Right in time for the release of the current EMMA competition CD 2012 a brand new high end sound system has been inaugurated at the EMMA Academy training room. The purpose of the new stereo sound system is the demonstration of sonic details and characteristics on the EMMA CD, which was specifically designed and produced to assess the quality of vehicle sound systems. All components were explicitly selected in order to gain utmost impressive listening experience. The system will be used for training purposes at judge trainings, dealer and installer trainings as well as to conduct comparative tests of various products. The components for the sound system were provided by the EMMA industry partners Magnat, German Maestro and Tchernov Audio.

The system’s control center has been provided by Magnat. It is combining the state of the art components MA 800, MCD 850 and a CD player. Acting as the heart of sound a MA 800 tube preamp amplifies incoming signals. The preamp tubes are manufactured in Russia, each one burned in 60 hours and selected pair wise before installation. A self contained power supply provides the necessary power. The generously dimensioned power stage delivers 110 watts of continuous power per channel. Adapted to the aesthetic appeal of the amplifier MA 800, the MCD 850 and the SA CD player also crops up with finest mechanical and electronic components. The technical structure is completely dedicated to audiophile point of view.

The CD player uses a Sanyo laser unit as a precision drive mechanism which is extra shielded from external influences by a metal cover. Running stability and vibration immunity of the mechanism are truly excellent. The analog signals are converted to digital signals by a Burr-Brown-D/A-Converter of the latest generation. The audiophile highlight of this extraordinary SACD player is the tube output stage which is using an extremely low noise ECC 88double triode. High End at its best!

The electronic devices are connected with high-end signal cables from the highly respected Russian manufacturer Tchernov. Prominent attribute of Tchernov cables is the use of first choice raw materials for every product. Basically the premise to manufacture first-class quality electric conductors is to reach the lowest possible content of impurities, particularly oxygen. In numerous tests, the engineers at Tchernov demonstrated that surprisingly a balance of accompanying elements can affect sound quality of cables more positive than if they are completely missing. Through painstaking research in order to find the best ratio of copper and impurities – Tchernov calls it BRC, Balanced Refinement Conductor – the Russian cable specialists have been able to fulfill all requirements on a perfect sound reproduction down to the tiniest detail. Therefore, the choice fell on this extraordinary state of the art signal cable.

At the outputs of the amplifier again Tchernov cables are in use to supply a pair of GermanMAESTRO Linea-S floor stand speakers with the appropriate signals. When designing and realizing a feasible acoustic solution, German MAESTRO’s R &D team relied on the direct-radiation principle in order to ensure precise imaging and detailed reproduction of all acoustical respectively instrumental details. Perfect Panorama is the magic word! Thanks to German MAESTRO’s unique called “UltraSphere ™ Technology” these speakers reach a significant expansion of the listening area beyond the optimum listening axes. Spaciousness, precision as well as the absence of sound leakages all contribute to this innovative technology  which is also used for GermanMAESTRO car speaker components. Perfect speaker performance “Made in Germany” made the Linea-S series first choice to be used for EMMA Academy demo units.

It is with utter delight and a sense of righteousness that I can reveal today that the top folks at Pioneer Electronics have recognised the efforts of the Andrew Ackerley clan as the new guardians of the EMMA sound off format in the UK, with a cracking first season of sound offs and have agreed to be a headline sponsor for the competition format for 2012. In typically efficient fashion and with an eye for promoting next season, Andrew got right onto the deal and has already got the Pioneer logo embroidered onto all the judges’ shirts as well as applying the Pioneer logo to all sites and promotional publicity that they do. This means exposure on all the car show sites that do tend to like to show off about having the sound off in their midst as well as being on the TA coverage.

Last season saw a good few demo turn-outs at smaller shows plus actual contests at Milton Keynes, Peterborough, Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Santa Pod, and Silverstone, with a decent showing of competitors going off to the finals any minute now. But the really cool thing is that the support of the likes of Pioneer’s UK operation recognises the European-level involvement of Pioneer as well and is dead in order when you consider Pioneer’s lovely emphasis on selling the mad end competition sound quality decks like P88s and P99s.Talk Audio is of course heavily involved with Pioneer (I think I might even get a go on one of those Scoobies with a bit of luck…oh joy!) and wish to offer up our deepest and most hearty congratulations and generally lots of expressions of chuffed-ness to both the stalwart judges and backroom team of EMMA and the entrants alike, as well of course to the Team Ackerley that all together made it happen with Pioneer.Here’s to 2012 being another brilliant year for sound off in the UK

Adam Rayner
Talk Audio Magazine

Back to the roots

This event has proven that spontaneity and multi tasking is certainly a main talent of the EMMA organization. EMMA is now looking back on 11 years of Sound Off and European Championship history and of deeply understanding how to transfer the joy of car audio. And again it was the unexpected elements of show and party activities that gave this final EMMA competition for 2011 the real kick. So it was this year when the national organizations and their sound off competitors got together in order to share an ultimately fun-filled week at the international Eurofinals.

The Consumenta Expo in Nuremberg with thousands of square feet exhibition space filled up with excitement, enjoyment, entertainment and life style; each informative, exciting and inspiring. At this venue from October 26th to November 1st 2011, this season’s great challenge for the German and the international EMMA Community took place: after 11 years both the German and the European Finals were held at the birthplace of the European Mobile Media Association as a part of Nuremberg’s consumer fair. Almost 150 000 visitors have been passing the Car Media World which was presented perfectly by the Sponsors. In total 40 Demo cars from Pioneer, DLS, Alpine, Kenwood, Mac Audio, Magnat, Clarion, Rockford Fosgate, Hifonics, JL Audio, Helix, Brax, Silent Coat, Rainbow, Phoenix Gold, AIV, German Maestro and Ground Zero have been shown on the several Sponsors booths. All modern mobile media technologies installed in many different ways showed all possibilities to implement perfect Sound and Multi Media into modern vehicles.

Supported by main sponsors Pioneer and DLS latest mobile entertainment technology, lots of technical and musical know-how could be seen and heard during this year’s EMMA Finals. More than 200 of the best sounding vehicles from 25 European nations showed up at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre for this EMMA event highlight. Emerging from the sound championships in their countries, all national first or second placed EMMA competitors were invited to compete.

The Judge team consisting of 42 EMMA Judges from 20 nations had to test the international car media competition armada in the EMMA categories Sound Quality, Multi Media, ESPL and EMMA Racing. Due to the fact that the quality level was increasing much throughout the last years the distance in between the scorings of the cars became extreme tight and sometimes only 0.1 points made the winner.

The EMMA competition halls were very busy on Saturday and Sunday when the huge crowd of ten thousands of visitors flocked into the CarMediaWorld and the EMMA area to see and hear what’s cooking on the Car Infotainment market and in Europe’s Sound, Show & Shine scene. Product News, perfectly styled and carefully built show cars together with the best sound cars in Europe were waiting for a sound check to give proof Car Entertainment is definitely one of the most thrilling hobbies in the world.

And once more inners had not only to be determined in a competition between various country presentations, where Germany again came up with a little Oktoberfest, including draft beer, sausages and Obazda. The enthusiasm was huge, but beaten by an exhilarating contingent of Italian culinary and the Russian way of having a great time. At last, when the Vodka-delegation slammed their national anthem, the jury concluded Team Russia as the winner of the Country presentation competition.

But the most important winners of the event were as usual the Champions and Vice-Champions among the participants of this year’s EMMA Eurofinals. Those kings of car media were crowned at the award ceremony on Tuesday afternoon, applauded by a huge audience. As so often a huge number of trophies remained in the host country, but also most of the other nations took home a nice bunch of trophies. Congratulations to all of you!

The evening before price giving a real fantastic event took place inside the Nuremberg Central Station when EMMA rented a Lounge to celebrate the Party of the Year. 450 guests enjoyed the fantastic buffet and the party on the Dance floor. The manager confirmed that he had never so many countries represented at the same time in his Club. The most amazing experience was to feel the Great Spirit and respect among all the competitors during the four days in Nuremberg. The EMMA community has to be considered as something really unique on the Globe. The guests came long ways from Chile and Brazil as well as the USA, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and South Africa. Of course all European Nations have been sending their representatives to this most important competition of the Year. The feedback from the Sponsors as well as the Expo was 100% positive. Thanks to all who made this great event happen.

Remember to check out all the photos from the event here!

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