Keith, did you put in as much as the diameter could handle?
Just had a look at mine and the direction of the "scoops" goes rearward on mine.
They are loud, but mine have a nice tone, not what I would call raspy. One thing I have noticed, "loud" is a very subjective term to the beholder. Dean down in Arizona (who got busted for loud pipes) would not think Specialty Spares are loud. My wife thinks mine are too loud because she can hear me three miles away. I had a trike that could be heard 5 miles away...and I didn't think that was too loud!
I wear ear plugs for wind noise alone is too hard on your hearing.
eddy
