Hey guys. I have a 2016 sti, and am planning on installing a turbo back exhaust. Ideally I would install a catted DP and keep the cat back stock, as I'm happy with the sound.. But I don't want the restriction of the stock exhaust. I know it will be louder, but I want to keep the noise increase to a minimum, and definitely no drone on the hwy. Recommendations? TY.
Quiet -- stock like sound level -- turbo back exhaust
Tyrone Shoelaces
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Corsa was my choice. I did consider AWE and Cobb too.
I agree, and even better when you weld the Y-pipe, so flow is only from one muffler.
Doing this to any of the catback exhausts makes it better.
The Corsa is just so airy and snarkily sounding, which no one else can replicate. I like that it nearly cuts the super boomy and low frequencies that are annoying.
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1,774 Posts
Just looked up the price of the Milltek for the 2015+. Wowww I thought it was bad for the GR :lol:
At any rate, as mentioned I have the GR not the VA, but I did finally get ahold of a Milltek CBE. I'm very happy with it, to me it is sort of what you would expect if you got a performance exhaust from an OEM, sort of how M cars or Infinity cars sound from the factory. Still plenty of sound in my opinion, but not crossing over into noise. Without a doubt quieter than the SPT was stock, and sounds 10,000x better than the SPT did with aftermarket downpipe and ELH. No issues with resonance with the Milltek.
To be honest, I don't find the exhaust note to be hugely changed with the ELH. It definitely sounds different as described above, but it still does not sound like an inline 4 to me or anything like that.
I had a little bit of trouble getting everything aligned but nothing major and I got it bolted up without an assistant. I could do without the polished finish but it's not that bad...
At any rate, as mentioned I have the GR not the VA, but I did finally get ahold of a Milltek CBE. I'm very happy with it, to me it is sort of what you would expect if you got a performance exhaust from an OEM, sort of how M cars or Infinity cars sound from the factory. Still plenty of sound in my opinion, but not crossing over into noise. Without a doubt quieter than the SPT was stock, and sounds 10,000x better than the SPT did with aftermarket downpipe and ELH. No issues with resonance with the Milltek.
To be honest, I don't find the exhaust note to be hugely changed with the ELH. It definitely sounds different as described above, but it still does not sound like an inline 4 to me or anything like that.
I had a little bit of trouble getting everything aligned but nothing major and I got it bolted up without an assistant. I could do without the polished finish but it's not that bad...
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538 Posts
Stock like sound level turbo back exhaust is what I’m currently evaluating. Cobb downpipe and titanium exhaust. 75dB crusing inside the cabin vs 72dB with a stock exhaust. Tone is similar just a little bit louder. The low frequency bass when AVCS kicks in at 3k is just like stock as well. It’s a bit quieter than Q300 when new but without baffles that break down I anticipate Cobb will stay consistent over time. I have no idea why a non resonated titanium exhaust is so tame so there’s room to add a Vibrant resonator or Helmholtz in the midpipe to tame it even more. But any quieter just stay stock.
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I just installed a Cobb catted DP with my already installed AWE Touring CB. It is quite a bit louder now. Cruising is OK, but when accelerating it is noticeably louder than with the stock DP/AWE combo. I really like the unique sound of the AWE, but I don't think my neighbors feel the same now that the volume is clicked up a notch.
I am now starting to consider changing to another cat back to bring the volume back down while retaining the DP. In your testing is the Cobb Ti CB noticeably quieter than the AWE throughout the RPM range?
I have read that Milltek ($$$$) and possibly the Perrin dual tube CB are quieter options, too. Anyone have feedback on them with an aftermarket DP?
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It's about 2-3 dB difference cruising with Cobb Ti vs. AWE/T paired with a Cobb DP. WOT they are equally loud on the dB meter although AWE seems louder... it is also the better sounding one. I find myself upshifting with the Cobb to get it out of the 3k RPM drone zone where AVCS kicks in and downshifting with the AWE to lower its volume. AWE as you know just doesn't register that annoying AVCS drone. I've heard Milltek in videos but not in person. I have a hard time believing it is quieter than a Cobb Ti. Crusing Cobb Ti is 75-76 dB and stock CBE is 73 dB. If Cobb was quieter it's kinda pointless... it's probably why it doesn't have a resonator, it would be too quiet. I think if the AWE was 2 dB quieter it would be perfect mated with a downpipe.
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@EightTenths thanks for your reply. I am wondering if a Milltek catted & resonated DP would tone things down to an acceptable level without giving up performance. That way I could stay with the AWE CB.
Thoughts on my theory?
Are there any Milltek dealers in the US?
Thoughts on my theory?
Are there any Milltek dealers in the US?
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538 Posts
Yes I think adding a resonator will help tame it. Issue is we can only fit bullet style next to the drive shaft but fitting one at the DP is a great idea.
Prime Motoring can you anything. I met a customer of theirs last weekend building an iAG stg2 tuff GR STI with Milltek resonated catted DP and catback. He didn’t like the drone caused by Cobb CBE in his hatch. His build is still waiting on some parts so I’m looking forward to hearing it!
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That is where I purchased my AWE CB. I will reach out to them about the Milltek DP.
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I picked up a used Invidia Q300 to try out. So far I like it. It is noticeably quieter that the AWE Touring, but I miss the bruble on downshifts.
Not knocking the AWE/T, it is a high quality product. It has a really nice unique, exotic sound that works great with the stock DP. It also has a great burble on downshifts. It just becomes too loud for my taste with the Cobb catted DP installed. If AWE offered a quieter resonator/mid section designed for a DP that would be awesome... Wink, wink...
Does anyone how the Q300 compaires to the Milltek?
Not knocking the AWE/T, it is a high quality product. It has a really nice unique, exotic sound that works great with the stock DP. It also has a great burble on downshifts. It just becomes too loud for my taste with the Cobb catted DP installed. If AWE offered a quieter resonator/mid section designed for a DP that would be awesome... Wink, wink...
Does anyone how the Q300 compaires to the Milltek?
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I hope you continue to like it. I had to take the Q300 off after 10k miles. When the baffles go it gets loud and a little raspy with my current setup. It also has that AVCS drone at 3k especially under load going uphill. Cobb reminds me of the Q300 when it was new but Cobb to me sounds quieter than the Q.
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Ya. The Q300 is a stop gap for me. It has about 15K miles on it. I'm not sure if the baffles are good or not, but it is much quieter than the AWE. I think long term I will get a Milltek or MadDad Whisper cat back as my final solution.
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@EightTenths are you still running the Cobb Ti CB? If so, feedback please. Thanks.
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Yeah the Cobb titanium is the best compromise among the three. It’s quieter than the Q300 and AWE and after a good break it has a smooth tone. I initially felt it droned on the highway vs AWE but it’s more lower note vs higher note. Volume is less 77-78dB vs 80-81dB so after some time getting used to a bassier note it doesn’t fatigue me after 1 hour.
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@EightTenths Thanks for your feedback (again). I seem to be going though the same steps you went through in finding an exhaust that is the perfect compromise. Do you know the the Cobb SS CBE sounds compared to the Ti version? In your opinion is the Ti version worth the additional $$?
That's really too bad about the AWE "Touring". To me an exhaust with that kind of label should have a reasonable volume even with an aftermarket downpipe. Their Touring offerings for other platforms aren't super loud even when paired with their catted downpipes.
I wonder how adding a larger resonator like the Vibrant 17950 would change the volume. I love the tone of the AWE but I'd like to add a downpipe as well and I just don't want something super loud.
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I haven’t heard a Cobb SS in person but my shop thinks they sound similar. The suitcase mufflers look identical, straight through, perforated in the pass- through
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AWE touring has a great tone and sounds great. It’s just loud on cold start and around town. I have full bolt-on’s from bigger FP Blue turbo to Holy Headers and Cobb downpipe so I need to tame it.
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