Roby a shipmate. He explained it to me by taking me for a ride in his 69 383 4spd Road runner. It didn't have a stock exhaust. So I opted to keep the stock exhaust on my challenger. The owner before my said he had the muffler burned out. I did get stopped for a load exhaust a few time in Philly. They would look and it was all there!
An exhaust resonator reduces unwanted engine noise by modulating sound frequencies, helping to create a smoother and more pleasant exhaust note. It works alongside the muffler to minimize loud or annoying sounds from the vehicle's exhaust system.
What is an Exhaust Resonator?
An exhaust resonator reduces low-frequency droning noise from the engine. As cylinders fire to produce power, pressure pulses travel through the exhaust pipes. The pulses contain a broad spectrum of sound wavelengths. Without any dampening, the frequencies around 30-60hz are most noticeable as bothersome, sustained droning.
• Resonators are not designed for noise reduction— They’re designed for sound quality improvement.
• Frequency targeting— They focus on eliminating specific, often high-pitched frequencies.
• Minimal impact on performance— Resonators generally don’t impart a significant exhaust backpressure.
• Position in the system— They’re typically located between the catalytic converter and the muffler.
As sound waves pass through the resonator, some are absorbed while mid- and higher frequencies transmit onward. This attenuates the most offensive resonances without completely silencing the exhaust note.
It’s mostly a hollow tube with a few baffles that cause it to act like “echo chamber” where the exhaust noise bounces off the sides, colliding with one another and cancelling out the highest pitched sound frequencies.
