any one know how this compares to any rival brand?

 

I had one on my WRX. I've seen many exhausts, this one is one of the best. Gains from a catless TBE will be pretty much the same.

 

they are all the same, a good turbo back is a good turbo back.

 

... except when the turboback is NOT good, which is a lot of them...

The APS is one of the quietest 3" exhausts, especially when mounted to the EJ20. I've had one for four years, and I'm 86 whp over stock, still using the TD04 stock turbo. Not a spot of rust on it, quiet off-throttle and it looks extremely low-key and stealthy. Unlike a lot of other turbobacks which are painfully loud, only stainless on the tip and cause lots of rubbing/noise issues under the chassis.

I would recommend getting the hi-flow cat as well. It really tamps down the loudness and smell, and makes zero difference on the dyno (I compared my dyno charts to an identical 02 WRX with the same exhaust and no cats, and I actually had better torque.)

 

^ wow thanks for the info will look into that finally an exhaust to put on my swapped 2.5