God like bass response.
They understand the concept of "These go up to 11"
Fanastic bass integrity at low volume (if coupled with an amp with high current at low volumes)
Just brilliant all round excellence.

Not good for people with back problems, they weigh as much as some small countries. They are big enough to have their own gravitational field.

Subtlety. If you want to hear the third violinist scratching his ear during anything by Mahler, a) you are very sad and b) you don't deserve Mach Ones.

These are not for people who live in small rooms. They demand their own campus and are worth the sacrifice.

Wives don't like them - even if they do make Jamiroquai sound good.

I worked for Tandy (aka Radio Shack) in the early Eighties just after leaving school.

I used to be in total awe of the Mach Ones. They delivered concert PA power with hi-fi values. If, like me, you like rock music then these were the speakers to have. Liquid cooled tweaters and fifteen inch bass units that shifted a lot of air were the things of envy to anyone who like their rock loud.

Let's put it this way. If you matched these speakers up with an amp like a Mission Cyrus One amp (THE amp to have in the early 80s) which delivered high current to the speakers, you got awesome bass response. Many years later, when it came out, Enter Sandman by Metallica never sounded as good as on Mach Ones.

These speakers were not subtle, they were not for classical music (although Beethoven seriously kicked butt through these) , but when it came to rock, the Gods of rock smiled benificently on the owners of Mach Ones.

These were the Pontiac GTOs of American Muscle speakers. And I loved them.

One of mine has a dead Bass unit so I will take other contributors advice on replacing them.

These were gods of speakers. Bow down in front of them and worship.

Bullet proof for its day, reliable, neede an amp with lots of headroom.

Orientation in the room and furnishings, played a big part in their performance, sometimes bass was better down the hall, or next door's house.........

Well, in the late 70's I worked for Tandy Electronics, Australia , and sold these speakers. I found them to a great LOUD speaker, bass was a bit forward, depending on where you had them in the room really changed the low freq clarity, sometimes muddy, and didnt deliver down low.

Similar Products Used:

Most high end speakers, have a real soft spot for early 80's Infinity's, more recently, using a full active 3 way cross over

A very solid speaker with great longevity. I have never heard a speaker of this size produce so much sound. This model was produced in the late seventies and very early eighties

Bass can be a bit overwhelming and can be easily detected in other rooms at low volume.

Model 4024 A is a real classic. The 15" woofer is nearly indestructible and the foam surrounds on this model last indefinitely. Incredible bass down to 20 hz. The midrange and treble is fine. I am running them at 100 watts and they are rated for 165 watts.

Earth shattering bass end, well balanced response thanks to a complex cross-over circuitry (only on the 4024). Adjustable mid and high gain. Relatively small for a 15" cabinet. The only visual differences between the 4024 and 4029 series is the L-pad plate has 10 screws holding it on the 4024 as opposed to only 6 screws for 4029. And also the connectors in the back are srcews on the 4024 and clips on 4029.

On the 4029 series the foam suspension system on the woofer will eventually wear out. But re-foaming kits are available.

I understand that there is also a big difference in sound quality between the two models, but I've never heard the 4029 so I cannot tell if it's true or not.

One last weakness, they don't produce them anymore...

I've bought a pair of Mach One (original series cat#40-4024) a while ago. I already had a pair of 15" Audiosphere Accusound speakers that I loved. But when I put these side-by-side on the same amp (Technics SU-V78) and switched back and forth between the two, a few things surprised me.

First the Mach One had less efficiency in the bass response, I had to put the "super bass" system on to get the same amount as my Audiospheres. BUT the bass end IS much smoother and defined on the Realistic. Second, the flatness of the audio response from such a big speaker! My Audiosphere have a peak at around 1000hz that make them sound harsh. The Mach is almost perfectly flat.

They can be driven hard, without distorting. The infamous foam surround is still intact (1977 date code) but it doesn't look like the typical foam used in that era, it is kinda rubbery... That's 30 years! But this is the FIRST generation which were guaranted for LIFE! The second generation were cat#40-4029, with the dreaded disintagrating foam issue, and were guaranted only 5 years.

Customer Service

N.A.

Similar Products Used:

Audiospheres, Cerwin Vega, JBL...

Capable of handling anything I've thrown at them so far

None, except for the foam issue, which I've been spared from so far. Any good Canadian websites where I might be able to purchase a foam kit in advance?

These speakers are simply the best I have ever heard. I've heard tell that they even beat out Bose for sheer power back in the day, as to the truth of that, I don't know as I wasn't old enough to appreciate them at the time. 30+ years old, and still with original foam, used in combination with Realistic Mach 5000's Digital Ready speakers, they are simply a very powerful combination. Currently being used for DJ equipment and home stereo. During the parties, they pound like no others, and at home, with no bass on, they still pound, the best ever.

Similar Products Used:

Realistic Mach 5000

Relatively cheap. Sound good to a casual listener. Look a heck of a lot better than the current plastic stuff around today. 15” woofers! Big speakers!

Foam Surrounds rot out after 20+ years. Big speakers!

Purchased my Mach One’s late 1970’s. Great speakers for short money. The surrounds rotted out of course and I purchased a re-foam kit. Cheap fix but a lot of work and mess. Right after I ordered the surrounds, I found these speakers: http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=290-155 PIONEER A38GU40-52D 15" POLY WOOFER - $49.95 Power handling: 100 watts RMS/140 watts max * Voice coil diameter: 2" * Impedance: 6 ohms * Frequency response: 24-2,500 Hz * Magnet weight: 40 oz. * SPL: 95 dB 1W/1m * Vas: 16.6 cu. ft. * Xmax: 2.5mm * Qms: 3.73 * Qes: .35 * Qts: .32 * Fs: 24 Hz * Net weight: 10 lbs. * Manufacturer model number: A38GU40-52D * Dimensions: Overall Diameter: 15-1/4", Cutout Diameter: 14", Mounting Depth: 6-1/2", Magnet Diameter: 5-1/2", Magnet Height: 1-3/4". When I took out the woofers, I noticed that they were marked 6 ohm, which was a surprise as the spec said 8 ohm. The above speakers look like a close match, cheaper than having the surrounds done professionally and worth the aggravation of doing the surrounds yourself. I’d have gone this route had I saw them before I placed the order. Just finished re-foaming the Mach One’s today. It’s a dirty, messy, time consuming job. For the price of the brand new replacement speakers above, it wasn’t worth my time and aggravation. At least the re-foam seems to have worked out well and they sound great again. But I’d still have to recommend getting the speakers above. MAKE SURE YOUR WOOFERS ARE 6 OHM BEFORE YOU ORDER! Take them out and look on the back.

Similar Products Used:

I'm not into audio much. These are IT!

Nice design, strong, heavy.

None. All foam surround woofers go bad after 20+ years.

Absolutely amazing. I had always wanted these but I couldn't stomach over $100 dollars on E-Bay for them. I drove up to an Elks Garage sale recently and there they were on the lawn. I knew what they were right away with the big horn lens. The foam is gone around the woofers so I was able to get the price down to $5 from $35. The foam kit is in the mail and I can't wait. This was one of the best deals I have ever gotten at a garage sale. My friend is the lucky one though; he got a pair of Klipshorns for $20!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Cerwin Vega D-5, Homemade speakers.

Punch without compromising clarity, robust, versatility and completely balanced sound.

The obvious foam issue, which is easy to remedy. Dust that gathers inside the horn is difficult to remove. Houses in England are simply not large enough to accommodate a pair of Mach Ones, they take up half the living room!

I have had these speakers since the early 90s and used them consistently until 1998 as part of my recording studio setup and as PA speakers for parties, band rehearsals, etc. When I moved to London in 1999, I had to pack them into storage for three of years, at the end of which they emerged with disintegrated foams. In the meantime I had purchased a pair of Cerwin Vega AT 12 speakers which were able to deliver the power, but not the sonic quality. I have recently replaced the foam surrounds with new ones purchased from Speaker Works Northwest (http://www.speakerworks.net/kits.html), with great results. One of the greatest things about the Mach One, is it's capability to deliver excellent aural response, punch and clarity for just about any kind of application: Stereo HiFi, Home Cinema, DJ and Pro Audio.

Similar Products Used:

Not so similar: Cerwin Vega AT 12 Yamaha NS10 Studio A pair of generic speakers with Philips drivers and crossover.

Great value, great sound, very efficient.

Darn foam surrounds started going finally. Shack guy says they don't sell the woofers any longer and were over $100 each last time this guy found them in stock.

Bought 'em for $250 in 1984 at a 1/2 price sale. Have used them constantly since and love 'em. Att he time I bought them Consumers Reports had them rated #2 or #3 of all they had tested and raved about them. Bass will shake your fillings loose, but mids and highs are clear as well. Very efficient. Lok good, too. One of the best speakers I have heard, including many at 3x the price.

thick foam well made box's nice tweets and mid's all around good

the foam but i put some goop on them befor they got too bad and iit's great i'm going to get a refoaming kit soon tho

The speakers are great all my friends want them but they are not getting them i'm going to keep them for ever i have one sub that is better for bass but it's not good for the high's can_kicker@hotmail.com if you wanna know what else i got

Similar Products Used:

sansui heart's if you have heard of them please eamil me :)