Markbass 102hf or 104hf

royforce · #1 04-12-2011, 02:22 PM

Hi TB people

I'm new here and I'm currently looking for a new cabinet.
I have a combo 121p that I really like (except the tweeter piezo...) but I would need another cabinet, mainly because when the volume gets important the amp follows but the 12" has big difficulties to deliver to me what I want, especially for the low end.

I was first thinking to buy a 104hf especially because I could in the future buy another head and not carry my combo but I read great comment about the 102hf.

So I wanted to know if I would have a big difference in my sound between 2 and 4 ten's and if you would have in mind another cabinet in the same range of prize and portability that would do a better job knowing that I really enjoy the MB sound.

Thanks for your help

Russell L · #2 04-12-2011, 02:52 PM

Hi, Roy. I asked a similar question recently. I have the CMD 121H combo, the taller version of your amp. I, too, considered the two 10s as an extension cab, but everyone said I should get the Traveler 121H cab. It's basically the same size as my combo. Thing is, each cab will get 1/2 of the 500w that will then be coming out. With two 12s, it will be evenly divided and balanced. That's what they say. I think the Traveler 121H would work well for you, too. If you had the 104, for instance, it would get 250w and your single 12 would get 250w, too. See what I mean, that doesn't seem right somehow. I dunno, just a thought.

royforce · #3 04-12-2011, 04:45 PM

Thanks for your answer Russel,
You're right about the 121H, it would be really convenient to have matching cabs and I was already concerned putting as much power in the 12" than in four 10".
I just have doubt about the capacity of one extra 12" to give me enough low end when it get's loud.
I would be really interested to know what does it give to you when you'll buy it. I shouldn't buy mine in the next months because I have to go back in France first (I'm in the US only until July)

About the rear port, do you know a good distance to keep it from the wall ?

Sparky Mark · #4 04-12-2011, 04:54 PM

Adding another 12 will actually sound nearly like 4 x the loudness, would that be enough?

royforce · #5 04-12-2011, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparky Mark

Adding another 12 will actually sound nearly like 4 x the loudness, would that be enough?

Perhaps I haven't be quite clear about concern, I'm not playing loud music, even my combo always give me enough to hear myself. It's just that at a low level, I will have a sound really well defined with decent low-mid and just enough low, but when I have to push it to face a drummer willing to show his happiness, my sound get's way more narrow, centered in the mid and high-mids.

Sparky Mark · #6 04-12-2011, 05:22 PM

You will get a lot more bottom to your sound with another 12 of the same type. If you like the sound you have at the moment but need more of the same go for the 12 traveller IMO.

niftybass · #7 04-13-2011, 06:15 AM

I have the CMD121h and added a traveller 121H. Great sound but not enough oomph with my band. I have done many a gig with a single 104HR and have experience with the 102HF. The 104HR is your best option. Just as portable as the 102HF but moves twice the air!!

Russell L · #8 04-13-2011, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by royforce

Thanks for your answer Russel,
You're right about the 121H, it would be really convenient to have matching cabs and I was already concerned putting as much power in the 12" than in four 10".
I just have doubt about the capacity of one extra 12" to give me enough low end when it get's loud.
I would be really interested to know what does it give to you when you'll buy it. I shouldn't buy mine in the next months because I have to go back in France first (I'm in the US only until July)

About the rear port, do you know a good distance to keep it from the wall ?

I've heard to keep it about two feet off the wall, but I've been a bit closer before with no problems.

royforce · #9 04-13-2011, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niftybass

I have the CMD121h and added a traveller 121H. Great sound but not enough oomph with my band. I have done many a gig with a single 104HR and have experience with the 102HF. The 104HR is your best option. Just as portable as the 102HF but moves twice the air!!

Yeah, for portability, the 104HR is really impressive, you said you used a single 104HR, did you ever try the CMD121H with the 104HR ?

Jimmy Stump · #10 04-13-2011, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell L

Hi, Roy. I asked a similar question recently. I have the CMD 121H combo, the taller version of your amp. I, too, considered the two 10s as an extension cab, but everyone said I should get the Traveler 121H cab. It's basically the same size as my combo. Thing is, each cab will get 1/2 of the 500w that will then be coming out. With two 12s, it will be evenly divided and balanced. That's what they say. I think the Traveler 121H would work well for you, too. If you had the 104, for instance, it would get 250w and your single 12 would get 250w, too. See what I mean, that doesn't seem right somehow. I dunno, just a thought.

If I recall, with a single 8 ohm speaker, the amp will push 300 watts into it. Add an 8 ohm extension cab, and you gain 200 more watts, for 500 at 4 ohms.

niftybass · #11 04-15-2011, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by royforce

Yeah, for portability, the 104HR is really impressive, you said you used a single 104HR, did you ever try the CMD121H with the 104HR ?

Actually I did try it!! The 104HR could take way more volume than the single 12" of the CMD121H. A real mismatch. The 104Hr is a great cab if you are looking for a single lightweight cab that is easy to get your arms around for lifting/loading. The CMD121H is also a great cab, and paired with another 12" cab makes a good small rig. It just didn't have the headroom I was looking for.

royforce · #12 04-15-2011, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niftybass

Actually I did try it!! The 104HR could take way more volume than the single 12" of the CMD121H. A real mismatch. The 104Hr is a great cab if you are looking for a single lightweight cab that is easy to get your arms around for lifting/loading. The CMD121H is also a great cab, and paired with another 12" cab makes a good small rig. It just didn't have the headroom I was looking for.

That's interesting, thanks for the info.

RickenBoogie · #13 04-15-2011, 05:08 PM

+1 for the matching 12. Adding a 410 would actually put a strain on your combo's single 12, I wouldn't do that. If you feel the 2x12 is still not enough, I'd reconsider the single 12 combo altogether. Maybe sell it, and get a head plus the 410.

Sparky Mark · #14 04-15-2011, 06:21 PM

I have a 4 ohm MB104HF and a LM3. This is very very loud with massive bottom end, but this is a totally different proposition to the 12" combo, which is great for small gigs and with the additional 12" good for medium set ups. I have rarely needed to push the 104HF anywhere near its limit, but it is physically much larger than the 12 combos.

My name is Mudd · #15 04-15-2011, 07:41 PM

Another +1 for matching cabs/speaker sizes when possible. If you like the tone your current rig gives, a matching cab will give that same tone, only more of it.

royforce · #16 04-16-2011, 12:57 PM

Yeah, I think everyone agree to avoid the cmd121 + 4x10 and of course I considered to sale my combo to avoid the issue of matching it but this combo really really useful so I guess now I have to wait to go to France to try this 121H in Paris (I'm in the middle of Virginia right now w/out any markbass dealer anywhere close). Thanks for all your advice.

I would still be interested to know if anyone had an issue with the rear port to close to a wall.

**Freddels** · #17 04-16-2011, 03:46 PM

I would suggest you keep the combo since it's useful to you. Then get a 104HF cab. When you need the larger cab, bring both and unplug the speaker in the combo and just run the head into the 104HF. Perhaps, in the future, you can pick up a separate LMKIII head but until then just bring the combo. Or you could also add the 102HF cab to the 104HF (in the future) and still run it off the combo head. That would be the most versatile set up (until you add the separate head).

My name is Mudd · #18 04-16-2011, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by royforce

...I'm in the middle of Virginia right now w/out any markbass dealer anywhere close...

You mean there IS somewhere that GC hasn't been to?

royforce · #19 04-16-2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My name is Mudd

You mean there IS somewhere that GC hasn't been to?

what I mean is the first GC is at more than 3hours from Blacksburg,VA and I don't have a car so it would be quite a trip to test this cab.

royforce · #20 04-16-2011, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

I would suggest you keep the combo since it's useful to you. Then get a 104HF cab. When you need the larger cab, bring both and unplug the speaker in the combo and just run the head into the 104HF. Perhaps, in the future, you can pick up a separate LMKIII head but until then just bring the combo. Or you could also add the 102HF cab to the 104HF (in the future) and still run it off the combo head. That would be the most versatile set up (until you add the separate head).

You summarize pretty well my dilemma at this point. I can either go for the 104HF which will make more sens on a long run but would give me a odd setup during a certain time or go directly with the 121H and have a smaller finished rig.

so I guess now I just have to try the 121H to see if I could be fully satisfied with just 2-12 and my LMKII.