How good is the Mach 460 system?

Stangboy5666 · 10-12-2003

Is the Mach 460 system any good, or does it need to be replaced?

yoop33 · 10-23-2003

I always thought that it was a good system but never really had much bass which I wanted. Originally I was just going to add amps and subs because you can get the stock mids and highs to scream with a little more power but then I just replaced everything anyway.

9Nails · 10-25-2003

I like SQ over SPL. And the Mach 460 has neither of these.

I haven't torn deep into my Mach 460 system on my wife's 2000 Convertible GT. So I can only offer my impressions:

The Mach 460 is a decent stereo system. It employs tuned chambers for each speaker. And the small speakers do a fairly good job of reproducing bass with low pressures. The door speakers can actually vibrate the hairs on your legs! Which might please you, or annoy you. At times it can get your mirrors to vibrate too. But on the rare occasion, you might actually feel the bass in your seat. Usually by the time you get the system loud enough to feel the bass, it starts to sound like a Chihuahua placed in a Doberman's costume. These small drivers just fall short of their full potential. For a system that prduces 200 watts with 460 watts peak, it just falls short on the task of thrilling the listener.

At times, the Mach 460 sounds like it is trying to hard to reproduce the low frequencies. My ears get fatigued listening to these speakers. They try to hard to hit the low notes, and neglect the other frequencies. I think I would be happy if the wife allowed me to install some crossover's and reduce the amount of bass to the small drivers. And then add an 8 or 10" speaker to reinforce the lows.

Stereo imaging is sorry. Perhaps I expected to much out of the large satellite chambers mounted on the pillars. As imaging is more or less non-existent in this sound system. It only pulls the soundstage close to the door you sit by.

This stereo will not win any SQ competition. Nor will it be a competitor in SPL competition. What it does it provide you with enough music to make you desire a larger, better stereo system. But it also provides you with enough noise to keep you pacified until you preform that upgrade. It's neither the ultimate stereo system, nor the worst on the market. All told, I would call it a touch louder above average stock stereo systems with slightly more bass. Just don't expect to shatter windows or expect that the imaging is so good that it will make you believe that Amy Lee of Evanescence is giving you her personal audition.