Exhaust volume
 

I really want to do equal length headers, over pipe, catted front pipe (or catted over pipe front pipe combo from nameless) and Perrin 2.5" resonated cat-back. Just how loud is this setup? How unpleasant will it be for my wife to ride with me? Does it drone? Please respond if you have nay experience with this or a similar setup

Not very loud. The Perrin resonated is pretty quiet even with a catless header. You can thank Perrin for using a quality large resonator.

That perrin cat back is supposed to be like second quietest to the oem setup. New headers really opens the car up though I would google some videos. WOT is a lot louder than stock with just headers added I know that for sure.

This is such a relief. I want UEL headers w/ overpipe+front pipe. I was hoping it wouldn't be crazy loud.

I wonder if people have videos. I found a few on Youtube for reference. It doesn't get loud unless you go full throttle it seems.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=smh_gQVXLiM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=mMXPuw8DXe0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=dj20JfV8MSI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=xPTSg0N4b0c

i would go with a UEL header system. It sounds amazing!!

Catted or uncatted for the EL headers? With a catted frontpipe and the resonated perrin I really don't think you'll have drone from the cars I've seen, even with catless header. it'll certainly be louder than stock especially under high load situations, but it should be very manageable at cruise/civilized driving.

Probably un-catted. I realize high RPM and hard acceleration will be louder, I'm not sure I'll be happy with constant noise. It never bothered m on my sport bikes, so I believe I won't mind. I wanna be able to have a conversation with my wife driving on the highway though.

Yeah with a catted frontpipe and a resonated catback you shouldn't have any issues with that. I'm running catless with a single cheap muffler, no resonator. It's considerably louder than yours will be at cruise, and I can still hold a civilized conversation. I truly think you'll be happy as long as you go the resonated/catted frontpipe route.

I know many many people agree with you, but I'm not one of them. I always thought the subies sound like they're missing on one cylinder with UEL headers. I prefer the equal length sound. Just my preference. I don't hate the sound of UEL, I just prefer the EL sound.

Haha agreed. I'm still really torn on this. I've heard some UEL's that sound amazing, but I always feel twitchy with that sound. Like you say, seems like it's missing or something in the tune is off. Might set off my OCD to daily drive one with a UEL. It's certainly a unique exhaust note though.

Me too. I'm a pilot with an engineering background in college, and I cannot knowingly and purposefully have one half of the engine flowing differently than the other. Pretty stupid, but I can't.

I've been tuning Subaru STi's and WRX's for years, and now the FR-S and BRZ. I've always seen a gain in the mid and upper RPM range on the STi's and WRX's with an equal length header, even though most really do not want to get rid of their "boxer" sound.

The same holds true for the FA20 engine. I have never seen an unequal length header out perform an equal length header on any Subaru boxer engine.

But, there is something to be said for that unique boxer sound with UEL headers :D

-- Bob

i think the q300 is quitter, nicer and more bang for the buck than the perrin

Current Exhaust System Setup

FA20 Equal Length Header with Cat
Perrin Overpipe
Nameless Performance Catted Front Pipe with Helmholtz Resonator
Perrin Resonated Exhaust System

This system is quiet, there is no drone, the only sound at WOT is the FA20 Cold Air intake.

I replaced the Perrin Catted Front Pipe, (it's for sale in the member classifieds) after a drone developed with the new EL header.

If I had to do it over again I would go Nameless Overpipe/Front Pipe Catted with Helmholtz resonator from the header(FA20CLUB EL Catted and coated) to the stock mid section and a nameless axle back exhaust with 5" mufflers. :bow:
Then buy a tune from Toni for that beautiful header.