Competitors ask me this all the time: "I keep seeing E, S, M and X on the entry form — what do they actually mean?" These are EMMA's four Sound Quality budget classes, and knowing where you sit — and where you're heading next — matters as much as your install quality score. Here's the ladder, straight from the judging table.
The four SQ classes, by budget
- Entry (E) — system value up to €3,000
- Skilled (S) — system value up to €4,000
- Master (M) — system value up to €5,000, split into Limited and Unlimited
- Expert (X) — no fixed value cap, also split into Limited and Unlimited
Each step up raises the ceiling on what you're allowed to spend on components, which is exactly why I always tell people to work out their real system value before they enter — see how to calculate the value of your car audio system if you haven't already. Get the class wrong and you're either sandbagging against gear you don't have, or you'll get pulled up on value at scrutineering.
The two-year rule isn't just an Entry thing
Most competitors know Entry is a stepping stone — I've covered the Entry class two-year rule before. What catches people out is that the same limit applies one rung up: you can only compete in Skilled for a maximum of two competition years as well. In both E and S, if you win your national (or international) final outright, you're expected to move up a category rather than defend the title from the same budget bracket. It's built to stop the class filling up with repeat champions and keep it genuinely open for newcomers.
Master and Expert don't carry that same forced-promotion clock. Once you're there, you can stay and keep refining the same build for years — which is exactly what a lot of the serious competitors do.
Where Master and Expert actually diverge
The value cap disappearing at Expert level is the headline difference, but it's not the only one. Expert class judging leans harder into documentation and presentation of the build — judges expect a proper walkthrough of what you've done and why, not just a car that sounds good. It's a different mindset to Entry or Skilled, where the focus is almost entirely on what comes out of the speakers.
Both Master and Expert also split into Limited and Unlimited, which is a separate decision again about installation freedom rather than budget — I go through that split properly in OEM vs Unlimited: what's the real difference. So a Master-class competitor is really making two choices: how much they've spent, and how far they've gone with the install itself.
My advice if you're not sure which class to pick
Enter the class your receipts actually support, not the one that sounds impressive on the day sheet. Judges will ask, and value disputes are a bad way to start your morning.
If you've built up a system over a few years and aren't sure where the total lands, work through the value calculator first, or bring your paperwork and ask at registration — that's what we're there for. And if you're still building toward your first event, our car audio upgrade guides are a decent place to start planning a system that lands cleanly in whichever class you're aiming for.
Any questions about which class fits your car, get in touch — happy to talk it through before you commit to an entry.
Written by Pete — Integrated Audio
Pete is the founder of Integrated Audio and a Certified International EMMA Head Judge, judging EMMA Sound Quality and Installation competitions in Australia and internationally. He writes from the judging side of the table, drawing on hands-on experience building and installing HELIX, MATCH and BRAX car audio systems.