Bill Leighton
Aug 4 2003, 02:26 AM
Hi Marc,
Thank you for your invitation to comment on the SQ revival. I was starting to think no-one cared about sound quality anymore. When you talk about car stereo with young people, so often the relevant question is: 'How loud will it go, bro?'
I guess SPL comps are a lot of fun, but they have also generated a lot of bad vibes for car audio in general. Amplifiers and subwoofers are commonly associated with anti-social behaviour by the 'street cruiser' crowd. They have turned a lot of people off the idea of spending their time and hard-earned on a nice stereo system, for fear of assocation with the burnout boys. It would be nice to get some attention back to how amazing a good car stereo can sound.
I love the simplified judging sheet. The old Car Audio Nationals was very comprehensive, but always led to arguments. Keep it simple, and you won't scare people away.
I'm not too sure about the fire extinguisher requirement. Are we really going to insist that someone with a prestige car has to screw a yellow fire extinguisher to the floorpan as if he was going out to race?
Full marks for the "Display" points. So many soundoffs were boring as batcrap because competitors locked up their cars as soon as they were judged. I could never find anything to even vaguely interest spectators to a soundoff. This may be the answer. If I went to a soundoff as a spectator, I would hope to be ushered into a few cars and treated to some really amazing music in a variety of musical tastes. I don't want to hear monotonous rap all day. I'm kinda over the 'shoot the mother****ing cops' stuff, but that doesn't mean I want to hear Mantovani Strings all day either.
Good luck, thank you for getting this started, and keep me posted.
regards
Bill Leighton
Marc
Aug 4 2003, 08:07 AM
G'day Bill, welcome.
This is exactly what we need, the senior members of the industry (no offence ) stepping in and all communicating in the same place.
The Fire Extinguisher ruling is a great idea but unfortunately probably not very realistic, perfect example you posted.
Well don't think you can dissapear now Bill We need to keep discussions active and make this happen.
XHELL
Aug 4 2003, 10:18 AM
Excellent,
Some more very good points. I like the fire extinguisher rule, for mine, fellow competitors and road users. I carry one mounted under my passenger seat (well within grasp from the drivers seat). Its not just in case your system fails and you need it, but if I'm in a car park or see an accident on the roads I'm going to use it. Maybe exempt pro cars from the rule only.
I'm against "displays" to an extent, as simply where do I put it when I'm travelling to and from the events, no room in the hatch and not much room on the back seat (just enough room for STUFF )..
Oh and yellow (OLD) fire extinuishers are illegal, if you have one take it to you local fire station and go buy a nice shiny new one.
Ole'
Aug 4 2003, 10:53 PM
I hear you loud and clear Bill
My setup is slowly getting higher and higher in SQ, and thats what i am aiming for, not that there is much of a SQ competition comptition(?) over here.
I am sick and tired of listening to monotonous rap that most of my mates listen too. Some of them get rather surprised when i start my car and there is some nice classical music playing and 5mins later some deep Trance.
QUOTE
When you talk about car stereo with young people, so often the relevant question is: 'How loud will it go, bro?'
I guess SPL comps are a lot of fun, but they have also generated a lot of bad vibes for car audio in general. Amplifiers and subwoofers are commonly associated with anti-social behaviour by the 'street cruiser' crowd
Yeah i get this a lot when i tell people that i have a sub, it realy sh!ts me off, my sub is designed to blend in with/support the music rather than over powering it with loud droney bass.
A reason i'd like to see more SQ comps over here is so that i can have a chance to actually "see" some of the gear. I dont mind showing off my sexay amps to people, but they of course are getting real home soon when i build my new box and faulse floor.
enough rambling from me
Bassaholic
Aug 4 2003, 11:18 PM
QUOTE
Originally posted by Bill Leighton:
I'm not too sure about the fire extinguisher requirement. Are we really going to insist that someone with a prestige car has to screw a yellow fire extinguisher to the floorpan as if he was going out to race?
I see I'm not the only person who thought that..
Cyberpunky
Aug 5 2003, 12:02 AM
The whole idea of the fire extingiusher rule is that we play with huge amounts of current in car audio, and this is a potential fire hazard. There is no getting around it. If we didnt need thick power cable, fuses etc because car audio equipment was fail proof, then we wouldnt need this rule but the reality is that we are putting in equipment and power systems that can start fires.
Anyway if ppl dont care to fit an extingiusher because of cosmetic reasons, that is their right, they will lose 1o easy points, but its their choice.
peace
Cyberpunky
HondaCivic
Aug 5 2003, 12:12 AM
QUOTE
Originally posted by Bill Leighton:
I'm not too sure about the fire extinguisher requirement. Are we really going to insist that someone with a prestige car has to screw a yellow fire extinguisher to the floorpan as if he was going out to race?
Hmmm somone with a prestige car dosent want to put in a little barcket but dont mind modifying car for sound
Is a fire extinguisher in the boot is fine or does it have to be inside??
Cyberpunky
Aug 5 2003, 12:28 AM
It can be in car or boot. If you need to use it, you will need to use it in a hurry, so no point having to remove sub box to get at it etc.
peace
Cyberpunky
Macca
Aug 5 2003, 02:41 AM
Personally I thought the fire extinguisher requirement was a great idea. A small extinguisher doesnt cost much money and does promte saftey in car audio.
kittan
Aug 5 2003, 09:46 AM
so since this fire estinguisher is needed? Where do I get it? and how much am I looking at paying for it?
mooseBoY
Aug 5 2003, 11:20 AM
QUOTE
Originally posted by Marc R:
G'day Bill, welcome.
This is exactly what we need, the senior members of the industry (no offence ) stepping in and all communicating in the same place.
So does this mean that only Senior members of the industry have the oppurtunity to have input into the S.Q. revival. If not i agree with the fire extinguisher rule but as a compulsory rule not as an option. As previously stated Car Audio uses high current and in an emergency etc would you just sit there and watch as your car or someone else's burn to the ground.No i don't think anybody would.At least if every car had one installed (cabin or boot)they would have access to them in time's of need(hope not).P.S. If a vehicle does not have a fire extinguisher could this affect the public liability insurance for the event. Well enough of that i think that the revival of the S.Q. comps is a good move and should be pushed to the limit's. Although i know very little about S.Q. i would like to get involved as an underpaid volunteer,if for anything but a learning curve..
Bodyjar
Aug 5 2003, 03:33 PM
So confirmation on this rule? will it be a necessaity or just a point deduction without it?
I think there should be a point deduction, but not a large one. When you think about it, you don't need a fire extinguisher when you light your BBQ or fire at a park, and thats 10times more likely to get out of control than a car audio system...
rheetard
Aug 5 2003, 03:36 PM
Sometimes you really gotta wonder if the music tastes (and the attitudes of society in general) of today has anything to do with the declining popularity of SQ.
Too many obnoxious people pumping out monotone "music" in order to "impress" bystanders and give all car audio enthusisasts and car lovers a bad name. The problem is, everyone wants to be the centre of attention, and hence the products sell, so from a marketting point of view SPL is where the money is at.
Im very interested in a revival of the SQ scene, because I like music, and I like cars, but dont want to be targetted by police because they put me in the same category as some other ****** who has a hole in his exhaust and 20 sub woofers..
Marc
Aug 5 2003, 03:37 PM
For [CAASQ] the rule will stay as is, a point "bonus" for having one.
T-Bro
Aug 5 2003, 07:15 PM
i simply put the extinguisher in my glove box (not bolted down or anything, just sitting in there) and i got the extra points. the thing cost like 40 bucks from k-mart so its the same as a CD set, no big deal. and if you dont like it in the car you can remove it after the comp and keep it in the kitchen where it can be handy. so worry not people, you dont have to mess up your aesthetics
infiltrator
Aug 5 2003, 07:35 PM
QUOTE
Originally posted by T-Bro:
and if you dont like it in the car you can remove it after the comp and keep it in the kitchen where it can be handy. so worry not people, you dont have to mess up your aesthetics
Or you can do what i am doing and making it part of the whole "aesthetics" of the car! make it look good and people will like it!
XHELL
Aug 5 2003, 07:48 PM
I think there are actually laws about how the extinguisher must look, ie red, red and white etc, I can get the codes from the fire engineers at work, mine mounted under the leading edge of my front passenger seat, can hardly notice it.
Slain
Aug 5 2003, 09:31 PM
For $40 it saves a lot, i was lucky and it only cost me about $200 in wiring to fix when my car started goign up, but i knew what to do. Ps: to do with asthetics, you cna get chrome fire extinguishers and there is so many places ot mount them, you can find ones small enough to fit inside your centre console storage bin or just chuck it way under the passenger side of the dash, you wont notice it! Great idea i reackon.
harris_r31
Aug 5 2003, 11:58 PM
QUOTE
Originally posted by Olie:
I hear you loud and clear Bill
My setup is slowly getting higher and higher in SQ, and thats what i am aiming for, not that there is much of a SQ competition comptition(?) over here.
I am sick and tired of listening to monotonous rap that most of my mates listen too. Some of them get rather surprised when i start my car and there is some nice classical music playing and 5mins later some deep Trance.
quote:
When you talk about car stereo with young people, so often the relevant question is: 'How loud will it go, bro?'
I guess SPL comps are a lot of fun, but they have also generated a lot of bad vibes for car audio in general. Amplifiers and subwoofers are commonly associated with anti-social behaviour by the 'street cruiser' crowd
A reason i'd like to see more SQ comps over here is so that i can have a chance to actually "see" some of the gear. I dont mind showing off my sexay amps to people, but they of course are getting real home soon when i build my new box and faulse floor.
enough rambling from me
i hear ya bro, im sick of ppl seeing a 3cu foot sub box in my boot, and saying oh wow, how loud's this thing go. and everyone wants to listen to certain pieces of music in your car (ie that gangster rap stuff) only for the "phat" 60hz bass beats, and then try tell u ur system sucks when ur bass doesnt over power the rest of your equipment.
Cyberpunky
Aug 6 2003, 05:12 AM
I guess all these posts saying it is no big deal justifies my point in that it costs very little compared to system costs, and it may save your bacon. Sure some may feel like they dont want one but thats why the points are as high as they are. Encouraging saftey rather than she'll be right mate... wont happen to me, etc etc
The worst thing that can happen is that we have lots of cars with a saftey device they dont need and maybe just one person who saves his car and system, or someopne elses life, because we put a simple rule in place. You decide? Is it worth 10 points or should we discount its value and make having it or not a non issue ?
peace
Cyberpunky
BTW fuses did not have to be fitted when this whole car audio scene started, and only thru comp rules did they become common place (this is in the old days when ppl didnt sue everyone for the wind changing direction )
[ August 06, 2003, 03:17: Message edited by: Cyberpunky ]
T-Bro
Aug 6 2003, 05:07 PM
yeah, this is an opportunity for the comp scene to set an example that others will follow to their benefit. for example, when starting out the only reason i went to greate efforts to ensure my fuse was within 18 inchs of the battery terminal was because of teh comp rules i read about on the net. it would have been easier and probably sexier to put the fuse further away - but in a collision, that is more unprotected cable to short out and start a nasty fire while you may be trapped inside. same thing goes with using grommets through firewalls etc. im glad the example was set for me, sure it has f*&% all to do with sound quality, but you wont be enjoying anything when your car is alight.
Pyroay
Aug 8 2003, 10:36 AM
I have completed a stealth install, with everything covered and looking nice in it's own little spot.
I have no problem with the extinguisher rule and think it is quite an important thing, however i wish to compete in show SQ and don't want to loose points for a lovely intergrated system then a bright red extinguisher sticking out somewhere....
Macca
Aug 8 2003, 03:45 PM
QUOTE
Originally posted by Pyroay:
I have completed a stealth install, with everything covered and looking nice in it's own little spot.
I have no problem with the extinguisher rule and think it is quite an important thing, however i wish to compete in show SQ and don't want to loose points for a lovely intergrated system then a bright red extinguisher sticking out somewhere....
With what you have mentioned here, im sure that ANY judge will not care that you have an extunguisher in the install, and will disregard it when judging for install, as it is a safty item they have to be coloured by an australian standard, im sure others will agree with me here.
I also have been looking thru the CAASQ rules, and from what i can see, there is a possible 25 points out of 95 points (23%) can be acheeved WITH OUT playing any music! this is far from a bad thing but will show to others Preperation is a must
weezn da juice
Aug 8 2003, 07:10 PM
QUALITY is also getting drowned out in Pro Audio land as well, the same cheaper/louder crowd who grow up working in then supervising then managing then owning live or other venues are more and more difficult to deal with.
Backyard businesses are also a big issue, able to offer super cheap gear due to lower overheads, but without any real professionalism or tuning skill.
As mentioned above, I have always been put off by the apparent "doof doof" aura of competitions in the car audio scene, happy to get the best gear I can afford, install it myself and play real music through it.
I tip my hat at those trying to put respect back into reproduction of music...
Ben.
Ole'
Aug 8 2003, 09:29 PM
I have to agree with you on that one weez'n da juice, comming from a background in that area i can definitely say that there is more "club" orrenteated equpitment comming out. which is aimed at making pure noise rather than any decent quality. Up here where i live the local Audio Guru and i have been working on creating some more high end SQ gear for theatres, and our masterpiece "the allinwonder" DSP/EQ/Crossover/Amp. A 4 rack mountable box which includes the ability to have 1 input and beable to eq it and put a active crossover on it before it heads to either the built in amp or output to other amps.
Cyberpunky
Aug 8 2003, 10:56 PM
A stealth install will have trouble scoring any creativity points and would be best served competing in street class. No matter how lovingly installed, it isnt very creative to fit everything in factory locations. I understand why ppl do this and thats what street class is all about. Show class is for cars that have creative features in the install, which are awarded points.
Anyway the competitors enters the class they want but we can only judge on what we see and hear. As someone who has done a lot of installs, stealth systems require little thought compared to a custom install and would be better suited to street class IMO.
peace
Cyberpunky
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please
click here.