Sound Quality

ESQL Inside – Category

This category is for new competitors, not limited to but mainly for the younger generation to generate their interest to car audio and car audio competition. As many prefer lively music like EDM, Techno, Dance, and others compared to other genres, therefore, EMMA launched ESQL Inside, which is based on the concept of SQ cars. It is about building a sound system using a setting technique that prioritizes music dominated by songs that emphasize heavy beats and bass.

Value to the competitor:

• Sound Quality evaluation
• To express the performance of his car and the sound system, the competitor can play a track of his choice for the judging of listening pleasure
• Installation evaluation
• Feedback from experienced Judges
  SPL-measurement with open and closed doors is possible on request without effect to the scores

Explanations for the Sound Quality Judging:

• EMMA is offering the competitor to attend the Judging process in the passenger seat with
  direct explanation and immediate feedback.

Explanations for the Installation Judging:

• The Installation will be analysed as per matrix in chapter 10 for S-Cat together with the competitor. The competitor can learn about his installation and prepare for future competition in E-Cat or S-Cat if interested.
• No Presentation (explanation to the Judges) required.
• No documentation will be required. The judges will explain and guide the competitor to be prepared for future competition in E-Cat or S-Cat
• No System diagram and wiring diagram are required. The judges will explain and guide the competitor to be prepared for future competition in E-Cat or S-Cat

Restrictions

• No (previous) judges, EMMA officials or professionals within the industry
• Limited to absolute newcomers – Competitor has never taken part on any EMMA Sound Quality Competition
• No sponsored cars (invoices for all components must be available for proof of purchase upon request)
• No restrictions of modifications to the Installation

Competitors can compete for a maximum of one competition year in ESQL Inside category.
There will be no national or international championship.

E – Category (Entry)

• Up to 3000 €
• Unlimited

Value to the competitor:

• Installation evaluation
• Feedback from experienced Judges

Explanations for the Sound Quality judging:

• EMMA is offering the competitor to attend the Judging process in the passenger seat with direct explanation and immediate feedback in the national qualification rounds
• On national / international final, single seat judging will be applied.

Explanations for the Installation judging:

• Only basic installation requirements see matrix in chapter 10
• No Presentation (explanation to the Judges) required
• Documentation only required for hidden / non-visible components
• System diagram and wiring diagram are required.

Restrictions

• Limited to Newcomers – Competitor has never taken part on any EMMA Sound Quality competition (except in ESQL Inside-category).
• No sponsored cars (invoices for all components must be available for proof of purchase upon request).
• No (previous) Judges, EMMA Officials or Professionals.
• No performance modifications or self-built Equipment on signal route. Cosmetic changes are acceptable.
• No restrictions of modifications to the Installation.

Competitors can compete a maximum of two competition years in E-Category. The champion of the national (and/or international) final will be promoted to a higher category.

S – Category (skilled)

• OEM
• Up to 4000 €
• Unlimited

Value to the competitor:

• Sound Quality evaluation
• Installation evaluation
• Feedback from experienced Judges

Explanations for the Installation judging:

• Average Installation requirements see matrix on chapter 10
• No Presentation (explanation to the judges) required
• Documentation only required for hidden / non-visible components
• System diagram and wiring diagram are required.

 Restrictions

• No sponsored cars (invoices for all components must be available for proof of purchase upon request).
• No (previous) Judges and Professionals.
• No performance modifications or self-built Equipment on signal route. Cosmetic changes to Equipment are acceptable.
• No restrictions of modifications to the Installation except in OEM class.

OEM restrictions:

• In the Cabin area, only OEM speaker locations and/or grilles available are allowed to be used (for one or more speakers). The cabin area is defined from the firewall to the backside of the rear seats / above the rear-shelf / trunk cover.
• If a higher OEM-trim level as the competitor’s car has other / additional speaker locations and / or grilles these can be used, too.
• No special edition car-models from “tuning companies”; Special Editions from initial car manufacturers are acceptable.
• Head Unit can be changed, or an additional Head Unit can be installed.
• Additional volume control / display can be installed.
• Any change that is not related to the car audio system is acceptable. (Related to the car audio system would be any change that alters sound, such as materials covering the dashboard, absorptive or diffuse elements, etc.).

Competitors can compete for a maximum of two competition years in S-Category. However, the
Champion of the national (and / or international) final will be promoted to a higher category.

M – Category (Master)

• OEM up to 4000€
• OEM unlimited
• Up to 8000 €
• Limited
• Unlimited

Value to the competitor:

• Sound Quality evaluation
• Installation evaluation
• Feedback from experienced Judges

Explanations for the Installation judging:

• Moderate Installation requirements see matrix in chapter 10
• Presentation (explanation to the Judges) is required and should not exceed 7 minutes.
• Documentation is required
• System diagram and wiring diagram are required.

Restriction:

• M-Limited is for progression from Skilled categories or “New Industry Professionals” (this means they joined the industry less than 2 Years ago).
• In M Limited category, no (previous) Judges / EMMA-officials are allowed to compete.
• The national champion and the winner of the national final if not coming from the hosting country as well as the winner of an international final of the Limited class will be promoted out of the class and can choose for another M or even X category.
• Except in OEM class, no restrictions regarding Installation
• No modified or self-build active components in price limited classes

Additional restrictions for OEM:

• In the Cabin Area, only OEM speaker locations available can be used (for one or more speakers); The cabin area is defined from the firewall to the backside of the rear seats / above the rear-shelf / trunk cover.
• If a higher OEM-trim level as the competitor’s car has other / additional speaker locations, these can be used, too
• No special edition car-models from “tuning companies”; special editions from initial car manufacturer are acceptable
• Head Unit can be changed, or an additional Head Unit can be installed.
• Additional volume control / display can be installed.
• Speaker grills can be modified or changed, maintaining the size (not bigger or smaller) and shape (not protruding or depressing) of the OEM-grill. Reference for the evaluation of the grill-modification/exchange must be the OEM speaker grill (or if available but not standard in the Competitor´s Car the most advanced speaker grill of that Car-Model) – Competitor must prove if requested by judging process, e.g., by photo before / after…Any change that is not related to the Car Audio System is acceptable. (Related to the Car Audio System would be any change that alters sound, such as materials covering the Dashboard, absorptive or diffuse elements, etc.).

X – Category (Expert)

• Limited
• Unlimited

Value to the competitor:

• Sound Quality evaluation
• Installation evaluation
• Feedback from experienced Judges

Explanations for the Installation judging:

• Extreme installation is appreciated and beneficial, see matrix in chapter 10
• A detailed Documentation is required
• Presentation (explanation to the Judges) is required
  • In limited, it should not exceed 7 minutes
  • In unlimited, it should not exceed 15 minutes
• Additional points for Design

Restrictions for Limited:

• The car must be able to drive on its own by a driver sitting in the car
• Bonus points up to 15 – the competitor must apply for the bonus points by a dedicated document

Restrictions for Unlimited:

• In Unlimited, the car does not necessarily have to be officially registered
• The car must be able to drive on its own by a driver sitting in the car
• Bonus points up to 100 – the competitor must apply for the bonus points by a dedicated document

ESPL (EMMA Sound Pressure League)

Value to the competitor:

• Determination of Sound Pressure Level with closed and open doors
• Installation evaluation
• Feedback from experienced Judges

ESPL Trunk Categories:

• ESPL Trunk up to 3000€
• ESPL Trunk Limited

Explanations for the Installation judging:

• Moderate Installation requirements

Restrictions on all Trunk classes:

• The subwoofers (including enclosures, ports, etc.) must be installed in the trunk area, with a maximum height no higher than the top of the original rear seat (not headrests!).
• Price limit includes DSP, subwoofer amplifiers, woofers and any additional battery. Additional batteries must be added to the car’s value sheet in the EMMA Value Database. The value of the Batteries is defined by their capacity and battery technology.
• The car must have driver and passenger side seats (with seat back)) made for automotive use and to be used for driving the car. The car must be able to drive on its own by a driver sitting in the car.
• The car must have OEM driver and passenger side doors that must be able to be opened for the dedicated measurement. It is not allowed to block or make the door opening smaller than it is as OEM. Modified door panels are allowed.
• Doors can be closed using only original locking mechanisms.
• In money limited classes, no super caps and no battery packs made combining lower voltage cells (LTO, AGM or similar) are allowed.
• No obstructions except OEM components between the two door openings.
• No “room in room” builds allowed. No sealed structures inside the windshield and front side windows allowed.
• Only original windshield and windows thickness is allowed.
• The maximum voltage is 14,6 Volts with the engine running, or not, measured on the amplifier’s power input.
• No modified or self-built active (=power supplied) equipment is allowed (e.g., head unit, line driver, amplifier, active crossover etc.).
• A maximum of two channels of amplification is allowed per physical installed woofer (two channels bridged to one is counted as one)
• All components of the audio-system must be installed into the car – trailers or roof boxes for installation are not permitted. Modifications to the vehicle’s body structure are also prohibited, as are any created spaces not available from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). For example, creating additional space for components, such as by installing a battery compartment under the rear floor that would be internally accessible, is not allowed.
• Only one person is allowed to run the system, no supporting people. EMMA will not accept anybody blocking the doors or assisting during the measurement. In this case the measurement must be repeated and this score counts. In a case where an external person not belonging to the competitor is trying to do so to force a second measurement of the competitor, they (and the member of a team and all teammates) will lose 100 points on any scoresheet.
• The rear seats must be lockable or fixable in OEM upright position (90 degrees or more). During the measurements the rear seats can be folded down.
• The rear seats must be usable as seats in a way as intended by the factory. Original seat height, original back rest angle, etc.
• The car must be approximate to the “original” from C-pillar to the front.
• Panel modifications (door, kick, dash, etc.) are allowed from C-pillar to front.
• The cars can be damped, but all original interior panels must fit. Otherwise, they will be promoted to the category where the installed type of damping is allowed
• The source unit must be installed and fixed properly into the car.
• Sealing the trunk opening, door openings or covering any windows with hard materials is not allowed.
• Rear seat is defined as the second row of seats. No cars allowed that originally have only one row of seats. In cars that have foldable or removable third seat row, the third row does not necessarily need to be usable.

ESPL B / R Categories:

• ESPL B / R to 4000€
• ESPL B / R Limited

Explanations for the Installation judging:

• Moderate Installation requirements

Restrictions on all B /R  classes:

• (B) Alternatively, the enclosure can be behind OEM B-pillar but not higher than original rear
  seat back rest without headrests. (When the headrests are fixed to the backseat, then you
  need common sense and count them as headrests not as backseat.) The backseats must be in
  upright position, only from factory original is allowed.
• (R) The subwoofers (including enclosures, ports, etc.) must be installed in the trunk area
  (retractable rear seat must be locked in upright position). The enclosure can reach up to the
  roof of the car.
• Price limit includes DSP, subwoofer amplifiers, woofers and any additional battery. Additional
  batteries must be added to the car’s value sheet in the EMMA Value Database. The value of
  the Batteries is defined by their capacity and battery technology.
• The car must be approximate to the “original” from B-pillar to the front.
• Panel modifications (door, kick, dash, etc.) are allowed from B-pillar to front. The cars can be damped from B-pillar to front, but original interior panels must fit. Otherwise, they will be promoted to the category where the installed type of damping is allowed. It can be heavily damped from B pillar to the back.
• A Roof-Brace (“stripper pole”, max d=10cm) is allowed
• The source unit can be installed properly into the car or out of the car.
• During the measurements the backseats can be down or up, this is the decision of the competitor.
• Sealing the trunk opening, door openings or covering any windows with hard materials is not allowed.
• Rear seat is defined as the second row of seats. No cars allowed that originally have only one row of seats. In cars that have foldable or removable third seat row, the third row does not necessarily need to be usable.

ESPL Wall Categories:

• ESPL Wall to 8000€
• ESPL Wall Limited

Explanations for the Installation judging:

• Moderate Installation requirements

Restrictions on all Wall  classes:

• The subwoofers including enclosure, ports, etc. must be behind the OEM B-pillar. The
  enclosure can reach up to the roof of the car.
• Price limit includes DSP, subwoofer amplifiers, woofers and any additional battery. Additional batteries must be added to the car’s value sheet in the EMMA Value Database. The value of the Batteries is defined by their capacity and battery technology.
• No limit on woofer size or amount of woofers
• All sound producing equipment including Power Supply can be installed everywhere, if it does not affect the normal use of the car.
• The car must be approximate to the “original” from B-pillar to the front.
• Panel modification (door, kick, dash, etc.) are allowed from B-pillar to front.
• The cars can be damped from B-pillar to front, but original interior panels must fit except the roof liner. Otherwise, they will be promoted to the category where the installed type of damping is allowed
• Besides that, it can be heavily damped from B pillar to the back
• Roof-Brace (“stripper pole”, max d=10cm) is allowed
• The source unit can be installed properly into the car or out of the car.

ESPL Expert:

Explanations for the Installation judging:

• Extreme installation is appreciated and beneficial

Restrictions:

• The subwoofers including enclosure, ports, etc. must be behind the OEM B pillar. The
  enclosure can reach up to the roof of the car
• No restrictions, the car does not have to be officially registered
• The car must have a driver seat (with seat back) made for automotive use and to be used for driving the car.
• The car must be able to drive on its own by a driver sitting in the car
• The car must have driver and passenger side door approximating the OEM that must be able to be opened for the dedicated measurement.
• Doors can be closed using only OEM locking mechanisms
• No obstructions except OEM components and roof brace (“stripper pole”, max d=10cm) between the two door openings
• No “room in room” builds allowed. No sealed structures inside the windshield and front side windows allowed
• In ESPL Expert, competitors are allowed to build bracing on the inside of the windshield and side windows. The biggest allowed size is 4cm around the window measured from the part limiting the OEM view. The size of the bracing must be measurable during judging or documented by photo log. 4cm is measured on the glass.
• All components of the audio-system must be installed into the car – trailers or roof boxes for installation are not permitted. Modifications to the vehicle’s body structure are also prohibited, as are any created spaces not available from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). For example, creating additional space for components, such as by installing a battery compartment under the rear floor that would be internally accessible, is not allowed.
• Only one person is allowed to run the system, no supporting people.
• EMMA will not accept anybody blocking the doors or assisting during the measurement. In this case the measurement shall be repeated and this score counts.
• In a case where an external person not belonging to the competitor is trying to do so to force a second measurement of the competitor, they (and the member of a team and all teammates) will lose 100 points on any scoresheet

Measurement closed:

The first measurement will be with the doors closed – a minimum 30 seconds of music will be played.

Within this measurement, the peak SPL will be measured. Within the next 2 minutes a second measurement will follow:

Measurement open:

The second measurement will be done with both front doors completely open – a minimum 30 seconds of music will be played with the same track as in the first measurement. Within this measurement, the average SPL will be measured.

EMMA Tuning

Vehicle Tuning is judged on SQ and Modifications of the vehicle

Value to the competitor:

• Evaluation of the tuning performed to the vehicle
• Sound Quality evaluation
• Installation evaluation
• Determination of Sound Pressure Level with open doors
• Feedback from experienced Judges

Tuning Categories:

Tuning Stock +

• OEM Body & Painting,
• Interior modifications are allowed
• Evidence must be provided where the modifications cannot be seen

Tuning Custom Trunk

• The subwoofers including enclosure, ports, etc. must be in trunk location
• Interior, Body & Paint modifications are allowed
• Evidence must be provided where the modifications cannot be seen

Tuning Custom unlimited

• The subwoofers including enclosure, ports, etc. must be behind the OEM B pillar. The enclosure can reach up to the roof of the car
• Interior, Body & Paint modifications are allowed
• Evidence must be provided where the modifications cannot be seen

ESQL (EMMA Sound Quality League)

Value to the competitor:

• Sound quality evaluation
• To express the performance of his car and the sound system, the competitor can play a track of his choice for the judging of listening pleasure
• Installation evaluation
• Feedback from experienced judges

Explanations for the installation-judging:

• Average installation requirements see matrix on chapter 10
• No presentation (explanation to the judges) required
• Documentation only required for hidden / non-visible components
• System diagram and wiring diagram are required.

ESQL Limited

• The sound quality evaluation will be judged approx. 5-15m outside the car
• Fully usable car in the cabin area. The cabin area is defined from the firewall to the backside of the rear seats / above the rear-shelf / trunk cover.
• The subwoofers including enclosure, ports, etc. must be installed in the trunk area with a maximum height no higher than the top of the original rear seat (not head rest)

ESQL Unlimited:

• The sound quality evaluation will be judged approx. 5-15m outside the car
• Any modification is allowed
• Only the front seats must be usable in the intended way

Restrictions:

• No restrictions, the car does not have to be officially registered
• The car must have a driver seat (with seat back) made for automotive use and to be used for driving the car.
• The car must be able to drive on its own by a driver sitting in the car
• The car must have driver and passenger side door approximating the OEM that must be able to be opened for the dedicated measurement.
• Doors can be closed using only OEM locking mechanisms
• No obstructions except OEM components and roof brace (“stripper pole”, max d=10cm) between the two door openings
• No “room in room” builds allowed. No sealed structures inside the windshield and front side windows allowed
• In ESPL Expert, competitors are allowed to build bracing on the inside of the windshield and side windows. The biggest allowed size is 4cm around the window measured from the part limiting the OEM view. The size of the bracing must be measurable during judging or documented by photo log. 4cm is measured on the glass.
• All components of the audio-system must be installed into the car – trailers etc. are not allowed.
• Only one person is allowed to run the system, no supporting people.
• EMMA will not accept anybody blocking the doors or assisting during the measurement. In this case the measurement shall be repeated and this score counts.
• In a case where an external person not belonging to the competitor is trying to do so to force a second measurement of the competitor, they (and the member of a team and all teammates) will lose 100 points on any scoresheet