What is "Drone"....?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Centreville VA
What is "Drone"....?
Can anyone explain exactly what "Drone" is? I am waiting on the Borla Stingers that I ordered with GP and I am having seond thoughts.... I have read about this dreaded drone but Im not sure what it is and if it can be tolerated...can anyone explain ?
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,774
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From: Loganville GA
Originally Posted by Jagcvette
Its kinda like ****: when you hear it, you'll know it! Its a certain loud resonates you hear at certain rpms.
I don't know if its an issue in the vert though, since in the coupe it only occurs with the top on.
8th Gear
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Drone
My Borla's , at usually 2,000 rpm/highway cruising speeds/ tend to make a low frequency harmonic, best described as a "DRONE". If you don't do much highway driving don't worry.
If you do much of any highway driving get the Corsa's. Much quieter at highway speeds, loud when you open it up...
If you do much of any highway driving get the Corsa's. Much quieter at highway speeds, loud when you open it up...
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Originally Posted by VET4LES
If you keep your stock exhaust you will never know what drone is. That's why I am keeping my exhaust stock. 
around town. 
The C6 already sounds like a "hot rod". My 87's exhaust just kind of hummed. Put down the go pedal, and it went "wheeeeez".
Last edited by JmpnJckFlsh; Jan 22, 2006 at 03:22 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,714
Likes: 344
From: Houston, TX
I like the "****" comparison. But I have another one.
Ya know when you're sitting in your house with the TV or stereo playing, and a UPS truck comes down the street under light acceleration? It's kind of like that. By the way, a Dodge Viper sounds like that too!
Ya know when you're sitting in your house with the TV or stereo playing, and a UPS truck comes down the street under light acceleration? It's kind of like that. By the way, a Dodge Viper sounds like that too!
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Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 415
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From: Cocoa Florida
Originally Posted by BLKVETTEVERTZ51
Can anyone explain exactly what "Drone" is? I am waiting on the Borla Stingers that I ordered with GP and I am having seond thoughts.... I have read about this dreaded drone but Im not sure what it is and if it can be tolerated...can anyone explain ?
I no longer wished to give my C5 stable room after installing the Route 66 system.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
Originally Posted by cerino2000
I came across a web page once that described it in detail and there is really a lot to it. The size of the pipes, the length of the pipes, all of this comes into play.
The best way to do that is to eliminate as much as possible any low frequencies from the exhaust note. (That's because the car interior is relatively large, so any car resonances will occur at low frequencies.) But those who typically buy aftermarket exhausts want a low frequency rumble in the exhaust note, hence most such systems drone at some speed.
GM did a near miraculous job of giving us a drone free exhaust that is still low restriction. (Generally, a quiet exhaust winds up being restrictive, but not ours.) That's why you won't find any real power gains from aftermarket exhusts with this car. But some find it too quiet. Go to loud aftermarket mufflers with low frequency exhaust notes, though, and back comes the dreaded drone.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,198
Likes: 15
From: Columbia MD
If you've ever flown in a commercial jet airliner, the noise in the cabin, that vibration kind of "hum" in your ears and head during takeoff, especially if you happened to be sitting near the engines, is drone, or resonance. Same effect you get with most aftermarket exhaust during low rpm acceleration or cruise.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,002
Likes: 2,703
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Yeah, drone may seem OK when you take a test drive around town where the RPM is constantly changing.
But get out on the highway at the wrong speed, and you will swear that the Dronemonster has bored into your head and is cracking open each one of your brain cells like an egg.
But get out on the highway at the wrong speed, and you will swear that the Dronemonster has bored into your head and is cracking open each one of your brain cells like an egg.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 812
Likes: 20
From: www.shockerracing.com
My personal opinion is that if you are concerned about some "Drone" you have no business changing or thinking about changing your exhaust. On these cars the main reason to change your exhaust is to change the sound of your exhaust so that you can hear it. To me "Drone" is part of hearing your exhaust! Sorry, but people complaining about "drone" really bugs me, and you only hear Corvette drivers complaining about it!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,532
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If you think of it in musical terms its a constant note being played (usually a lower pitch) on which other notes can be played over.You always have the "drone" note being played as an accompaniment.A good example is bagpipes,you play a drone note which is constant and play your melody over the drone which adds dimension and fullness , an organ uses a "pedal tone" to accomplish the same thing.Of course in music its done in key and harmony,on a car it gets dissonant as the pitches change randomly.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,714
Likes: 6
From: Providence RI
Originally Posted by ShockerRacing
My personal opinion is that if you are concerned about some "Drone" you have no business changing or thinking about changing your exhaust. On these cars the main reason to change your exhaust is to change the sound of your exhaust so that you can hear it. To me "Drone" is part of hearing your exhaust! Sorry, but people complaining about "drone" really bugs me, and you only hear Corvette drivers complaining about it!
