I want to get a full cat back exhaust system for my 92 Accord but I hate the sounds of 90% of Honda exhausts. Not even really a fan of the subby sound either. I never understood why people put thousands of dollars into their just to have it sound like a dirt bike. Is there something out that will give me an even deepish tone... And won't give me a **** ton of exhaust popping / backfire. I don't really know anything about exhaust so..

Thanks any feedback and opinions is helpful

 

Usually what morons do to make their exhaust loud is to eliminate the catalyst, mid pipe resonator(drone), and then use a glass pack style straight through 'muffler' for their muffler. This is what causes the horrid sounds.
Even with just those mods the car should not misfire/fart through the exhaust, that is usually a tune(or lack there of) issue.
Catalyst kills quite a bit of noise, resonator aids in removing the rest, and the muffler will set the tone.

Use the appropriate sized exhaust tubing for your power.
Use a properly sized mid pipe resonator, the larger the less drone.
Use a quality muffler with good flow and tone, Magnaflow is a start

If olde 4 banger roadsters can sound good, so can your Honda.

 

Vibrant also makes excellent mufflers and other exhaust components. Their streetpower series comes in all black for a more stealthy look if that's what you're going for. The dual outlet version could pass for an OEM muffler at a glance. As stated above, pair with appropriate sized pipe and a resonator for best results. On an NA Honda, I would go with an 18" resonator at the minimum.

If you're looking for a bolt-on affair, Apexi WS2 is a nice all around exhaust and it's not loud or raspy at all.

 

I would go with Magnaflow honestly. I've had one on a couple cars including a 93 and 02 Accord and with the cat still in it muffles the sound into sounding kind of throaty but not buzzy.

 

Magnaflow and the Apexi WS2 are two good full catback systems for the car you can still buy new. Magnaflow will be a little louder, but deeper and throatier (its a straight through muffler), and overall more aggressive. But still sound good. The WS2 is a chambered muffler, so its more on the quiet and reserved side.

You don't always have to buy a full catback too....you can piece together an exhaust using the muffler from a different car, and just get a piping kit made for the Accord. That opens up your muffler options quite a bit. Stay with name brand stuff, and stay away from canister mufflers. Some good options besides the ones listed above are Greddy SP (there are lots of versions now), Tanabe Medalion, Thermal R&D, Fujitsubo (FGK), and many others. There are also some old school brands like Remus, Sebring, or Stromung who make mufflers....they are a little more quiet, but still sound more aggressive than stock.

Honestly, its can be cheaper to build your own setup. Find a decent used muffler, buy a new Vibrant resonator for it, then get piping, and have it welded up. Just comes down to preference.

 

You can't beat the sound of running ether a Borla or Bosal setup on a Honda engine. Not sure if ether of these cat back systems are still available for this chassis. But as mentioned above, you can buy cheap piping anywhere, it's the resonator and muffler where you need to spend some cash to get the sound you are looking for. A good intake system will also alter the exhaust notes as well. But that is another topic of debate/discussion.

 

Just a side note.
Typically inline 4s will never sound like a boxer 4.
Although the Scooby sports a flat crank but compared to an inline, two cylinders are 180° out. To get a similar running sound from a Honda or any other typical flat crank I4 engine you would have to cut the crank in half, rotate the front(or rear) half of the crank 180° from the other half. So rather than the typically UP, DOWN, DOWN, UP orientation if the throws you would have UP, DOWN, UP, DOWN orientation of the throws. This is part of the reason for the distinct sound of a Scooby(Or VW) flat 4.

For ideal resonator placement you would need to know where the pressure waves are at peak pressure. This would be the ideal placement of the resonator to reduce/cancel out the drone/rattle.
Placement of the resonator in the stock system is a good place to start, but this will change with a change in pipe diameter and your desired power band. Even the stock system can become buzzy when in the upper rpms.

 

I'd go with the WS2. I had it for a few years before it eventually rusted out and could no longer be repaired. Sounded great although the only time I could hear it is if someone else drove it or in a tunnel. My AEM short ram intake was always louder than the exhaust and i never had any problems with the police whatsoever. I got an ebay fart can cat back to replace it due to a shortage of funds and within a year the police pulled me over and threatened to continue to do so until i replaced it and that was WITH the silencer in it.