Is 96 DB quieter or louder than stock?

[purdyfast]

I'm shopping for an aftermarket pipe, and muffler, I was told today by a tech rep at a major pipe manufacturer that their setup would come in under 96db which he says would make it legal in all riding areas, but he also said that it was slightly louder than stock. This just doesn't sound right, stock just sounds way loud! Surely stock is louder than 96db? anyone know for sure?

[tnttimber]

Yes stock is louder than 96. Ive seen quite a few guys getting away with running the pro-moto billit end cap and passing the sound check at our races.

I run the pro circuit 496, which is way quieter than 96 but I have opened up the internals to put it right on the limit. ?

[MN_XR420]

How much louder than 96db do you think it is? Minnesota law is 98 db, and once u get above a certain level, 1db almost doubles the noise.. So a 98 db bike will be way louder than a 96 db bike, but still pass in my state, Id like to save some money on a pipe and just get a sparky endcap if I can.