Ok folks, here it is! The Mach5 Maw12 vs. the rD Classic 12 showdown! I want to thank Mark from Mach5 and Kevin From Low-hz, with a shout out to Steve from rD, for providing the subs. It ahs been fun, and it has been a learning experience. Nothing better then playing with new toys. Ok, on with the setup.
The vehicle is a 2004 Chevy Silverado extended cab. There is a yellow top under the hood, 1/0 Memphis wiring throughout, and a factory 105 amp alternator. The Big 3 has been done as well, also in 1/0. The source unit is a Clarion DXZ955MC, with the HPF set to 125 and the LPF set to 80. The amplification is provided by a Memphis Memphis Belle, MCH1300, which will provide these two subs ~600wrms @ 2ohm. The gains are set to just clipping using an o-scope and a 50hz note. Enclosures will be a 1.25ft^3 sealed affair, and a 2ft^3 @ 34hz w/a 4” round port, with rounded edges. Now onto the subs……
Mach5 MAW12 MSRP $63.51 direct
“The analogy "you get what you pay for" simply does not exist when you compare the Mach 5 Audio MAW line to other brands. The MAW-12 is no exception. Its three pound magnet structure keeps the lightweight craft pulp cone in check, delivering accurate and detailed bass response. With a 2.5" dual voice coil and 13mm of linear one way Xmax, the MAW-12 rivals drivers costing three times its price.”
T/S Parameters - MAW-12
(coils connected in series)
Fs = 23.3 Hz Power Handling: 350 watts RMS
Re = 8 Ohms Sensitivity: 87db (2.83 volts)
Qes = 0.30 Impedance: 4 + 4 Ohm
Qms = 3.03 Outside Diameter: 31.8cm (12 1/2")
Qts = 0.27 Mounting Diameter: 28.3cm (11 1/8")
Mms = 144 grams Depth: 14cm (5 1/2")
Rms = 6.96 kg/s
Cms = 0.324 mm/N
VAS = 76.6 litres
Sd = 408.3 cm2
Xmax = 13 mm
Cone Diameter = 22.9 cm
Recommended Box Sizes:
Sealed: 29 litres (1 cu. ft.)
Ported: 51 litres (1.8 cu. ft.) 28Hz tuning
Build quality is what you’d expect from a sub costing three times as much. A cast aluminum 4 spoke basket isn’t the norm on a $70 woofer. All glue joints were flawless, with no excess anywhere to be found. Nice thick tinsel leads, looks like 12guage, with shrink tubing over the solder joint at the terminal, leads on to believe this thing is designed for some power. A nice gasket and magnet boot round out the cosmetics. The motor on this thing is of good diameter, larger then the Classic in size, yet a bit shorter. My one gripe, the screw type terminals feel cheap. I’m not a fan of those, as they are typically found on lesser subs. However, that is my only gripe.
RD Audio Classic MSRP $175 dealer only
They were designed and built to be small sealed enclosure SQ subwoofers. When we tested them in small ported boxes we were extremely pleased. When tuned to the mid 30's they have a flat response. They are built off the same concept as the Alpha series. They offer a good amount of output with no distortion. The can accurately reproduce any bass note with ease regardless of what style of music you fancy.
Woofer Description
Vacuum formed polymica cone body with reinforced cone collar
Extended neck joints on cone, coil, and spider
Butyl rubber surround
Waterproof
Vented cone
2 inch long excursion voice coil
Rounded deep back plate
Low carbon front and back plate
Powerful dual stacked 55 oz magnets
Cast basket
Integrated tinsel leads
2.5" long excursion motor structure
Available in 15" built upon order
Box suggestions: Please contact us through email to get a box custom designed to meet your needs.
Port and driver already included-
Classic 10"
.75 ft3 sealed 1.0 ft3 sealed
1.5 ft3 with a 4" round or 12.5" slot port by 10.4" deep tuned at 44hz
2.0 ft3 with a 4" round or 12.5" slot port by 10.25" deep tuned at 37hz
Classic 12"
1.0 ft3 sealed 1.5 ft3 sealed
2.0 ft3 with a 4" round or 12.5" slot port by 12" deep tuned at 35hz
2.5 ft3 with a 20 square inch port by 16.33" deep tuned at 35hz *a lot less port noise
2.0 ft3 with a 20 square inch port by 12" deep tuned at 44hz * high output
Specifications coming soon
Build quality is definitely good. Like the maw, glue lines were excellent and there just isn’t any excess glue anywhere. The covering over the poly cone leads one to believe it’s paper, but it’s done very nicely. The 12 spoke basket is a proven winner and offers better cooling compared to the 4 spoke of the maw. The spider has about 6 screws on it’s outer edge to compliment the glue and had strength. Nice touch. The bumped back plate is nice on the motor. While overall diameter is smaller, the height is taller on this compared to the maw 12. Two different approaches, but both work. Now, my gripes. The woven tinsel leads are thinner, look like 16 guage, maybe 14, then those on the maw12. Also, no heat shrink around the solder joint at the terminal. Gives it an unfinished look. No big deal, it’s just a look thing.
Overall, both subs display excellent build quality, the kind you’d expect from a $175 sub, and beyond what you’d think you’d get from a $70 one. The dust cap on the rD Classic is definitely a love it or not thing. I like the look of the maw12, but basic black is always a good look. The Classic comes through with the shine though, with a nice mix of polish and texture. It would look good inverted!
Sealed box testing;
The Maw12 was in a bit bigger box then recommended, still it faired very well. With either fast double kicks or drop down low bass lines, it delivered and did so very well. As long as the music was fairly simple, this thing worked wonders. Let it get a bit complicated and it would get a tad muddy. Not overbearing muddy, but it would make it hard to tell what was trying to play. I never got it to bottom out either. A rated 350wrms sub, it was taking the ~600wrms from the Belle with relative ease. It would get warm and the coil would let me know I was giving it too much, but I never reached mechanical limits. Output was a bit disappointing. Not poor, but not what I expected. It loves the low lows, it does great on the fast stuff, it’s only weakness was a tendacy to get muddy on really complicated music.
The Classic was right at home in the 1.25ft^3 sealed box. It more then kept up with the Maw on the fast stuff, reproduced the low stuff with authority and liked the complicated stuff a bit better. It didn’t matter if it was a soundtrack, Dimmu Borgir or Lil John, in it’s sealed box home, this sub works. With a rating of 500wrms, I was able to reach this subs mechanical limits with 600. The Classic didn’t like playing at it’s limits either, the distortion was a bit more audible compared to the maw. Output was better however, not withstanding it’s mechanical power handling compared to the maw. It was just the louder woofer, save at the higher frequencies. Up around 70 hz, the maw owned it. But down low where subs like the play, it was all Classic.
Ported box testing;
Wow, did the maw come alive in this alignment. Though still bigger then recommended, it loved this enclosure. So much so, I didn’t want to take it out! Loud, low and responsive, there wasn’t anything it wouldn’t, couldn’t do in this box. Dimmu Borgir’s insane double kicks whipped ass in this box! Lil John shook the hell outa the truck and even Ozzy’s basslines were intense. I never got it to bottom out in this box either, never reaching it’s mechanical limits in either box. Distortion is very low, to the point of having to be absolute full tilt to even get it to distort. Output again is on the downside compared to the Classic, even a bit moreso then in sealed. But it’s not noticeable. This thing rocks ported!
The Classic on the other hand took to the ported box like the maw did the sealed one. Where the Classic owned the maw in the sealed alignment, it’s completely reversed ported. RD says it best with, “They were designed and built to be small sealed enclosure SQ subwoofers. “. While still the louder of the two, it just flat out got confused trying to duplicate those double kicks from Dimmu Borgir. Keep it simple, like a nice low bass line, and the Classic was happy. Anything faster or more complicated then boom, boom and this sub isn’t happy. Power handling was similar to the maw, again. It would bottom out, but only at full tilt and again had a bit more distortion. But nothing worth complaining about.
The vehicle is a 2004 Chevy Silverado extended cab. There is a yellow top under the hood, 1/0 Memphis wiring throughout, and a factory 105 amp alternator. The Big 3 has been done as well, also in 1/0. The source unit is a Clarion DXZ955MC, with the HPF set to 125 and the LPF set to 80. The amplification is provided by a Memphis Memphis Belle, MCH1300, which will provide these two subs ~600wrms @ 2ohm. The gains are set to just clipping using an o-scope and a 50hz note. Enclosures will be a 1.25ft^3 sealed affair, and a 2ft^3 @ 34hz w/a 4” round port, with rounded edges. Now onto the subs……
Mach5 MAW12 MSRP $63.51 direct
“The analogy "you get what you pay for" simply does not exist when you compare the Mach 5 Audio MAW line to other brands. The MAW-12 is no exception. Its three pound magnet structure keeps the lightweight craft pulp cone in check, delivering accurate and detailed bass response. With a 2.5" dual voice coil and 13mm of linear one way Xmax, the MAW-12 rivals drivers costing three times its price.”
T/S Parameters - MAW-12
(coils connected in series)
Fs = 23.3 Hz Power Handling: 350 watts RMS
Re = 8 Ohms Sensitivity: 87db (2.83 volts)
Qes = 0.30 Impedance: 4 + 4 Ohm
Qms = 3.03 Outside Diameter: 31.8cm (12 1/2")
Qts = 0.27 Mounting Diameter: 28.3cm (11 1/8")
Mms = 144 grams Depth: 14cm (5 1/2")
Rms = 6.96 kg/s
Cms = 0.324 mm/N
VAS = 76.6 litres
Sd = 408.3 cm2
Xmax = 13 mm
Cone Diameter = 22.9 cm
Recommended Box Sizes:
Sealed: 29 litres (1 cu. ft.)
Ported: 51 litres (1.8 cu. ft.) 28Hz tuning
Build quality is what you’d expect from a sub costing three times as much. A cast aluminum 4 spoke basket isn’t the norm on a $70 woofer. All glue joints were flawless, with no excess anywhere to be found. Nice thick tinsel leads, looks like 12guage, with shrink tubing over the solder joint at the terminal, leads on to believe this thing is designed for some power. A nice gasket and magnet boot round out the cosmetics. The motor on this thing is of good diameter, larger then the Classic in size, yet a bit shorter. My one gripe, the screw type terminals feel cheap. I’m not a fan of those, as they are typically found on lesser subs. However, that is my only gripe.
RD Audio Classic MSRP $175 dealer only
They were designed and built to be small sealed enclosure SQ subwoofers. When we tested them in small ported boxes we were extremely pleased. When tuned to the mid 30's they have a flat response. They are built off the same concept as the Alpha series. They offer a good amount of output with no distortion. The can accurately reproduce any bass note with ease regardless of what style of music you fancy.
Woofer Description
Vacuum formed polymica cone body with reinforced cone collar
Extended neck joints on cone, coil, and spider
Butyl rubber surround
Waterproof
Vented cone
2 inch long excursion voice coil
Rounded deep back plate
Low carbon front and back plate
Powerful dual stacked 55 oz magnets
Cast basket
Integrated tinsel leads
2.5" long excursion motor structure
Available in 15" built upon order
Box suggestions: Please contact us through email to get a box custom designed to meet your needs.
Port and driver already included-
Classic 10"
.75 ft3 sealed 1.0 ft3 sealed
1.5 ft3 with a 4" round or 12.5" slot port by 10.4" deep tuned at 44hz
2.0 ft3 with a 4" round or 12.5" slot port by 10.25" deep tuned at 37hz
Classic 12"
1.0 ft3 sealed 1.5 ft3 sealed
2.0 ft3 with a 4" round or 12.5" slot port by 12" deep tuned at 35hz
2.5 ft3 with a 20 square inch port by 16.33" deep tuned at 35hz *a lot less port noise
2.0 ft3 with a 20 square inch port by 12" deep tuned at 44hz * high output
Specifications coming soon
Build quality is definitely good. Like the maw, glue lines were excellent and there just isn’t any excess glue anywhere. The covering over the poly cone leads one to believe it’s paper, but it’s done very nicely. The 12 spoke basket is a proven winner and offers better cooling compared to the 4 spoke of the maw. The spider has about 6 screws on it’s outer edge to compliment the glue and had strength. Nice touch. The bumped back plate is nice on the motor. While overall diameter is smaller, the height is taller on this compared to the maw 12. Two different approaches, but both work. Now, my gripes. The woven tinsel leads are thinner, look like 16 guage, maybe 14, then those on the maw12. Also, no heat shrink around the solder joint at the terminal. Gives it an unfinished look. No big deal, it’s just a look thing.
Overall, both subs display excellent build quality, the kind you’d expect from a $175 sub, and beyond what you’d think you’d get from a $70 one. The dust cap on the rD Classic is definitely a love it or not thing. I like the look of the maw12, but basic black is always a good look. The Classic comes through with the shine though, with a nice mix of polish and texture. It would look good inverted!
Sealed box testing;
The Maw12 was in a bit bigger box then recommended, still it faired very well. With either fast double kicks or drop down low bass lines, it delivered and did so very well. As long as the music was fairly simple, this thing worked wonders. Let it get a bit complicated and it would get a tad muddy. Not overbearing muddy, but it would make it hard to tell what was trying to play. I never got it to bottom out either. A rated 350wrms sub, it was taking the ~600wrms from the Belle with relative ease. It would get warm and the coil would let me know I was giving it too much, but I never reached mechanical limits. Output was a bit disappointing. Not poor, but not what I expected. It loves the low lows, it does great on the fast stuff, it’s only weakness was a tendacy to get muddy on really complicated music.
The Classic was right at home in the 1.25ft^3 sealed box. It more then kept up with the Maw on the fast stuff, reproduced the low stuff with authority and liked the complicated stuff a bit better. It didn’t matter if it was a soundtrack, Dimmu Borgir or Lil John, in it’s sealed box home, this sub works. With a rating of 500wrms, I was able to reach this subs mechanical limits with 600. The Classic didn’t like playing at it’s limits either, the distortion was a bit more audible compared to the maw. Output was better however, not withstanding it’s mechanical power handling compared to the maw. It was just the louder woofer, save at the higher frequencies. Up around 70 hz, the maw owned it. But down low where subs like the play, it was all Classic.
Ported box testing;
Wow, did the maw come alive in this alignment. Though still bigger then recommended, it loved this enclosure. So much so, I didn’t want to take it out! Loud, low and responsive, there wasn’t anything it wouldn’t, couldn’t do in this box. Dimmu Borgir’s insane double kicks whipped ass in this box! Lil John shook the hell outa the truck and even Ozzy’s basslines were intense. I never got it to bottom out in this box either, never reaching it’s mechanical limits in either box. Distortion is very low, to the point of having to be absolute full tilt to even get it to distort. Output again is on the downside compared to the Classic, even a bit moreso then in sealed. But it’s not noticeable. This thing rocks ported!
The Classic on the other hand took to the ported box like the maw did the sealed one. Where the Classic owned the maw in the sealed alignment, it’s completely reversed ported. RD says it best with, “They were designed and built to be small sealed enclosure SQ subwoofers. “. While still the louder of the two, it just flat out got confused trying to duplicate those double kicks from Dimmu Borgir. Keep it simple, like a nice low bass line, and the Classic was happy. Anything faster or more complicated then boom, boom and this sub isn’t happy. Power handling was similar to the maw, again. It would bottom out, but only at full tilt and again had a bit more distortion. But nothing worth complaining about.
