't get it lol. Isn't it why most people fit aftermarket intakes?

[@roteroktober360]

in other jurisdictions you can drive much faster on the highway, which makes the nd with with its noise pipe and short gearing unbearable on the highway presumably. The short gearing and engine noise is kind of a dealbraker unfortunately

[@somestuffithoughtyoumightl6985]

Get the sound tube upgrade 👍🏼

[@timsullivan3921]

I installed a sound tube delete kit on my MX5 ND3 over the weekend and to be honest I cannot hear any difference whatsoever, what I did like though was removing some unnecessary and ugly under bonnet tubing.

[@depharmacist]

Great video bro keep doing these things ! I was also curious about this as it is understood Mazda has spent additional efforts to include the sound tube in their top end models and the base models did NOT get this (in US). However here in Australia all models came included with the sound tube. Having said that, I am with the understanding that based on how extremely muffled the stock exhaust system is, Mazda included the sound tube to provide a more auditory and sports-car like experience whilst driving the car as the stock exhaust noise is heavily dampened. However, once you put on an aftermarket exhaust (either an axelback, catback or full exhaust) the sound of the exhaust note will be louder than what the sound tube will provide in the cabin. Therefore having the sound tube intact (or removed) will make very little difference with an aftermarket exhaust as the exhaust note is presently overpowering. This is based on my perceived auditory sensory as I currently have the sound tube intact + an aftermarket entire exhaust system. In the cabin (window up/down) on any throttle, only the exhaust note can be heard. I am keen to hear everyone's opinion based on their exhaust setup.

[@DriveMX5]

Thank you so much! In the US, only the manual transmission models come with the sound tube. Lowest to highest trim is Sport, Club, and then Grand Touring. Manual Club and GT models have the sound tube and I think the manual Sport model does too, but I do not remember exactly. I think I agree with you on the purpose of the sound tube and the reduced effects once an aftermarket exhaust is added. Louder exhaust drowns out the sound tube more which probably plays into the readings I was getting in the test.

[@ryomai8063]

same, the mechanical clatter was driving me nuts. Once you hear it, you can't unhear it. Removed mine, much better, felt relieved. It's not about the dB's.

[@GunKata]

Agreed. Just did mine, sounds so much better and quieter up front. Allows you to really hear the actual exhaust now as well.

[@GJJC13]

@@GunKata So, you guys, by mechanical clatter, mean that diesel mechanical type sound while driving when the car is still warming up?

[@r000tbeer]

This is much easier than the sound tube delete on my Mustang. A sound tube on a V8 car.. why? I'm watching because i'm trading it in on a Miata next year. I'll miss the power, but will enjoy half the cost for track consumables!

[@jaxsoncrenshaw]

Also debating trading my 2017 Gt for a Miata, have you made the switch yet?

[@agunther08]

It does make for a cleaner engine compartment.

[@mrspeeddemon727]

I've seen other videos where people say removing the tube is negligible. If that's true, then why did Mazda feel the need to add it in the first place? This will probably be the last mod I do to mine. I just got my 2022 MX5 a few weeks ago. This week, it's getting a level 1 polish, PPF on the front half of car and ceramic coating on the back half. Got to protect that paint!! I got the Polymetal Grey with the black rims and full aero kit, black soft top also. Next up, black tinted windows. The first thing I did as soon as I brought it home from the dealership was order that Goodwin Race exhaust like you have. I LOVE the sound of it. It makes me enjoy driving it so much more. Only 250 miles on it, still breaking it in. 👍🏻

[@DriveMX5]

Awesome, congrats on your car! Yeah I can’t really say why they added it, maybe for placebo effect? Polish, PPF, and ceramic coating are the way to go! As is the exhaust, hands down most satisfying mod. Keep enjoying the car!

[@GS-xp5jq]

dB testing is very finicky and requires a low noise floor in addition to having the dB meter remain static and fixed in one spot. Even moving your hand around a few cm will change the reading, especially with higher frequency tones. In addition since you're in a small garage with hard walls, higher frequencies are more prone to bouncing off the wall, biasing the dB scale. Great video regardless and I really appreciate the stationary before and after sound clips! I personally prefer the sound of the engine with the delete.

[@DriveMX5]

It is just a hair cleaner of a sound with the delete. And I agree, the test could have been better but hey I tried and made note of the fact that there were some disturbances and variations that could skew the data.

[@62Sketch]

I don't believe it will reduce overall noise levels. What I noticed in my Miata was occasions I'd be driving and I'd hear these high pitched noises. I'd be like... "what the hell is that noise?" My passenger would even say they heard it also. I got rid of the sound tube and I've never heard those noises since.

[@mikeg5413]

I would be interested in db levels with & without the tube at70 mph. My ND2 RF is quite loud loud at that speed … specially on a long drive.

[@experiment54]

Turn the music up 😂

[@billjoyce5196]

Best part of the delete is less clutter under the hood. ND delete is much simpler than an NC delete.

[@Batman825]

I wonder how much of a difference with the sound meter would have been if you did the comparisons out of the garage in an open space. Were the windows up? Since you had the exhaust facing the back of the garage I wonder how much sound was bouncing off the back wall of the garage? I really don't know what the appeal is to delete the sound tube. If doesn't give you any more horse power or anything. It just gives the aftermarket vendors something else to sell us. It would really be interesting to put the car in a sound proof room and do the comparisons. Keep the videos coming Ian.

[@DriveMX5]

Thank you Bob! You make a great point about the test environment. I did have the windows up, but I would image there was a bunch of reverb in the garage. I think I'll go back again and do some more testing outside of the garage and upload the results!

[@BryanDawsonUSA]

But you did this inside a garage where outside noise made readings consistent? I want to hear while driving and accelerating.

[@PhilPesteyMarshall]

Sorry to be the Debbie downer, but the sound tube delete kit is designed to take away the whine/supercharger sound under hard acceleration that's extremely noticeable on stock exhaust or back box only systems. Sitting stationary has zero change, and using a decibel reader won't have any effect unless you can pick up higher frequencies. Another great video but imo was done in the wrong view.

[@DriveMX5]

Interesting, that's the first I've heard of it being designed to reduce that whine on acceleration. It is very noticeable on LHD cars. The reader I was using went up to 20kHz. I think I'll take this and Bob's feedback and go out and do some more testing. I can't say that I noticed much of a difference in the whine, but will do some hard pulls and try and pay attention to it.

[@love2huntbooks2]

I agree with Phil's comments and hope you can give us the details on the difference in driving. I came very close to doing the soundtube delete but realized that it would primarily take away the whine. My goal was to lower the cabin from tire and engine noise, I didn't mind the supercharger noise. So I refrained from it. But eager to hear your thoughts when you drive the car (esp with your aftermarket exhaust, whether you had a supercharger whine before and after). Thanks!

[@petergraham9267]

Ah, not using stock exhaust, but a louder aftermarket will influence the results apparently. Your exhaust sounds way louder than my stock one, therefore engine “clatter” on yours is much quieter……..defo want to try this though……..engine clatter not pleasant to my ears when roof is up

[@TristanTris321GoT]

All I hear is the loud after market exhaust.

[@cvsimson1]

Testing inside the garage, with the exhaust noise reflected back at you might not have been the best way to test for a difference. I would test it outside, with the top up and down.

[@schellingrs]

You think that Mazda develop the stock sound tube for nothing? They took years in development and they spent money implementing the sound tube for a reason.

[@GJJC13]

Maybe they did not do it for the sound ...? Another purpose??

[@timothyjamesiscool]

perhaps try it outside not reverberating in a garage. Also was the top down!

[@DriveMX5]

The top was not down. Good point about the garage, another commenter brought that up as well. I did do the test again and started and revved the car outside but got almost identical results. Instead of posting another video about that, I made a comment and pinned it to the top just under this video.

[@PhilPesteyMarshall]

Furthermore I'm not sure how much difference the whine is on a lhd but on the rhd it's mad!!

[@kinloo3778]

are you using stock exhaust? it sounds like a some axelback

[@DriveMX5]

It is, Goodwin Racing race muffler

[@amazingalfabusso]

I believe induction noise is for petrol heads dream noise instead of exhaust like Busso Alfa Engines in My Channel and like E46 M3 throttle body sound so giving up that for less noise means you are looking for comfort with car without any proper sound isolation because I stripped my MX5 full to use Focal Sound Proofing You have to gwt rid of wheel noise first than your induction noise You can listen some examples of MX5 noise with carbon intake and custom designed exhaust from stock muffler decide for yourself

[@michaelhartmann2040]

install the Tomei TI exhaust, throw that crap out (both, standard exhaust and sound tube) and enjoy the ND the way it should have been from factory

[@davidrush8283]

You may make a new vid out of the box you have the car in. Sound may be from inside the box.

[@DriveMX5]

@@davidrush8283 I guess my pinned comment was missed by you and many others

[@ajr5195]

Throw some plastic push-in ‘tree’ type fastener in the holes the bolts vacated. Just makes it that much cleaner 😉.

[@DriveMX5]

Great idea!

[@mrspeeddemon727]

Or just put the bolts back in the holes.

[@experiment54]

@@mrspeeddemon727 bolts are heavier. Lighten it up 😂

[@orclean1]

what dealership are you a salesman at

[@DriveMX5]

I’m not in the car sales industry anymore. Thinking about getting back to the dealership life but in the service department

[@jccherubini1944]

I removed mine a couple of years back and don't notice that much of a difference in sound but I just felt on a car that they were trying to make so bloody light that they added this piece of junk totally useless fluff in my opinion. I would much rather Mazda given us an adjustable driver seat height. I also have a much simpler and less costly way of deleting out the sound tube just remove the main hose and then you can take a rubber 11/8 inch to 1 1/4 inch black chair leg tip available at your local Ace Hardware store for a set of four for $5 this goes neatly over the opening that the sound tube vacated. And if you're using the 1 1/8" variety that are easier ones to find just warm up in the microwave for about a minute soften up the rubber and it slips right over. no need for a clamp I've been running one like this for years now. The other three can go a long way just replace them say every 3 years

[@kelseyblanton9419]

✨ Sorta ✨

[@miguelt.7997]

I don't think the exhaust sound is the star of the show. I would much rather keep exhaust stock and enhance the intake sound tube like this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnayi3xpl5dlpqM

[@tonigarcia7787]

conclusión, es una tontería.

[@DriveMX5]

Seems like it. Very small difference to my ears, almost imperceptible. I plan on doing some more testing in a different environment and seeing if that makes a difference.