Guys,
YMMV, and to each his own.
But this was my experience, which has been tested and backed up by many others...
My experience with the stock brake setup on my 2011 was good stopping, quiet, but warped rotors after only 3500 miles. So I changed the way I applied the brakes when stopping to more brake pedal, less lever, until approaching the stop then adding lever. This stopped the pedal pulsation feel.
Around 25,000 miles, I decided to replace the pads. The EBC HH sintered's were praised for great stopping power and longevity, but many mentioned how noisey they were.
Well, they're not kidding! I paid big money for a complete set of front and rear EBC's, and even after 15,000 miles they were so noisey I couldn't stand them!
Now, they stopped great, but I also looked closely at the rotors...
I was surprised to see how grooved and worn they were. Those pads are rotor eaters!
I questioned, in more than a few posts, how well these pads and the chinese rotors held up and worked. The concensus was that they worked well, at a much less price.
So far, I am extremely pleased with this setup, and unless they give me grief or a bad experience, I'll continue going this route from here on out.
I am extremely impressed with how quiet and smooth this setup is, and stopping power is just as good as stock ever was.
HH sintered's are really a racing pad design, with copper pieces impregnated in the pads.
They do stop great. BUT...
That's what makes them SO noisey and hard on rotors. I WON'T use them for the street again.
Plus, they are WAY overpriced.
I DID consider spending a fortune and going Galfer. But, in the end, couldn't justify their rediculous cost right now, and couldn't find enough reviews from guys who had went that way.
Many good reviews with the parts I went with, and in the end decided to try them. So far, so good.
As I said, to each his own... but for me it was just an expensive lesson learned. No more HH Sintered brake pads for me.