I'm in the market for a Markbass combo and am currently deciding between these two. I would appreciate your advice in deciding. They seem to be quite similar with the exception of the Aux input, headphone jack, no line out level and no extension cab features of the Alain Caron cab. I've heard complaints of hissing from the tweeter in the 121 Lite. Is that the case for the 121H as well? How bad is the hissing? Also in Australia the 121 Lite is almost $AUD400 more expensive. Which combo would you guys recommend? What is the best overall Markbass combo? Thanks.
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Markbass CMD 121H or Alain Caron Combo 121 Lite
- Thread starter lowendpurveyor
- Start date
I would suggest the Traveler 121H cab with a Little Mark head instead of the combo. The separate cab gives you control over the horn that the combo does not have.
I have a 121H. There are certainly no hiss issues that I have noticed with it. I always prefer to have an attenuator with the horn but to be honest I have not missed one with this combo. The crossover seems to be well balanced and if you need to the treble and VPF controls seem to work well enough to control the tweeter. It is a very loud and punchy combo that goes quite deep.
Late answer - I know - but I tried out both intensively this week. Ended up with the AC combo in my pocket.
Both are really good not hissing combos, but I am sensitive about highs. The AC has a supposedly hornless or minimum horn size compression driver and therefore has very fine never annoying highs, even if it's level is not able to be dampened. That can be done by using the VLE knob or tuning the HF knob. Also it has hell of power als 500W go to the 12" and another 300W to the tweeter. Awesome combination and biggest bang for the bucks I could see in the shop.
Both are really good not hissing combos, but I am sensitive about highs. The AC has a supposedly hornless or minimum horn size compression driver and therefore has very fine never annoying highs, even if it's level is not able to be dampened. That can be done by using the VLE knob or tuning the HF knob. Also it has hell of power als 500W go to the 12" and another 300W to the tweeter. Awesome combination and biggest bang for the bucks I could see in the shop.
Ditto for the CMD 121H combo. Never know when you'll want an extension cab. But on either, be careful of adding too much bottom at higher volume, especially with the VPF control, if you slap or have a heavy plucking hand. I heard mine clicking that way, a sign that the speaker had run out of excursion. I usually don't use the VPF after that, and really don't need to boost the LOW control. Last gig I played was with both filters off (controls fully counterclockwise) and the eq controls all at noon, and we were outdoors, although against a wall. The sound was just perfect and plenty of volume with GAIN at 2:00 and MASTER at 10:30. Not a terribly loud gig, though, and no PA support. Such a fine sounding combo. And the compression driver is sweet. I like its sound better than my LMIII with my Traveler 151P cab. Mine is an older one with a LMII head in it.
Gain at 2 o'clock with a passive bass?
I got some issue being able to set my gain max at 2 (alike #2) for no input clipping with my MM Stingray, and that's my bass with the lower output.
I got some issue being able to set my gain max at 2 (alike #2) for no input clipping with my MM Stingray, and that's my bass with the lower output.
Mhh regarding the hissing... Mine does. But just when your ear is on axis or close to that with the tweeter.
As long as it stands on the floor it hisses to you knees, which usually don't complain.
As long as it stands on the floor it hisses to you knees, which usually don't complain.
Thanks guys. I hear there is a new improved AC combo in the works released soon. Anyone know anything about it?
I was reading about it. The combo seems to have more punch (max 1kW) but they went back to passive crossovers.
And they added a midrange driver so it's a 3-way speaker now.
Sad when you buy stuff and 2 weeks later it's "old". I'm happy anyway, the sound is cool - I mean warm which is cool...
And they added a midrange driver so it's a 3-way speaker now.
Sad when you buy stuff and 2 weeks later it's "old". I'm happy anyway, the sound is cool - I mean warm which is cool...
Im curious about the 121 lite though(the new alain caron seems just too heavy too drag around for my part) Does the 121 lite 500w + 300w tweeter pack alot more punch than a 121p or 121h as a standalone combo? anyone got experience with both? I really wanna know as I am interested in a 121 lite and I know the cmd121p just didnt cut it for me volume and bottom end wise.
Nah, no experience. Just theory: Imagine you compare a say 800 watts amp driving a fitting passive Box (like the ninja 112). It still will drive and cozily warm the passive crossover and loose quite some power there.
Now go to an active speaker (which the 121 lite actually is). It should - with experience from studio monitors or active PA speakers of all sorts - deliver quite some more volume and controlled sound, as the amps just drive the speaker - no passive components are there.
I don't know if Markbass did do any extra work to push the low end like extending the speakers range with a say lowcut filter to protect the speaker from subsonics while extending the close low end a tad more.
To be sure you would have to try I guess.
The bass of the 121 lite should behave more controlled and sofort less muddy, which might be perceived as less bass, in fact it isn't.
I for fun measured the frequency response (at home, so no volume checks). Funnily a neutral (as a monitor) behaving setting is achievable by hitting the VPF at noon and putting the highs down to zero. Otherwise you het the preshaped Marbass sound, which is fine
Now go to an active speaker (which the 121 lite actually is). It should - with experience from studio monitors or active PA speakers of all sorts - deliver quite some more volume and controlled sound, as the amps just drive the speaker - no passive components are there.
I don't know if Markbass did do any extra work to push the low end like extending the speakers range with a say lowcut filter to protect the speaker from subsonics while extending the close low end a tad more.
To be sure you would have to try I guess.
The bass of the 121 lite should behave more controlled and sofort less muddy, which might be perceived as less bass, in fact it isn't.
I for fun measured the frequency response (at home, so no volume checks). Funnily a neutral (as a monitor) behaving setting is achievable by hitting the VPF at noon and putting the highs down to zero. Otherwise you het the preshaped Marbass sound, which is fine
There's a thread here about the new Caron combo, the CMD Super Combo K1. I've got one and I have to say it's superb. Very loud, weight is substantial, yes, but it's an easy lift and move. Very flat response so it's true to the bass. I have used mine at a rehearsal and a gig so far and it was great.
