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Modded Mach 1 Project Completed (MACH 4 RHINO's)

RS Steve said:
I was really surprised how much better they sound than the regular cabinet modded Mach 1's, getting the woofer up 6" and having the horn higher really gives it a better, smoother blend of the drivers. The bass just really became much more accurate sounding, it seems the woofer is much happier thus it probably carries the mid frequency a little better also.
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Where I got most frustrated (after some experimentation) was mid bass. It wasn't till I got an EQ that I was able to do some A/B comparisons, then dial in the EQ to see what frequencies were giving me problems. Sure enough it was the mid bass. This had a huge impact on music video's (live stadium performances). Some the soundtracks were balanced such that the mid bass was good, but others seemed dull or almost non existent. Now, after the VL mods, mid bass has improved a lot. And now your reviews reinforce what VL had pointed out, and that is a larger cabinet is required.

Good stuff!
 
I wish I had the test equipment to see how well they really do, it would be nice to get some documentation on their performance. My ears don't exactly qualify as greatly accurate. :D
 
RS Steve said:
I wish I had the test equipment to see how well they really do, it would be nice to get some documentation on their performance. My ears don't exactly qualify as greatly accurate. :D
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Hopefully a fellow AKer who has the equipment and is in your neck of the woods reads this and offers to check them out.

Couple routes you can go, one of which is P.E. DATS. It's a great product and has allowed me to not only test drivers but systems as well.

Only issue is you still need audio software and mic for the "sound" check. I've found quite a few programs out there, including freeware, and hope to test them out. I'm hoping my RS SPL meter (built in mic) will be sufficient. Otherwise, test mics aren't too expensive and I'll simply have to go that route.

Really don't have to spend a lot. I sold off some stuff to pay for the DATS software/tester, and will likely do the same for some speaker cabinet software. I'd like to get something a tad more sophisticated than the freeware programs out there. Most stop with 3-way networks and don't accommodate multi-driver, like two woofers, etc. My experimental system will be a 4-way using only RS drivers. I have the specs down for the drivers, just need to model the network and figure cabinet dimensions.
 
I had a nice visit from a fellow AKer (Ramcharger) who came by to pick up a Realistic STA 2100D. He was the first AK person to listen to the Mach 4 Rhino's I created, we had them side by side with Mach 1's for a good comparison. I hope he will follow up and give his opinion on them, he seemed impressed. We had a great time chattin about audio! :thmbsp:
 
Hey Steve, Those are some "Really Nice" boxes!!! As they are, sitting in the wood shop- I wouldn't have done any more, they truely look 'stunning!'
Now, did you re-do the gasket surrounds? The basket of the woofer frame looks deeper than the ones I own... Yours also seem to have a "rim" just before the 'roll-surround'- IS this something you have done? Please Tell.....?!!
Steve G.
 
Steve.mg said:
Hey Steve, Those are some "Really Nice" boxes!!! As they are, sitting in the wood shop- I wouldn't have done any more, they truely look 'stunning!'
Now, did you re-do the gasket surrounds? The basket of the woofer frame looks deeper than the ones I own... Yours also seem to have a "rim" just before the 'roll-surround'- IS this something you have done? Please Tell.....?!!
Steve G.
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The 4029 woofers have the plastic trim ring and the 4024A and 4024 do not. When the trim ring is not present you see the lip, but both baskets are the same. I did all new surrounds on the woofers, the aftermarket surrounds seem to take a good amount of time to break in. The cabinet enlargement, crossover changes, and mid horn dampening has really made these speakers improve, I have a furniture grade cabinet version in the works, should look stunning when completed. :thmbsp:
 
4029 "rims".....

Hey Steve, Thanks for the heads-up on "the look"...!!! Now I have a BIGGER problem: Where can I get a set for my 4024A's??????????
Found a complete set of as-new 4029's that went for $290.00 over where you are! and there they were! ...now I feel as though I'm missing out! Makes the 15" look so much better than the yellow-finish of the steel basket- and that inner trim just sets it off sooo well! :)
Like I said, Any ideas where I can get the trims? Maybe they might have to have the rest of the drivers attatched... which wouldn't be so bad; except freight to over here in Aus. is a bit of a killer... :(

Thanks,
Steve G.
 
Steve.mg said:
Hey Steve, Thanks for the heads-up on "the look"...!!! Now I have a BIGGER problem: Where can I get a set for my 4024A's??????????
Found a complete set of as-new 4029's that went for $290.00 over where you are! and there they were! ...now I feel as though I'm missing out! Makes the 15" look so much better than the yellow-finish of the steel basket- and that inner trim just sets it off sooo well! :)
Like I said, Any ideas where I can get the trims? Maybe they might have to have the rest of the drivers attatched... which wouldn't be so bad; except freight to over here in Aus. is a bit of a killer... :(

Thanks,
Steve G.
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I have a set of trim rings, just personal message me for details.
 
Steve, just wanted to put my 2 cents in about your Mach 4 Rhinos......Being a life long fan of RS gear & Mach 1's, The vast improvement that the Mach 4's you designed and built took a great speaker (my opinion) and made it so much better! Using all the same drivers, you managed to bring out performance RS never dreamed of! The difference between a stock Mach 1 & your Mach 4's was like night & day! Job well done Bro, Congrats!:thmbsp:
 
RamCharger said:
Steve, just wanted to put my 2 cents in about your Mach 4 Rhinos......Being a life long fan of RS gear & Mach 1's, The vast improvement that the Mach 4's you designed and built took a great speaker (my opinion) and made it so much better! Using all the same drivers, you managed to bring out performance RS never dreamed of! The difference between a stock Mach 1 & your Mach 4's was like night & day! Job well done Bro, Congrats!:thmbsp:
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Thanks! It was nice to have a fellow AKer get to hear them, instead of me just rambling on how good they sound. I have a person interested in me making him a pair soon. Hope to see you on your next trip this way. :thmbsp:
 
RS Steve said:
Thanks! It was nice to have a fellow AKer get to hear them, instead of me just rambling on how good they sound. I have a person interested in me making him a pair soon. Hope to see you on your next trip this way. :thmbsp:
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Now that's cool Karma! I have to agree, I wish people who haven't heard VL Mach One's could come visit my Man Cave and check them out. Can't wait, stupid rain, for the weather to improve to work on my version of "Big Ass Mach" speakers. Mine, however, will be more a Frankenspeaker using ONLY RS drivers, but likely NOT the horns. Those drivers that are still readily available so if they turn out like I hope, others can copy them if they wish. Nice keeping the faith alive!
 
My "Big Ass Mach" speakers are hereby now dubbed "Mach 2-E" . "E" for enhanced.

I'd kinda like to go with the RS dome mids to keep it al Realistic, but I'd probably have to go back to the "bulbs" to keep 'em safe. On a side note. Just imagine if RS had sold a nice cast frame, heavy magnet 15" replacement driver :scratch2:
 
Just wanted to let those Mach 1 owners know, using the aluminum L-pad plates you are able to mirror image the speakers by putting the tweeter on either end. I plan on switching one of mine to do just that.
 

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Just finished doing the mirror image thing to the Mach 4's, should help even things out and looks cool too! :thmbsp:
 

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RS Steve said:
Just finished doing the mirror image thing to the Mach 4's, should help even things out and looks cool too! :thmbsp:
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Badda bing, badda boom! Nice! Now all you have to do is work on mirror imaging those decals you have! Too bad VL hasn't been around, I think VL would have like those.
 
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