• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

How Much Hiss is Reasonable? Mesa/Markbass

#61
It would be helpful to hear recordings of the hiss and noise.
I have an iPhone and I can set the "Voice Memos" to Audio Quality -> "Lossless" and bang, I can get crystal clear high quality recordings I can pull into RX, Audacity, or a DAW and do some analysis of the noise.
I can see what I can't hear. It can be very interesting!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Phaidrus
#62
seamonkey said:
It would be helpful to hear recordings of the hiss and noise.
I have an iPhone and I can set the "Voice Memos" to Audio Quality -> "Lossless" and bang, I can get crystal clear high quality recordings I can pull into RX, Audacity, or a DAW and do some analysis of the noise.
I can see what I can't hear. It can be very interesting!
Click to expand...

Video was added in post 4. The Markbass head was the issue and was returned with no hassle :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: seamonkey
#65
HimiJ said:
Hi, I have the same issue with LM AG 1000 and MB 104 Pure 8 Cab combination I just got. How did you solve the issue? Was it indeed the amp being faulty?
Click to expand...

Yep - it was the Markbass head that was faulty. I ended up returning it as I didn’t need it and it was within its grace period with Guitar Center. I still have the cab and it is working flawlessly. Have you been able to determine whether the cab or the head is the source of the issue?
 
  • Like
Reactions: HimiJ
#66
jmattbassplaya said:
Yep - it was the Markbass head that was faulty. I ended up returning it as I didn’t need it and it was within its grace period with Guitar Center. I still have the cab and it is working flawlessly. Have you been able to determine whether the cab or the head is the source of the issue?
Click to expand...
I will have to try another MB head (likely the Little Mark IV Ninja) and will update soon. Another user also replied in the meantime (AG1000 Opinion thread) and also confirmed facing an hiss issue with the AG1000. Otherwise it is a solid amp. The noise is also present on the DI out and changes with EQ even more so definitely sending it back. So i can rule the Cab out but will surely check soon with another head.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jmattbassplaya
#67
HimiJ said:
I will have to try another MB head (likely the Little Mark IV Ninja) and will update soon. Another user also replied in the meantime (AG1000 Opinion thread) and also confirmed facing an hiss issue with the AG1000. Otherwise it is a solid amp. The noise is also present on the DI out and changes with EQ even more so definitely sending it back. So i can rule the Cab out but will surely check soon with another head.
Click to expand...

Let us know and good luck! It’s a shame. I used to LOVE Markbass heads like the SD800 and the LMII and III, but my most recent experience has made me a little more skeptical of them - particularly if they have a tube pre.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HimiJ
#70
jmattbassplaya said:
Let us know and good luck! It’s a shame. I used to LOVE Markbass heads like the SD800 and the LMII and III, but my most recent experience has made me a little more skeptical of them - particularly if they have a tube pre.
Click to expand...
Hi,
So the LM IV Ninja finally arrived. It is surely lighter than the AG1000. But boasts same power specs. The Ninja also has some hiss on the Tweeter but much less than AG1000. I think now that the HiFi tweeter on the 104 Pure 8 cabs are too sensitive. I turned on some attenuation provided at the back of the cab and now the hiss is negligible.
I feel the EQ on the Ninja easier to dial in and Bass sound is nice flat and powerful!
What i do find interesting is that i put my GT-1000 output main L to the Return on the amp for trying out some sounds. Eventually i will switch to the 4CM. But with just one cable the Amp EQ still works has an effect on the overall sound. I don’t have a schematic of the amp but it seems the amp EQ section on the Ninja sits after the Return loop. Quite an interesting result. It doesn’t disturb me as the amp is super clean. The LM IV Ninja is a keeper I find!
 
  • Like
Reactions: SJan3 and jmattbassplaya
#71
HimiJ said:
Hi,
So the LM IV Ninja finally arrived. It is surely lighter than the AG1000. But boasts same power specs. The Ninja also has some hiss on the Tweeter but much less than AG1000. I think now that the HiFi tweeter on the 104 Pure 8 cabs are too sensitive.
Click to expand...

IF you think the Pure cab has a sensitive tweeter, the Energy cabs have an even harsher tweeter - so the hiss you get from them is actually over a broader range of frequencies. It's not at all unusual to have to dial back your tweeter to taste. That's what the L-Pad is there for. Also cab makers seem to use the sensitivity of the tweeter (which are often very sensitive!) to boost their efficiency numbers in their cabinet marketing spec sheets... ugh...

...and yes, the return on those amps is in parallel to the input - so the EQ will affect it. There may be a set of jumpers that can be changed, but I'm not sure if those exist on the Ninja line... I had a Markbass amp that had its jumpers changed so the return broke the chain to the preamp completely. Apparently Markbass doesn't publicly say it can be done, anymore.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RiZzBot, SJan3, agedhorse and 1 other person

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back