What Happens If Your EMMA SPL Measurement Gets Disrupted?

Every season I see it happen at least once: a car puts up a number on the SPL meter, someone on the team doesn't like it, and within thirty seconds there's a crew member at the judge's elbow asking for another go. EMMA's measurement procedure is built so every car in the class is tested the exact same way, and bending it for one competitor breaks that for everyone else. Here's what actually happens when a measurement gets disrupted, and why "can we just run it again" is the wrong question to ask.

The two-step measurement, in short

An EMMA SPL pass is really two measurements run back to back. First, a closed-door test: every door sealed, at least 30 seconds of your chosen track playing, and the judge logs the peak SPL. Within about two minutes, a second pass follows with the front doors fully open, running the same track, and this time it's the average SPL that gets recorded. A judge places and controls the microphone throughout — you don't touch it, before or between runs. The full breakdown of the mic position and the two readings is on my closed-door and open-door test page.

When a re-run is legitimate

Gear fails. That's accounted for. If any of the following happens during a measurement, you get one restart, within five minutes of that attempt:

• The head unit stops, blocks, or jumps mid-track
• A component in the system actually fails
• A fuse blows
• The wrong track gets played by accident

That's it — one restart per measurement, and there's no third attempt for any reason. If it goes wrong twice, the number you got stands. The same applies if someone who shouldn't be near the car blocks a door or touches something during the run without being asked to: the judge simply repeats the measurement properly, and that repeated score is the one that counts.

What isn't legitimate: asking for a do-over on a number you don't like

This is the part that catches teams out. If someone outside the judging team — a teammate, a tuner, a mate standing by the car — tries to force or pressure officials into running a second measurement because the result wasn't what they expected, that's not a fault with the equipment, it's an attempt to get a second bite at the test. The consequence isn't a warning: the competitor, and every member of their team, loses 100 points off the scoresheet. That penalty applies whether or not the car itself did anything wrong.

In plain terms: a blown fuse earns you a restart. Arguing with the judge over a number you don't like can cost your whole team 100 points instead.

Why EMMA runs it this strict

SPL is already one of the most mechanically repeatable tests in car audio — doors, track, timing and mic position are all fixed so two cars can be compared fairly. The moment officials grant "just one more go" to whoever pushes hardest, that repeatability disappears, and so does the point of the number. It's the same reason a protest or teardown over equipment value or install compliance follows a formal process rather than a conversation at the car — see how protests and teardowns actually work if you think a result needs challenging the right way.

What I tell competitors before they run

• Brief your crew before you're called up — nobody but you and the judge needs to be near the doors or the dash during the run
• If a fault happens, say so immediately and clearly; don't wait and then argue about it after the number's already logged
• If you genuinely believe the test itself wasn't run correctly, raise it with the Head Judge through the proper process, not by leaning on whoever's holding the meter

If you're still working out which SPL class and build target you're aiming for, my SPL classes explained page is the place to start before you ever get near the meter. And if you want a second set of eyes on your build before competition day, you can always get in touch.

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