Testing 8 different vanes (downrange sound test)

[@daviddempsey8721]

Test & Evaluation engineer here.... great job of a difficult measurement to try. Two suggestions for this video would be to stop the music backing for the shots. Secondly, after all the shots, play the sequence of arrows passing (at 1 sec intervals with the type in print on the screen so we can hear the difference in a short time). What you'd also notice that a 3dB change is barely audible to the ear. so a 8.4dB difference with the loudest is noticeable. Yes, there are always more variables to control for (wind noise), small variation in arrow distance from the mic, any mic directionality, ensuring the measurement is responsive enough to gate out the wind, bow twang and the target thump etc. In the lab we'd also record the sensor instrument make, model and S/N for repeatability, and measurement setup (measurement speed if this is an option) and to check that it is calibrated. The make, model and settings would be useful to know. You'd also record the bow details and target (as you've done). When making relative measurements (A vs B vs C...) as you're doing, some of these finesses aren't so important.

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

This is so helpful thank you!! I agree with your suggestions and if I do it again will apply these thank you! I like that you measure by unit. I’m sure every unit has some difference of sensitivity. I felt like doing it all on the same day and same unit helped and for the future would want to redo them all together again. -Kyle

[@j.r.outdoors247]

This is a test i have wanted to see for a long time. I have been planning to do a similar test and have a decibel meter similar to yours. Great info and thanks for sharing.

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Thank you for the feedback! I’m glad it was helpful. Love your channel as well! -Kyle

[@waynestevenson9613]

Thanks! Looking forward to the 3 fletch test. Subbed.

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Awesome thank you! I’ll do a 3 fletch sound and downrange speed test with ether with fewer vanes. Thanks for following us along. -Kyle

[@jeremybatliner4214]

I would also like to see the aero vane by firenock.

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Awesome! I will look into these and have never tried them. Thank you for sharing! -Kyle

[@fredflati5789]

Why would you play music in the background of this video?

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Appreciate the feedback

[@jimathybindlenim6359]

​@@TrueLineOutdoors could to release the video with no music? Or just turn the music down I can't really hear some of the shots properly

[@ambiguity22]

immediately came to the comments to say the same thing.

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Let me see what I can do. I plan to redo this as this was my first shot at it. Thanks so much for feedback.

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

I appreciate you letting me know. I’m going to look at releasing it without sound or doing a new one. -Kyle

[@TD3_Archery]

Do the sounds with straight, moderate and then aggressive helical. I personally think that the more helical you have, the louder the vane is. So I always go just a couple degrees of helical

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Man that’s good! I would definitely agree. Thanks for the suggestion and I’ll see what I can do. -Kyle

[@FrancSchiphorst]

I was scorer for a final round and the sound of 70 olympic spin vanes was awesome compared to 50m compound. You could hear the release and then ffrfrrrttttttt the arrow followd by the arrow hitting the target. No sound meter but more noise then your test.

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Super cool! Thanks for sharing! -Kyle

[@nilslandis1603]

I appreciate the data, but you have muic playing over the sounds of the arrows...how is anyone supposed to hear the difference?

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Great point hopefully the numbers showing helps some and i did a more recent video with 3 and 4 fletch without music. Also increased volume during shots based on feedback received. -Kyle

[@aaronhawk4200]

​@TrueLineOutdoors this is a great video I can hear the difference through the video and I imagine if I put my headphones on I'd really hear a difference!

[@brentbandy3566]

Great video. Surprising about the DCA vanes. Would be worth throwing the blazers (or the AAE HP) in your three fletch video as well. I don’t know why but I’ve found that the blazers find better than the AAE hybrid 26’s, Tac divers 2.75 and the AAE HP’s. Might be worth lowering the background music as well. Thanks for putting this together!

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Thank you! That is good feedback on blazers seems like the shorter high profile really flies well. I agree on the DCA and am highly considering using them this year still. I have been impressed with them and they are easy to fletch. I filmed the 3 fletch same day so all conditions were the same so won’t have blazers sadly but I should have. I was sad when I shot through the blazer vanes right before filming this test. I will also increase the audio during arrow flight so music is lower really appreciate the tip! Thank you again! -Kyle

[@michaelschnitzer4054]

If u do use the newer blazers called black sky or Easton labels them bully vanes. I chatted with a guy who’s down extensive testing and said nothing steers fixed heads as well. Also a thing to think about is broadheads. Supposedly more noise from the head then the vanes so is it really important if the vanes are quiet but you’re using a loud broadhead.

[@just_tojo]

@@michaelschnitzer4054 depends A LOT on the head you are using. Vented broadheads typically add a lot of extra noise where as non-vented dont seem to increase all that much if at all. id love to see that test as well...put the quietest broadhead on the quietest vane and the loudest vane and see if it they end up the same...would be very interesting!

[@antoniobustamante548]

@@just_tojothat would be interesting 🧐

[@Silverbackcj]

Great video. Thanks! I thought about doing a similar test, just haven’t gotten around to it 😂. I wonder if the db meter was to be set up and shot past indoors with the target outdoors if the results would be different?

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Thanks for the feedback! I think it would be close if you use the same meter. I was surprised how much it picked up hitting the target down range so moved it way back. As long as it’s not too windy I think outside could be better since there’s no echo and is more realistic for hunting but not totally sure. -Kyle

[@DowntoFish207]

Why have music playing while trying to listen to the arrow flight? I appreciate that you performed the test but the music during the testing defeats it

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Thanks for feedback many have mentioned this and next time we do this won’t have music. The meter does show the difference so I hope this is somewhat helpful. -Kyle

[@DowntoFish207]

@TrueLineOutdoors I saw the db readings, however with sound, db isn't everything. Tone/pitch can have just as much effect. A lower tone at the same db won't "sound" as loud as a higher pitch to the ear. Please know I don't mean any disrespect, the overall quality of your test was better than others I've seen. I was just chuckling when the music came in for each shot and went away when you talked.

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Makes sense appreciate you sharing that. I would take the music off if I could but instead of re-uploading plan to do another someday with a lot of 3 fletch. It was surprisingly tricky with all the variables for a sound test.

[@mlwalters73]

Hey guys. Thanks for the content. I just came across your videos. On your sound test. Are the DCA the regular or mini?

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Hey man great question. They are the regular DCA vanes. I’m considering trying the minis as well. -Kyle

[@51ubetcha]

This question my have been addressed before, but would the sound that the arrow makes as it passes by only happen if you miss the animal? What does the arrow sound like as it approaches the animal? Since sound travels faster than the arrow, would it sound the same?

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

That is a good question. I think the first sound a deer would hear is the bow. The. It depends how far away away they are. Some bows are louder than others. Secondly would be the arrow. I think whether you hit it or not they will hear it but based on the direction it could be different just haven’t tested that. My test was with the meter right by the arrow but I think it would be similar with it right in front. The issue with that is that the target would be much louder than the vane and hard to read. Sorry I don’t have a better answer!

[@andym5782]

Awesome!.....Thanks for taking the time to do this......👍

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

You got it! Hope it was helpful!!

[@groundrootsoutdoors627]

I would like to see the Q2i fusions

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Will see what I can do! Planning another test I’ll film in November.

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Just got some Q2i X2!

[@groundrootsoutdoors627]

@@TrueLineOutdoors very nice can’t wait

[@steamroller104]

With your sound check please redo with aae max stealth but see if fletching angle affects.

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Hello! Do you mean using 1-5 degrees and seeing which is loudest? -Kyle

[@archerash6695]

Arizona EZ fletch? My guess is a helical would be louder than off set

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

I use the last chance VMP jig. I agree with you and may have to try that test someday. I used 4 fletch with lots of helical so this is about as loud as they should get I think. -Kyle

[@MichaelWidmaier-i6d]

What was your arrow speed? An arrow at 300fps+ would be great to see.

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

284-291 across all the vanes. The fastest was the Tac 2.25 and slowest was AAE hybrids and Max stealth with lab radar. I agree I shoot 465 grains so don’t get over 300. May have to build some Rip XVs someday. -Kyle

[@masonoertli4099]

It looked like you had bohning blazers in the intro clip with the arrows lined up but I didn’t see them on the sheet. Did I I miss it?

[@WS_00]

0:51 👍

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Good catch! I had them all ready to go but sadly as I was verifying my tape shot the blazer vanes and ripped one off.. I only fletched one of each which was my mistake. Sorry I didn’t get these tested but thank you for stopping by! -Kyle

[@maxgeorge8746]

Great information. Thank you very much. Are they all four fletched?

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Thank you! Yes all 4 fletched on the Last chance jig using same left helical and same settings. It was interesting as the longer vanes showed more helical. Perhaps I should have done this all straight fletch. I did a smaller test with 3 fletch I’ll post eventually as well comparing to 4 fletch. -Kyle

[@PullingTheStringsArchery]

Good video, nice information

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Thank you so much!

[@DavidBowCrazyBabyak86]

Thanks man great job

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Thanks so much! Hope it was helpful. -Kyle

[@greekmaster1001]

What's those ugly big things spinning in the fields.? BTW I love my DCA vanes

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Windmills.. Lots of discussions about them and we were bummed when they all came in. The West Texas sunsets are truly spectacular. DCA is great! Thanks for stopping by. -Kyle

[@TuckerZW24]

Great Video! I haven't seen the other guy in a video in a while, is he ok?

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Tim is doing good! He’s been helping and I’m hoping he gets back on here soon!

[@dcacustomarrows1816]

Great job man!

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Thank you! Keep up the great work!

[@dcacustomarrows1816]

@@TrueLineOutdoors You too man. Loving the content!

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Thanks again!!!! I’ll try to get the minis at some point to use as well!

[@dcacustomarrows1816]

@@TrueLineOutdoors Absolutely! I love seeing guys do their own testing.

[@MrTracker15]

I didn't see the Silent Knights on your final sheet did I miss it?

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Wow thank you! You are correct I totally missed that. Sorry about that. They came in second to last at 59.4. Since they are 3 inch vanes I can see why yet still quieter than the Max Hunters. Wish I could have tried the new Flex Fletch pro 2.5’s for this test as it would have been a better comparison I think and those are more geared towards 4 fletch it looks like. -Kyle

[@MrTracker15]

@@TrueLineOutdoors Glad to see someone finally put the DBmeter far enough from bow and target that it wasn't picking up that noise. Also glad to see you shot a bare shaft as a control. Would like to see mini sabres, and the smaller Flex Fletch SK2's, and smaller Tac driver 2 vanes in a test. All in a 3 fletch config. with 3 degree helical (all left or all right). Goal would be to find the quietest vane. I assume your trajectory and distance over the DBimeter was the same for each shot because that would make a difference too?

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

I had so many issues with it picking up the target I just sent the target back to 100. I took video of the meter so I knew for sure it was just the arrow getting picked up. I like that idea you mentioned.. I’ve been leaning 3 fletch lately. I shot from the same spot so trajectory should be close but my speeds were 284-291 so the heavier vanes may have been closer to meter and my shooting at 100 is not perfect but they are close. That is one variable that is hard to eliminate but all the shots were back to back in the same video with the same environmentals. I didn’t pull any shots from other vids just went down the line once I got the meter reading correctly. I bet if I did this 10 times in a row there would be slight variances. To me a perfect test would be hooter shooter where you get arrows to weigh exact same so trajectories are as close as possible. Do this 10 times per vane and take an average perhaps with a more expensive mic that reads to the decimal if possible. I just don’t have the ability to do that currently which is why I don’t think my test is 100% but it does show differences and hopefully I’ll get more accurate test in the future. Thanks so much for the ideas. It really is fun testing gear and at the end of the day all these vanes will work but there are differences.

[@jaysonsulser6099]

Try easy vanes, they are quieter than anything you have tested. Easiest install too.

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

I will take a look thank you!

[@loganfloyd503]

lets play music over a sound test.....brilliant

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

Thanks for feedback!

[@jonah-n8l]

Silent nights are junk

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

I haven’t shot them much but kept hearing about them so wanted to try.

[@jonah-n8l]

@@TrueLineOutdoors yea same here , I been bow hunting for over 25 yrs, no need to look further than a blazer vane on a offset or helical

[@TrueLineOutdoors]

It’s crazy how many options there are.. Once you find one that works there really isn’t a need to change. These vane tests have helped me realize there isn’t a huge difference across vanes. Sounds like you are dialed!! 25 years is really neat I’m sure you have some really cool stories. -Kyle