ACE Header Independent Testing Results and Review - 199.6WHP on CA 91 Octane

[Calum]

Originally Posted by Reamer

ACE header with a straight front pipe (no cat or res) is going to be loud. I had the ACE header paired with the ACE front pipe on the stock catback (saving for a house so the catback has to wait) and it was still obnoxiously loud. Now I'm running the ACE header with JDL's ultra quiet front pipe (catted and res) and it sounds great, even with the stock catback. For that reason I'll probably just go with the FT86SF V1.

Having said all of that, it is my daily and I want it to sound civilized to some extent, but the ACE header + ACE front pipe has some of that high revving race car sound to it at 4500+ RPM and coming from someone that despises a raspy car, it sounded pretty good.

I've been considering the JDL front pipe. How loud would you say the ACE and JDL combination is over stock?


Any reason to not just stick with the stock catback?


Thanks

[Hicklinc]

Originally Posted by Calum

I've been considering the JDL front pipe. How loud would you say the ACE and JDL combination is over stock?


Any reason to not just stick with the stock catback?


Thanks

Someone posted a video of an ace header with stock catback and ive never heard anything that bad its in this thread somewhere

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

[Reamer]

Originally Posted by Calum

I've been considering the JDL front pipe. How loud would you say the ACE and JDL combination is over stock?


Any reason to not just stick with the stock catback?


Thanks

It is noticeably louder but far from overwhelming. If you're not in the throttle then it is basically a stock sound and it has some tone to it when you do light accelerations. When you open it up it sounds great and has a similar tone to stock, just louder and deeper. Cold starts are definitely louder.

I think catbacks are solely for sound if you're not FI, but it is something I'm wanting to test since I have the headers/op + fp and a dyno tune. If a catback is going to make a difference in power, this would be it without going with a stroker kit or cams.

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

[Reamer]

Originally Posted by Hicklinc

Someone posted a video of an ace header with stock catback and ive never heard anything that bad its in this thread somewhere

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

That was with the ACE front pipe too. That combination is awful on stock catback. I thought about getting aftermarket catback to test, but I was concerned it would still be raspy so I changed the front pipe instead. I am holding onto the ACE FP for the time being in case I want to do some mix and match in the future to see what it is like on a different exhaust.

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

[Hicklinc]

Originally Posted by Reamer

That was with the ACE front pipe too. That combination is awful on stock catback. I thought about getting aftermarket catback to test, but I was concerned it would still be raspy so I changed the front pipe instead. I am holding onto the ACE FP for the time being in case I want to do some mix and match in the future to see what it is like on a different exhaust.

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

He also did the video with an invidia cated front pipe it was better but i still think it sounded bad their is a video on you tube search q300 ace it sounds pretty good

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

[Reamer]

Originally Posted by Hicklinc

He also did the video with an invidia cated front pipe it was better but i still think it sounded bad their is a video on you tube search q300 ace it sounds pretty good

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

I think the resonator has more effect on eliminating rasp and the cat just makes it a little quieter. The JDL ultra quiet has both, like the stock front pipe, but is less restrictive.

I'm not sure why the q300 is such a popular choice. If I remember correctly from a thread on here that shows the weights of different exhausts, the q300 is heavier than stock.

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

[Hicklinc]

Originally Posted by Reamer

I think the resonator has more effect on eliminating rasp and the cat just makes it a little quieter. The JDL ultra quiet has both, like the stock front pipe, but is less restrictive.

I'm not sure why the q300 is such a popular choice. If I remember correctly from a thread on here that shows the weights of different exhausts, the q300 is heavier than stock.

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

You are correct its pretty much the same weight your not going to go lighter and stay quiet

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

[brzaapi]

Originally Posted by Hicklinc

He also did the video with an invidia cated front pipe it was better but i still think it sounded bad their is a video on you tube search q300 ace it sounds pretty good

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

That would be my video. Yes, with the ACE Front Pipe (any catless front pipe for that matter) the sound was quite obnoxious with exception of being above 5000rpms. Above 5k it sounds quite good. But the intention of using a catless FP is for track use, when performance trumps all (usually). But I am picky about my noise and went with the HFC invidia FP. It is much better on noise, but then my stock CBE started to have baffles wear out and make all kinds of racket. I now run the ACE Header, invidia FP and Q300. The car sounds great. But I will say, even if the ACE header did make too much racket (which i dont think so) the performance gain is just plain worth it. ACE header really is that good. I have never felt a header make that kind of a difference on a 4cyl in my life.

I mean its not like adding FI, but it is impressive none the less.

[CSG Mike]

The Ace headers are finally out of backorder...

[Silverfox]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

The Ace headers are finally out of backorder...

Just ordered my cs400 👌 stoked

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by DHitHim

I heard your car at buttonwillow last weekend and it was really loud. I just picked up a Tommy Kaira exhaust and so far it's pretty quiet with the tomei front pipe. Can't wait to order an ace header. Hoping it's not too loud so it's within sound compliance.

I had my WRX at buttonwillow...

[Pat]

I'll take 11.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Reamer

I think the resonator has more effect on eliminating rasp and the cat just makes it a little quieter. The JDL ultra quiet has both, like the stock front pipe, but is less restrictive.

I'm not sure why the q300 is such a popular choice. If I remember correctly from a thread on here that shows the weights of different exhausts, the q300 is heavier than stock.

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

It's because it's one of the quietest aftermarket catbacks.

[DHitHim]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

I had my WRX at buttonwillow...

OOPS, I thought you were the white BRZ with the Trackspec louvers. LOL, this is awkward, I'm gonna go hide under a rock now because I just derp'd so hard.


edit: unless that's the other mike. LOL