Invidia Gemini Exhaust - Need expert's inputs!!

M

minkl81

Member
Location
Beaverton, OR
today, i went in to my local shop to get some work done on my 240sx.
while waiting, i inquired about invidia's gemini catback for fx35 and got quoted for $800.
now this is a very tempting deal beating cheapest ebay price and now wondering how loud this exhaust will be compared to oem.

from a scale of 1~10, 10 being the loudest,
i give about 1.5 for oem loudness with windows closed, and about 3.5
with windows rolled down. unlike other cars i have owned, fx is really quite inside even for oem sounding pretty throaty.

can currnet owners of invidia gemini exhaust rate loudness for both oem/invidia?
also does the exhaust drone around 2~3k rpm range? and much improved gain in throttle response?


please chime in, thanx :tup:
 
If OEM in cabin sound (with windows up) is a 1.5 (I assume under load) Invidia Gemini, (the current version) would be a 3.0. Windows down OEM 3.5, Invidia 5.5. Not a LOT louder than stock but has noticeable rumble. You lose the stock exotic sound but it frees up the beast and it sounds good. At idle very quiet, at start up makes a nice woof. Power gain is good 7 WHP and 9 FT Lbs of Tq. (that's dyno'd on a 45 so a little bit less on a 35) Easy bolt up, great quality stainless, tight welds. power come on noticebly at 1,800-1,900 RPM. Slight loss of power at bottom end. Great system, and an excellent value.
 
Logan said:
If OEM in cabin sound (with windows up) is a 1.5 (I assume under load) Invidia Gemini, (the current version) would be a 3.0. Windows down OEM 3.5, Invidia 5.5. Not a LOT louder than stock but has noticeable rumble. You lose the stock exotic sound but it frees up the beast and it sounds good. At idle very quiet, at start up makes a nice woof. Power gain is good 7 WHP and 9 FT Lbs of Tq. (that's dyno'd on a 45 so a little bit less on a 35) Easy bolt up, great quality stainless, tight welds. power come on noticebly at 1,800-1,900 RPM. Slight loss of power at bottom end. Great system, and an excellent value.
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so its about twice louder inside compared to oem? does it drone inside at all? or at least of a hint of drone?

and you said power comes on about 1800rpm, with slight loss of power at bottom end. by your bottom end means rev range below 1800rpm?


btw.. thanx for your input!
 
minkl81 said:
so its about twice louder inside compared to oem? does it drone inside at all? or at least of a hint of drone?

and you said power comes on about 1800rpm, with slight loss of power at bottom end. by your bottom end means rev range below 1800rpm?


btw.. thanx for your input!
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Everyone is going to experience it differently...

I have a 45 so I can only tell you my experiences. It is slightly louder than stock when driving normally. It becomes louder as you tip in the throttle. It isn't intruding nor is there any drone at all.

Upon startup you can tell the difference, but at idle it is slightly louder than stock.
Here is mine, unfortunately I didn't rev it all the way...
YouTube- FX45 with invidia gemini catback
 
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without a DB rating its all subjective but I'd say its not loud by any means (compared to other available systems), sound level is approximately 1/3-1/2 as loud as OEM (which is fairly quiet) but only under load. With my system I also noticed after 2K miles it opened up and the sound level increased slightly. Other buyers/users say no drone, I have noticed in second or third gear around 1,700 under a steady load a slight [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial]resonance but it only at specific times, at freeway cruising speeds its not noticeable at all.

RE: Bottom end power loss: Yes, below 1,600-1,900. You really won't notice the loss so much and when it picks up and pulls through the remaining range you will be pleased.
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You should also contact Gordon (GordonFX1987) before purchasing. He works for Invidia and might be able to give you an even better "forum member" deal than you were quoted. I know he has hooked up some members on here, but don't know the exact price he gives. Send him a PM.
 
Its really hard to find incabin video clips of this exhaust. It'll give me some idea how loud it will be but no one seems have one (even G's or Z's).

Also this great deal is hard to resist... Even Tanabe Concept G 3" catback for my 240sx cost me $500 and only for $300 more, I can have true dual catback with great built quality... Damn...
 
the gemini sound is slightly louder than oem at idle, you rev it past 2k, you hear it rumble, you floor it on the hwy ad at 5k rpm it just growls. slight drone at 2.5k and i like that.
 
No worries boss. When you hear the word "drone" it brings forward mental sound clips of inferior ricer systems you may have had the misfortune to have owned or had to ride with. This system is nice. I am PICKY and have used the D word with regards to the Invidia but really its nothing as it only occurs at specific speeds and not at freeway speeds where it would make you want to pull your hair out. I would venture to say that most aftermarket systems that increase the exhaust sound level will have areas that you will be able to pick out moments of resonance. Its just more noticeable due to the increased DB level.
 
"drone" that i know isn't from ricer fart can systems fyi guys. i've gone through many cars and many catback systems in many different setups but all aftermarket systems had drones that i couldn't bear with. my ears are pretty sensitive and even the highly praised systems that most raved still droned in my ears.

and.. usually rattle/fart cans are more raspy than drony. but if these cans are setup right with proper piping along with proper resonators, raspiness will be gone but probably not the drone. but my experience is biased since all the different systems that i've experienced was from honda engines.

honda engines are known for low-end torque even with V-6 J-Series engine. due to the low-end torque, all aftermarket catback systems droned but wasn't raspy. and rev range where drone occured was pretty much the same (between 2~3k rpm) with any brand of catback systems too. now days, the drone caused by low-end torque with honda engines are pretty well known.

now back to nissan... unlike honda's low tq, high hp, and rev happy engines, nissan seemed to make engines that are opposite of honda. so logically, invidia's gemini catback shouldn't drone at all or very minimal but bit louder compared to oem. also the two big fat resonators right after the cat should help minimizing rasp and drone.

due to never having perfect catback system that i love, my curiosity intensifies if lots of people rave about that specific system saying it doesn't drone at all, blah, blah.. so everytime, i try to gather as many information possible before purchasing one. but since i already purchase one, i'll get to test out another system that many people loves.
 
minkl81 said:
nissan seemed to make engines that are opposite of honda. so logically, invidia's gemini catback shouldn't drone at all or very minimal but bit louder compared to oem. also the two big fat resonators right after the cat should help minimizing rasp and drone.
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there you go, you have answered your own question.
 
minkl81 said:
"drone" that i know isn't from ricer fart can systems fyi guys.
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There was substantial drone on my M coupe with straight pipes:laugh:
Much more so than my buddies NSXs with straight pipes...but the cabin in the M made it resonate even more. It was temporary and just for fun while awaiting my B&B TriFlo.

Only complaint I have heard about the Invidia is that the tubing is very thin walled. Other than that everone has been happy. There may be some rasp with the 35s, but then again it's rather subjective and I may be totally wrong, but it's what I hear while listening to video clips of the Invidia on the 35 online and there are too many variables there...so let us know what you think when you get it installed.
 
bleedingsujit said:
there you go, you have answered your own question.
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haha.. yea, logically i can visualize the end result in my head. but in real life, result varies so much especially with these aftermarket catback systems.


SexualChocolate said:
There was substantial drone on my M coupe with straight pipes:laugh:
Much more so than my buddies NSXs with straight pipes...but the cabin in the M made it resonate even more. It was temporary and just for fun while awaiting my B&B TriFlo.

Only complaint I have heard about the Invidia is that the tubing is very thin walled. Other than that everone has been happy. There may be some rasp with the 35s, but then again it's rather subjective and I may be totally wrong, but it's what I hear while listening to video clips of the Invidia on the 35 online and there are too many variables there...so let us know what you think when you get it installed.
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i've seen almost all of the gemini systems installed on fx35/45, g35/37, z350/370 and non of them actually had incabin videos.

once on my previous ride, TL TypeS, i tried cat delete mod (TL don't have headers, and have 3 cats total) along with factory resonator delete on a oem exhaust system, and it just boomed in the cabin whenever gas was given.
 
I have the 1st gen indivia, and love it. I think I was the 1st FX45 to buy from Invidia and have posted vids and pics to help others chose their exhaust. It took like a month to decide on the exhaust, and said f**k it after talking to Gordon. I mean seriously, what other brand has a sales rep supporting the forums with the car we drive? .. The 1st gen exhaust is not loud. Only a slight increase in DB's, and adds ponies. I'm so glad i got this because it's a true dual setup (HKS is not), so far no rust like the Stillen, and it bolts up directly (Nismo you have to extend the tips). You'll be fine with the 2nd gen Gemini, and i'm sure your going to love it. Post pics and clips!!
 
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Hey guys, I'm eagerly waiting for the dyno test results on 2nd gen Invidia cat back for the FX50. I'm seriously thinking of getting one, once they release the production version.
One quick question though, do you guys know if reprogramming of the ECU is necessary once the Invidia cat back is installed?
 
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