Supercharger or turbo - which sounds better?

[DodgyGeezer]

We've had V8 noise questions - but not the forced induction question, namely: what sounds better:

- turbocharger
- supercharger


For me the supercharger just simply walks it. That whine is intoxicating whereas the whole wastegate chittering is just meh

[mcpoot]

DodgyGeezer said:

We've had V8 noise questions - but not the forced induction question, namely: what sounds better:

- turbocharger
- supercharger


For me the supercharger just simply walks it. That whine is intoxicating whereas the whole wastegate chittering is just meh

Opposite for me. Whine just irritates the hell out of me whereas I've never owned a turbo that has wastegate chittering.

[Defcon5]

Supercharger whine is glorious

//searches for R53 Minis on autotrader

[GroundEffect]

mcpoot said:

DodgyGeezer said:

We've had V8 noise questions - but not the forced induction question, namely: what sounds better:

- turbocharger
- supercharger


For me the supercharger just simply walks it. That whine is intoxicating whereas the whole wastegate chittering is just meh

Opposite for me. Whine just irritates the hell out of me whereas I've never owned a turbo that has wastegate chittering.

Superchargers don't all whine. Screw-type do as do roots, but centrifugal types are much more like turbo sounding on the intake side, but have no impact on the exhaust noise.

[CABC]

like induction noise, a supercharger whine is a result of the engine doing something positive. a waste gate is, well, waste. sounds cool in a way but rather inelegant when you think what's going on.

[Leins]

Quite like both my supercharger’s whine and a bit of twin-turbo V6 sound, but they’re nothing on a good old turbo diesel clatter of the family wagon

[TopTrump]

As above, centrifugal supercharger for the win. Turbo whistle, no detriment to the exhaust sound and bypass valve.

Roots style superchargers are annoying and I think I would go Turbo over one of those

[Paul_M3]

I think supercharger whine is really annoying. Luckily the exhaust drowns out the sound of mine.

[IntriguedUser]

Supercharger. But only the superchargers which built up boost as you rev higher, not the other

[Don Roque]

I enjoy the sound of a big turbo whistling as it sucks in air but you really need a window down to enjoy that. On the other hand, a whining supercharger sounds fun and entertaining whenever you use it. I prefer the sound of a supercharger, plus they don't strangle any of the exhaust noise.

[The Rotrex Kid]

TopTrump said:

As above, centrifugal supercharger for the win. Turbo whistle, no detriment to the exhaust sound and bypass valve.

This

[Glenn63]

I like both, jeep trackhawk sounds good, but a tuned R34 GTR sounds immense.

[s m]

Yeah, I enjoy both too

Had an R53 MCS and love how they’d made the supercharger sound like the old Mini gearbox

[swisstoni]

I like a nice exhaust note but engine gubbins should be as quiet as possible imho. So neither supercharger or turbo are anything I want to hear.

[Smint]

Love the sound of a proper large capacity Diesel moving away at just over tickover revs when the turbo starts to spool up, can barely hear the engine but the note of the turbo starting to boost is addictive.
Landcruisers are good for this, some truck engines from the 80's and 90's gloriously so, Cummins especially but some Mercs too.

However for the daddy of supercharger blower whine got to be Deltic two stokes, fell in love with that sound as a small boy in the heyday of the Deltics and it stuck.

[Mr Tidy]

swisstoni said:

I like a nice exhaust note but engine gubbins should be as quiet as possible imho. So neither supercharger or turbo are anything I want to hear.

I couldn't agree more - much prefer to hear an N/A engine.

[CubanPete]

Supercharger

[SlimJim16v]

Supercharger

[iacabu]

I've owned a Cooper s with reduced pulley so had a decent whine. Not overly loud but enjoyable.

Also owned a couple of mk3 fiesta Turbos. For me, the sound of a turbo spooling and chatter / blowoff is best. In fact I'm already on the hunt for a turbo hot hatch to bring this noise back into my life.

[cherryowen]

Turbo, all day long.

This sounds like a broken wheel bearing:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqIurHDNKTw