I've been searching the forums, and I do see a ton of other threads on the exhaust topic, but instead of replying piecemeal to those I figured this would consolidate opinions here for ease of reference.

I recently bought a 2000 S2000 with a Berk Full Race System, wrapped headers, with the Berk Test Pipe (has cat to swap, but cat is currently not on the car).

This is my weekend car, not my track car (have something else for that) and the exhaust is loud, raspy/farty on decel, and drones at 4k rpm / 75mph and the drone is killing me on longer drives, plus the system is just overly loud for my tastes. I'm also looking to get an OEM HT and assume it'll just magnify the drone.

Granted, I find it (very) amusing to blast around under overpasses as it sounds like an F1 car, or like a bike, but overall it's just too loud for me.
(fwiw, I come from and still own Subies so I'm used to a completely different sound in my loudness and my Cobb Full isn't the loudest on the market for Subies either).

Here's a vid I shot with a GoPro to give you an idea:
Berk Full

I'm not sure of the exact specs on my exhaust as it was on the car when I bought it and the seller didn't have exact details.

I have the OEM stock exhaust, but the seller cut it to fit in the back of a hatchback for transport, so I've not bothered to get it welded back together for the "UK Mod" as I'm hoping to just find something else.

Basically, I'm looking FOR something *slightly* louder than stock, but not ear-splitting and definitely without drone
(I'll take something louder in general if it's less drone, just the resonance of the drone drives me nuts).

I don't care if it's single or dual, left or right if single, and while I'd prefer some gains over stock and some less weight, none of that is hyper-critical at this point.
I do require stainless steel or something non rust-prone, not that it'll ever see winter, but that's just what I prefer.

I plan to keep the Berk headers and TP so I'm looking for a "cat back" solution as it'd mate up to the Berk system in the front.
I'm shopping used, and looking for ~$500 give or take for the C/B as it's all I need.

I've seen vids and read the posts on the Invidia Q300 Dual, but reviews seem mixed and the vids sound roughly as loud as my Berk.
I've found a 5zigen Pro race A-Spec single for sale but again, no first-hand impressions of it.

This is an older vid of a lot of JDM exhausts, but the only one I'm seeing on there that I'm considering is the 5zigen at ~3min mark

JDM Exhausts

So, I know it's an old and tired topic, but TYIA for any help.

Best,
SC

 

You want single or dual??
Exhausts for this car are hit or miss as to what sounds good to each ear. Very few have no noticeable drone, meaning the majority do drone. ASM single being one that doesnt drone if you can find it and Mugen. Greddy Spectrum Elite has some drone but sounds "sporty" and comes in a single or a dual. The T1R systems sound good and come in single and dual as well. I am personally going to be looking for the new URGE exhaust when it comes out, might even sell my ASM for it.

 

Single or Dual doesn't matter. I like the look of the Dual, I like the less weight and "tuner" look of the single...so it's a wash for me.

Do you have links to the ASM or Mugen? I can take some drone as it seems all S2Ks (and Hondas in general) drone, but the current system is DRONE right at 4k / 75mph which isn't bad if you're not doing long-ish drives, but I do, and with cruise set it gets annoying after the first hour (of 4+ ).

I'll look for the GReddy, but like you, I could wait for the URGE if that's going to be Amazing...I'm not familiar with it at all...

 

I installed a 63.5mm Berk HFC and HKS HI-Power dual exhaust last weekend. I personally love the sound versus stock. At times, it sounds as if my K&N FIPK and the exhaust system are fighting for my attention on their noise. The exhaust is louder than stock but not obnoxious either. With the high flow cat I have no raspy-ness or boomy-ness which I tend to lump into the fart can category, personally.

I had a Q300 but as fate had it, returned it for cosmetic issues. The more I looked into the HKS, the more I liked the sound so I am happier for the issues. I feel it would have been a bit more 'boomy' sounding in comparison.


Here is a comparison before and after. Recorded with my IPhone (both sound better in person).
Both videos are Idle, 3k, 3k, 6k, 6k, 8k, 8k.

Stock Exhaust System (K&N FIPK)

Berk 63.5mm HFC, HKS Hi-Power Dual (K&N FIPK)

 

Tanabe Medalion exhaust. Just a little louder than stock. Awesome growl down low and gets a tad quieter when u romp it, then ur intake takes over. It's perfect setup for me. Growl download , screaming vtec up top

 

Excellent, thanks guys, I'll check them out.

@Whitebrad, you think the 2.2L in your AP2 makes the HiPower sound any different than it would on my F20C?

And I hadn't thought of putting the cat back in, but the seller included the Berk HFC with purchase, but it's not installed, I might see if that helps at all with the rasp/fartcan that I can't stand (though it'll still drone)

 

Typically test pipes and high flow cats increase the noise and add a bit of rasp from what I've seen (I don't feel it did that with my set up. Seemed to have just amplified the sound a little more). Having owned both an AP1 and an AP2, I would guess the exhaust note will be very comparable between the two.