Resonated vs. Non-Resonated Catless Downpipes: The G8X (S58) Sound Guide

Resonated or non resonated catless downpipes, what is the right choice? First off, what are down pipes? Down pipes are the very first section of your exhaust, they connect to the turbos and then connect to your cat back exhaust. From the factory, the downpipes contain restrictive emissions equipment which is why we recommend swapping them out for an aftermarket option. Whether you are looking for an increase in noise, an increase in power, or an increase in aggression, down pipes are the solution for you when paired with a proper midpipe. So let's get into it, catless or catless resonated? First off we are going to debunk a common misconception, resonators do not mean restriction. Resonators act as an expansion chamber to get rid of unwanted frequencies such as drone and rasp. Unlike a muffler, resonators are completely free flow and just add expansion chambers onto the existing pipe diameter rather than putting restrictive muffler material into the pipe. With this in mind, our recommendation depends on your cat back set up. If you are going with our dual resonated midpipe section with a factory rear section, then we recommend catless resonated. If you are going for one of our quad resonated catback setups, then we recommend standard catless. To conclude, four is the golden number of resonators for the S58, whether it is four in the catback or two in the downpipes and two in the midpipe, quad resonation is the best option to achieve a refined but still angry tone for your S58.