Aftermarket exhaust opinions... I want some growl, not drone.

[REZARF]

I'm in need of replacing my muffler. I'd like some growl when I get on it and I would like to avoid any loud drone noise at speed. Can anyone speak to the Magnaflow mufflers? Otherwise the exhaust is stock. This is a 99 that gets wheeled a lot so it has to tuck up well in the factory spot. Not too concerned with price as long as it meets the desires stated.

 

[JohnnyUtah2]

I have a Magnaflow on my 100. Sounds great! No drone, nice and throaty without being too loud. I ran it for a couple of years without the resonator and it was perfect. I ended up putting the factory resonator back on, but I preferred the sound with it off.

 

[GTV]

I’ve used a lot of Magnaflow mufflers over the years, I’m a fan. The smaller the muffler body you get, the louder it will be.

 

[2000UZJ]

I have a Magnaflow on my 100. Sounds great! No drone, nice and throaty without being too loud. I ran it for a couple of years without the resonator and it was perfect. I ended up putting the factory resonator back on, but I preferred the sound with it off.

Any sound clips? My ‘06 wouldn't mind a splash of V8 sound, but not anything to wake a sleep baby!

 

[bozncsurf]

I have a Magnaflow on my 100. Sounds great! No drone, nice and throaty without being too loud. I ran it for a couple of years without the resonator and it was perfect. I ended up putting the factory resonator back on, but I preferred the sound with it off.

I’ve used a lot of Magnaflow mufflers over the years, I’m a fan. The smaller the muffler body you get, the louder it will be.

Any models #s ?? Or recommendations ??

Very interested

 

[GTV]

Check out Magnaflow's site.

You'll want 2 1/2" in and out.

 

[bozncsurf]

Check out Magnaflow's site.

You'll want 2 1/2" in and out.

Appreciate you!

 

[choyota]

I'm in need of replacing my muffler. I'd like some growl when I get on it and I would like to avoid any loud drone noise at speed. Can anyone speak to the Magnaflow mufflers? Otherwise the exhaust is stock. This is a 99 that gets wheeled a lot so it has to tuck up well in the factory spot. Not too concerned with price as long as it meets the desires stated.

Magnaflow 12259 (altered to fit), Res-Delete:

 

[suprarx7nut]

I have a Magnaflow on my 100. Sounds great! No drone, nice and throaty without being too loud. I ran it for a couple of years without the resonator and it was perfect. I ended up putting the factory resonator back on, but I preferred the sound with it off.

How was the drone difference with and without the resonator?

I found with other cars that was a big difference. Tough to get the nice sound and no drone. Hence the rise in OEM exhaust cutouts, IMO.

 

[JohnnyUtah2]

Any sound clips? My ‘06 wouldn't mind a splash of V8 sound, but not anything to wake a sleep baby!

I don't have a sound clip of mine. The sound clip that @choyota posted is how mine sounded with the magnaflow and NO resonator.

Any models #s ?? Or recommendations ??

Very interested

I'll have to go back into my records and look for a part number. There was nothing obvious on the muffler when I poked my head underneath, just says magnaflow.

How was the drone difference with and without the resonator?

I found with other cars that was a big difference. Tough to get the nice sound and no drone. Hence the rise in OEM exhaust cutouts, IMO.

I had Scott at AA Performance Muffler in Denver install it a few years ago. At the time he replaced the OEM muffler and left everything else stock. I drove it like that for a few months and then decided to chop the resonator off with the Sawzall. I didn't have any drone with or without the resonator on, but it did change the sound significantly. I really liked the way it sounded without the resonator, but due to the way I chopped it off, I burned my mud flap pulling I-70 with a trailer. So instead of adding straight pipe, I had AA weld the resonator back on. It still sounds good, but not as good as it did with no resonator.
I think the 100 has good cabin insulation which helps with the added noise of the magnaflow. I can't really hear the exhaust unless I have the windows down (I can feel the rumble but no drone in the cabin). I have the same muffler on my 80 and I can hear it more inside the cabin, windows up or down.

Home | AA Performance Muffler & Brakes, Englewood Colorado

AA Performance Muffler & Brakes, a family-owned business with 60+ years of experience

www.aaperformancemuffler.com

 

[suprarx7nut]

I don't have a sound clip of mine. The sound clip that @choyota posted is how mine sounded with the magnaflow and NO resonator.

I'll have to go back into my records and look for a part number. There was nothing obvious on the muffler when I poked my head underneath, just says magnaflow.

I had Scott at AA Performance Muffler in Denver install it a few years ago. At the time he replaced the OEM muffler and left everything else stock. I drove it like that for a few months and then decided to chop the resonator off with the Sawzall. I didn't have any drone with or without the resonator on, but it did change the sound significantly. I really liked the way it sounded without the resonator, but due to the way I chopped it off, I burned my mud flap pulling I-70 with a trailer. So instead of adding straight pipe, I had AA weld the resonator back on. It still sounds good, but not as good as it did with no resonator.
I think the 100 has good cabin insulation which helps with the added noise of the magnaflow. I can't really hear the exhaust unless I have the windows down (I can feel the rumble but no drone in the cabin). I have the same muffler on my 80 and I can hear it more inside the cabin, windows up or down.

Home | AA Performance Muffler & Brakes, Englewood Colorado

AA Performance Muffler & Brakes, a family-owned business with 60+ years of experience

www.aaperformancemuffler.com

Interesting, that sounds pretty drone-y to me.

 

[JohnnyUtah2]

Interesting, that sounds pretty drone-y to me.

Well, you can’t tell drone from a single sound bite or video. For one, drone is a harmonic tone or vibration that has both sound and feel. Also, the speakers that were used to record (and the speakers you are using to listen) can’t really record the reality of the drone.
My recommendation would be to install the new performance muffler to your rig without the resonator and drive it around for a couple weeks. Keep your factory resonator because the sole purpose of the resonator is to stop resonance. If you are getting drone (resonance, harmonic vibration, rumbling) in the cabin, put the resonator back on.

 

[bozncsurf]

I know drone is unique to the product and the listener but I would appreciate if anyone could give a comparison opinion that has had brand x vs brand y

I ran the DT Catback for a few months and couldn’t take the drone - I cruise a lot at highway speeds and it not only interrupted conversations but created an auditory vibration on long road trips that hung around for a minute after I exited the vehicle (hard to explain - if you know you know)

yes I do want a throaty start up and acceleration but not a constant rumble at cruise

FWIW I run the DT headers with factory exhaust and imo it did not change the exhaust note at all

 

[suprarx7nut]

Well, you can’t tell drone from a single sound bite or video. For one, drone is a harmonic tone or vibration that has both sound and feel. Also, the speakers that were used to record (and the speakers you are using to listen) can’t really record the reality of the drone.
My recommendation would be to install the new performance muffler to your rig without the resonator and drive it around for a couple weeks. Keep your factory resonator because the sole purpose of the resonator is to stop resonance. If you are getting drone (resonance, harmonic vibration, rumbling) in the cabin, put the resonator back on.

Oh for sure, hard to tell just from a start up.

I've messed around with aftermarket exhaust lots on other vehicles. The resonator was often the only way to really eliminate drone in my experience. You could do trial and error with other options and find some with minimal drone, but I always found it to be a bit of a light-switch. Resonator on? Very little drone. Resonator off? Somewhere between unbearable and mildly annoying levels of drone.

The best system I had was an awesomely loud and low toned 3" set up with a small resonator and partially hollowed out Magnaflow muffler. Tons of grumble, factory-ish levels of drone.

 

[GTV]

There's a reason why the factory uses a muffler and a resonator; they both do essentially the same job but are designed to absorb different ranges of sound frequencies. If you remove either one you will get drone. If Toyota could have done it with one part instead of two they certainly would have.

From my experience using the biggest MagnaFlow vs the smallest (both on 2UZ Tundras), the big one is almost as quiet as stock, so don't go big if you want to hear it. The small one lets some volume out. If you still want more noise then swap out the resonator for a Vibrant or similar unit. The key to avoiding drone is having both in place.

 

[krice118]

If it’s drone you want, DT cat back is for you. Wait Did I read the title right?

 

[4WDarren]

Have you considered just a muffler delete? That's what I did to my factory exhaust, and have been very happy with the results. 7 years and no complaints.

Years ago, I made a 3 part series documenting the sound / noise levels. Here's the first (part 2 & 3 in the description):

 

[rexington14]

Why not just get a brand new OEM muffler?

 

[GTV]

Why not just get a brand new OEM muffler?

Did you read the title?

 

[David310]

I have a MagnaFlow muffler 12256 2.5” inlet/outlet that I’m installing soon no resonator will let you know how it goes.