Car Audio Competition Tomorrow. Any Advice?

[Dafaseles]

You'll probably have to follow the Car Audio competition organizations like USACi, MECA, Bass Wars, etc...

I follow all those organizations in Instagram. They rarely post anything. The only one that does is db drag. Oh well, it is what it is I guess

 

[Bobbytwonames 5,000+ posts]

I follow all those organizations in Instagram. They rarely post anything. The only one that does is db drag. Oh well, it is what it is I guess

 

[mrj858 10+ year member]

I follow all those organizations in Instagram. They rarely post anything. The only one that does is db drag. Oh well, it is what it is I guess

Check termpro.com they post the event calendars over there

 

[Dafaseles]

Check termpro.com they post the event calendars over there

Right on! I'll go check it out and bookmark it.
I just want to find whatever might be within driving distance. I know there are something like 2 shows in Sacramento a year. Other than that, I don't know of any in Northern California. I'm just trying to do like @hispls said and support those people trying to support the hobby. Maybe even get my truck in a comp once it's done, who knows

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Funny the 182 guy does a lower number in the port than at the dash.

Also 159 in "Novice" class seems a bit fishy. Not sure how they define "novice" but someone ought to be calling foul on that.

 

[SlugButter]

Funny the 182 guy does a lower number in the port than at the dash.

Also 159 in "Novice" class seems a bit fishy. Not sure how they define "novice" but someone ought to be calling foul on that.

I thought I was a decent novice and that number discouraged me a bit. It took me 1500$ worth of equipment just to hit 145. Takes a lot of money to hit a 159.

 

[Bobbytwonames 5,000+ posts]

Funny the 182 guy does a lower number in the port than at the dash.

Also 159 in "Novice" class seems a bit fishy. Not sure how they define "novice" but someone ought to be calling foul on that.

I hear ya there. Some of those scores just don't make sense. Stock 3K with a 157.5 seems a bit fishy to me.

 

[Bobbytwonames 5,000+ posts]

I thought I was a decent novice and that number discouraged me a bit. It took me 1500$ worth of equipment just to hit 145. Takes a lot of money to hit a 159.

I know. I'm $2,500 in just to hit a 148. I'm pretty much maxed out unless I do a blow through. And I don't want to cut my truck up. I met a guy with sixteen FI tens on 14K in a small Mazda Protege5 and he was only hitting 157's. I don't see how a novice is hitting 159's in an unaltered car. I'm guessing the rules aren't being fully enforced.

 

[SlugButter]

I know. I'm $2,500 in just to hit a 148. I'm pretty much maxed out unless I do a blow through. And I don't want to cut my truck up. I met a guy with sixteen FI tens on 14K in a small Mazda Protege5 and he was only hitting 157's. I don't see how a novice is hitting 159's in an unaltered car. I'm guessing the rules aren't being fully enforced.

I always wondered what a truck setup with a sealed bed cover with a couple of 18s in an infinite baffle type setup would do. I sold my S10, but I had wanted to try it out. With the right bed cover and some design work to seal it up and allow it to still open up, it might even keep the bed of the truck a usable space.

 

[Bobbytwonames 5,000+ posts]

I thought I was a decent novice and that number discouraged me a bit. It took me 1500$ worth of equipment just to hit 145. Takes a lot of money to hit a 159.

Crazy box in the Mazda Protege5. 16-Fi 10's. 16 cubic foot box. Two Arctic Wolf 9K's @ 2 ohms. 157's.

 

[Bobbytwonames 5,000+ posts]

I always wondered what a truck setup with a sealed bed cover with a couple of 18s in an infinite baffle type setup would do. I sold my S10, but I had wanted to try it out. With the right bed cover and some design work to seal it up and allow it to still open up, it might even keep the bed of the truck a usable space.

I think an ideal truck build would be in an extra cab with the rear seat removed. Something like 4-12's on a 10-15K amp.

 

[Bobbytwonames 5,000+ posts]

Probably a clamped power class, and any way you slice it that'll be a tough score to beat.

No, because most orgs are doing clamped power classes outright or just have something written in the rules that they can reclassify amps as needed if the issue arises.

Cool. Hope you had fun.


I would not rely on sweeps. Really you can't even be certain about low power testing, but test every tone up to about 65hz and see what happens (disable your subsonic filter or turn it all the way up first). You may see more than one peak, for example, wherever your box is tuned and wherever your vehicle wants to peak. You may have several tones around one of these peaks that meter very close to the same. IF you wanted to really optimize you would do best to try to get your box to peak wherever the vehicle peaks but that will probably not do so hot for music.

If you have mutltiple close peaks test again at full power (giving ample time to recharge battery and cool down coils and amp(s). You may also notice that the peak frequency if it's unclear will be a little better up or down one cycle depending on the weather/day. Pay attention to things like temperature and humidity and see if you can determine a pattern here.

My peak is 42-44 depending on the day and has been with every box and wall variation I've done in my Jeep. Definitely no rule that only high frequencies will get loud, though I don't think 30hz range is going to really do you any favors with cabin gain in any vehicle. If you cared you might could try to rig up some swappable ports for competing or even add a second identical port to the one you have now and plug that at shows.

How do you figure out where your vehicle peaks?

 

[Firewalker]

Just checking this out now, nicely done on the score and place!

And have to agree something is off with 159s like you guys said. Don't think I've seen or heard of a comp in this area in a very long time usually they are near Milwaukee or Chicago anymore.

 

[Bobbytwonames 5,000+ posts]

We have another one coming up on December.

 

[Slo_Ride 5,000+ posts]

Check termpro.com they post the event calendars over there

Damn I didn't even know that place was still around