Ashdown MAG 300H variants?

[plugger]

I checked out a MAG 300H Evo II in a music store today, and was impressed with the sound.

This is the one (pic from Ashdown website):



Checking around on the net for prices, I found at least two other variants to the MAG 300H I saw in the store:

-A MAG 300H Evo II covered in carpet (rather than vinyl), but otherwise appeared to be the same as the new one in the store:



-A MAG 300H that didn't have the "Evo II" designation on the faceplate, and also had air-flow vents on the (wider) faceplate:



Can anyone explain what I'm looking at here, are these variants older versions of the model that have now been superceded? Are they they same circuitry and sound, or have there been more substantive changes as well as cosmetic ones? No info I could find on this on the Ashdown website.

I'd like to avoid getting caught out buying something that sounded different to what I heard in the store today -- any insights appreciated.

[RobbieCanuck]

The non-Evo Mag 300 is definitely an older model. I bought one about 5 years ago. Note that it doesn't have the compressor knob that the Evo does.

It's still a nice head, though. I've kept it as a backup.

- Rob

[1kinal]

The non-EVO pic you posted was called the "wide model" or something like that. It was made to stack perfectly with the MAG cabinets. At the same time there was also a "regular" which is the shape of the ABM or the other pics you posted.

When they introduced the EVO-II, Ashdown was still using carpet for all the MAG line. It's very recently that they redesigned the MAG line with vinyl covering on the heads and cabs.