Tone/Volume of Different UEL Headers
 

What's up everyone! So this might be a stupid question but I have not been able to find a definitive answer from researching.

Do catless UEL headers from different companies differ in sound output in terms of tone and volume? Do some catless UEL headers produce more rasp than others, and are some louder/deeper than others?

Obviously each exhaust set up is different, and catted headers change the tone but if anyone knows how different catless UEL headers stack up against each other in sound quality or if I could be pointed in the right direction, that would be great.

Thanks in advance!!

The main differences in sound will be UEL vs EL, cats vs no cats or 1 cat, number of resonators and then largely the catback exhaust those will all make a bigger difference in the sound.
As far as specifically between brands of UEL, that would depend on the thickness / weight of material, runner lengths, and the angle of bends.

Yes. But many factors play a part. You have 4-5 exhaust pieces which all have an effect on the sound. Cats, resonators and mufflers all help lower and control the sound and rasp.

I have a high flow cat, resonator and 7" mufflers and I love the sound and level of my exhaust.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

From my 18 years experience with Subarus the more UEL a header is the more boxer/rumble it sounds, I fitted Gruppe-S UEL headers and as far as I can tell it is real boxer but quite muted as second cat and silencers cut most of the excess noise, I could tell OFH have the most rumble from all the others!

Jesus

There should be a post somewhere with all the different headers out there and possibly sound, but I'd say it's almost impossible to know the exact sound because it will depend on all portions of the exhaust.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Tone/Volume of Different UEL Headers
 

Thank you for all the replies! I agree it's hard to determine sound based just off the header, but I feel it can definitely play a role in a full exhaust system.

It's helpful knowing the characteristics of each brand's header such as learning the OFH has a lot of UEL rumble more so than others. Obviously a lot of it can be subjective, but if there is a commonality for what people say about a brand's header then that would be interesting to learn about as well. If you guys know of any specifics regarding other brands that would be great too. I've heard Borla's header is super raspy.

My (work in progress) car channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAF..._as=subscriber

My everything channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClH..._as=subscriber

They both have sound clips of my car throughout me owning it. All descriptions should have the parts list.

Idk if it will help or if you care to listen, but that's the stock all the way to Gruppe-S with a turbo kit. I've had 3 different exhaust setups so far, all have had the Gruppe-S because I keep hearing it's the best bang for buck header out there.

Buy a header and leave the rest of exhaust stock. You'll be fine.

Yeah, if you’re alright with your car sounding like shit. Have you actually heard a car with a header and stock exhaust?

Sounds stock, haha. It's boring, imo.

Yeah, my car. Fwiw I think these things sound like shit with loud exhausts.

I'd rather go slow quietly.

you have to hear at HKS boxer spec then ;)

Same. I'm currently shopping for a header for my stock exhaust, as I'd like a small bump in power with minimal impact on volume.

The FA20, no matter what is done to it, is not a good sounding engine.

Keep an eye on the classifieds. Headers pop up often.