HKS spec L vs Thermal

jinderC

thermal for the win.
It’s a system you can enjoy for long trips... never over the top. Just sounds like how Honda should have made the car sound like. It’s perfect
And it’s made in the USA!
Sponsored

 
OP
OP

TylerTypeR

Member
First Name
Tyler
Joined
Jun 6, 2019
Threads
5
Messages
33
Reaction score
32
Location
Canton, Michigan
Vehicle(s)
2019 Civic Type R
Country flag
I installed the Spec L less than a week ago. It is just what I was looking for so far. Definitely one of the best aftermarket market exhausts I have heard on a turbo 4. Cold starts are pretty tame. It drones noticeably less than the stock exhaust. The sound is somewhere in the middle of deep and low exhausts like the Greddy and the more raspy exhausts like the Remus and the Borla. Great burble at idle and low rpms, slow shifting. It also occasionally has a few quiet pops. I think it’s perfect for a daily driver that doesn’t want to attract much attention. It is a little boomy from about 3600 rpm to 4500rpm but the sound is still changing daily. I will update this post after I get some carbon build up.
 

turboR

Senior Member
First Name
Joe
Joined
Sep 21, 2018
Threads
7
Messages
117
Reaction score
78
Location
Newbury Park, CA
Vehicle(s)
2018 CW CTR #18775 / 2002 NB Miata (track car)
Country flag
I installed the Spec L less than a week ago. It is just what I was looking for so far. Definitely one of the best aftermarket market exhausts I have heard on a turbo 4. Cold starts are pretty tame. It drones noticeably less than the stock exhaust. The sound is somewhere in the middle of deep and low exhausts like the Greddy and the more raspy exhausts like the Remus and the Borla. Great burble at idle and low rpms, slow shifting. It also occasionally has a few quiet pops. I think it’s perfect for a daily driver that doesn’t want to attract much attention. It is a little boomy from about 3600 rpm to 4500rpm but the sound is still changing daily. I will update this post after I get some carbon build up.
Curious as time has passed if you swapped to a caltless DP? I have the same exhaust and debating doing the HKS Catless DP eventually.
 

18RRtypeR

Banned
Banned
Joined
Nov 18, 2017
Threads
31
Messages
409
Reaction score
173
Location
Earth
Vehicle(s)
2018 Civic Type R #6850, 2015 Toyota TRD PRO 4Runner
Country flag
Everyone will say they have the best exhaust...it's subjective...get what you like!!! My .02
 

billabongrob

Senior Member
First Name
Rob
Joined
May 26, 2019
Threads
7
Messages
75
Reaction score
32
Location
Houston
Vehicle(s)
2019 CTR, 92 Integra track rat
Country flag
I picked up a Spec-L recently. Possibly too quiet. I do like that it’s lightweight. Like really light. I had to straighten out the hangers because they were bent in shipping so be mindful of it when yours arrive.
 


turboR

Senior Member
First Name
Joe
Joined
Sep 21, 2018
Threads
7
Messages
117
Reaction score
78
Location
Newbury Park, CA
Vehicle(s)
2018 CW CTR #18775 / 2002 NB Miata (track car)
Country flag
I picked up a Spec-L recently. Possibly too quiet. I do like that it’s lightweight. Like really light. I had to straighten out the hangers because they were bent in shipping so be mindful of it when yours arrive.
I’m thinking going catless DP will make it a perfect volume
 
OP
OP

TylerTypeR

Member
First Name
Tyler
Joined
Jun 6, 2019
Threads
5
Messages
33
Reaction score
32
Location
Canton, Michigan
Vehicle(s)
2019 Civic Type R
Country flag
I think that it continues to get louder as it ages. It has also gotten noticeably louder as it gets colder outside. I’m still very happy with it. I think the catless would be a bit much for a daily driver, not to mention the negative effects on the environment. Have to admit that I am curious how it would sound though. The video of the Legamax without the cat does sound great. Maybe a high flow cat would be the happy medium?
 

turboR

Senior Member
First Name
Joe
Joined
Sep 21, 2018
Threads
7
Messages
117
Reaction score
78
Location
Newbury Park, CA
Vehicle(s)
2018 CW CTR #18775 / 2002 NB Miata (track car)
Country flag
I think that it continues to get louder as it ages. It has also gotten noticeably louder as it gets colder outside. I’m still very happy with it. I think the catless would be a bit much for a daily driver, not to mention the negative effects on the environment. Have to admit that I am curious how it would sound though. The video of the Legamax without the cat does sound great. Maybe a high flow cat would be the happy medium?
Perhaps, kind of what I was thinking. It has been pretty hard trying to get feedback from anyone who is running the Spec-L with a catless DP or has one with a High Flow Cat to comment on the sound difference, not many people are running the Spec-L (another reason why I like it haha). I have yet to find a video of a Spec-L with a catless DP.
 

bbdave

Senior Member
First Name
David
Joined
Jan 25, 2018
Threads
6
Messages
247
Reaction score
166
Location
Georgia
Vehicle(s)
2018 Honda Civic Type R
Country flag
Perhaps, kind of what I was thinking. It has been pretty hard trying to get feedback from anyone who is running the Spec-L with a catless DP or has one with a High Flow Cat to comment on the sound difference, not many people are running the Spec-L (another reason why I like it haha). I have yet to find a video of a Spec-L with a catless DP.
Running with PRL catless DP and FP. Over time the sound has improved. Drone is basically like factory just maybe a bit more pronounced. There is obviously still rasp but under high load, not terrible though. I would say it’s relatively tame, going to dampen the trunk soon; hopefully it helps bass response and the minor drone. It’s definitely better than a factory muffler delete in terms of resonance.
 

turboR

Senior Member
First Name
Joe
Joined
Sep 21, 2018
Threads
7
Messages
117
Reaction score
78
Location
Newbury Park, CA
Vehicle(s)
2018 CW CTR #18775 / 2002 NB Miata (track car)
Country flag
Running with PRL catless DP and FP. Over time the sound has improved. Drone is basically like factory just maybe a bit more pronounced. There is obviously still rasp but under high load, not terrible though. I would say it’s relatively tame, going to dampen the trunk soon; hopefully it helps bass response and the minor drone. It’s definitely better than a factory muffler delete in terms of resonance.
thanks, good to know. I already installed Dynamat in the whole rear trunk area, so I’ll prob be good then with Catless if I choose to go that route.
 


Crisostomoz

Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2019
Threads
0
Messages
5
Reaction score
2
Location
Canada
Vehicle(s)
FK8
Country flag
i have the spec-L and was also hoping to get some sound clips for ppl with different DP setups, catless or catted. anyone got some youtube vids/sound clip? my biggest concern is rasp, not drone.
 

bbdave

Senior Member
First Name
David
Joined
Jan 25, 2018
Threads
6
Messages
247
Reaction score
166
Location
Georgia
Vehicle(s)
2018 Honda Civic Type R
Country flag
i have the spec-L and was also hoping to get some sound clips for ppl with different DP setups, catless or catted. anyone got some youtube vids/sound clip? my biggest concern is rasp, not drone.
I’ll see what I can do about a sound clip, but I will say rasp usually is only present when a catless downpipe is introduced. Fortunately, because of its smaller diameter compared to other options currently out there, the exhaust tone is kept in check a little better. In my experience (using a front pipe as well) the rasp was definitely there in the beginning; once the resonator/muffler started breaking in, it started to lessen over time. Like I’ve said before, it’s still there but not like the stereotypical fart cannon :D
 

Crisostomoz

Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2019
Threads
0
Messages
5
Reaction score
2
Location
Canada
Vehicle(s)
FK8
Country flag
people with just the spec L, any just change the frontpipe? it seems like not a good idea to go from a stock downpipe to a 3 inch frontipe, back to a 2.5-6inch catback
 

turboR

Senior Member
First Name
Joe
Joined
Sep 21, 2018
Threads
7
Messages
117
Reaction score
78
Location
Newbury Park, CA
Vehicle(s)
2018 CW CTR #18775 / 2002 NB Miata (track car)
Country flag
Still nets you more flow at the end.
this. I can tell you I noticed a significant increase in my butt dyno compared to the Greddy (which felt like it lost power) and vs OEM, throttle response improved and boost felt like it comes on a bit sooner
Sponsored

 


 


Top