Sound Expert Reacts to Best Engine Sounds

We asked two-time Oscar-winning sound designer Mark Mangini to break down some of the best sounding engines ever made.

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[jakmac]

I don’t need to even watch this to know it’s the LFA.

[UncleRJ]

Mark Mangini described the 4A-GE *_perfectly_* . It is just a pure incredible coincidence that the description fit the AE86 so well, especially with its role in Initial D.

[bustedrav]

The Zonda R is the best ive heard in person, it sent shivers up my spine.

[carlospacheco]

The LFA's exhaust sound was developed by Yamaha's musical engineers (totally different from Yamaha Motors). So, when you have a company like Yamaha behind the sound. You know it will be good.

[SavageShooter]

Yeah the LFA is one of the best sounding cars ever, although the 787B is hard to beat too.

[Soh]

Most of the time you want rapid fire gear changes, but in the case of the LFA the gear changes are actually part of the drama. They are so delayed and so slow that it’s almost as if it’s cleansing your auditory palate for each successive gear. It’s truly a masterpiece.

[seventwo_]

i love pagani but i’ve finally gotten to hear an LFA in person and it 1000% lives up to the hype.

[Buddybryan]

I got to see an LFA at a cars and coffee not to long ago and that cars sound is just incredible.

[Alecd]

I love the LFA, but my god does that Pagani sound good

[justinhofman]

I think a better recording of the 787B would have showcased the sound a bit better. Having heard one in real life, there is nothing else like it.

[esaedvik]

The one that always comes up for me, is the AMG M156 in C63's etc. Jag's new V8s are so good too. Love a good growl and a loose rumble under throttle.

[PoisonRemedy]

Disappointed that there was no rally car, Quatro or Lancia, those sound insane

[brandonerrorcontentmissing]

Wow guys. This was the coolest way to look at sounds and judge them. This perspective on sounds was amazing.

[thisisarealusername]

There're two things about this man: 1.He has passion in sounds, 2. He has passion in cars

[Keatoil]

Unsubscribed for hating the Mazda 787b

[ambergris]

The secret of the Pagani isn't just in the V12 (although it always helps), it's the equal length headers, who ensure that all equally spaced pulses keep being equally pulsed when they exit out of the exhaust pipes. Which makes for an ever smooth note, and keeps the pitch very high up. Also helps with power! But props to the engineers, the Pagani geniuses being given one of the best canvas to work on (AMG is nearly systematically known for the amazing sound of their engines), and the result is definitely at the level of our expectations.

[Christopher_TG]

This guy analyzing the best sounding V8s is one of my favorite Donut videos. So awesome to see him back!!

[XogoWasTaken]

Kinda a shame they didn't get to hear the 787b's idle. The variance between it's stuttery, quick thrumming idle and the much smoother scream it makes at high RPM is a big part of what makes that engine sound so interesting.

[woohunter]

I loved the way you explained all of the mechanics and specs of these engines. The part where you show the VR6 animation and explained why the cylinders were offset and the V only being 15 deg. Also loved how you explained about how important sound is to car people. I would imagine many of us car people have a decent audio system at home.

[MattH-wgou]

I called the GT3 RS! But I have been listening to a lot of 911 clips lately. Not on the idle and rev but on the drive away and shifts I was thinking that had to be a 6cyl first, double clutch obvs, and N/A. And high revving. 911 GT3 RS.