From what I have read, a cb doesn't really yield gains (no test pipe), and all I am after is a better tone (and bigger nicer tips)...will an axle back do? Is there an actual difference in tone of a CB alone? When I look at videos, the nice grunt toned exhaust seem to all be fielding a test pipe. Any help is really appreciated.

 

An axel back will do what you are looking for, but your choices will be limited. A catback is super easy to install and doesn't cost much more so I would still lean towards that. Many more sounds/looks to choose from.

 

Thanks! I am looking the options, there are just so many for an Evo. Surprising. Will the sound be better on a CB w/o a test pipe? Or you think it will be the same as an axle back?

 

My experience has been that the choice in muffler has more to do with sound than anything else. Remove the muffler section completely and see for yourself . The only real difference in sound between axle vs catback will be that the axel back retains the stock resonator in the mid pipe.

I personally would still get a catback because there aren't axelback versions of the exhausts I like. (Tomei, ETS V2 Quiet, etc,)

Keep in mind you are future proof with a catback. What if some day in the future you decide you need more power? I lasted about 3 months before I got a tune lol.

 

Also a test pipe/hfc will indeed increase the sound levels a fair amount, but even on a stock muffler it should still be relatively quiet. When I put on my Tomei Expreme single exit exhaust I still had the stock DP and cat. The overall noise level increased dramatically.

 

Just spend the extra money and get a cat back. Most axle backs like someone pointed out will not work with the stock mid pipe.

 

I didn't point that out, and I'm the only one that responded this far???

 

Lol since you're so passionate bout responding 3 times on the same thread it's all u man. Jeez. Maybe you should just edit your first response next time.

 

Thanks DeweyD!!!! Good stuff. Wouldn't having the stock resonator in an axleback play a huge role in sound levels and tone, as opposed to not having it in a CB?

I was thinking of grabbing an HKS axleback, looks good.. just wasn't sure about sound. If a CB was throaty and gave a lot even without a test pipe, I'd jump. But its sounding like not too big a difference unless I do a test pipe..

 

Interesting, thanks. I don't think I will own the Evo all that long and just wanted something for a better appearance and some throatiness as the stock exhaust is whisper quiet.

Excuse my ignorance, does that mean you did not do a test pipe and saw dramatic sound level increase from a cb?

 

Thanks for that info. I didn't know that! Good information for sure. Appreciate the help.

 

There are many catbacks that will dramatically increase noise even with the stock cat in place. Putting a test pipe in will just further increase that noise.


Skip the axleback and grab a nice catback, they can be quite loud.

 

Nice. Thanks.

 

So I did a HFC, not a test pipe, but this was months after I did the CB, so I experienced both sound changes at different times. The greatest sound increase I noticed was going to a CB.

The car went from a 4/10 to an 8/10 with the Tomei CB. Adding a DP and HFC took it to a 9/10 if that makes sense.

Think about it this way, what quiets the exhaust down more, having a cat or having a muffler? Just get a CB or AB that barely has a muffler and it will get much louder.

 

Awesome! Thanks! The "4/10" helped put it in perspective. Appreciate it!