LM II Head with 2 Bergantino 8 ohms 12s

Blah114 · #1 07-09-2010, 04:08 PM

I have a quick question..

I have a Little MArk II head..

I have an HT112 cab 8 ohms

I have another Berg cab, a 12" without a horn.. EX112S

both have parallel inputs and outputs..

I got tired of speak-on cables and bought straight speaker cables (with traditional plugs).

With the LMII having only one output.. I've been daisy chaining the cabs together, then connecting the top cab's 2nd port to the LM II head

1) are speak-ons better? I don't care for them.. mine are bulky, long.. and the plastic tips are wearing..

2) do I need to pay attention to WHICH inputs/outputs I plug cables into between the cabs? should I go into the left input of the top cabinet? then proceed to make sure I "line up" the output from the top cabinet to the bottom? I had been plugging cables in however I feel like it.. so long as the LM II is connected to one of the two cabinets.. then simply connecting from one cabinet to another..

so, two speaker cables total.. one from the LM II into the top cab.. then another , 2nd, cable from the top cabinet to the bottom..

do you guys all pay attention to the parallel inputs/outputs of the cabs? I've been playing live for some time, and started wondering today.. about connecting the 2 8 ohms cabs.

Jaco who? · #2 07-09-2010, 04:30 PM

A max of 250 watts shouldn't be a problem for 1/4 inch connectors. That said, quality speakons provide a much more solid idiot proof connection. As long as the two inputs on you cabs are parallel connections, like 99.9% of them, it shouldn't matter which order the cables are routed.

Blah114 · #3 07-10-2010, 09:37 AM

thanks.. my speak-on cables are good.. but.. I think they are cheap.. they are Livewire.. my 1/4 cables are much better made. the tips on the speak-ons are "loose.."

KJung · #4 07-10-2010, 09:45 AM

What you are doing is fine. Remember, the LMII has a 1/4 speaker output and a 'dual mode' speakon, which can also accept a 1/4" speaker cable. So, you can do it either way... daisy chaining your cabs, or running each 1/4" from your LMII, using the 1/4" out and the Speakon-1/4" out. Pretty much the same thing.

The downside to those Neutrik dual use speakons is that they can get a bit fussy with cheap/offbrand Speakon connectors. If you ever go back to Speakons again, make sure you get the real 'Neutrik' brand and you will be good to go.

Jim C · #5 07-10-2010, 03:53 PM

All good advice but be aware that some LMII's have problems even with Neutrik brand connectors; mine for one will work fine with one end but the other is intermittent

Wire connections are perfect and even with a magnifying glass, I can see no difference between the two; others have posted this as well; give it a go; most have no problems

Brad Johnson · #6 07-10-2010, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

What you are doing is fine. Remember, the LMII has a 1/4 speaker output and a 'dual mode' speakon, which can also accept a 1/4" speaker cable. So, you can do it either way... daisy chaining your cabs, or running each 1/4" from your LMII, using the 1/4" out and the Speakon-1/4" out. Pretty much the same thing.

The downside to those Neutrik dual use speakons is that they can get a bit fussy with cheap/offbrand Speakon connectors. If you ever go back to Speakons again, make sure you get the real 'Neutrik' brand and you will be good to go.

This. I've used almost* every possible combination which would include speakon to speakon, speakon to 1/4", 1/4" to 1/4", I even did 1/4" to banana plug. Used the two outs on the LMII with two 1/4" or Speakon and 1/4" or just one of either daisy chained at the cabs.

They all work fine IME although I did have an issue as Ken said with an off brand speakon. That was easily remedied.

*I haven't used speakon to banana and I probably never will.

KJung · #7 07-11-2010, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C

All good advice but be aware that some LMII's have problems even with Neutrik brand connectors; mine for one will work fine with one end but the other is intermittent

I believe most of us diagnosed the issue you were having as being a faulty cable, not the head a while back. The Speakon jack on the LMII is a standard Neutrik dual mode output jack and is not specific to the LMII or other Markbass heads, and is used in quite a few of the micro's and other heads/cabs.

There should be zero issue with a Neutrik brand connector.

lo-freq · #8 07-20-2010, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

I believe most of us diagnosed the issue you were having as being a faulty cable, not the head a while back. The Speakon jack on the LMII is a standard Neutrik dual mode output jack and is not specific to the LMII or other Markbass heads, and is used in quite a few of the micro's and other heads/cabs.

There should be zero issue with a Neutrik brand connector.

+1

Neutrik Speakons are THE quality standard -- of course, they need to be connected correctly with decent quality cable.

::::BASSIST:::: · #9 07-20-2010, 09:36 PM

I find two quality speaker cables with 1/4 tips on each end work very well and are the most convenient... because, you know that extra half second it takes to twist on the speak-on can be a pain.

Seriously though, I do find it easier to just pull out the 1/4s then having to pull the sleeve back and twist & turn the speakons... very minor, but when you gig alot everything adds up.

babebambi · #10 07-20-2010, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

I find two quality speaker cables with 1/4 tips on each end work very well and are the most convenient... because, you know that extra half second it takes to twist on the speak-on can be a pain.

Seriously though, I do find it easier to just pull out the 1/4s then having to pull the sleeve back and twist & turn the speakons... very minor, but when you gig alot everything adds up.

... until you accidentally pulled out the 1/4" tip when the amp is still on, created a dead short, busted the amp, fused the 1/4" tip to the jack ... well I am exaggerating, with 500 watt, that is unlikely.

Do you buy insurance for your gear? Well, speakon is just cheap insurance for the the scenario I just described.

::::BASSIST:::: · #11 07-21-2010, 12:45 AM

The amp is 'off' when I setup and 'off' when I tear down. Never had a problem in the last 3.5 years of gigs/owning this amp.

No sense paying a monthly insurance bill when I can just pickup another LMII for $400+ change in the TB classifieds.

YMMV.

T. Alan Smith · #12 07-21-2010, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babebambi

... until you accidentally pulled out the 1/4" tip when the amp is still on, created a dead short, busted the amp, fused the 1/4" tip to the jack ... well I am exaggerating, with 500 watt, that is unlikely.

Do you buy insurance for your gear? Well, speakon is just cheap insurance for the the scenario I just described.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

The amp is 'off' when I setup and 'off' when I tear down. Never had a problem in the last 3.5 years of gigs/owning this amp.

No sense paying a monthly insurance bill when I can just pickup another LMII for $400+ change in the TB classifieds.

YMMV.

What speakons cost more than $400?

KJung · #13 07-21-2010, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T. Alan Smith

What speakons cost more than $400?

+1 I guess there are two schools of thought on this. There is one group of guys who view cables, cases, etc. as 'afterthoughts', and spend as little as they can. They seem to do fine. I'm from the other side... if I find a rig that I really like and gig a lot, I have no problem getting good quality cables, padded covers, exact fitting bag for the head, etc., etc. Just seems like part of the 'tools of the trade', and that kind of stuff has always paid for itself in both reliability, and keeping stuff looking great for eventual resale, etc.

$50 or so for a pair of good 3' speakons seems like a good investment, even though it won't make the rig sound any better.

Pure IMO there.