GENERAL RULES FOR SOUND QUALITY.

            All vehicles must drive through the lanes under their own power.  All vehicles must be street legal to enter in the Consumer and Pro classes.  If any factory (OEM) equipment is used, specifications will be required to guarantee proper class placement.

All equipment used in the Pro and Consumer classes must be commercially available

Testing software will be provided by Audio Promotions. Autosound 2000 software will be used for the Sound Quality portion of testing.

Competitors may be allowed to sit in for the Image portion of testing, at the judges discretion.

SOUND QUALITY CLASSES.

CONSUMER- a consumer by definition, is any competitor competing that does not fit the profile for the Pro, or expert classes. Most Consumers are usually new to the competition arena.

All classes are arranged by the RMS rating of ALL amplifiersin the vehicle at 4 ohms with 12 volts applied. It is the competitor's responsibility to show proof of amp ratings. Audio Promotions reserves the right to reclassify any vehicle entering in thier events.

CLASSES

0-250      251-500      501-1000    1001-up

Every amplifier in the vehicle will be used to determine vehicle class.

PRO- competitors who will be considered pro must be associated with one, or more of the following:

A.    If a competitor is sponsored in whole, or in part

B.    If a competitor receives any compensation for using equipment from, or promoting any certain stereo shop.

C.    If a competitor chooses to be placed in the pro class.  (an appeal for reclassification back to consumer must be approved by Judging Committee*)

D.    Sound-off officials reserve the right to reclassify any competitor, in order to keep the playing field even for all competitors.

E.     Anyone employed by a retail shop or distributor of car audio products will be required to go to the pro class.

CLASSES

0-250      251-500      501-1000    1001-up

EXPERT-This class is open, there are no wattage divisions. An expert is any individual who is associated with any of the following:

A.    If a competitor receives any compensation from a manufactureror wholesale firm, for competition entry fees, or traveling expenses

B.     If a competitor receives compensation for installation by a manufacturer or wholesale firm.

C.     If a competitor chooses to compete in the expert class. (an appeal for reclassification back to pro must be approved by sound off officials*)

*Appeals should be mailed to AudioPromotions head office, Attn. Judging Committee

ORDER OF JUDGING

All vehicles entered in the SQ/Image category, will be judged in the order that appears on the judges sheet. Competitors are urged to wait near their vehicles until the judging process is complete.

SOUND QUALITY INSTALLATION (210 points)

A.    Introduction  (up to 30points)

a.      Presentation- competitor has up to 7 minutes to explain their installation. For full points on unseen work, pictures are required. If any portion of the installation is left out during the presentation, it could effect the points in that area of judging.(0-10 points)

b.     Security-competitor will receive 1 point for each of the following:( alarm system must be triggered to receive points) 

  i.      Entry points protected.( doors and trunk treated as 1 entry point) If either one does not work, no points will be provided (1 point)                                                                             

 ii.     hood ( 1 point)

 iii.     starter kill (must prevent vehicle motor from running) (1point)

 iv.      extra sensors.( 1 point will be allocated for every proven sensor, or trigger. (up to 5 points)

 v.     battery back-up. (If not in plain sight, pictured must be provided to gain point.  (1 point)

c. creativity-extra measures of protection/installation will earn points for security here.Out of the ordinary installs and extremes in installation will earn the highest points.(0-10 points)

B.    Power supply and safety (up to 50 points)-proof of alternator upgrade may be required.

a.      Safety/protection of power supply- battery and charging system must be securely mounted, terminals must be securely tightened, and fuses must be within 20 wire inches of terminals. Positive terminal should be protected against accidental short.(0-20 points)

b.     Safety/protection of power cables-all power cables must be routed through grommets when passing through "walls". Cables must be protected from damage, and should be ran in a neat and orderly manner.  Some protective material should be used to cover the wiring. Extra protection will be needed for max points under the hood. More than split loom will be needed when running wiring under the car.  There should be no frayed, or exposed ends at any distribution or fuse blocks. (0-20)

c.      Ground cabling-should be at least the same gauge as power cables. Should be ran in a neat and orderly manner. (0-10)

C.    source unit and processors-head units and processors will be judged under the same parameters, since most sources now have processing built in.(up to 35 points)

a.  proper/secure installation-some steps should be taken to dissuade theft. Theft-proof screws should be used when ever possible.  Wiring should run in a neat and orderly fashion.(0-10)

b.   equipment should be accessible if tuning or adjustments are required at any time. (0-5)

     c.  creativity-ideas will be judged against other vehicles at each event. Points in this category will change from show to show, depending on the caliber of vehicles at that particular events. (0-20)

IV.       amplifiers.-(up to 70 points)

A.    proper/secure installation-theft proof screws should always be used to secure equipment. If four holes are in amplifier, then four screws should mount that amplifier. (0-10)

B.    Proper/secure connections-there should be no frayed, or exposed wiring at the amplifier terminals. Proper connections are a must for points in this section. (0-10)

C.    Wires ran neatly/securely-wiring must be ran through grommets and/or sleeved in protective material whenever ran through any walls, or surfaces.(0-10)

D.    Proper gauge wiring used for amplifiers- common sense is most important here. An 8g wire cannot carry enough current for a 1500 watt amp. But under some circumstances, companies who over rate their amps will have 8g connections on an amp of this size. In that case, the 8g connection will be taken into consideration, but the proper wire should always be used for optimum points. See the electrical guidelines in the back of this rulebook. (0-10)

E.     cooling effectiveness-any amplifier used in the vehicle should be mounted in a way so it will receive proper ventilation. In some cases extra cooling will be needed to achieve higher points.(0-10)

F.     Creativity- points will be earned for the most creative install. Each vehicle will be compared against other cars at that particular event. Points can change from event, to event.(0-20)

 Speakers-all speakers, subs, mids and highs. (up to 60 points)  
securely/properly mounted- all speakers should be mounted in a way as to protect them from theft.  Theft proof screws should be used whenever possible.  (0-10) 
Properly protected-all speakers should be mounted in a way, as to protect them from damage. Metal mesh, or plastic grilles should be used whenever    possible. Speakers behind factory grilles will be considered protected as      long as the factory grill can protect the speaker. (0-10) 
Proper connections- the terminals on each speaker should be protected against shorting, and should be connected in a way that reduces the chance of coming loose. Crimp-on connectors are sufficient, but maximum points will only be given for soldered/heat shrink connections.  Pictures may be needed to obtain full points. (0-10) 
Speaker wiring-must be ran in a secure/ and protected manner through vehicle. Grommets should be used when running the wire through any obstructions. (0-10) 
Creativity-   based on ideas used in other cars from show to show (0-20) VI.  conclusion. (up to 60 points)

A.    cleanliness of vehicle- vehicle should be show quality clean, inside and out. Special consideration will be given in this category depending on the environment at each show.(0-20)

B.    Over all-how does the whole system look? does each section seem to fit the over all theme of the installation? (0-10)

C.   Showmanship- points will be earned according to competitor interaction with judges, spectators, and other competitors.(0-30)

Sound quality Image/ staging (up to 220points)

I.     Image and separation (up to 40 points)

a.     left and right separation-strong left and right signals should be heard.(0-20)

b.     center image-a noticeable center image should appear in the middle of the dash. a good, solid signal will earn max points (0-20)

II.      staging and appearance. (up top 50 points)

a.     stage width- sound image should appear wider than thea-pillars.  (0-20)

b.     stage height- sound image should appear to be at/near eye level. (0-20)

c.     Stage depth- sound image should appear out in front of the listening position. For maximum points the sound image should extend out onto the hood. It is not uncommon in high end installations, for that image to appear at the very front of the hood.(0-10)

III.     noise-the next two categories ( up to 40 points)

a. engine noise-max points will be awarded for systems with no noise. The judge will turn the power sources in the vehicle on and off during this test, while the system is playing at a low volume. There should be no noise related whines or pops in the system. (0-20)

b. system noise-the system volume will be set just above a normal listening position.The system will be turned off, then on for this test.  (0-20)

      IV.    over all sound quality. This section will cover the overall linearity of the system at low and high volumes. The reproduction should be accurate at both volume levels.( up to 40 points)

     a. over all sound quality. How does the system sound over all? Do the highs, mids, and lows all form an accurate reproduction? (0-40)

       V.     spl- sound pressure level. Competitors will be allowed 30 seconds to obtain their best score. (up to 50 points) On-Dash SPL Rules apply.

     a. spl test. 1 point for every db over 100. spl is capped at 150 db. The competitor's actual score will need to be recorded on their sheet. On-dash SPL and General SPL rules apply.

SPL RULES AND REGULATIONS

GENERAL SPL RULES.

Hearing protection required.

Competitors will be allowed 30 seconds to place their top number. They will be allowed two runs to obtain their best score. Audio Promotions will provide testing software. Any software from Autosound 2000, or Pandisk "Bass Mekanik" collection may be used for spl.

Competitor may sit in their vehicles for their spl run, as long as hearing protection is worn. Failing to do so may lead to disqualification. Anyone who decides to sit in any vehicle while playing music at loud volume, does so at their own risk.

Competitors will have two chances to obtain their highest score. If a competitor wishes to only use one run, the second run will be forfeited. They cannot pull out of the lane, and attempt to use that run later in the event. If a Time-out is needed,(see Equipment Failure and Time-out section of this manual) then the competitor can pull out of the lanes to fix their problem. The vehicle will need to be inspected before leaving the lane, then inspected again just before re-entering the lane. This is required to help prevent any cheating by unsavory competitors.

Competitors can rerun to improve, or top their score, they can rerun as many times as time will allow. Each rerun is .00.

All vehicles must move through the lanes under their own power.

Engine cannot be revved during run. Idle not to exceed 1100rpm (some exceptions may be requested, in writing to the Judging Committee)

Vehicle voltage/charging system cannot exceed 16 volts.

Amplifier power sources cannot exceed 16 volts.

Vehicle must have OEM glass. No Plexiglas windows or steel will be allowed (Open spl is exempt)

Vehicle must have OEM-type interior from the b-pillar forward. If there are brackets for a center console a console must be in the car. Custom consoles will be considered OEM, as long as no speakers are mounted in/under the consoles (Open spl is exempt)

Vehicle must have front seats in OEM positions. (Open spl is exempt)

Any competitors wishing to have friends push on their doors, or sit on his roof, may do so.

Walls are allowed, as long as the body of the vehicle has not been modified from the factory appearance. The wall must be behind the b-pillars front leading edge. No woofer or wall, under any circumstance, will be allowed past the b-pillar leading edge. A string test will be used to determine the outcome, when ever necessary. This string will be pulled taught from b-pillar, to b-pillar. If the string touches any part of the enclosure, trim for the wall, of any woofer component, the vehicle will be moved to Open SPL.

All hardware (amps, subs, etc.) must be commercially available (Open SPL is exempt)

SPL CLASSES

0-250      251-500      501-1000    1001-up

On-Dash spl.

Mic must be placed on windshield. 12" from passengera-pillar, 4" from dash. A jig will be made available from the judging staff to ensure accurate placement.

Doors must be shut, windows must be rolled up.

All general rules apply.

Ultimate SPL

General rules apply.

Mic can be placed anywhere within the passenger compartment, that is within arms reach from the passenger seat.  These are the following exceptions:

Mic cannot be placed into any hole, or port. ( A port is considered to be any opening that is designed to maximize the air pressure coming through it. Any opening, or tunnel, that is reduced in size compared to their opposing areas will be considered a port.

Mic must beat least 2" away from any surface.

Doors can be "fanned" but may not be shut until run is finished.  Windows can be rolled up, or down, before or during run. Revving of the engine during runs is not allowed.

Open SPL

Mic can be placed anywhere in vehicle. Port rule still applies. There are no classes in Open Spl, although some general rules apply. There are no wattage classes in Open SPL.

On-Dash/Open

Open SPL rules apply, except all readings must be taken on the dash, using the On-Dash rules for mic placement. There are no wattage classes in On-Dash/Open SPL.

CHARTS FORMULAS

The following information has been added to the rulebook, to help guide competitors in the right direction.

Amperage/gauge information.

            Wire size                               max amperage up to 20'

                10g                                                  25 amps

                  8g                                                  40 amps

                  4g                                                  100 amps

                  2g                                                  150 amps

                  1g                                                  200 amps

Upgraded battery information.

            25 amps of battery current are required for every 200 watts RMS. Based on the cold cranking amperage (c.c.a.) of the battery. Small cars are based at 450cca, midsized and small trucks are based at 600 cca and full sized vehicles are based at 750cca

Upgrading charging system

            10% increase in amperage for every 200 watts RMS, up to 1000 watts

              5% increase in amperage for every 200 watts RMS, over 1000 watts

AWARDS

Audio Promotions will award 1st, 2nd,and 3rd place awards for every class.  On certain occasions Best of Show and Highest SPL in both theOn-dash and Ultimate formats will be available as well.

STARTING/CUTOFFS

An average day event will start 11a.m., entry cutoff will be 3p.m.

Evening shows will generally start at 5p.m., entry cutoff will be 9p.m.

BEST OF SHOW

Best of Show will be decided by combining sq install and sq image sections. In the event of a tie for best of show, tie-breaking procedures will be used (see General information)

RERUNS

Reruns are allowed in all spl formats, including the spl portion of Sound Quality. Each run is .00. Competitors can rerun as much as time will allow.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Protests

            Any competitor can bring issues of cheating/infractions of other competitors to the master judge at the event. If the problem requires any disassembly of another competitors vehicle, the protest will require a security escrow of .00. Themaster judge will appoint an overseer to view the disassembly, to see if there is any cause for concern. If the protested competitor is found to be at fault, he will be disqualified from the event, the escrow will then be refunded to the protestor.  If he is found to be innocent of the charges, then he will be allowed time to reassemble his car and he will collect the escrow from the master judge. ( all decisions concerning protests will be held at the master judge's discretion.)

In the event of a tie

In the event of a tie in Sound Quality, ties will be decided first by total combined install points.  If still tied, Sound Quality points will decide.  If undecided, then highest On-Dash SPL score will decide. In the rare event of a tie in all three categories,the tie will be decided by the flip of a coin.

In the event of a tie in spl, an average will be taken ofthe first two runs, to decide the winner. If still tied, then a single rerun will decide. In the event of another tie, a coin toss will decide the outcome.

Equipment Failure/Time outs

If any competitor experiences somesort of vehicle, or equipment failure, they will be allowed ten minutes to repair the problem. After asking for the time out, a judge will inspect the vehicle. The competitor will then have ten minutes to fix the problem(s). After the repair has been made, the vehicle must be inspected again, to insure that no cheating has taken place. Each competitor is allowed one time out per event.

If any product has caused the problem, it can be replaced. It must be replaced with one that is of the same brand and same model. A product from another company may be substituted as long as the vehicle was on its 1st run, and the change does not affect the class the vehicle is in.

Request for reconsiderations,appeals, and suggestions.

            Any person who has attended an Audio Promotions event can send their suggestions, in writing to the head office.  Audio Promotions welcomes any suggestions that can better the organization.  Recommendations for rule changes are also welcome, rule changes do not go in effect until a new year begins.

 Any competitor who wishes to appeal any decision made by Audio Promotions should send it to the head office, attn: Judges Committee

Refunds

            No refunds will be given for any events, unless good reason can be given.

Any letters concerning protests, appeals, rules, or refunds should made: ATTN: Judging Committee.

Audio Promotions judging staff

            All judges used at any events will be appointed by the Event director or the Master Judge. Any judges used in sound quality (install and image sq) will be certified by the Audio Promotions judges committee. If no certified judge is available at the time of an event, then the Master Judge will be responsible for sound quality sections of the judging format. Whenever possible, certified judges will be used for all positions in the judging processes.

            Anyperson(s) wishing to become certified Audio Promotions judges, may contact the head office and make arrangements to take the certification test.

Conduct of competitors

Competitors should keep a respectful point of view at the events. The whole idea is to have fun. Any and all local laws must be respected and followed at any Audio Promotions event.  Any infraction could have the offender and their associates disqualified from a show, banned from all Audio promotions events, or even arrested if the law allows. The event sponsor also has the right to deal with these issues in a separate manner.