13.3 Competition Preparation and Setup

Pre-Competition Week

Electrical system verification:

1. Charge all batteries fully 24 hours before event
2. Load test batteries — verify voltage stays above 12.0V under simulated competition load
3. Clean all power connections — wire brush on terminals, re-torque, apply dielectric grease
4. Check alternator output — should maintain 13.8V+ at idle under load

Mechanical inspection:

1. Check all mounting hardware — every screw, bolt, washer tight
2. Verify enclosure integrity — no air leaks (use incense smoke test)
3. Test for panel resonances — press on panels during playback, listen for rattles
4. Inspect wire routing — no chafing, no stress on connections

Audio system verification:

1. Back up DSP settings — export configuration files, email to yourself
2. Verify speaker polarity — all drivers moving in correct direction
3. Measure system response — REW measurement for reference
4. Test at competition power level — confirm no thermal protection, no distortion

Competition Day Procedures

SPL Competition:

Pre-run checklist:

• [ ] All windows fully closed
• [ ] All vents sealed (tape or plugs)
• [ ] Doors closed and latched (handle not engaged on some vehicles)
• [ ] TermLab meter positioned and calibrated
• [ ] Voltage measured and recorded
• [ ] Hearing protection on (mandatory — 160+ dB causes instant hearing damage)

The run:

1. Start vehicle, let electrical system stabilize (2-3 minutes)
2. Verify voltage >13.5V
3. Begin test tone playback
4. Smooth increase to full power over 2-3 seconds (avoid clipping transient)
5. Hold at full power for 10-15 seconds
6. TermLab records peak SPL
7. Power down smoothly

Between runs (if multiple attempts allowed):

• Let voice coils cool (5+ minutes minimum)
• Check voltage — recharge if needed
• No adjustments to system (against rules in most orgs)

SQ Competition:

Judging procedure:

1. Judges arrive at vehicle (typically 2 judges)
2. You demonstrate the system (play judge-selected tracks or demo tracks)
3. Judges listen from driver seat, passenger seat, rear seats
4. Installation is visually inspected (points for cleanliness, hidden wires, professional finish)
5. Judges score independently, then average

What judges listen for:

• Center image placement (vocals should be at dashboard center)
• Stage width (instruments spread left to right naturally)
• Stage depth (perception of front-to-back layering)
• Tonal accuracy (no unnatural coloration)
• Noise floor (system silent at idle)
• Dynamic range (soft passages to loud without compression or distortion)

Presentation tips:

• Be ready to play specific tracks judges request
• Know your system (be able to describe speakers, amps, processing)
• Don't oversell or make claims ("world's best imaging") — let system speak
• Volume should be 85-95 dB — comfortable listening level
• Clean vehicle interior (vacuumed, no clutter)