What are the world’s loudest mufflers? Which one is the best loud muffler? Let’s find out, and along the way get tips and tricks for building the loudest exhaust systems for V8, V6, 4 cylinders, and more.

Keep in mind that many mufflers are loud, but in this article we will only look at mufflers designed to be as loud as possible. Examples of mufflers that are loud but NOT as loud as possible include standard length glasspacks, Flowmaster® 40 Series™, Borla® ProXS™, Paradox Signature Series Performance Mufflers™, etc.

People choose extra loud mufflers for different reasons. Sometimes it’s to be as loud as possible. But extra loud mufflers also work well to extract sound from extra quiet vehicles.

We will also focus on exhaust 3.00" and smaller.

What is the loudest muffler?

Here is a list of the loudest mufflers available:

• Hot Tamale™ by Paradox Performance Muffler™
• Loud “Straight-Through” Mufflers
• V Baffle Race Mufflers
• “Empty” Mufflers
• Other “Race” Mufflers

These mufflers all have a similar volume level- loud! But which one is the best loud muffler? In our humble opinion, the best loud muffler is the Hot Tamale by Paradox Performance Mufflers. But there are several other loud mufflers out there, including the Flowmaster® Super 10™, louder “straight through” mufflers, and “empty” mufflers. Read on to learn more about these mufflers.

The Loudest Mufflers on the Market

• Hot Tamale by Paradox Performance Muffler

  

  Paradox Hot Tamale Performance Mufflers are more than just loud. They have a rich, aggressive and unique tone. In addition, they are specifically designed to combat exhaust drone. This is thanks to its patented Tuning Fork Technology™

  Most if not all the mufflers on this list prioritize loudness (and/or flow) over sound quality. The Hot Tamale by Paradox Performance Muffler offers loudness, flow, AND sound quality, allowing people to have their cake and eat it too.

  Hot Tamales use Paradox Performance Muffler’s patented “Tuning Fork Technology”, which is a breakthrough in anti-drone tech that also produces extremely rich sound.

  Hot Tamales are available and flow rated for up to 3.00". Unfortunately, larger inlet and outlet sizes are not available at this time.

  Click here to learn more about Paradox Hot Tamale Performance Mufflers.

• Loud “Straight-Through” Mufflers (e.g. short glasspacks)

  

  While it’s become fashionable to call this style of muffler “straight through”, the basis for this technology has existed since at least the 1930s and is most famously used in glasspacks.

  These types of mufflers are typically made by wrapping absorptive material around a perforated pipe and stuffing that assembly in a case.

  The loudness of these mufflers depends on how much sound absorbing material is used, how big and long the muffler is, the diameter of the perforated core, etc. These kinds of mufflers can be quiet when lots of sound absorbing material is used, or when they’re extra long or have a narrow diameter core. However, the opposite is also true. Very little sound absorbing material, short length, etc. can result in very loud mufflers.

  One example of this type of loud muffler is the DynoMax® Race Bullet. DynoMax® Race Bullets have very little sound absorption material, are short, and have a wide open internal core.

  In our experience, mufflers like these are loud, but do little for tone quality. They usually flow well, but not better than Paradox Hot Tamale Mufflers. To our ears, they don’t sound much different than a straight pipe.

• V Baffle Race Mufflers

  

  The Flowmaster® 10 Series™ and Super 10™ Series (and the many off-brand knock-offs based on them) are well known loud mufflers. They are often branded as race mufflers. In our personal experience, they only do a little bit to control sound and can be prone to exhaust drone (low frequency interior resonance).

  These mufflers do change the tone quality and are usually an improvement over straight pipes or muffler deletes. But in our experience, they still sound rather raw. In addition, Flowmaster® does not recommend using the Super 10™ Series on the street.

• "Mufflers" With Nothing Inside Them

  

  Something we’ve seen lately are “mufflers” that have absolutely nothing inside of them, such as the SLP™ Loudmouth™ LM1™. Amateurs and fabrication shops will also sometimes make “empty” mufflers as a cheap solution to muffler requirements on race cars.

  Empty “mufflers” are essentially over sized straight pipes with necks, and in our experience (and common sense) has almost the same sound as a straight pipe.

• Other Race Mufflers (e.g. Flowmaster® Outlaw™)

  

  There are a few other types of extra loud mufflers. Many of them are marketed as racing mufflers. A popular muffler in this category is the Flowmaster® Outlaw™, which comes in various lengths.

  On its official page, Flowmaster does not say much about how this muffler sounds. “Minimal decibel reduction” is advertised, along with a promise that the muffler delivers “…extremely aggressive sound levels inside and out”. This makes sense with the experience we had- a lot of drone and a lot of uncontrolled loudness.

  All in all, this muffler appears to be marketed toward drag racers who are not concerned about sound quality or drone.

What is The Best Loud Muffler?

We believe the Hot Tamale by Paradox Performance Mufflers is the best loud muffler. Here’s why:

• They’re designed for great tone quality, not just loudness.
• They're competitively priced.
• They're made in the USA by a small family company.
• Patented anti-drone technology.

Click here to learn more about Paradox Hot Tamale Performance Mufflers.

The Loudest Muffler for V8

We believe the best extra loud muffler for V8 trucks and cars is the Paradox Hot Tamale Performance Muffler. The Hot Tamale reduces volume as little as possible, but also adds higher sound quality. In the R&D process, V8s were very much in mind and extensively tested on.

But before you chose the loudest muffler possible for your V8, there are a couple of things you consider:

First: Is your engine stock? Stock V8 cars and trucks can respond well to extra loud mufflers without becoming obnoxious. Custom-built and modified engines are often louder than stock and may need more sound control.

Second: Is your exhaust stock? Extra loud mufflers are less likely to be obnoxious when the rest of the exhaust system is stock. We often recommend replacing the stock muffler with a Hot Tamale Performance Muffler, and keep everything else in the system stock.

The Loudest Muffler for V6

Paradox Hot Tamale Performance Mufflers are the loudest possible muffler for V6s, and also provide great high performance tone.

But keep in mind that mufflers are only one part of an exhaust system- there are many other factors that affect how loud a vehicle is. This, of course, includes engine mods, but it also includes stock exhaust components that reduce sound, such as resonators and catalytic converters.

Stock resonators and catalytic converters can be a good thing, because it actually gives consumers flexibility. We commonly recommend replacing JUST the stock muffler with a Paradox Hot Tamale muffler, and leaving the rest of the system stock. This can provide great sound that’s affordable and requires minimal modification. For those that want more radical sound, the resonators can be replaced. Or if desired, even more drastic measures can be taken.

However, we do not recommend modifying emissions systems (for example, e liminating catalytic converters). Doing so can lead to unpredictable sound and performance issues. It’s rarely worth it to modify emissions and it’s usually illegal too.

For V6s, we often recommend the Paradox Signature Series Performance Muffler. The Signature Series is usually moderately loud, but usually not too loud for most people. It’s less loud than the Hot Tamale, but it is definitely not a quiet muffler. That said, Hot Tamales can be a great and not too loud on V6s that still have resonators.

As with other engines, it’s important to consider any modifications that have been done to the engine or exhaust. Modifying the emissions system in particular can lead to unpredictable sound issues.

The Loudest Muffler for 4 Cylinders

The loudest mufflers for 4 cylinders are, of course, made by Paradox Performance Muffler.

And while it’s possible to get great sound out of 4 cylinder engines, the loudest exhaust systems can be TOO loud on 4 cylinders. Instead of buying one of the loudest mufflers possible (see list above), we often recommend a muffler such as the Signature Series by Paradox Performance Muffler. That said, louder mufflers like the Paradox Hot Tamale can still work great on 4 cylinders that have proper resonators.

It’s also important to take a look at how your stock system is built. Resonators (not to mention catalytic converters) can be especially critical on 4 cylinder cars and trucks. Removing them or altering them can have a surprisingly huge impact on sound. We unusually recommend replacing just the stock muffler(s), and leaving the rest of the system as is.

The Loudest Truck Muffler

The loudest muffler for trucks with pipe 3.00 inches or under is the Hot Tamale by Paradox Performance Muffler.

The loudest mufflers on the market work well on V8 trucks such as the Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Ford F150, RAM, Nissan Titan, etc. A great option for trucks is to simply replace the stock muffler with a loud muffler, and leave the rest stock. The Hot Tamale by Paradox Performance Muffler is a particularly excellent option for pipe size up to 3.00 inch in diameter. Those who want the loudest truck in town can go further by upgrading the pipe, but a Hot Tamale in place of a stock muffler gives a sound that most trucks with duals would envy.

The Loudest Car Muffler

Like trucks, the loudest car muffler is the Paradox Hot Tamale Performance Muffler.

It’s always important to consider your engine size, pipe size, modifications and so on. See above for more information that can help you make the right decision for your car's engine size.

What is the loudest legal muffler?

Let’s look at legality. Most jurisdictions require a muffler of some type. Beyond that, all that really matters (for sound) is how loud the exhaust is after it exists the system. Decibel laws vary depending on where you are.

Keep in mind that the muffler is just one of many things that affect your vehicle’s volume level. Other exhaust components that contribute to exhaust volume are:

• Resonators
• Pipe size
• Catalytic converters (plugged or partially plugged converters especially reduce sound).
• Other exhaust components such as “flapper” valves and resonated X-Pipes.

Be aware that modifying emissions on street vehicles is illegal under most circumstances. This includes removing catalytic converters without replacing them. Cutting cats can also lead to undesirable sound and performance.

Please note that we are not giving legal advice in any way.

Do you need the loudest muffler for your vehicle?

Do you need a super loud muffler? It depends on your vehicle and your goals. For example, how big and powerful an engine is can have a major effect on sound. For example, a stock 5.3 GM engine will not sound like a NASCAR unless you modify the engine considerably. But it can still sound great with the right exhaust.

That said, V6s and 4 cylinders can be louder than you might think when they have minimal or no exhaust.

The Loudest Exhaust Systems

In this article we’ve discussed several types of extra-loud mufflers. There are a lot of options, but always keep your entire system in mind. Remember: The loudness of your exhaust is caused by more than just the muffler. The rest of the exhaust system (e.g. resonators and pipe) also affects the sound level, as does engine size, type, and modifications. The good news is that with the right performance muffler, you can keep most of your stock system and get great sound.

For most, sound quality is as important as volume. The Hot Tamale by Paradox Performance Muffler provides the loudest possible sound while retaining high-quality sound.

If you’re ready for loud, high-quality sound, click here to shop for Paradox Hot Tamale Performance Mufflers.

For those that want moderate sound control, we recommend Paradox Signature Series Performance Mufflers™

 

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Disclaimer: we are not in any way affiliated with Flowmaster®, SLP™, Borla®, or DynoMax™. All trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.