modding a Mackie 1604 VLZ pro

[intellijel]

I am in the market to get a small inexpensive mixer. My top contender is an Allen & Heath mixwizard but it's footprint is a bit bigger than a mackie 1604 and it is double the price.

A lot of people have also recommended finding a Soundcraft Delta console. It is big and heavy but apparently sounds phenomenal and there are some excellent mods available to improve it even more. However, these mods are proprietary info of Jim Williams from Audio Upgrades.

I was wondering if anyone had developed a set of mods for improving the sound of a Mackie 1604? It's layout, size  and build quality is excellent. Unfortunately I find it very harsh and shrill sounding (especially when you use the EQ). If I could improve it then it would be the pefect mixer for my needs.

 

[e.oelberg]

a soundcraft delta is a modular desk, lots of space for bigger caps, opamp sockets adding transformers.
all this you can forget with a mackie 1604, not enough space smd components, forget about modding a mackie
nicholas

 

[babyhead]

http://www.jensen-transformers.com/as/as057.pdf

http://www.jensen-transformers.com/as/as058.pdf

Don't know if it's worth it. Don't know if it applies to VLZ.

G1 Mackie pres can be of use...

Good luck.

Not really a design question.

 

[bitman]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but have you looked into the Soundcraft fx16?
I sports 16 inline channels with pre/post fader direct outs and inserts on every channel.
Ultra-mic (FWIW), preamps with 60db gain and it's all stuffed into a 19" rack format.

I use one here as a cue mix mother ship and control room monitor controller in a top loading rack.

It Kix and in a little workhorse.

 

[intellijel]

A lot of people on another thread have recommended the Soundcraft Delta as the mixer to mod for various reasons.

I was looking at the soundcraft site and I am really curious about their new mixers (not out yet) like the Soundcraft MPMI 20 channel
also the A&H Zed -24.  Both are perfect size, have great feature sets and are compact. However, I can't find any reviews on their sound!