Markbass CMD 121H Versus CMD 121P

[GRoberts]

I have been using a Markbass CMD121P for many years as my small gig rig for Duo shows, jazz shows, practice amp and I also have stacked it atop a Baer ML112 1x12 cabinet to create a 4-ohm 2x12 rig. The CMD 121P/Baer ML112 works surprisingly well but is indeed mismatched.

There are times when the CMD121p is not quite enough (punch of full range bloom) for some venues. But carrying the Baer ML112 is overkill. So I am thinking about try a Markbass CMD-121H Combo (for a couple reasons)

I never liked the piezo tweeter in the CMD121P, but the amp works well enough. So I give up some high-end sweetness for the overall benefits of a small bass amp that outperforms its size.

Has anyone compared the CMD121H Combo directly to the CMD-121P Combo? I am wondering if the larger/taller/deeper CMD121H will have more punch and presence than the CMD121P?

I will not be letting go of my CMD121P however. There are times when its form factor and performance simply make it the best tool for the job. But there are many times a slightly punchier, fuller sounding 1x12 Combo with a Horn (instead of a Pieze tweeter) would sound better.

Thanks for any insight you have of the 121H versus the 121P. I can only imagine the 121H (horn) will sound better and be a sound I like better.

 

[Low Class]

The CMD121H has a lot more presence and punch than the CMD121P. Overall sounds better.

 

[GRoberts]

The CMD121H has a lot more presence and punch than the CMD121P. Overall sounds better.

Thanks! I figure as much but wanted to know if the difference is appreciable enough to warrant opting for the CMD-121H. I expect this to be the case.

 

[Sparky Mark]

I have owned both and now only own the CMD121P. Although the CMD121H has a better high frequency horn and does indeed go deeper than the CMD121P I found the P combined with a NY121P cab way more capable and is only slightly taller. The H combo is also deeper physically. The P plus the NY121P is the perfect lightweight mini rig that goes incredibly loud and punchy. I even had a TRV121H that I used with the CMD121H but still preferred the smaller rig. In my experience you'll get more depth but no more punch.

 

[GRoberts]

I have owned both and now only own the CMD121P. Although the CMD121H has a better high-frequency horn and does indeed go deeper than the CMD121P I found the P combined with a NY121P cab way more capable and is only slightly taller. The H combo is also deeper physically. The P plus the NY121P is the perfect lightweight mini rig that goes incredibly loud and punchy. I even had a TRV121H that I used with the CMD121H but still preferred the smaller rig. In my experience, you'll get more depth but no more punch.

Wow, Awesome of you to share. Thank you! Talkbass is best! I love the form factor of the CMD121p. But I strongly dislike the tweeter. I always have. I never get 'my sound'. That's frustrating. The tradeoff to get more depth and the Horn is a large CMD. Sigh. What you gain on one side you lose on the other. I can honestly gig my GK MBF 800 and a single Baer ML112 and its amazing. LOVE the sound. But the CMD121p is just sooooo darn easy to use and it gets the job done. It's just not my favorite sound as a stand-alone small gig rig.

 

[Russell L]

I have a 2008 121H, and have always been impressed with it, but have never played a 121P. I'll say this, though, I like the sound of my 121H better than my LMIII head into my Traveler 151P cab. Seems I can carry a larger venue with the LMIII and the 151P, though. And yes, I like the compression driver in the 121H better than the piezo in the 151P.

Guess that doesn't help you much, though. I hope others chime in more.

 

[lostpoet2]

I used to have a 121p combo and one thing I regret is I never tried disconnecting the tweeter. I usually used a bit of VLE, so perhaps I could have left that off and turned up the highs without the tweeter.

 

[FrankG]

I own a CMD 121p and replaced the piezo tweeter with a horn-speaker (just saw off an edge of the horn and make the hole in the amp for it a little bigger): Invalid Link Removed --- the heights are much more comfort sounding and give the amp a new - to me a more natural - sound.