[Spec_Ops2087]

So I'm searching for the perfect exhaust for my 18' XT but I'm coming up flat unfortunately. I've been looking for something that you can hear during WOT / idle but is basically quiet anywhere in between. So far this is what I have

Stock exhaust - 100% dead quiet. My wife's Lexus RX is louder than this stupid thing! Not good...
Stock midpipe, nameless axleback with 5" mufflers - Not bad, not obnoxiously loud or anything BUT it would be quiet quiet DRONE quiet quiet loud WOT. It had a small drone range right around 1700rpms but with 0psi+ of throttle input it would be quiet then holy drone and then quiet again.

I'm now onto the invidia q300. I was thinking with the stock-ish mufflers that would keep the noise down which it does but the resonator has much to be desired. As a few here have mentioned, it basically sounds like I have a subwoofer in the car always turned on.

I like the look, the quality, and overall the loudness of the invidia but I need to figure out the booming. Someone mentioned a while back they cut out the invidia resonator and installed a real one and that cured it. Has anyone else had this experience? They specifically mentioned the Vibrant Ultra Quiet Resonator. I can weld so I can do the work but before I hack up a brand new $700 exhaust, I want to see if anyone else has tried this first!

Thanks!

 

[Corn]

I dont have answer to you, but I’ve been wondering to buy that Q300 to have bit more louder exhaust on higher rpm. After reading your text I think I’ll ditch the idea. It would be annoying on longer trip to listen exhaust booming. Perhaps there is no other way than have a valve which will bypass muffler when WOT like in some sports cars..?

 

[Bmejia]

Q300 is barely louder than stock i ended up going with the n1 race no resonator which is pretty quiet until wot but not obnoxiously loud

 

[James06]

Q300 is barely louder than stock i ended up going with the n1 race no resonator which is pretty quiet until wot but not obnoxiously loud

Loudness is quite a subjective matter... For me, Q300 is actually quite loud when you stomp on the gas pedal.

 

[James06]

So I'm searching for the perfect exhaust for my 18' XT but I'm coming up flat unfortunately. I've been looking for something that you can hear during WOT / idle but is basically quiet anywhere in between. So far this is what I have

Stock exhaust - 100% dead quiet. My wife's Lexus RX is louder than this stupid thing! Not good...
Stock midpipe, nameless axleback with 5" mufflers - Not bad, not obnoxiously loud or anything BUT it would be quiet quiet DRONE quiet quiet loud WOT. It had a small drone range right around 1700rpms but with 0psi+ of throttle input it would be quiet then holy drone and then quiet again.

I'm now onto the invidia q300. I was thinking with the stock-ish mufflers that would keep the noise down which it does but the resonator has much to be desired. As a few here have mentioned, it basically sounds like I have a subwoofer in the car always turned on.

I like the look, the quality, and overall the loudness of the invidia but I need to figure out the booming. Someone mentioned a while back they cut out the invidia resonator and installed a real one and that cured it. Has anyone else had this experience? They specifically mentioned the Vibrant Ultra Quiet Resonator. I can weld so I can do the work but before I hack up a brand new $700 exhaust, I want to see if anyone else has tried this first!

Thanks!

Have you tried the combination of WRX/STi midpipe with stock mufflers?

 

[533405]

I have the Q300 on my Foz, Personally I think its the quietest performance exhaust system of them all (aftermarket). The fact of the matter is aftermarket is for performance, which means less restrictions.. which mean more noise. If you want it quieter. well I guess you can baffle it.. but you are kind of defeating the purpose of a high flow exhaust.

During my build which i kind of did in bits and pieces, i purchased my Q300 as a catback and replaced the stock exhaust. later I purchased and installed the down pipe when i finally purchased my VF52. I found having the TD04 and the stock down pipe leading into the Q300 was substantially quieter than when i installed the down pipe and VF52 (and tune).

To help with the drone... by the way at 110 km/ph I get this vibrating feeling right in the center of my head hahaha, to combat that i added some sound deadening in the doors and boot, very simple and effective.

Just my thoughts, i wouldn't go down the lines of purchasing the Q300, finding a resonator that will fit and taking someones word that its quieter, going through the whole process of cutting and welding.. effectively and quite possibly throwing away a brand new performance exhaust system... it seem quite excessive, but hey that's only one mans opinion.:wink2:

 

[VXSS]

My Q300 CB is actually pretty quiet, even at WOT, but I'm also used to '06 - '15 STi modded exhausts, heh. I think from what I have learned in my time here, the best option is to mix and match tune/dp/mid/mufflers.... if you have the time, patience, and wallet that is.

As was already stated though, exhaust note/db is very subjective. Like finding the perfect pillow.... for your wife. *sigh*

 

[subiesubieDOOO]

q300 is barely louder than stock i ended up going with the n1 race no resonator which is pretty quiet until wot but not obnoxiously loud

this^^^^

 

[Bone1971]

I went with the Q300 as well and I personally like it because it is quiet when cruising and when you step on it you hear it. That's exactly what I wanted but I wouldn't cut up a 700.00 exhaust system just enjoy it how it came.

 

[Spec_Ops2087]

So I actually went through with the upgraded resonator, the deep bass (drone) in I mode didn't really change under normal driving but now it's dead quiet at highway speeds so at least I don't have to hear the "subwoofer" on long drives.

I wish there was a way to default to S mode (like I used to be able to do on my 11 sti) because the CVT keeps the rpms just high enough not to hear the drone. I've pretty much trained myself to press S as soon as I turn her on.

I do agree with the group, overall the Q300 is pretty quiet. Even at WOT, it's significantly louder than stock (which isn't saying much) BUT you won't be waking up neighbors / attracting police attention. My gripe was the bass tone in I mode pretty much always.

 

[Maxwedge]

My gripe was the bass tone in I mode pretty much always.

I have a Q300 and agree the 2000rpm drone is terrible, but my setup is different than yours. I have an Invidia catted Jpipe into an Invidia '15+WRX single Q300 muffler. I had the Vibrant UQ Resonator welded in to fight the drone but it really didn't make much difference. I could tell at first, but now it's just plain noisy again. I realize this is different than what you guys are talking about with the stock cats still on, but wanted to throw it out since I purchased the Q300 based on everyone saying how quiet it is. Well with a full turbo-back it's loud as F.

 

[hoshie]

Really wish there was a quietish stainless 3” option by any manufacturer. I really want to replace my exhaust, but there are no options for me.

Oh well...stock sheet metal it is. Maybe be I’ll just look into good exhaust tips and pretend.

Sigh

 

[James06]

Really wish there was a quietish stainless 3” option by any manufacturer. I really want to replace my exhaust, but there are no options for me.

Oh well...stock sheet metal it is. Maybe be I’ll just look into good exhaust tips and pretend.

Sigh

Hey, you are not alone. I just sold off my Q300 exos and revert back to stock, and I’m so glad I did it. The annoying drone when accelerating at low rpm is gone and no more weird rattling sounds from car interior panels/parts!

When I first got the Q300, I thought I could live with the drone but it really got to me after a while. I actually Dynamat Xtreme the hell out of my car: trunk and interior flooring, door panels. I think I’ve installed 40+ sq ft of sound deadening materials which helped to reduce the drone a little.

And the best thing is the car is so much more responsive now! Though my ecutek tuner retuned the car after the Q300 install, the low end had been noticeably worse and my tuner said it was unavoidable for a 3” exos even though it’s just catback. Now with stock exos, low end is indeed much better

And yes, I did get a nice pair of large exos tips from amazon to replace the puny stock tips.

 

[Scooby24]

Really wish there was a quietish stainless 3” option by any manufacturer. I really want to replace my exhaust, but there are no options for me.

Oh well...stock sheet metal it is. Maybe be I’ll just look into good exhaust tips and pretend.

Sigh

Mann Engineering is claiming a drone free, relatively quiet experience but with shipping, it's over a grand...and there are virtually no reviews on it.

 

[VXSS]

Mann Engineering is claiming a drone free, relatively quiet experience but with shipping, it's over a grand...and there are virtually no reviews on it.

Assuming you mean this? Maybe?

https://youtu.be/FqO12ZSWnv0

Hmm.... I'm not sold, heh.

 

[subiesubieDOOO]

I have a question if someone will take a minute.. I have the Q 300 on my xt and I noticed something during the sub zero temps. Steam would only be visible on the left exhaust pipe and the sound did the same thing. Not sure if its been this way the whole time or not.. The right is doing whats its supposed to do I guess but could there be something wrong?

 

[Spec_Ops2087]

Path of least resistance. Steam should come out both but might favor one side over the other.

 

[Scooby24]

Assuming you mean this? Maybe?

https://youtu.be/FqO12ZSWnv0

Hmm.... I'm not sold, heh.

Yes...it sounds great from what I'm hearing but price shipped puts it in the 1100ish price range.

For that price, I'd rather have the HKS Legamax. It sounds like the perfect daily driver exhaust. Overall volume with throttle sounds similar to Q300 and Mann but the snorkel resonator seems to eliminate the lowest frequency tones which should prevent any droning.

Compare this and the Mann back to back and you'll hear the reduction in the lower tones (at least if you have good speakers you can)