It always feels a bit off when people compare Flowmaster to glasspack mufflers. We’re talking about two completely different designs, after all.

Given such constant comparisons, it makes sense to explain why these two differ so much in terms of price and manufacturing.

Why am I discussing Flowmaster vs Cherry Bomb specifically? Well, the Bombs have been the most popular glasspacks for quite a few years.

Summed up in short: Your choice depends on your vehicle and yes, your budget and expectations of the muffler’s durability.

Flowmasters like the Super 10 will achieve deeper acoustics, won’t rust as quickly, and will cancel out droning much better than any Cherry Bomb.

But let’s see how (and why) this happens. I’ll look at both brands and also peek at their loudest lineup.

That would be the Cherry Bomb Extreme (not a glasspack) vs Flowmaster Super 10. 

Feel free to navigate to the specific section that interests you the most. You can use the Table of Contents for that:

I’ve seen quite a few people wonder why exactly are Flowmasters double the price of any glasspack muffler, Cherry Bomb included.

At a fundamental level, this boils down to design.

Glasspacks are very simple mufflers. You basically have a smaller center tube inside a larger outer tube. The space between them is filled with fiberglass.

Flowmasters like the Super 10, on the other hand, are a staple of updated modern muffler construction. You have reinforced stainless steel that’s been extra MIG welded for durability and anti-rusting.

Not only that, but much like other high-end mufflers, Flowmasters feature better drone-absorbing technology. They also deal better with flow issues, boosting performance where glasspacks would bottleneck.

Last but not least, the differently engineered chambers allow for a completely different sound.

While Cherry Bomb is a staple with the brand’s glasspacks, it also produces modern mufflers too. A good example of that is the Cherry Bomb Extreme. Its design is virtually similar to the Flowmaster Super 10:

These fundamental design aspects lead to several significant differences.

The first one is sound. With thicker casings and less droning, the Flowmasters will achieve a deeper rumble, a beefier growl. The Flowmaster Super 10 is basically the brand’s most aggressive muffler, so it growls loud.

In case you want something more balanced, check out the Flowmaster Super 40 muffler.

While it retains some of the aggressiveness, it’s tamer in its loudness compared to the regular 40s. The ‘Super’ series focuses on extensive anti-droning capabilities too.

Perfect if you want a roar and extra power, but don’t want to overdo it.

On the other hand, Cherry Bombs like the brand’s loudest Cherry Bomb Extreme also pack a punch in terms of sound performance.

The Extreme’s aggressive throatiness can sound high-pitched and not as refined in some vehicle applications. On others, it’ll sound just the way it should be at a fantastic price. I’ll elaborate more on that in a minute.

You will, however, encounter slightly more droning issues even with the more modern Extreme muffler:

The second big difference is overall durability. Cherry Bomb glasspacks are cheap and entertaining to play with, but they’re nowhere near Flowmaster in terms of longevity.

Glasspacks are much more prone to rusting compared to modern muffler design. That and the fiberglass is way flimsier than properly welded steel. It breaks down, especially on more heavy-duty vehicles.

That said, there are specific situations where a glasspack is a way better choice compared to Flowmaster.

Can you guess when and where?

If you thought of muscle cars, hot rods, or older engines…Bingo! As an old-school design, glasspacks live and breathe anything 60s to mid-80s.

Here’s a comparison between the sound of Cherry Bomb vs Flowmaster on a ‘70 Chevelle. I’ve praised Super 44’s bassy profile before, with a reason. But…the Cherry Bombs also sound awesome here:

It’s up to personal taste, but the Bombs really sound fitting for this specific vehicle, don’t they?

Engine-wise, Cherry Bomb mufflers also sound very, very nice on any classic V8. Moving forward in time and onto a V6, though? A Flowmaster will sound and perform better there.

This also applies to trucks. Unless you are a really big fan of glasspacks, I consider trucks to be territory for updated muffler design. That would either be Flowmaster or if you have the budget, an upscale solution like Corsa or Borla.

The deeper, low-growl notes of Flowmasters fit heavy-duty trucks like Silverado, Dodge Ram 2500 or 3500, and modern Ford F250/F350. A glasspack would sound out of place, to be frank.

Cherry Bombs like the ultra-loud Extreme or the brand’s best flowing muffler, the Vortex, were born for more versatile vehicle and engine applications, though.

Glasspacks might seem outdated to some, but they’re still pretty much relevant in some situations. I’m much more partial to newer mufflers like the Flowmaster. However, it would be foolish to ignore the unique retro muscle sound (and feel) of glasspacks.

Cherry Bombs ain’t only fiberglass, though. Their updated line-up is a worthy competitor to Flowmaster mufflers.

Products like the Cherry Bomb Extreme don’t suffer from the usual glasspack rusting or durability issues as much.

At a cheaper price, this is a very decent alternative to aggressive Super 10s or the mellower Flowmaster 40. Sure, you’ll get a bit more of droning and not as better of a flow, but it isn’t that bad of a trade-off.

I think I exhausted all that can be said about these two brands and muffler design types. If you’re looking for an alternative in Cherry Bomb’s price range, you can check out my Thrush vs Flowmaster review too.

Feel like I’ve omitted anything? Want to ask me a question? Just hit the comment button and let me know!