I wish IASCA hadn't done such a good job of "ruining" SQ...
To be frank, it's VERY rare that people aren't initially attracted to car audio because they want big bass. Hell, that's how I started... maybe more of a geek than most others, but I was fascinated that you could create such insane bass levels inside a car... off a 12v battery.
And I know that back in the day (granted, we're going back half my life here), I didn't really pursue SQ like I wanted to, because I always had the impression that to be successful with SQ meant making a $10,000 investment in custom fabrication, motorization, smoothed fiberglass work, upholstery, and potentially structurally compromising vehicle modifications...
...to say nothing of the things that
actually matter in a SQ install, like "not the cheap stuff" amplifiers, speakers, huge Dynamat investments, power wiring (and dressing that up as well)...
...and even that is discounting the expertise involved in taking that equipment, and using those fabrication skills and acoustical knowledge to actually make those 'products' sing.
Personally, I do blame a lot of that confused youthful impression on IASCA...
For incorporating a disproportionate amount of judging points on the install, cosmetics, customization, etc.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE those installs... but where is the class for people that want to (or can only afford to) focus on the
sound quality aspect, who can't cough up the extra $8,000 to add crazy motorization, fiberglass, lighting, display cradles for your wiring, and other things that look cool but have nothing to do with "sound quality"?
(Yes, they somewhat exist now... but they still judge things that go beyond 'safety' - and more importantly is the
perception of "what makes a SQ car")
And of course the magazine features and all the press on "SQ cars" focuses on featuring IASCA competition cars... so naturally they become the image of "what SQ is".
I hope MECA has a nice, pure "SQ enthusiast" class, that doesn't paint a picture of
"SQ enthusiasts are more focused on a small-ego flashy look-at-me install than they are actual SQ".
OK, I'll get off my soapbox now.
But it seems there are plenty of people interested in SQ on the forums.
It's the next natural progression... you build yourself a boom-car, you've got the loud subs... now what?
That's how I started...
"What else is there to learn?"
...that's why we're all here on these forums, right?
