Although the x-pipe, h-pipe, and y-pipe have many areas in common, they each create a different sound.
The x-pipe is the loudest out of the three due to its growling and rasping tone. An h-pipe, on the other hand, is a deeper sounding pipe, while a y-pipe also produces growls that are less intense than that of an x-pipe.
In the article, I will describe each of these pipes in more detail, focusing on their sound. I will also recommend my favorite products that you can choose if you wish to experience the sound of any of these pipes.
Before I begin, I would like to present a comparison chart of the above-mentioned pipes so that you can see how they differ and which one suits your needs. Let’s check them out.
| Key Factors | X-Pipe | H-Pipe | Y-Pipe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Heavyweight | Medium-weight | Lightweight |
| Operation Type |
Dual Pipe Operation | Dual Pipe Operation | Single Pipe Operation |
| Sound Profile | High-pitched raspy and growl noise. Loudest out of all pipes. | Low-pitched deep tone. | Growl noise but less louder than the x-pipe. |
| Pattern of the Exhaust Stream | Cross pattern. | Bridging crossmember pattern. | Direct pattern. |
| Primary Function | Better torque at any RPM and increased horsepower. | Added torque particularly under low RPM. | Enhanced power of the engine. |
Okay, Time to explore the sounds of these pipes in depth.
X-Pipe
What Is An X-Pipe Exhaust?
Dual exhaust systems, such as the X-pipe, smooth out the exhaust flow and reduce the backpressure by allowing the exhaust streams to flow from the two headers within the pipe.
A car engine cannot perform at its peak if the flow from the exhaust port to the tailpipe is not efficient.
When the flow is impeded, you will notice the car generating less horsepower than it actually has. The x-pipe prevents any restriction in the flow, thus balancing it.
X-Pipe Exhaust Benefits
- Better Performance: As the exhaust flow rate is excellent and there is minimal backpressure, the engine performance gets a boost.
- More Torque: X-pipes increase torque more effectively than their counterparts, thanks to their x-shaped construction.
- Rapid Acceleration: Torque is one of the key factors determining the speed of a vehicle. Increased torque means faster acceleration.
The best X-pipe, in my opinion:
Does X-Pipe Make Exhaust Louder?
The X-pipes are not designed to increase the volume or quieten the exhaust system. Instead, their primary responsibility is to maintain a balance between the exhaust pulses.
However, having well-balanced pulses from bank to bank will affect the car’s sound. There will not be any popping or gurgling noises, although the changes can sometimes be too subtle to notice. The sound will be quite different from before, not necessarily louder, but more refined.
There is no burbling involved in the sound, so the exhaust notes will tend to be higher pitched. Many people describe these sounds as being exceptionally exotic.
H-Pipe
What Is An H-Pipe?
The H-pipe serves the same purpose as x-pipes for the most part.
It is only the method h-pipe uses to develop a vehicle’s power and economy that differs.
As for the sound, it is not entirely different from that of the x-pipe, although there are slight differences that make them distinct.
H-Pipe Exhaust Benefits
- Enhanced Low-RPM Performance: It is more effective and helps your vehicle perform better than an x-pipe at low RPM.
- Better Sound: H-pipes offer a pleasant and deep sound to people who don’t prefer super loud x-pipes.
- More Convenient Setup: It is available almost in any automobile shop. The installation is quite straightforward, and you are very unlikely to face fitment issues with the h-pipe.
The best H-pipe, in my opinion:
Does H-Pipe Make Exhaust Louder?
Similar to an x-pipe, the h-pipe also balances out the exhaust pulses. Therefore, it makes a significant difference in the sound. The difference cannot be considered louder or quieter because it has not been enhanced or suppressed; rather, it has been tuned.
X-Pipe Vs. H-Pipe Sound Difference
As I mentioned earlier, you will hear a high-pitched exotic sound when the x-pipe is attached to the exhaust system. This sound also seems to get raspy when revved. The rasp might be appealing to several folks, but some enthusiasts do not like it.
With the h-pipe, you get way more low-pitched sound compared to the x-pipe. It also has a bit of a growling sound to it.
Does an h-pipe make exhaust deeper? Yes, combining the low-pitched tone with growls results in a much deeper sound than x-pipe.
The sound that x-pipes produce is appropriate for newer cars, whereas the deeper sound of h-pipe is better suited for classic and traditional vehicles.
Y-Pipe
What Is Y-Pipe?
Y-pipe is an exhaust system that directs both the flow and resistance of the gas through a single pipe. Y-pipes are more common on vehicles with six, eight, or more cylinders.
In a y-pipe, the exhaust’s efficiency rate is much lower than in a dual system. It is because a single pipe cannot facilitate a similar amount of gas flow as two individual pipes. Therefore, the poor flow rate of these pipes discourages many people from using them.
Y-pipes come in a couple of shapes as opposed to other pipes. It is most likely that you come across a shape that resembles a capital ‘Y.’ Additionally, there is another shape that appears to represent the letter ‘T.’
Y-Pipe Exhaust Benefits
- Increased Horsepower: High-end y-pipes are known to boost a vehicle’s horsepower significantly.
- Adequately Loud: There is not too much loudness to irritate you, but enough to attract passersby’s attention (of course, in a good way).
- Improved Mid-range Acceleration: If your car excels at a lot of areas except the mid-range acceleration, you can improve that with a y-pipe.
The best Y-pipe, in my opinion:
Does A Y-Pipe Make Your Exhaust Louder?
You can make the sound louder by adding a y-pipe if your car has an aftermarket exhaust system.
I have often seen people make mistakes by hooking up the y-pipe up to a stock cat-back exhaust system. It does not improve or enhance the sound significantly, except for a slight increase in volume.
If you drive a Supra and are looking for aftermarket exhausts for the car, you cannot go wrong with an Apexi exhaust system.
So, Which is Louder: X-pipe, H-pipe, or Y-pipe?
The X-pipe is the loudest among these pipes by a wide margin. This is because it contains all the elements that make a sound stand out, such as rasping, growling, and loudness. Sometimes, the growls are so powerful that they even cause your body to vibrate.
Coming to the other pipes, the h-pipe produces a deep tone, whereas the y-pipe is louder than the h-pipe but not as loud as an x-pipe.
While h and y-pipes are less noisy than the x-pipe, they can outperform it in certain areas, including economy, horsepower, and RPM.
To Sum Up
Hopefully, the article clarifies all of your confusion regarding which pipe is loudest. If your taste is for something louder, go for the x-pipe with closed eyes. However, both H-pipes and Y-pipes have their advantages in terms of RPM, mileage, and speed that you might find interesting.
