For context, I had a 2004 DE for 18 years. Only mod I had was a K&N Typhoon short ram intake.

Sold it in Jan 2025 and replaced it with a 2008 HR.

In all the countless DE vs HR discussions, I don't recall ever hearing people mention just how different their tone is.

The DE has this deep, rumbling throaty roar are you accelerate , but the HR has a more high pitched, more subdued tone.

I tried getting another short ram intake (Injen SP1988) and it made a slight difference in volume, but the tone is still no where near as deep as the DE.

I've heard aluminum intake tubes to repalxe the OEM rubber ones might help. I heard HRs equal length exhaust runners makes it more high pitched and smooth.

I'm looking for any ideas. I liked the DEs tone so much I was even thinking of trading in my HR for a DE!

 

In all honesty just trade it, it's not going to happen 1 to 1.
if you ask me I'll tell you all day, I HATE the sound of the HR. It's tuned and more refined, but it's a sound I don't enjoy. The headers play a part, of course, but you have 3 cylinders feeding off each pipe as opposed to 6 cylinders through 1 pipe. Even with headers, the DE will not sound like an HR.
This is what mine sounds like at FBO.
https://www.reddit.com/r/350z/s/49c4koam7X

 

It's just hard to trade a 2008 HR with only 27k miles for a 2004 DE with 13k miles. I dont even know if they will make a fair trade or ask me for more money on top ofnit.

Whats confusing to me is that in aaaalll the countless discussuins about DE vs HR, i dont think anyone ever brings up the huge difference in sound between them. Isn't that super important?

 

Lol no. Not super important.

Performance
Modification capabilities
etc.

 

No.

 

That's your opinion, but since im not a track racer or anythibg my day to day enjomywnt of the car trumps all that and the sound of the DE was one of my favorite things about it.

 

Ok. Well I've talked to a ton of people on Reddit and others who feel the same exact way I do. Loved how my DE sounded. The HR not so much

 

People only care about performance metrics and how tuneable it is sadly. It takes someone like me in nature to look at the whole picture.

 

This, I find hard to believe, everyone in the 350Z sub is high on the HR kool-aid.

 

I never really noticed a huge difference (exhaust sound-wise) between the DE and HR. This really boils down more to the type of exhaust system installed and how that system was/is tuned.

Intake noises, sure, there will be a difference by design.

Btw, it dawned on me the other day that 350Zs get labeled as "trumpet" noise machines while VR6 VW R32s (like the MKIV) get labeled as "wookie" noise machines. IMHO, they both sound similar with the VR6 being more raspy/high-pitch and the VQ having more lower/bass notes. But again, it all boils down to the complete exhaust system.

Cheers!
-Icer

 

Yeah to me how a sports car sounds is as importsnt to how fun it is to drive.

 

I didn't say they think the DE is better, they just agree with me that the DE sounds much better. I myself agree the HR is the better engine and performance by far , but is that as important in a daily driver as something like how it sounds? I mean how many times am I going to care about a .2 second lead in the 0-60 pull ?

 

That is kinda what I meant, they prefer tge HR sound too, at least the people I've interacted with.

 

Would you believe I can pretty much tell you what engine is under the hood just by hearing it? The DE is THAT different to the HR, even more so when modified.

 

Lol - didn't you ask?

You lost me at reddit. The same one-time posters who come in here asking how to make their exhaust shoot flames with pops and bangs.

Your question is similar to past threads such as:
- I bought an A/T, but I want to swap a M/T in it
- I bought a ZR, but I want to have a hard top like a coupe
- I bought a DE, but I want to swap a HR engine in it

Sure, I suppose possible, but it's not justifiable when you can go and get exactly what you want. Yes, that is my opinion. But, if you want the DE sound, then you should get a DE if sound is one of the most important things to you.

 

I mean, you don't really need any technical expertise whatsoever to tell wheb something sounds different. I didn't think they knew why either, just surprised so many people noticed it too.

Amd this is why im here. I was hoping the more technical people on Herr would be able to help me mod the car (reasonably so) to get it to sound like a DE.

I'm just hesitant to trade a pristine 2008 HR for an equally pristine 2004DE. Everything tells me it's a bad deal for me as far as value, but man do I miss my DEs nice growl

 

It's VASTLY differrnt, i ageee. Night and day

 

Not everyone on reddit is that way, but there is a lot of them. For example there are a lot of us here that are there as well, some well known vets.

 

You guys are truly saints. I have hard enough time keeping up with the ignorami (lol, that's apparently a real word) on here, let alone a much larger platform for literally anyone that has the Internet.

Good for you for trying to bring balance.

 

TBH, the only reason I'm there is to keep records straight and help those that truly want help from vets in the community. It's annoying sometimes and I have to get into arguments with children 🙄. It is what it is on that front, they like to talk about the forums and say we are outdated, incorrect, or don't want to help.