Agreed. Honda puts the VTEC where it is utilized best by the powerband. Generally, if you don't have any mods on your motor you should leave the engagement point alone. But do you got the stock motor for a 96? Cause I thought every VTEC motor said it on the valve cover and also I know Honda didn't put VTEC in the EX's till 01. But the noise he hears could also be comming from the max hp or max tq point? I know when my car hits about 4300 my engine sounds a hell of a lot more aggressive but my VTEC actually kicks in at 2500 and 3200...
I've got a '94 EX...it's VTEC. It's been around in EX's wayyy before '01 man. It's also in big letters on the block so it's a complete mystery as to why it doesn't say it on his.