I was considering a Tanabe Medalion Touring axle-back exhaust for my G37S coupe, but a neighbor bought the Top Speed knock-off version and gave me a ride in his G37 coupe. The interior had a booming drone that was terrible between just off idle to around 1800 rpm. It was totally unacceptable except for a deaf rice boy IMO. His exhaust was new and properly done, and my ride was just a few days after the install.

While I can't believe it based on the comments of owners, does the Tanabe exhaust - which has the same size mufflers as the TopSpeed system - have this same terrible defect? Once you hit higher rpm it sounds great, but the low rpm drone - oh the humanity! Thanks for any comments.



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i have the tanabe medalion touring axle back for my g37x coupe. stock cats, stock y pipe, stock midpipe. there is a drone at the low rpms for sure. definitely doesnt sound ricey to me (again, this is open to interpretation, what one might find annoying another may love). the best way i can describe it is a low mean growl at low rpms. ill probably make a sound clip of interior cabin noise and exterior noise tomorrow to show how it actually sounds so its less of an opinion.

 

i wouldn't consider it a drone. i've had mine for about 2k miles and i don't notice a drone anymore. even new, it only got loud in the cabin around 3 or 4k rpm under load.

 

I had Tanabe and noticed no drone at all.

 

I have Tanabe. No drone, but it is louder than stock. You are going to hear it. But it is a great sound to hear. I get compliments all the time.

 

I have the Tanabe catback and I notice no drone at all. I also have received many compliments on how my car sounds. Not "ricey" or raspy at all.

 

Thanks guys. The TopSpeed had a terrible resonance/drone in the cabin between idle and about 1800 rpm while accelerating. Absolutely could not stand it. I guess the packing used by Tanabe is better than that used in the TS mufflers. I have had many cars over the years with aftermarket exhausts - I want a bit more volume than stock but nothing obnoxious....



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the packing material has a lot to do with the sound of an exhaust, not just the size or shape of the muffler.

 

Tababe's are fairly quiet when it's just the axle-back, has a bit more growl to the exhaust note. They do tend to get loud once paired with high flow cats or test pipes just a heads up. Im running test pipes and although I absolutely love the sound I can see why some people might not.