Mobile Electronics Australia

PLEASE NOTE: This page is currently being updated. While the information is available, accuracy of the information here cannot be guaranteed. Any clarifications should be posted to the Message Forums.

Introduction

MEASQ is a fair and unbiased judging format used to subjectively compare competitor\'s car audio system\'s ability to accurately reproduce audio, as the original recording intended, plus provide valuable feedback to the competitor. It is designed to ensure consistency and an objective approach while remaining easy to understand and accomodating of various skill and knowledge levels.

Above all else, MEASQ competition should be fun and rewarding for the competitor and bring together enthusiasts in a friendly, competitive non-biased environment.

 MEASQ promotes sales within the Australian industry and in particular a declining high end market with products often found only in competition vehicles. MEASQ\'s growth and support is largely attributable to the consistency of judging and results, which comes from highly motivated and experienced judges, and a small but efficient team of organisers.

1. Competitors should observe safety precautions at all times. This includes not only their audio system and vehicle, but also their conduct at, and during events, with particular attention to the manoeuvering of vehicles.
2. A suitable Fire Extinguisher (Australian Standards Approved) must be \'securely\' mounted anywhere within the vehicle easily accessible in the event of an emergency. The Fire Extinguisher must be in service and charged (as shown by the indicator).
3. The vehicle\'s engine will be momentarily started as part of the judging process. It is the responsibility of the competitor to ensure their electrical system is charged, and in the event of the \'engine on\' judging criteria not being able to be tested, the lowest possible score will be given for this criteria.
4. Depending on class, judges are positioned in either or both front seats of the vehicle. With the exception of Novice Class, the competitor may not sit in the vehicle during the judging process unless asked to do so by the judges, and in some cases a third judge may sit in the vehicle (rear) for training purposes.
5. In relation to seat positions, each vehicle will be judged as left by the competitor. Judges will not move seat positions. No objects are permitted on the seats in order to change seating position height etc.
6. Competitors may use any source unit(s) in their vehicle, however provision must be made for a standard definition Compact Disc.
7. A competitor may upgrade or change their vehicle at any time through a season without penalty, \'within reason\' and at the judge\'s discretion. A competitor may not borrow a vehicle belonging to someone else for specific events in order to continue earning State Series points. When circumstances arise beyond the competitors control, a third party may bring the competitors vehicle to an event and enter it on their behalf.
8. In the event of a tie in the final score, the competitor with the highest score in the \'System Accuracy\' component of the judging sheet shall win. If the result is still tied, then the \'Image & Staging\' component will also be used.
9. Judges will only use the Volume Control, Pause, Track Seek, and possibly Power On/Off on the source unit when judging a competitor\'s vehicle.
10. It is the competitor\'s responsibility to ensure they describe any unique features or components of the vehicle, installation or operation of both the audio system and vehicle that may not be noticed or common knowledge.
11. Is it the responsibility of the competitor to ensure they are present when their vehicle may be judged. Due to the nature of MEASQ competition, no exact time for judging can be given to the competitor. The competitor will be expected to be within sight of their vehicle unless they have notified the event Head Judge and left a contact telephone number.
12. With the exception of Advanced classes, all audio equipment must be commercially available in Australia. \'Commercially available\' means that the product must be available for purchase within Australia from a retail outlet, or has been in the past ten years from a person acting as an official or authorised agent. This may also be at the judge\'s discretion.
13. In relation to the judging of \'Noise\', only audio system related noise will be analysed. Eg, alternator whine, on/off pop, indicators, etc that can be audiblly heard as output from the speakers. Fans, CD mechanism, turbo noise etc, will not be deducted unless it transmits noise as output from the speakers. This is further clarified below under \'System Noise\'.
14. Competitors will be judged in no particular order. Entry will only be accepted during advertised times, unless prior arrangement has been made with event organisers. The Competitor must submit their own entry form. Event organisers reserve the right to refuse entry.

The Judging Disc for the MEASQ 2010 Series is limited to First Encounter, released by Alpine Electronics. This disc is available at the Alpine Culture Store:

http://store.alpine.com.au/store/viewItem.shop?idProduct=14

The competitor is not required to own this disc, however it is suggested that the competitor familiarise themselves with this disc due to the high recording quality and accuracy.

MEASQ reserves the right to make changes to the judging sheet during the season. A copy of the completed judging sheet will be given to each competitor at the conclusion of the Presentation. In some cases due to time constraints, judging sheets may be held over and emailed/faxed to competitors in the days following an event. Please ensure your email address is clearly legible on your entry form.

It is the responsibility of the competitor to check their total score. Any discrepancies should be brought to the attention of the Head Judge within 24 hours of receiving your judging sheet. No further correspondence will be entered into after this time.

Novice, Intermediate & Advanced 1 Class Judging Sheet - CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Advanced 2 Class Judging Sheet - CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Show Class Judging Sheet - CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

 

Judges discretion will apply to all audio related vehicle modifications that may effect the structural integrity of a vehicle. Depending on class, some \'audio related\' vehicle modifications are not permitted. Just some examples of \'audio related\' vehicle modifications include modifying seat rails or positioning, removing metal from vehicle to aid in Isobaric enclosures for kickpanels or floors, modification of dash construction to allow installation of 3-Way speaker systems. Judges discretion will apply in all cases to ensure the fairness to all competitors in the appropriate classes. If you have any queries on this rule, please contact MEASQ Admin to discuss further.

Novice Class -$20.00
All Other Classes - $35.00

Show Class - if a competitor wishes to compete in Show Class only, then the standard entry fee applies, however an entrant competing in Show Class in addition to their normal class, they are not require to pay an additional entry fee. 

A State Series to determine 'State Champions' will be conducted in the 2010 season.

 

Leaderboard Points

 

Accrued points are not transferrable to other classes.

Note: There is no Leaderboard for Novice Classes.
In the event of a tie in each State Series at the completion of the season, the award will be shared.

Competitors will accrue points based on their final result at each event they compete in towards their state series for their chosen class.

MEASQ has developed its own unique classing structure that ensures fair competition for all competitors. This classing structure caters for beginners, those with previous experience in competition, and those that work professionally within the industry.

Novice Class

The Novice class is designed for beginners and/or first time competitors. You may only compete in Novice Class for one season. This class is restricted to competitors not working in, or affiliated with the Mobile Electronics industry, and no sponsorship is permitted.

Judging takes place from the drivers seat only, and focuses soley on the system\'s ability to accurately reproduce audio. The competitor is encouraged to sit in the passenger side of the vehicle while evaluation and discussion takes place. Judging only takes into consideration Safety, and Sound Quality. With the exception of the bonus point for completed installations (see judging sheet), no consideration is given to Show and Installation components in this class.

- Equipment and audio related \'vehicle\' modifications are not permitted.
- Results in this class do not contribute to a State Series Leaderboard.
- This class is not catered for at the National Finals event.

Intermediate Class

This class caters for those who may have already completed a season in Novice class, or new competitors with a reasonable understanding of Sound Quality and competition. Judges discretion will apply to the appropriateness of this class for competitors that may be affiliated with, or working in the Mobile Electronics industry. Sponsorship is not permitted in this class.

Judging takes place from the drivers seat only, and focuses mostly on the system\'s ability to accurately reproduce audio.

If a competitor becomes State Champion, and / or Australian Champion in this class at the completion of a season, they must compete in a higher division / class in the following season.

- Equipment and audio related \'vehicle\' modifications are not permitted.

Competitors who have completed two full seasons in Intermediate must then compete in Advanced classes each competition season thereafter.

 

Advanced 1 Class

Advanced Class is a natural progression from Intermediate Class. This class is designed for enthusiasts with past experience in Intermediate Class, and / or a strong understanding of audio, competitors who work in, or are affiliated with the Mobile Electronics industry, or have received sponsorship.

Judging of imaging and staging takes place from the driver\'s seat of the vehicle only.
Judging is also more critical in Advanced Class, as judges expect accuracy and workmanship to be higher.

Equipment not \'commercially available\' in Australia is permitted.
Equipment modifications and audio related \'vehicle\' modifications are permitted.

Advanced 2 Class

Expert Class is designed for enthusiasts with a strong understanding of audio, competitors who work in, or are affiliated with the Mobile Electronics industry, or have received sponsorship.

Judging of imaging and staging takes place from both front seats of the vehicle.

 

\'Symmetry\' is an additional judging component that applies exclusively to the Advanced 2 Class and is an additional method of judging the sound system from both front seats.

Judging is also more critical in Expert Class, as judges expect accuracy and workmanship to be higher.

Equipment not \'commercially available\' in Australia is permitted.
Equipment modifications and audio related \'vehicle\' modifications are permitted.

Show Class

 The Show Class focuses only on show and installation quality and features.

Judging criteria for Show class takes into account aspects such as quality of workmanship, unique features and consistency. Competitors who show attention to detail in construction and finishing, think outside the square and spend time on their display are rewarded in this class.

 

Competitors may enter Show Class individually, or in addition to any other class.

 Trophies

Trophies are awarded to signify the competitors achievements. In all classes, trophies are provided to the Winner (1st) and the Runner Up (2nd).
Additional trophies awarded include:

Encouragement Award - awarded to the competitor who has shown remarkable achievement at their first event, or remarkable improvement at a subsequent event.
Judges Choice Award - awarded to the competitor who by Judge\'s majority vote is the vehicle the judges would most like to drive home. This award is based on, but not limited to a combination of the sound system, the vehicle presentation, and other standout features overall.
Knockout Install Award - awarded to the competitor or demonstration vehicle with an impressive or innovative audio installation.
Visual Impact Award - awarded to the competitor with the best presented, or best vehicle display.

 

Clarifications & Guidelines

SAFETY JUDGING

Fused (within 45cm of battery)
Main power to audio system must be adequately fused within 45cm (Cable Length) of the battery. Fuse holder should be securely mounted. The Head Unit is an exception to this rule.

Adequate Gauge / Size
At the judges discretion, the appropriate gauge of cable in relation to current draw of audio system must be used.

Cables, electrical connections and terminals protected / covered
All exposed positive terminals should be covered or insulated. This includes terminal strips on amplifiers. All connections should be suitably terminated.  

 

All components and installation secure
All stereo components (including amps, speakers, subs, amps, door or tweeter pods, subwoofer enclosures etc) must be securely fastened.
This will be physically tested by the safety judge.

The use of Blutak, Duct Tape, Central Locking straps or similar is NOT ACCEPTABLE in car audio installation.
Judges may deducts points where they deem necessary. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Can main cable feed be disabled within 30 seconds
Use of a circuit breaker / switch OR a fuse that can by physically disabled within 30 seconds. If tools are required to disconnect, they should be mounted nearby or obtainable and disconnected within 30 seconds total. At national finals, judges may request this to be demonstrated at the completion on judging.

Fire Extinguisher
See General Guidelines.

Firewall Grommet
Ensure the use of a \'grommet\' or suitable insulator for the main power cable where it passes through the firewall of the vehicle.

Vehicle and Audio System Presentation
In 2010 an additional point has been introduced that can be considered a \'bonus\' point. This point will only be given to competitors vehicles when the installation is considered \'complete\'. Complete can be defined by all stereo components and installation either trimmed or painted with no loose cables showing or general installation untidyness. Bare MDF, unpainted or untrimmed fibreglass or auto-filler is not acceptable and will not recieve this point.

  

SOUND QUALITY JUDGING

Left and right channel verification
Be sure to check this before competition. Many competitors overlook this.

Stage positioning placement sharp and focused
Accurate reproductions of the physical sound stage as it was recorded. Ie Guitar in left channel, vocals in centre etc.

Figure 1A shows an evenly spread sound stage, with the centre image placed in the middle of the vehicle.
Figure 1B shows a wide, uneven spaced sound stage with the centre image placed in front of the driver.

Figure 1C shows an evenly placed sound stage, extending evenly to the boundaries of the vehicle.
Figure 1D shows a compressed, uneven right of stage, unbalanced and not extending to the boundary.

Figure 1A and 1C combined are representative of an excellent score for Stage Positioning & Placement.

Stage Width

 

Perfect stage width would appear to extend beyond the physical boundaries of the vehicle. Good stage width would appear just within the boundaries of the vehicle. See Figure 2.

Stage Depth

Ideally, the depth of the sound stage will appear to reach beyond the windscreen and onto the bonnet of the vehicle. See Figure 4.

Sub Bass (20-80Hz)
This frequency range comprises the lowest notes of music. They should be immediately recognisable, show realistic extension, articulate, and free of blurred or exaggerated decay. The lower notes should be more of a sensation than audible, the sound should appear directionless, precise and controlled.

Mid Bass (80-260Hz)
Midbass notes should not resonate, or be distorted. Sound should be tight, contain punch (impact), be precise and controlled, and show no characteristics of \'overhang\' (ie. double bass kick drum).

Mid Range (260-3kHz)
These frequencies will be full, without the presence of harshness, dullness or distortion. Midrange notes should be smooth, accurate and reveal detail in the recording.

Highs (3kHz +)
High frequencies should have natural decay, be realistic, lifelike and faithful. There should be no indication of harshness, sibilance, resonance or distortion.

Overall Linearity
A very linear audio system will reveal seamless transitions across the entire frequency spectrum, without over emphasis of any particular region.

System Noise
With a zero bit audio track being played, the audio system should display no audible noise irrespective of volume. Checks for alternator or engine whine, headlight noise or hum, system on/off thump or pop, or general hiss or pop will be performed both with engine on and off. If none of the above are found, a perfect score of 5 will be awarded. One point will be deducted for each type of noise found. The lowest possible score is 0.

 

Symmetry (applicable only to Advanced 2 Class)

Symmetry is a representation of the Staging & Imaging comparing the front two seat judging positions. Imaging & Staging are judged independently from both front seats, and the difference in score between the two results is the \'Symmetry\' score. This can be further understood by viewing the judging sheet for the Advanced 2 class.

Was the vehicle open for display to public
In the best interest of spectators and other competitors wanting to learn more about sound quality competition, opening your vehicle and being onhand to explain details and potentially demonstrate the audio system is rewarded. 10 points will be awarded if the vehicle is open and left on display for the majority of the event duration.

 

A-Frame / Story Board / Sandwich Board on display and detail
A high score can be achieved when any or a combination of the above are on display and include vehicle information, list of audio system components, a logical diagram of the system layout, achievements, recognition of sponsors (if any). High scoring A-Frames / Boards will show attention to detail, use of additional materials, skill in construction, use of lighting or highlighting, possibly multimedia etc.

Additional vehicle display features
The use of props, lighting, barriers etc will all contribute to additional features. Competitor uniforms, novelties, signage are all encouraged and competitors will need to be creative to achieve full points in this component.

 

Vehicle cleanliness / presentation
The vehicle should be presented to judges thouroughly cleaned and detailed, inside and out. This is a very simple component that all competitors should achieve full points for.

Lighting / Neon / Highlight effects
This component is specific to the vehicle and audio system only. Lighting used in the \'display\' will not be counted in this component. Lighting and neon should be used tastefully and consistently throughout the vehicle. One point will be awarded for each type of lighting or highlighting. Some examples include: Neon lighting under each seat of the vehicle would attract one point. Underbody neons would attract one point. LED spotlights directed at amplifiers would attract one point.

 

Consistent theme in interior
Judges are looking at the extent of modifications (speaker pods, fabricated door cards, flush floor mounting, parcel shelf, dash modifications etc. and the consistency of finishing (trimming, paint, material etc) all modified areas of the interior. High points will be realised with color matching, texture matching and visual integration and appeal of modifications.

Consistent theme in boot/hatch
Judges are looking at the extent of customisation and consistency of such. I.e. modified and trimmed false floor, but factory side panels etc. High scores will be achieved when the entire boot or hatch area has been modified / customised and all panels, trims etc match cosmetically, similar materials have been used throughout and lighting integrates with the installation.

 

Consistency between interior and boot/hatch
Judges are looking at the vehicle\'s interior and boot / hatch area as a whole. Materials used throughout the vehicle should be consistent, matched cosmetically, a theme evident across both areas. Lighting (color and style) should flow throughout both areas and attention to detail will score highly.

 

Innovative ideas / inginuity

MEASQ encourages competitors to improve their knowledge both technically and practically. Competitors thinking outside the square, using initiative, doing research will be rewarded in this area for their unique ideas and features of their installation. Single points are awarded for each component, feature, aspect of the installation that judges feel is either unique or innovative. An example is fan cooled amplifier racks. This in itself would not earn a point as this is common place with large installations. However, the use of a thermostatically controlled fan, integrated into the amplifier rack would earn a point.

 

The unique features or aspects must relate directly to either the audio/visual system of the vehicle, or the installation / functionality of the audio/visual system.

 

Some points may not remain unique or innovative for the entire duration of a season.

STEALTH & SHOW JUDGING

In show classes, the competitor must elect either Stealth or Show as their preferred judging style. This concept allows an extensive installation with stealth and factory integration in mind, to compete equally and fairly with a full show installation.

SHOW JUDGING

Level of skill displayed
Judges are looking at the skills necesary to achieve the installation performed and what is involved in getting to the finished product. A carpeted panel style installation with impeccable quality of workmanship, will not score as highly as a one-piece fibreglass (and painted) installation performed satisfactorily. That being said, the same one-piece fibreglass installation trimmed in vinyl will also not score as highly as a fibreglass, painted installation.

 

Quality of workmanship

Attention to detail with aligning and fit of mating panels, neatness of trimming, sanding marks in painted surfaces, screw heads dressed or hidden and so on are just examples of what judges are looking at in this component.

 

Use of additional materials
The use of additional materials can enhance the visual appeal of an installation, and add contrast to large panels etc. Judges will reward the use of additional materials such as perspex, brushed aluminium, steel, fibreglass, vinyl etc. One point will be awarded for each material featuring in the installation. Judges discretion will be used to decide whether each material features prominently enough to be considered.

 

STEALTH JUDGING

 

Level of skill displayed
Judges are looking at the skills necesary to achieve the installation performed and what is involved in getting to the finished product. A carpeted panel style installation with impeccable quality of workmanship, will not score as highly as a one-piece fibreglass (and painted) installation performed satisfactorily. That being said, the same one-piece fibreglass installation trimmed in vinyl will also not score as highly as a fibreglass, painted installation.

 

All components hidden or blended in

With stealth installation, the audio / visual system should look as though the vehicle\'s manufacturer designed the car with the competitors additions. Judges are looking at speaker installation, to either be concealed by factory trims or alternatively appear to have been installed and or mounted by the vehicle manufacturer. Texture and color matching, careful selection of fasteners (or concealment), strategic product placement are all factors that will contribute to good scores in this component.

 

Retains full functionality

Clever planning and engineering are considered in this component to allow full use of every aspect and storage area of the vehicle. Ease of access to the spare wheel, tools, functional \'ski hole\', as was intended by the vehicle manufacturer despite having an audio installation will score highly in this component.

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Discuss these Rules & Guidelines, or Judging Sheet in the official MEASQ Forums.