Would really like to know everyone's experience in regards to what exhaust components out there offer both top notch performance and yet still have a "close to stock" sound.

Y-pipe?
Cat?
Catback?
or
B-pipe & Muffler?

Thanks in advance for you're input

If you want a quiet exhaust (best performance), change everything except for the muffler.

good idea

ditto.... you probably don't stand to gain a huge amount with the muffler alone anyways.

Yea what Mr. Keving said. Y, r/t cat, b, and stock muffler create the quietest setup. The muffler is mainly for loudness of sound and there is really no HP loss from that. 1-2hp diff at most.

if u want quite, but free flowing exhuast, i say get a turbo, they make the exhuast quieter, the garret turbo site said "the turbo is like a muffler" i guess it's because it somewhat restricts exhaust flow.

It looks like theres a concensus as to the best set-up, but which makes or brand of components is the best suited to meet the goal of performance, quality. Yet sounds close enough to stock that the guy in the TL-S sitting next to me at a light doesn't hear the difference easily.

ex: Cattman y-pipe vs. stillen , etc...

Any suggestions?

For y-pipes, it depends whether you drive in harsh weather or not. If it snows/rains, then get the Cattman pipe since it is SS. Otherwise, get the Stillen pipe. Then, get an RT cat and a b-pipe. No one produces a just a b-pipe for the 5th gen yet. But, you can get a custom mandrel bent b-pipe for a resonable price at a good muffler shop...

i just switch from a WAY TOO LOUD 3" exhaust with straight thru muffler....

To a NICE AND VERY QUIET 2.5" exhaust with a REMUS muffler.
(thanks for the muffler Jason)

Got it installed today and it sounds like stock until you get on it hard...then it has a "quiet growl"...

VERY NICE!!

PS: I also have a 3" cattman y-pipe and 3" hi-flow cat!!