This paper presents an experimental study on generation machanism and reduction methods of air flow noise in cavity type mufflers. The effects of various flow speed, cavity lengths, cavity diameters were examined, clarifying the frequency characteristics of that noise. The visualization of internal flow and the measurement of local velocity in the muffler were performed using the smoke-wire method, and hot-wire velocimeter. From these experiments, the distribusion of mean velocity and the turbulence characteristics of the internal flow were able to be clearly shown for each type of muffler. It was also clarified that a great deal air flow noise is generated when a jet stream from the inlet pipe directly impacts the tail pipe. entrance Then, the effects of various methods for the reduction of impact energy and air flow noise are systematically studied.