I tried the Spoon N1 for 3 days, could not get by how loud it is. It gives me a headache commuting home. I made the switch to Fujitsubo, loving it ever since. It stays nice and quiet like stock until you get aggressive.

 

Kingz, I think you and I are fairly close. Let me know if you have interest In listening to the Spugen in person. Also might be able to have you listen to another owner who has a "hybrid" exhaust using Hyame (sp) canisters and OEM piping.

 

Stock --->Mugen --> stock --> HKS ---> stock ---> HKS --->stock ---> Mugen


First Mugen sounded great, it developed a rattle due to some bad welds found on the first iteration of the Mugen exhausts that came from Japan back in 2000. Returned it to King only to wait a long time before the next shipment came.

While waiting, I picked up an HKS. I put up a teaser thread thinking that the new Mugen was going to be on US shores soon, and got an unexpected offer on the HKS. Sold it, put stock back on for the wait.

The wait got too long, and bought and mounted another HKS. As the second HKS aged over the next 2000 miles, it got louder and louder. I didn't care for it from the cabin, however, from outside the car, I'd consider it the best sound from an S2000 that could be had. Sold it locally to a kid who liked the "fart" pipe sound from the cabin (F1-ish from outside).

Went back to stock thinking that I would do some custom cannisters. Didn't happen. Back to Mugen now and loving it. I love the stock-ish looking tips (people have to take a look at the cannisters to believe that it's aftermarket). I love the stock-ish sound at idle...no need to worry about cops when I'm next to them at lights. I definitely love the low, quiet, muffled deep growl at throttle. It reminds me of my German Shepard Dog giving off a warning grumble to strangers that come near my wife.

 

anyone with pics of the JIC titanium. I wondering if it angles a bit like the amuse?

 

I just went back to stock again. I got sick of the magnaflow after only one week. It would be great for a weekend car but not everyday!

 

I have own and driven other friends S with HKS, Fujitsubo , Mugen , Spoon N1 , Amuse R1 dual / single , ARC Dual , Buddyclub Spec 3/4 and I am currently running T1R SS Ver.2.

No offense to other members who own any of these exhausts, but there are just my personal opinions after having tried all of them...

HKS Hiper cat-back (it was on my car)
-sounds cool
-not much power difference
-not very light
-not full stainless

Fujitsubo cat-back (courtesy of Christy)
-pretty quiet
-nice quality
-not very light
-power gains are minimal

Mugen cat-back (it was on my car)
-very nice quiet deep tone
-top notch quality
-good acceleration
-relatively lightweight
-don't expect much hp gains cuz it's design to increase more engine response

Spoon N1 header back (courtesy of Speedstar)
-very loud (sounded like a race car) probably need ear plugs
-good quality
-gains are decent
-not very nice looking

Amuse R1 dual cat-back (courtesy of JL9000)
-nice sound (not very quiet compare to Mugen)
-top notch quality
-gains are minimal
-very light (probably the lightest dual exhaust)
-*BlinG* *BlinG* *BlinG*

Amuse R1 single cat-back (courtesy or Spoon AP1) it was on my car
-awesome sound (acceptable loud)
-dynoed 7whp gains
-crazily light
-Spoon AP1's favorite
-*BlinG* *BlinG*

ARC Dual cat-back (courtesy of DC_AP1)
-pretty decent sound
-looks funny cuz the exhaust doesn't line up properly
-no gains "can feel improvement"
-very light
-WAY TOO *****BlinG***** x 4

Buddyclub Spec 3/4 cat-back (courtesy of Speedstar) Spec 4 was on my car
-Spec 3 extremely loud.....
-Spec 4 lot quieter but sounded like shit
-very light but not very durable cuz the welds seemed weak 0.8mm thick
-Spec 3 great top end power (but low end sucks)
-Spec 4 much better mid-range but so embarassing driving with that sound
-I took it off the 3rd day

T1R SS Ver.2 header-back (Now running) same as Version 1 but different colour tip
*03_AP1 said it all
*don't want to comment cuz whatever I say it will sounded I am promoting my own products.
* I just love my T1R



Spoon AP1's Amuse R1 made that burnt on my bumper

 

 

When you say it doesn't "line up proper" what are you implying? Not sure but
in my case, the exit angle of the canister resembles a Supra-style exit because
the final bend coming from the last flange is so minimal. It is that reason that
contributes to my exhaust (and the Spugen single Version 1) having such a high
horsepower # on the dyno. While it is true that it's more important to have
mandrel bends throughout (as I do), in order for most single systems to have
their canisters exit at OEM angles (straight back), there has to be a fairly severe
bend to allow for it to happen.
That bend WILL reduce horsepower...minimally, but it does. If you look at the
picture above of my carbon fiber muffler, look at the final angle from the flange
to the canister....it barely curves at all while other systems which place the canister
straight back have to swoop to the right and then bring the entry pipe parallel to
the car.
A moot point if you don't like the angled exit but I figure if one is going with a single,
they're after maximum horsepower (and lighter weight) in the first place and that type
of angle affects flow at the expense of looking stock, minus one.
If I understood you correctly, I took that comment as your negative when in fact,
for many of us, the way our canisters "line up" is perfect.

 

GO FOR CUSTOM MADE!!!you can do watever you want it to be....

 

Russ, what AJ PwR meant is the ARC exhaust doesn't line up properly, either one side being higher than the other, or the exhaust doesn't sit perfectly in the middle. Personally I think the ARC quality is far from being worth the money.

The Amuse dual lines up almost perfectly, and the quality is lightyears ahead of that of the ARC's.

The Mugen fitment is better than OEM I think.

I know the straighter the exhaust piping, the better the performance, but we're talkin about very small differences here. I'm not saying there isn't any power to be gained from the angled exhaust, but the choice in resonators and mufflers have much bigger impacts on the performance of an exhaust system, IMO.

Besides, most people get the slanted exhaust because it looks cool.