I looked at both, HKS costs twice as much, but some reported that it has power loss after installing HKS cuz it's still sucking hot air? but when i tried looking for sound clips HKS sounds so friggin awesome
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADFLm5o3J0w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8xiKSU9BtQ
I really like the sound coming out of this
Comparing to the AEM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIscFXfW8hg
which i basically thinks it sound like a lawnmower
What do you guys think?

 

i think you should just stick a sock in the throttle body.

 

if you just want sound, Get K&N, it also will give you the highest top end power at the price of higher idle IAT (intake air temp)

AEM/Mazdaspeed will give you moderate gain. its not as noisy as the other ones. engine will get cooler air.

Stock will give you moderate gain IF you change the filter with a high flow one say , K&N drop ins. stock probably got the lowest idle/moving IAT

HKS ... I dont know yet, soon I will know

 

get the aem i have it and it sounds great especially when you press on the gas. To help get colder air to your HKS if you do get it i believe Racing Beat makes a duct that you can put on your car, but that'll b more money your gonna have to spend. IMO the best choice would b to get the AEM cuz its cheaper its a CAI and if you plan on goin FI you can use it to help make a cold air for your system

 

+1...and it's the only one I know that is CARB exempt

 

AEM is cold air/ HKS is hot air!

Both will give you little gains. I had the K&N HAI before and now have the AEM. I figured if I was going to have an intake it might as well give my engine Cold air. Plus I thought the K&N was too loud.

This thread has been done 8 million times. Try searching.... PLEASE!

 

What about the Racing Beat Revi wth Duct (439 Combo) for the same money as the HKS
Get the best of both worlds Ram Air/CAI

 

I did, would the Racing Beat Revi Air duct work with HKS?

 

yes. The RB duct will work with any SRI set up.

 

But it doesn't clip right in, rite?
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-aftermarket-performance-modifications-23/rb-ram-air-duct-stock-air-box-70439/page2/
cuz this looks to me that there'd be a funny gap between the duct and the HKS intake

 

there will be a gap unless you jerry rig something up or buy the racing beat intake to go along with it.

 

would it matter? it still helps bring down the temperature closer to idle rite?

 

While you are driving yes. At idle not really....

If there is a gap between your filter and the duct you are still going to suck up hot engine bay air.

If you have the RB intake and duct it is completely enclosed, which will keep your IAT closer to AMB. If you buy the AEM/ MS CAI you will not need the duct.