Since I put up the page on what EMMA Tuning actually is, the question I keep getting back is simple: "okay, but what's actually on the sheet?" Tuning is the one EMMA class that doesn't let you specialise, so the scorecard looks nothing like a standard Sound Quality sheet. Here's the real breakdown, straight from the official EMMA Tuning Judge Book.
Eight scoring blocks, not one
A Tuning judge works through eight separate sections, each with its own line items. None of it is subjective listening in isolation — most of it is inspection, documentation and measurement, in the same spirit as Install Quality judging.
Installation and electrical safety
- Presentation to the public — 0 to 5
- Cleanliness — 0 to 3
- Main fuse present within 40cm of the battery post — pass/fail, worth 5
- Every component fused — 0 to 5
- Fuse value matched to cable size (Custom classes only) — 0 to 5
Interior, trunk and exterior
Three near-identical blocks, each scored 0 to 10 for overall craftsmanship and design, plus smaller line items for specific areas — seats, roof and interior lighting inside; surface changes and lighting in the trunk; rims, tyres, windows and lights outside. Bodywork and door-skin changes only score in the Custom classes — Stock+ isn't judged on them at all.
Tuning technical (the actual mechanical mods)
This is where EMMA Tuning properly separates itself from SQ or SPL: engine power, brakes, drivetrain, cooling, intake, exhaust and suspension each carry their own 0-to-5 score, scaled to how far you've taken it — a filter swap scores differently to forced induction, a lowering kit differently to full air suspension. Power gains specifically need documentation: photos before and after, receipts, or a dyno sheet. No paperwork, no points.
Body work finish
Stock+ cars are marked down per panel for stone chips, fade and scratches — the better your factory paint holds up, the better you score. Custom classes are judged the opposite way: a tidy, well-executed respray in service of the build's theme scores well, and the book is blunt that a stock car in good paint simply "is not impressive" at this level.
Where SQ and SPL still fit in
Audio isn't forgotten — it's just compressed. Sound Quality becomes a miniature version of the sheet I cover in the full SQ scorecard: soundstage distance and width (0 to 5 each), stage height, and the four tonal accuracy bands, each converted down to a 0-to-5 score instead of SQ's full 0-to-30 bands. SPL is measured separately with both front doors open, averaged over 30 seconds, against a 100dB reference — Stock+ tops out at 35 points off a 135dB ceiling, Custom Trunk at 40 points off 140dB, and Custom Unlimited at 45 points off 145dB.
What this actually means if you're building for it
Tuning rewards the same thing Install Quality does — genuine effort and finish, not budget. The judge book is explicit that "multiple little efforts do not make a High effort," so five half-finished touches score worse than one properly executed modification. Because every block is scored independently and added together, you can't carry a weak interior on a strong engine bay, or a mediocre install on loud SPL numbers. The car has to hold up everywhere a judge looks.
One honest note, same as on my Tuning overview page: I haven't judged this as a standalone class at an Australian event yet, so if you're building specifically to this sheet, get in touch first and I'll tell you what's realistically on the calendar here versus what you'd need to travel for. If audio is your main focus rather than the full vehicle project, you're almost always better served by a dedicated Sound Quality class instead.
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.