accel
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I tried both and can compare the two.
BBK Varitune axleback is cheaper and thus was my first option.
Varitune with closed valve is louder than Varex catback with open valve by ~5 decibels on idle, warmed up.
BBK Varitune is nice but was louder than I wanted it to be with closed valve. I ended up driving it with closed valve only and even was having some buffles inserted in tips to make it a little quieter.
Drone - the key to not having drone with this system is proper installation. It is a clamp on system, so make sure you have enough overlap in all joints. Make sure you clamp it tight, make sure tips are not behind bumper cover but rather stick out as far as possible. Otherwise there might be sound leak under the car and it will result in unpleasant frequencies penetrating cabin at ~ 2000rpm. I reclamped mine. With proper clamping drone is very minor. I'd rate it 2/10 maybe. You do not have to raise your voice or anything. That's driving with closed valves. People claimed that having different valve openings right vs left tunes drone out completely, but I haven't tried that as I did not want it any louder.
After about three months I decided to give Varex a try after one of forum members claimed that closed valves equal to stock sound level. That's what I wanted to begin with.
Indeed, xforce Varex is really stock quiet (closed valve) which I really appreciate during cold starts in the neighborhood. Open valve configuration is a tad quieter than closed valve Varitune. It's kind of what I was trying to achieve with varitune by inserting buffles in the tips.
Varex costs more, but you also get an x-piped resonator and remote control which justifies the difference for me.
Drone was completely absent for the initial period of several days, but I can hear it a little now, maybe 1/10,... maybe even 0.5/10... or maybe I'm just too picky.
Quality wise Varex is much better in terms of material and joints if that matters to you. Varex is all shiny and reflective... maybe even too much
If I need to drop a grain of salt on Varex - that would be this: I decided to verify system functioning before the install and figured out that valves in mufflers do opposite things.When one closes another on opens and vice versa. I filled in a support form and then tried to call them at their phone numbers but got no response whatsoever. I eventually decided to take a risk and swapped wires that connect to valve engine - that fixed the issue and I decided to proceed with installation.
Flange joints guarantee no sound leaks, but that makes installation a little more difficult.
I haven't weighed systems, but both feel lighter than parts they replace of the stock system.
Sound wise I like Varex more, but YMMV.
So, if you do not want it too quiet, get BBK Varitune even though it's just axleback. you'll be able to adjust it to your liking, but this is not the system you'd adjust frequently as you need to get on the ground and wrench. Takes 2 minutes, but I'd not do it daily.
Varex catback lets you switch it here and there, but it's not very loud in open state if you wanted your system to scream...
It happened to be what I wanted and what adults with families would most likely preffer. Those who preffer not to disturb neighbour families, those who preffer their families not to be disturbed by neighbours in exchange. Open valve, normal driving mode - you'll get noticed, but not like from couple of blocks. You'll need to push to make it loud.
BBK Varitune axleback is cheaper and thus was my first option.
Varitune with closed valve is louder than Varex catback with open valve by ~5 decibels on idle, warmed up.
BBK Varitune is nice but was louder than I wanted it to be with closed valve. I ended up driving it with closed valve only and even was having some buffles inserted in tips to make it a little quieter.
Drone - the key to not having drone with this system is proper installation. It is a clamp on system, so make sure you have enough overlap in all joints. Make sure you clamp it tight, make sure tips are not behind bumper cover but rather stick out as far as possible. Otherwise there might be sound leak under the car and it will result in unpleasant frequencies penetrating cabin at ~ 2000rpm. I reclamped mine. With proper clamping drone is very minor. I'd rate it 2/10 maybe. You do not have to raise your voice or anything. That's driving with closed valves. People claimed that having different valve openings right vs left tunes drone out completely, but I haven't tried that as I did not want it any louder.
After about three months I decided to give Varex a try after one of forum members claimed that closed valves equal to stock sound level. That's what I wanted to begin with.
Indeed, xforce Varex is really stock quiet (closed valve) which I really appreciate during cold starts in the neighborhood. Open valve configuration is a tad quieter than closed valve Varitune. It's kind of what I was trying to achieve with varitune by inserting buffles in the tips.
Varex costs more, but you also get an x-piped resonator and remote control which justifies the difference for me.
Drone was completely absent for the initial period of several days, but I can hear it a little now, maybe 1/10,... maybe even 0.5/10... or maybe I'm just too picky.
Quality wise Varex is much better in terms of material and joints if that matters to you. Varex is all shiny and reflective... maybe even too much
If I need to drop a grain of salt on Varex - that would be this: I decided to verify system functioning before the install and figured out that valves in mufflers do opposite things.When one closes another on opens and vice versa. I filled in a support form and then tried to call them at their phone numbers but got no response whatsoever. I eventually decided to take a risk and swapped wires that connect to valve engine - that fixed the issue and I decided to proceed with installation.
Flange joints guarantee no sound leaks, but that makes installation a little more difficult.
I haven't weighed systems, but both feel lighter than parts they replace of the stock system.
Sound wise I like Varex more, but YMMV.
So, if you do not want it too quiet, get BBK Varitune even though it's just axleback. you'll be able to adjust it to your liking, but this is not the system you'd adjust frequently as you need to get on the ground and wrench. Takes 2 minutes, but I'd not do it daily.
Varex catback lets you switch it here and there, but it's not very loud in open state if you wanted your system to scream...
It happened to be what I wanted and what adults with families would most likely preffer. Those who preffer not to disturb neighbour families, those who preffer their families not to be disturbed by neighbours in exchange. Open valve, normal driving mode - you'll get noticed, but not like from couple of blocks. You'll need to push to make it loud.
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