:wavey: Mine is hardly louder than stock. Like really really quiet.
I think it's cause we finally get full traction in 4th and are putting the most amount of boost into it which means the most amount of torque, it also spools the turbo quicker so the torque comes on even quicker and 'light switch' like. I think SC guys break second because they get full traction in the gear for the most part. I broke second though, and that was from being turbo as I was never supercharged. It broke at the least expected time, wasn't shifting hard or anything, and it tore the trans up. Destroyed my LSD, damaged the FD, damaged the clutch case, cracked the LSD bearing in half....
Another gear option that is out there is to have the stock gears treated. I sent off a set a couple months ago to get treated by 'racerstev' on honda-tech as he has a really good track record for making b and k gears a good bit stronger. The treatment only cost $200, so I figured it was worth a shot, I have yet to put these gears in yet though. Obviously this is not going to be anywhere near as strong as the PPG gears, but for the price I think it was worth giving it a try, hell I could rebuild (assuming honda ever get's second gear and main shafts off back-order) my trans with treated stock gears several times before adding up to the price of PPG gears.