sq compition gear

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

jbl has won at the IASCA Finals recently. It's all in the install. Average speakers with an incredible quality of install will sound better than great speakers with an average install pretty much every time.

Expensive RCAs are not needed. High voltage preouts are not needed. Super expensive amps are not needed. THD spes are overrated; the best speakers will have higher distortion than any decent solid state electronic component in the system. S/N need only be inaudible not astronomical. Sound deadening, solid mounting, proper aiming and final tuning are WAY more important than the relative quality of the equipment itself. 80%+ of the cost of a competition system is spent on labor for the install and tuning.

 

[atsaubrey 10+ year member]

jbl has won at the IASCA Finals recently. It's all in the install. Average speakers with an incredible quality of install will sound better than great speakers with an average install pretty much every time.
Expensive RCAs are not needed. High voltage preouts are not needed. Super expensive amps are not needed. THD spes are overrated; the best speakers will have higher distortion than any decent solid state electronic component in the system. S/N need only be inaudible not astronomical. Sound deadening, solid mounting, proper aiming and final tuning are WAY more important than the relative quality of the equipment itself. 80%+ of the cost of a competition system is spent on labor for the install and tuning.

Very well thought out and agree nearly 99%. The last 1% comes down to equipment, keep in mind I am talking about QUALITY equipment, I doubt you will ever see Power Accoustic, Performance Technique, Orion, Lanzar, Maxxsonics anything take a win in finals in SQ.....yes there is a difference. People are using Zapco, Genesis, Audison, Brax, Steg for a reason. Yes fellas there is a difference in equipment no one can argue that.

 

[lilmaniac2 5,000+ posts]

Zapco, Rainbow, Older US amps, Aura to name a few

 

[atsaubrey 10+ year member]

I like zapco thats what i run for my amps/components maybe subs as well still deciding. Zapco competition amps (c2k) are great get the 4.0 with the dsp-6 and your set man.

Why do you have these items listed when you dont have them? I don't normally slam people but faking your equipment is rediculous and talking like you know something is just as bad.

 

[NeverEnuffBass 10+ year member]

Mc Intosh amplifiers, installed a few at the shop I worked at.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

i know an all pyramid car took a top five at world finals before and a older honda painted up like a ppi art amp (when the art series was still out) won with an Image dynamic cd 1e horn set up....that was back in the day when they had full classes and way less than half of the people won trophies....

 

[trunks9_us 10+ year member]

Why do you have these items listed when you dont have them? I don't normally slam people but faking your equipment is rediculous and talking like you know something is just as bad.

wtf are you talking about i do have all this equipment the only thing i have that i listed is a slb-tp4 and my subs i alrdy bought but they were blown so i am waiting on new subs which 2 came in so now i am waiting on the last sub so wtf are u talking about?

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Very well thought out and agree nearly 99%. The last 1% comes down to equipment, keep in mind I am talking about QUALITY equipment, I doubt you will ever see Power Accoustic, Performance Technique, Orion, Lanzar, Maxxsonics anything take a win in finals in SQ.....yes there is a difference. People are using Zapco, Genesis, Audison, Brax, Steg for a reason. Yes fellas there is a difference in equipment no one can argue that.

People use that expensive, esoteric stuff because too many judges unfortunately listen with their eyes rather than their ears. My personal opinion is that the SQ judges should be blindfolded and that the install should be judged separately if at all.

The difference in equipment doesn't come down to sound. Reliability, yes. Customer service (and sponsorships), yes. Accurate ratings (not that it matters since you still pay 2x as much for a "high end" brand rated for 50x2 and capable of 100x2 than you do for a "cheap" brand that advertises 300x2 and *only* does 250x2), yes. Better sonics, not usually. Kept within linear range, most any solid state amp is going to be quiet and have extremely low distortion. Inexpensive amps have a reputation for sounding bad because of how they are typically used, not because they sound bad. Take any amp and run it at full clip and it drive the speakers hooked to it past their linear limit and any amp will sound like garbage.

 

[UndercoverPunk 5,000+ posts]

People use that expensive, esoteric stuff because too many judges unfortunately listen with their eyes rather than their ears. My personal opinion is that the SQ judges should be blindfolded and that the install should be judged separately if at all.

DING! DING! DING!

The difference in equipment doesn't come down to sound. Reliability, yes. Customer service (and sponsorships), yes. Accurate ratings (not that it matters since you still pay 2x as much for a "high end" brand rated for 50x2 and capable of 100x2 than you do for a "cheap" brand that advertises 300x2 and *only* does 250x2), yes. Better sonics, not usually. Kept within linear range, most any solid state amp is going to be quiet and have extremely low distortion. Inexpensive amps have a reputation for sounding bad because of how they are typically used, not because they sound bad. Take any amp and run it at full clip and it drive the speakers hooked to it past their linear limit and any amp will sound like garbage.

DING! DING! DING!

And trunks... He's right about you. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[atsaubrey 10+ year member]

They comps I have been to, the judges listen before they see. I have been specifcally asked not to reveal speaker size, brand or placement until the listening tests have been completed. Do I do not necessarly agree with the "blindfolded" comment. Of course I may be the exception to the rule. I for one do not agree that all amps sound the same. I will admit different judges like different sound, you might take first one weekend and last the next because the judges like a different sound. One contest I was at I had the judge tell me my bass was too exaggerated then the next I was told he wanted a bit more bottom end. Heck its all fun and trying to figure out what judges want keeps it interesting. Eventually I do want to compete with a entry level geared car, heck Zapco has a car with all iForce gear maing it to the finals this year. I believe JL a few years back did the same thing, now that is where the install is uber important! I am not trying to piss in anyones Wheaties here, this hobby is all about having fun and doing the best with what you can afford.

 

[mavster 10+ year member]

i was thinking about getting into SQ comps...i believe i have the correct amps for the job...see sig, my naks...

but i think i need the right drivers and install for the job?

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Once it gets to the Finals, the judges already know what's in the car before they even hear it. You, for example, know what's in the Zapco car. The cars that are really in the hunt may have some secrets and some tricks, but not when it comes to brands of gear. Everyone knows who runs what.

Any "judged" competition is going to have bias problems. There's no way around it. Anymore people watch figure skating in the Olympics not because there's any drama about who would win if no one fell. Honestly that was decided well before the opening ceremonies based on who's the flavor of the month. The only reason that anyone watch judged comps anymore is the same reason they watch NASCAR, for the wrecks.

 

[PSturmer 10+ year member]

I am just curious about what kind of equipment people use for building a true sq set up. I hear about a lot of subs for spl and amps with millions of watts, but what do the sq pros use? How much power, what brands of subs, comps, amps etc. I know that the install and setup is very important in the sq realm, but I'm wondering what kind of gear would be the starting point for a contender.

for subs i'd start at tc sounds.

for amps its hard to say because the SQ of an amp is something that is really hard to define on paper. most of the measurements that are listed can be very deceiving.

 

[nauc 10+ year member]

proper install and tuning is way more important than $ brands

and i have to agree, judges should be blindfolded and not know whose car it is and whats in it

 

[PSturmer 10+ year member]

proper install and tuning is way more important than $ brands
and i have to agree, judges should be blindfolded and not know whose car it is and whats in it

i got a 67 out of 70 in MECA's sound quality with a fart box tuned high and stock speakers.