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Little Mark II SPEAKER OUT with no load?

archeobassist

archeobassist

Feb 25, 2013
24
9
Marino, Rome, Italy
#1
Hi everyone, I'd like to know if the LM II head can be used as a preamp only, going directly from the SPEAKER OUT, not the LINE OUT. I woould try to do this in order to have another control knob to adjust the volume (MASTER), instead of having to adjust it only via the GAIN input...
I know you can use the balanced, post eq line out of the unit to plug into a mixer, audio interface, cab emulator ecc.and in that case you don't need a loadbox, I'm talking about using the speaker out to do the same with a Speakon - 1/4" jack cable plugged into audio interface and other devices.
I've sent an email to MarkBass tech support, this is their answer:

Thanks for writing and for choosing Markbass.

I confirm that the amp can be used without necessarily connecting a speaker, no problem.

Best Regards,

Riccardo

In my message I've specified I was referring to using the speaker out and not the line out (which as I said I know can be used that way) but the guy remained pretty vague in his answer...Same with searching the forum, I've found this thread

Little Mark II as a direct box?

but it's not mentioned whether they refer to the line out or the speaker out

Thanks a lot

p.s. sorry if my question sounds dumb, it's only that I would be 100% sure I'm not going to damage anything...
 
#3
Do not do this, it's a good way to damage both the amp and what you connect it to. Especially if it's one of the newer MarkBass class D versions which operate internally in bridge mode.

Operating without a load (no connection) is not a problem though
 
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#4
You should use either the DI out or AUX out from the amp and adjust the input gain on your next piece of gear, as designed.
The Speaker Out is the power amp output and will either destroy the other gear, itself or both if you attempt this kind of malarky.
Let's not give the firemen a reason to dispatch.
 
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#8
abarson said:
You can use the amp with no speaker connected at all, and the other outputs will be fine.
Click to expand...
I see...so for example, if I wanted to use the speaker out without a cabinet I should connect a load box and then go from the load box to other devices... It is correct? Thanks for the patience, the fact is that with the lockdown and the quarantine (I'm from Italy...) one of the ways I've found to kill time (or at least try) is to get more acknowledged about concepts like the way gear works, connections, etc...
 
#9
archeobassist said:
I see...so for example, if I wanted to use the speaker out without a cabinet I should connect a load box and then go from the load box to other devices... It is correct? Thanks for the patience, the fact is that with the lockdown and the quarantine (I'm from Italy...) one of the ways I've found to kill time (or at least try) is to get more acknowledged about concepts like the way gear works, connections, etc...
Click to expand...
Do not connect a load box or any other device to the Speaker Out. It's for speakers ONLY and damage may occur with other devices as Agedhorse has explained.
 
#10
Correct. With load boxes, the "ground" connection (or pin 1 on the balanced output) MUST be fully isolated from both poles (or terminals) of the speaker output it serious damage can result. This applies to any amplifier that uses bridged topology (internally or as a switched feature).

Many load boxes do not do this, their primary application of being used in conjunction with tube power amps excludes bridged topology concerns.
 
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#11
agedhorse said:
Correct. With load boxes, the "ground" connection (or pin 1 on the balanced output) MUST be fully isolated from both poles (or terminals) of the speaker output it serious damage can result. This applies to any amplifier that uses bridged topology (internally or as a switched feature).

Many load boxes do not do this, their primary application of being used in conjunction with tube power amps excludes bridged topology concerns.
Click to expand...
At this point it seems to me like I don't correctly understand the use of a load box... Shouldn't it allow me to use a head without a cabinet?
In the case in object, a chain like the following: bass - little mark input - speaker out - loadbox (thru a speakon/jack cable) - audio interface
would not work? Which would be the right way?
Thanks again, your help is super-appreciated while I try to understand
 
#13
archeobassist said:
At this point it seems to me like I don't correctly understand the use of a load box... Shouldn't it allow me to use a head without a cabinet?
In the case in object, a chain like the following: bass - little mark input - speaker out - loadbox (thru a speakon/jack cable) - audio interface
would not work? Which would be the right way?
Thanks again, your help is super-appreciated while I try to understand
Click to expand...
NO, you are not understanding the important details of what I have been saying.

Load boxes are designed specifically for tube based power amps. Tube power amps can NOT be used without a load connected to the speaker output. Tube amps are also generally not bridged topology.

Your Markbass amp does not contain a tube based power amp and CAN be used without a load connected to the speaker output. Some MarkBass amps use an internally bridge mode class D power amp, so my general comment and warning is that you should NOT use this type of amp with a load box because the necessary isolation is not often included and serious damage can result to both the amp and the device that it is connected to.

Most load boxes do not mention this caution because they were never intended to be used with such amps that use bridged connections. They are also generally limited to about 100 watts maximum power.

Use the LINE output or the DI output (depending on the type of connection you need), do NOT use the speaker output for anything but a speaker.
 
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#15
Maybe you should just make things simpler on yourself and get a preamp pedal.

11081000001.MAIN__33843.1576897830.jpg
 
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#18
  • Tube amp: Use an appropriate load box if you're not using a speaker. Your Markbass LMII is not a tube amp.
  • Solid state amp: Do not use a load box. You can operate the amp without anything connected to the Speaker Out. Your Markbass LMII is a solid state amp.
  • Hybrid amp: This is a solid state power amplifier with a tube preamplifier. Do not use a load box. You can operate the amp without anything connected to the Speaker Out. Your Markbass LMII is not a hybrid amp.

Use either the DI out or Aux Out as appropriate when connecting to other audio interfaces, such as a mixer or analog-to-digital recording unit. Adjust input gain on the audio interface for the best signal quality.

And I really miss Roscioli's pizza and pastries! Stay safe in Rome!
 
Last edited:
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#20
archeobassist said:
I see...so for example, if I wanted to use the speaker out without a cabinet I should connect a load box and then go from the load box to other devices... It is correct? Thanks for the patience, the fact is that with the lockdown and the quarantine (I'm from Italy...) one of the ways I've found to kill time (or at least try) is to get more acknowledged about concepts like the way gear works, connections, etc...
Click to expand...
Using a load box on a solid state amp is useless. And good luck getting a load box that works on a 500w amp.

Just use the line out and forget the silly notion of using a load box on a solid state amp.
 
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