I've searched on this a bit, but info is confusing... Is it true that the WRX has 2.25in piping where the STi has 2.50"? And the STi has a higher flow muffler..?

I recently installed catless UP and DP's (helix) and have been REALLY enjoying the step up in power! I'm still running the stock catback and ECU. I'm older, and trying to avoid an obnoxiously loud exhaust (but a little louder would be nice.. ;). I thought that the STi oem exhaust might be a decent compromise between stock wrx and a 3" aftermarket system. Not to mention it would be CHEAPER if I could find a STi takeoff in ANC.

I guess what I really need to do is listen to a couple of your cars(especially with catless DP & UP) to figure this out. It is hard to tell "real" noise levels from video and sound clips.

I plan on going to a Cobb AP sometime, but don't plan on doing a whole lot more.... thanks for any opinions on this.

not sure about the 2.5" pipe, but the muffler is most definetly higher flow. more sound will be prodced aswell if you get the muffler. the mid-pipe is exactly the same as on a wrx. so i couldnt see any appriciable gain from having a stock mid-pipe. you should try and source out a stromung 3" mid-pipe, mate that up the dp, and then use a stock sti muffler. it will be nice and quiet. just so you know though there wont be any major power unless you swap out mufflers from sti to something else with a higherstraighter flow path. so it will always feel like it could have more too it. like sometimes i put a stock muffler on my car just to keep it sneaky. it makes it very quiet but there is a major lag in power at the bottom end for about 3000rpms, but at about 3400rpm it picks up really hard and fast. hope this helps you out man.


sam

Thanks Sam. Your comments make me want to go 3" catback- from what i've read, the evo2 and the borla hush are supposed to be quietest. I think I'll wait to decide until I can get see & hear one of those in person, and with catless plumbing. Then if I want quieter, I'll try the STi muffler instead.

sounds good to me man.


sam

I think psylas has the Borla Hush, sounds good, very subtle looking compared to the canisters most of us run lol. Not too loud. The Vishnu standard catback is a good one too, stock looking twin tips, not too loud but good sound under acceleration, better flowing than the borla hush (supposedly) stromung makes some nice twin tip catbacks too, not a big fan of the EVO series personally.

I think psylas has the Borla Hush, sounds good, very subtle looking compared to the canisters most of us run lol. Not too loud. The Vishnu standard catback is a good one too, stock looking twin tips, not too loud but good sound under acceleration, better flowing than the borla hush (supposedly) stromung makes some nice twin tip catbacks too, not a big fan of the EVO series personally.
From my research, I had pretty much decided on the borla hush, as long as it sounds OK with my catless UP/DP. I like its stockish look as opposed to a 10" stainless cylinder under the rear bumper...(evo2) If psylas has a hush, maybe I'll get a chance to hear it before I scrape up the funds to buy one. Hopefully he also has a catless downpipe. Thanks.

From my research, I had pretty much decided on the borla hush, as long as it sounds OK with my catless UP/DP. I like its stockish look as opposed to a 10" stainless cylinder under the rear bumper...(evo2) If psylas has a hush, maybe I'll get a chance to hear it before I scrape up the funds to buy one. Hopefully he also has a catless downpipe. Thanks.

Sup man actually I have the bosal (aka spt) single tip. Its fairly quiet but once you get on it you can hear the boxer rumble pretty good...will have to see how it sounds once i get my dp on. Anyone down for an install? :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/Psylas/WRX2/Bosal2.jpg

aaghh conti got you with that damned sticker on the bumper lol. :D

haha yeah, that damn sticker, i had mine on there for sooo long and finally took it off one day on a "dirty car day" and it showed the real color of the car it was funny, but i hated that stikcer

Sup man actually I have the bosal (aka spt) single tip. Its fairly quiet but once you get on it you can hear the boxer rumble pretty good...will have to see how it sounds once i get my dp on. Anyone down for an install? :D
Nice looking exhaust. It'll be interesting to see how much volume you gain with your downpipe. There was a very noticeable change even through my restrictive factory midpipe and muffler, when I installed the helix DP. Still pretty quiet, though.

i have a STI TBE with all the cats removed. it worked pretty well, but then i wanted a more aggressive presence so i got a nur spec racing (and incase i change my mind on noise level i got the silencer too). in any case, the completely gutted TBE was about the same as the nur spec, but since the sti muffler isn't just a giant outlet hole, it muffles quite a bit more. my gutted sti tbe is for sale if you're interested, let me know.

-Kevin H.

Hola from the Mid-A!

Search for Unabomber's exhaust thread. He's been using decibel meter and measuring our various exhausts. IIRC, he prefers the Borla hush w/ Borla headers. Nice at idle and when you're taking it easy...

Thanks for the comments from the lower 48. I did read unabomber's exhaust thread a while ago, and downloaded his spreadsheet of db readings. I didn't see a catless DP + borla hush combo, but I'll check again, I easily could have overlooked it.

Thanks, FatStraws, for the offer on the STi tbe, but I was considering that setup based on the assumption I might be able to buy a local takeoff, and avoid the approx. $100 freight which would be needed to ship a catback to Alaska.

Still leaning toward a borla hush, when finances allow.