Catbacks: Muffler vs. No Muffler

[Silver Cervy]

One thing I'm seeing with all the aftermarket catbacks for the FRS/BRZ/86 is that some come with a replacement muffler while others delete the muffler. Obviously this results in a wide variety of exhaust sounds, in terms of both amplitude and tone, and I've been reading a lot of different opinions about what kind of sound is good and what isn't. One thing that seems to be agreed on is that catback w/o muffler + catless headers = LOUD CAR, and while some like this combo others don't.

What are you guys' exhaust combos and how do you like them? And for anyone who has catless headers w/ non-muffler exhaust, do you enjoy the loudness or not? How much attention does it draw?

Another thing I'm curious about is if anyone has installed a separate muffler like a magnaflow after installing a non-muffler exhaust. If you did, how did it sound afterward?

[tyler_win_photo]

Tested out headers and buddyclub catback once just for the laughs. I'm used to loud cars and I felt like that combo was undrive-ably loud. And it sounded like firecrackers... no real tone to it.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Silver Cervy

.................

What are you guys' exhaust combos and how do you like them?

How about a nameless exhaust with 2.5" piping and 5" mufflers. That's about as loud as I want to hear as a DD.


humfrz

[AREN]

If you are gonna change the headers to catless then go with a muffled & resonated catback (ie Perrin, Q300) or else its just unbearably loud and obnoxious. If you on the other hand will ONLY change the catback (or axleback) I think Tomei Titanium series or Nameless axleback give the car the aggressive sound you might want.

[Silver Cervy]

Originally Posted by AREN

If you are gonna change the headers to catless then go with a muffled & resonated catback (ie Perrin, Q300) or else its just unbearably loud and obnoxious. If you on the other hand will ONLY change the catback (or axleback) I think Tomei Titanium series or Nameless axleback give the car the aggressive sound you might want.

Problem is I already have a non-muffled catback, and I want to install some catless uel headers in a few months, which is why I asked the last question regarding adding an aftermarket muffler.

[KendallH]

The secret is to keep the stock front pipe if you're staying N/A. I had a catted front pipe with catless headers and a buddy club spec 2 straight pipe, it was undriveable. Put the stock front pipe back on and it sounded excellent (in my opinion). I have a Tomei 80R with catless UEL and stock front pipe now, and it sounds amazing.

[mav1178]

Much like music, what sounds amazing to one person is absurd to another.

[Timmy_Jones]

Catless UEL, stock Front Pipe, N1 catback. Very very loud on a cold start. Decently loud otherwise, no real drone until you hit 55+MPH and then it gets bad. 80MPH is awful drone...im looking at going to a muffler setup soon.

[Silver Cervy]

Originally Posted by Timmy_Jones

Catless UEL, stock Front Pipe, N1 catback. Very very loud on a cold start. Decently loud otherwise, no real drone until you hit 55+MPH and then it gets bad. 80MPH is awful drone...im looking at going to a muffler setup soon.

Yea see that was what I was concerned about. Sometimes an exhaust can sound great at some speeds but terrible at others. I'm going to try doing my non-muffled cat with the headers and stock front pipe, and if I don't like it I'll probably buy a muffler and have a shop weld it on the midpipe.

[nova.86]

What do you guys think about stock headers, tomei uncatted front pipe + tomei 60R catback. Planning on keeping my headers stock for a while and I hear that changing them is what gives the most sound so I'm hoping my exhaust won't be too loud with the set up I described above.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by nova.86

What do you guys think about stock headers, tomei uncatted front pipe + tomei 60R catback. Planning on keeping my headers stock for a while and I hear that changing them is what gives the most sound so I'm hoping my exhaust won't be too loud with the set up I described above.

I had all the clips already and edited it real quick. To answer your question: stock header w/ a straight front pipe will actually be way louder than stock front pipe.

Tomei 60R
stock header/stock overpipe/stock front pipe - 107.1db
stock header/stock overpipe/Fujitsubo front pipe - 107.0db
Apex'i header/Apex'i overpipe/Apex'i Super Catalyzer front pipe - 106.6db

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPgDIaNI0Kc"]FRS/BRZ exhaust: Tomei 60R exhaust and stock/Fujitsubo/Apexi front pipe comparison - YouTube[/ame]

[Silver Cervy]

Originally Posted by nova.86

What do you guys think about stock headers, tomei uncatted front pipe + tomei 60R catback. Planning on keeping my headers stock for a while and I hear that changing them is what gives the most sound so I'm hoping my exhaust won't be too loud with the set up I described above.

I've seen some of those single tip exhausts floating around. What's the difference from dual tips besides appearance?

[renfield90]

I've got a JDL UEL (no cat), Berk single exit muffler delete, stock everything else.

It's "loud" if you're my old man, who almost told me verbatim to get off his lawn when he heard it.

He's worried I'll piss off the neighbors when I visit. Actually, everyone from kids to grandparents and everything in between waves because it's a cool car. It helps that I don't drive like a jackass in the neighborhood.

Also, this setup passed sound comfortably at the local race track. Limit was 93dB, A-weighted, fast response at 50 feet under full throttle. I didn't get a number but got told I wasn't even close.

[renfield90]

Originally Posted by Silver Cervy

I've seen some of those single tip exhausts floating around. What's the difference from dual tips besides appearance?

Dual tips weigh more, and potentially IMO have a little extra restriction.

Personally for a NA 2L four banger the only reason to go dual exit is because the car's bumper was made for it and it looks better. For those who believe muffler deletes are a weight saving mod, single exit is the way to go.