Back-to-back sound comparison between an X-pipe and a "Zipper pipe." Based on successful tests of other Zipper pipes I've created for my 2003 Cobra and another 2015-2023 S550, I wanted to try it on a Vortech supercharged S550 2018 Mustang GT. It's equipped with a Borla Atak exhaust with the active valves held open (mufflers bypassed) for this sound test.
A "Zipper Pipe" is something I came up with a few years ago that is basically a very long section of two pipes in a dual exhaust where the exhaust pulses from each bank of cylinders can "cross over" and "mingle" anywhere along the section, creating a unique, high-pitched sound. In my mind, a Zipper Pipe is an evolution of an X-pipe, just like the X-pipe was an evolution of an H-pipe.
On an S550 Mustang, the header and catalytic converter assembly design ("maniverters") dominate the sound, so anything afterward is going to have a pretty subtle influence on the sound. However, trained ears can hear the difference how the Zipper Pipe "knocks down" the roughness of the X-pipe exhaust and delivers a "snappier," "crispier" sound...revs and at high RPM.
The Zipper Pipe weighs 10 pounds total, which saved 8.5 pounds over the factory piping and Borla X-pipe.
Let me know what you think in the comments. Do you hear anything different? Which do you like better?