Best 2024 Acura Integra Type S Exhaust: 5 Cat-Backs

A 2024 Acura Integra Type S exhaust upgrade is the single most satisfying bolt-on you can make to Honda's 320-horsepower hot hatch — and choosing the right cat-back comes down to how loud you want it and how much highway drone you can live with. The Integra Type S shares its turbocharged 2.0L K20C1 engine and DE5 chassis with the FL5 Civic Type R, but its factory triple-tip center exhaust is deliberately muted. Swapping to an aftermarket cat-back frees the sound, drops a few pounds, and finishes the rear valance with real titanium or carbon-fiber tips. Below we compare the five best Integra Type S cat-back systems we stock at NLP Performance in Tampa, FL, from Borla, AWE Tuning, MBRP, and MagnaFlow, priced from $1,385 to $2,996.

Why Upgrade the Integra Type S Exhaust?

A cat-back exhaust replaces everything behind the catalytic converter — the mid-pipe, resonators, muffler, and tips — while keeping the factory downpipe and emissions hardware in place. On the 2024 Acura Integra Type S, that means a legal, bolt-on upgrade that unlocks the engine's real voice without touching the tune. The K20C1 makes 320 hp at 6,500 rpm and 310 lb-ft of torque from 2,600 to 4,000 rpm, routed through a six-speed manual and a standard helical limited-slip differential. It is one of the best-sounding turbo four-cylinders on sale, and the restrictive factory muffler hides most of it.

Be realistic about power: a cat-back alone typically adds only 3 to 8 wheel horsepower on a turbocharged car like this, because the turbo and factory downpipe are the real restrictions. The genuine rewards are sound, a lighter rear section, and a cleaner look. For serious gains you need a high-flow downpipe and an ECU tune — but a cat-back is the right first step, and every system below is a direct fit for the DE5 Integra Type S.

The 5 Best Integra Type S Cat-Back Exhausts

We ranked these five DE5 Integra Type S cat-backs by real-world sound, drone control, build quality, and value. Every one is a bolt-on, downpipe-back system that reuses the factory triple center-exit layout.

1. Borla ATAK Cat-Back — Best Overall & Loudest

ATAK stands for Aggressive Throaty Acoustic Killer, and it is Borla's loudest sound tier. This system is built from patented aircraft-grade T-304 stainless steel and finishes with carbon-fiber and black-anodized tips that suit the Type S rear diffuser perfectly. Expect a hard, race-inspired snarl at wide-open throttle with plenty of crackle on lift. It is backed by Borla's Million-Mile Warranty, the strongest coverage in the group, which is why it is our top overall pick for owners who want maximum volume and lifetime durability.

2. AWE Tuning Touring Edition — Best for Daily Driving

The AWE Touring Edition is the drone-free choice. It uses a full 3-inch mandrel-bent stainless system and AWE's patented 180 Technology resonator, which splits and rejoins exhaust pulses 180 degrees out of phase to cancel the frequencies that cause cabin drone at highway speed. The result is a deeper, richer note when you are on throttle but a quiet, livable cruise at 75 mph — exactly what you want for a car you drive every day. The Triple Diamond Black tips match the Integra Type S factory diffuser cleanly.

3. MBRP Armor Pro Active — Best Valved (Sound On Demand)

The MBRP Armor Pro is the only system here with an Active Profile electronic valve, giving you quiet-mode and loud-mode on demand. Open the valve and it rivals the Borla ATAK for volume; close it and it settles into a civil, drone-managed cruise, so you can choose your sound for the moment. It is built from 3-inch T304 stainless steel (MBRP's premium Armor Pro grade) and caps off with carbon-fiber tips. For owners who cannot decide between loud and livable, the valve settles the argument.

4. MagnaFlow SPEQ Series — Best Value Street Sound

MagnaFlow's SPEQ Series is the value pick that still looks premium. It delivers a refined, street-friendly tone — noticeably fuller than stock but the most conservative volume in this roundup — which makes it a great choice if you want presence without attracting attention. The stainless construction is backed by MagnaFlow's Lifetime Limited Warranty, and the black-chrome quad-look tips blend into the diffuser. At $2,204 it undercuts the Borla and MBRP while offering the calmest daily manners short of the AWE Touring.

5. AWE Tuning Track Edition — Loudest for the Money

The AWE Track Edition uses the same integrated front pipe and robust mid-pipe resonator as the Touring, but deletes the 180 Technology resonator in favor of a straight-pipe rear section. That makes it noticeably louder and more aggressive under acceleration — and yes, it will drone on the highway, which is the trade-off. At $1,385 it is the lowest-priced system in this guide and the loudest bang for the buck, ideal for track-focused owners who do not mind the cruise volume. Pick this one if you want maximum attitude and the AWE fit-and-finish for the least money.

Integra Type S Exhaust Comparison

Here is how the five 2024 Acura Integra Type S cat-back systems stack up on construction, sound level, and drone control. Sound level is a relative 1-to-5 scale where higher is louder.

How to Choose: Sound, Drone, and Daily Livability

The right Integra Type S exhaust depends almost entirely on how you use the car. If it is a weekend and track toy and you want the loudest, most theatrical note, the Borla ATAK or AWE Track Edition are your answers — the Borla for lifetime-warranty durability and carbon tips, the AWE Track for the lowest price. If the Integra is your daily driver and you commute on the highway, the AWE Touring Edition is the clear winner because its 180 Technology resonator kills drone that would otherwise wear on you at 75 mph.

Cannot decide? The MBRP Armor Pro Active is the hedge: its electronic valve lets you cruise quietly on Monday and go full-volume on Saturday. And if you want the calmest street manners with a factory-plus look and a lifetime warranty at the lowest ongoing fuss, the MagnaFlow SPEQ is the mildest of the five. Whichever you pick, none of them requires a tune, and all reuse the DE5's factory triple center-exit tip layout.

Installation and Fitment Notes

Every exhaust in this guide is a direct bolt-on, downpipe-back cat-back for the 2024–2025 Acura Integra Type S (DE5) with the 2.0L turbo K20C1. Installation is straightforward for a home mechanic: unbolt the factory cat-back at the flange behind the downpipe, transfer the rubber isolators to the new hangers, and torque the band clamps. Plan on roughly 1 to 2 hours on a lift or ramps, and use a penetrating oil on the factory hardware if the car has seen winter roads.

Because these are cat-back systems that retain the factory catalytic converter and downpipe, none of them trips a check-engine light or requires an ECU recalibration. The MBRP Armor Pro Active is the only unit that adds a wiring step for its valve controller. Note that the Integra Type S shares its powertrain with the FL5 Civic Type R but not its exhaust routing — always buy the DE5 Integra-specific part number listed above so the hangers and tip spacing line up with the Acura diffuser.