New Vantage has Fake Engine Sounds?

[AlexT]

I am now wondering if the new Vantage uses fake engine sounds delivered through the car's speaker system (like BMW)? Unless it's due to an absolute lack of soundproofing which I doubt, from inside the car the engine does sound rather different to an AMG for some reason. In fact to my ears it sounds much clearer. Almost synthesised. It sounds, how can I say, artifically good.

[Logannz]

I can't speak for the Vantage, but I drove the new RS4 with the V6 recently, it sounded suspiciously synthetic, especially the exhaust pops which just didn't seem right.. I sure hope Aston wouldn't stoop to this..

[anonymous-user]

AlexT said:

I am now wondering if the new Vantage uses fake engine sounds delivered through the car's speaker system (like BMW)? Unless it's due to an absolute lack of soundproofing which I doubt, from inside the car the engine does sound rather different to an AMG for some reason. In fact to my ears it sounds much clearer. Almost synthesised. It sounds, how can I say, artifically good.

There's some truth in there's sound piped into the cabin, but it's not like the fictional tones you get with Audi and VW, where a vanilla 4-banger suddenly sounds like an Alfa V6... (my own daily driver TT diesel - makes all kinds of fictional sports car noises in dynamic mode, it's 'interesting' shall we say).

With the Vantage, at low to mid revs is perhaps where there's a more noticeable tone that can sound a bit odd at part throttle, but once the exhaust valves open, the soundtrack is purely the engine, and a hint of turbo whistle. Acoustically it's quite different to the AMG application - in those, more revs equates to a louder version of the same monotonous tone throughout the rev range - a bit Detroit muscle'esque, which is no bad thing, but Astons are meant to have greater range in their vocal ability.

AM did quite a good job of engineering the intake and exhaust systems to be reminiscent of a naturally aspirated V8. It's not perfect, but much like the AM31 V12, they're the only manufacturer who's really made a hair dryer assisted engine sound close to a previous gen N/A version. I don't believe there'll be an appreciation of the engineering involved until we see Ferrari and Lambo go the turbo route on their V12's, as if it's anything like the 488, Ferrari are struggling to replicate a N/A sound in the way AM have. Judging how good something sounds is all a bit subjective though.

[roughrider]

AlexT said:

I am now wondering if the new Vantage uses fake engine sounds delivered through the car's speaker system (like BMW)?.

No, not manufactured via stereo. Well managed exhaust/induction........

[Logannz]

I certainly hope it's not synthetic, I really think the would be a as deal breaker for me on any car.