Original catalitic converters seem louder than new xpipe??

Hey all, Deliema, installed a new cargraphic x-pipe and 200cel catalitic converters and my exhaust now 'seems' quieter? ​​​​​​I've also got cargraphic mufflers and it really does seem to have toned down the exhaust and it seems like it's less raw with less volume too? Could the old cats have been worn out so they may have acted almost like bypass pipes? Car is a 2004 RoW so only pre-cat sensors no post cat to measure if the cats were working. Thoughts?

The Cargraphic mufflers make the exhaust less screamy and droning. It seems they tone down but in fact they refine the sound by filtering the right frequencies. I had the x-pipe with carnewal modded mufflers and it was horribly loud. Installed a set of Cargraphic mufflers and it was just perfect. Cargraphic makes really good Quality stuff. Which mufflers did you buy? They have different loudness versions. TUV, TUV Sound or Super Sound?

Thanks, definitely agree the sound is a great tone but it's just not as loud. I've got cargraphic mufflers as well, not too sure what version but I don't think they are super sound. They have CARP96ET on them. Website says they are for a tiptronic. I got in touch with cargraphic they said they are fine to use on a manual. ​​​​​​ ​​​​​​I'm looking into the super sound version but I don't want to spend more and not get what I want - which is more volume. What version mufflers do you have? Did you find any difference in power?

Silk ever since you mentioned how good it sounds I've started appreciating the sound its making rather than the volume, its brilliant. Has taken me a little to get used to.

I'm now thinking about a 200cel crossover rather than a x-pipe to get back some bottom end, anyone have any experience? Think I have to get some back pressure... back?

Hi Dan, I found that the cargraphic mufflers are really one of the few that really accentuate the pure boxer sound rather then boasting other frequencies to create a louder volume. Just listen to the pops it makes. I think it sounds wonderful. Also take into account that the x-pipe design will shift the sound spectrum a bit to the higher frequencies which could make it sound less loud. Certainly in the higher rpm ranges. I cannot directly compare with your setup as I was using the TopGear 200-cell bigger bore x-pipe. I found it too loud inside the car having a lot of resonance and drone under WOT throttle between 1800-2500 rpm. When installing the Cargraphic mufflers it quietened down a bit but not enough. Therefore I switched to 200-cell cross-over cats from TopGear and for me the sound is perfect. Gone cabin drone under WOT. The fact that you have a tiptronic version of the mufflers makes no difference. The mufflers for tipronic cars only differ in the ribbon/flexible tube which connects to the cats. It prevents the resonances from the tiptronic gearbox when running stationary to go through the whole exhaust setup and can affect the mounting points due to fatigue stress. Further I am of the opinion that in case you bought the x-pipe and mufflers from a authorized Cargraphic representative, it meas you have spend considerable amount of money. I would not hesitate to contact them with your questions, wishes and doubts. Especially to find out what type of mufflers that you got. And in case you are not happy, you should get in touch with them in order to see if they can let you try another muffler setup. Considering Cargraphic and their after-sales policy I think that is a very reasonable request. After all you paid a lot of money.

Here is a video of 996 with Cargraphic TUV Sound mufflers. https://www.facebook.com/vdgugtenporsche/videos/1761660734075313/

Thanks for the info silk! Definitely agree with all your points. The cargraphic website actually states that the xpipe provides slightly more power than the crossover pipes, not by much though. What did you find the power like going from stock to xpipe back to aftermarket crossover? I already had the mufflers so talking to cargraphic at the moment about getting the supersound version

Not sure what exactly the x-pipe did. changes are small and subtle. I think it shifts the optimal powerband a bit more to right (rpm scale) At the same time I also installed the IPD competition plenum with the larger throttle body. So That improves the low end a bit. I like the way it went throuogh the rev range. going WOT till 7000rpm was fantastic. Well it is already fanstastic stock!!! Right now I am stock again on the intake side. But I am planning to install the copetition plenum soon again.

Thanks, I also thought the change was subtle and also moved the power band upwards. I have the standard IPD plenum not sure if I want to get into the GT3 Tb + plenum. Thinking maybe crossover + 200cel cargraphic might suit me better being a crossover and creating a bit more back pressure and therefore get back some low end

There might be also a 100cell alternative? With 100cell you definitively need a tune to accommodatie for the different flow on the exhaust side.

There is a 100cel but I think it would shift the curve again into the higher rpm band as they would act more like a catless pipe whereas the 200cel crates some back pressure. Mainly interested in the crossover vs xpipe Agree on a tune just need to get the right mufflers and complete the setup with cargraphic headers too. There was a thread today from someone who lost all their torque before 4k rpm with a catless xpipe. I'm also kinda not cool on that amount of rubbish polluting the air (without cats).

Yes ... i think you should choose with your ears in this case. The performance Delta is minimal. I liked the extra torque in the low end with the plenum and larger throttle body. But I agree it is again throwing a lot of $$$ at it. You get however some extra sound from the resonator by-pass on the intake. about your Cargraphic setup ... Pics or it did not happen!!! 😉

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Hard to justify the extra cost to regain what I paid to loose!! Ah yes of course here it is: Btw please note for anyone installing one of these the O2 sensors should face the car not like they are in the pic above! That's what cargraphic told me at least, I'm yet to spin them around. Don't worry the flow is in the right direction!

That's the first thing that came to mind when I saw the picture...Good luck, it's a slippery slope sometimes!

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Yeah just haven't had the time to take it all apart again! Sure is a slippery slope, especially because the system is so modular so you can easily continue changing things!

Not the same brands, but I went from 200 cell crossovers by NHP + fister modded cans to an M&M cat-less x-pipe with the same fister cans and it definitely seemed a little quieter in regular driving under 3k rpm or so. I think it might just be related to how my ears perceive the higher frequencies of the x-pipe vs the low booming growl of the crossovers than the actual decibel levels they produce. FWIW the x-pipe seems to have gotten louder with a few thousand miles. It's just loud enough now, and louder than the crossovers at high RMP I think. Lost some low end power, but from 4k to 7k it feels much stronger and happy to rev for a 3.6.

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Thanks, is that with a catless xpipe setup? I think the loss is from the reduced back pressure. Are you happy with the x over the crossover?

Just back onto this for a second, the xpipe seems to make the sound of my car very flat at low speed rpms until around 2,000 where suddenly it sounds great? Probably most noticeable when reversing and using low rpm to get moving, is this just the inherent design of the x-pipe? Am now loving the sound and additional power it gives at around 3,000rpm+ but its very flat sounding? Does the addition of headers remove the flatness at low rpm? I'd only get the Cargraphic headers, I also have Super Sound Cargraphic mufflers to replace my TUV Sound version, couldn't help it I wanted the volume back that I had.

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Sorry, just now seeing this. I think it must be partly down to the reduced back pressure of running no cats, but I haven't run a 200 cell x-pipe to compare. Happy with the x-pipe over the crossovers... unfortunately I don't definitively feel one way or the other. I love the sound of the x-pipe over the crossovers no question. Not even a close comparison for me there. The shift in the power band to the right changes the character of the car and it's not as well rounded as it once was. In places where you can keep the revs up over 4k, it's incredible and I think the car feels so much better. In day to day to day commuting, the car feels less quick as you can't just rely on there being bags full of torque at any rpm. I can see why Porsche opted for the crossovers in this respect as most people are driving these cars on the street and want the torque. It also sounds a bit gruff at low RPM now, I think you noted that in your post. But I kind of like that. It makes you constantly aware that the car would rather be at 6k rpm on a back road than puttering around in traffic. Kind of like when you hear a race car at low rpm in the paddock. It sounds a bit unrefined, a bit unhappy, champing at the bit to just get going. Not that a 996 c2 is anything like a race car lol. But I like some compromises in my cars, it makes them feel just a little bit more like a specialized tool for going fast rather than an all-rounder. That said, there are times when this sucks. Sometimes you want to take a relaxing 6/10th drive down a back road and just ride the torque between 4-5k rpm and let the car flow. It sucks for that now. It's all out, hair on fire 4k+ rpm the whole time or nothing. Hard to have it all I guess.

Yeah i'd agree with all the statements you've made, sound is not that great until up over 3,000rpm for me - down low it sounds flat and fairly average. I have some 'super sound' mufflers on the way which i'm hoping will help make it sound better at all rpm but that might not be the case. There is also the option of adding headers which im not too sure about just yet - planning on adding them in the future - I wonder how they would change the characteristics again and whether it would improve down low but from what I've read headers just shift the band even further right. Something I dont really want.

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NICE!!! I just ordered the 200 cell sport cat crossover pipes from Topgear as I'm completing my rebuild. These will be added to my agency power sport mufflers and headers... Can't wait to hear the final result. I hope it's close to this sound...

Been talking to cargraphic because I've got a flat sound at really low rpm They have said it's because it's the 997.1 part rather than the 996 part?? I don't really believe them?! Thoughts?

Quick update, got a set of non TUV 'super sound' version mufflers delivered today! Hope I'll get some of that sound back! They do look good too. ​​​​​​

Nice! Can you post before and after youtube videos? Preferably a drive by vs revving in neutral. Not a lot of these videos out there and I feel like they would really help all the folks stuck in the endless exhaust debate haha

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Sure, I'll give it a try. Probably can't do drive by but can do a start up before and after! Keep you posted. ​​​​​​ ​​​​​​

nstalled the super sound on the weekend - whoa - I've created a monster! Sounds awesome and even better than it did before - haven't driven it yet but just the startup and a very light rev under 2,000rpm and it sounds awesome!! As always I forgot to do a before video! Although I'd say super sound would be way too loud for some people and i'd recommend the TUV sound version - which is what I had before the super sound. Will give a nice balance - for me super sound all the way! Very tempted to pull the trigger on the cargraphic headers but I think i'll wait a bit for those. Comparison of TUV Sound and Super Sound (slightly smaller) probably internally very different: Installed:

Forgot to follow this up actually - don't use the image above as a reference! I saw the xpipe installed like that on facebook from an independent here. It's wrong the heat shield will contact the wires of the sensor and then make them too short to route correctly. The O2 sensors should point inwards.