• 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 freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

MarkBass CMD 121p speakon issue

The output is clearly market with a plus/minus i.e. 2 pole, which makes perfect sense for a single channel output, so it`s extremely likely to be a NL2 socket. Your cable is a NL4 which is why you can`t insert it. Change the plug on the cable to a matching 2 pin and your done.
 
  • Like
Reactions: roccobladr
The output is clearly market with a plus/minus i.e. 2 pole, which makes perfect sense for a single channel output, so it`s extremely likely to be a NL2 socket. Your cable is a NL4 which is why you can`t insert it. Change the plug on the cable to a matching 2 pin and your done.
Are there any cables that come as NL2? Or do I need to buy the NL2 adapters and switch them with the current adapters?

I’m kinda thinking a 1/4” speaker cable might be my best bet here lol
 
Let's stop with the bad information, all it does is confuse the matter.

1. The SpeakOn combo jack is of the NL4 style but is only loaded with 1+/1- contacts (referred to as + and -) and is compatibe with both NL2 and NL4 style plugs. Combo jacks are generally green and protrude farther from the chassis than NL4 jacks do.

2. If the plug won't lock, there is something wrong with either the jack or the plug. It's possible that one of them has been damaged (or is defective, or is a knock-off).

3. The only amp manufacturer that I am aware of that uses NL2 jacks is GK, which this obviously isn't.
 
I had no idea connecting a cab could be so complicated! Is there any drawback using a 1/4” cable in terms of power being supplied?

I understand there could be safety hazards and the speakon is locking which is great, but for now it’s just going to be used mainly at practice in a basement.

It's not complicated at all.

Are there any cables that come as NL2? Or do I need to buy the NL2 adapters and switch them with the current adapters?

I’m kinda thinking a 1/4” speaker cable might be my best bet here lol

Either NL2 or NL4 will work, my guess is that you have knock-off (or counterfeit) plugs on your cables. These plugs can sometimes come apart inside and damage (destroy) the jack as well.
 
1. The SpeakOn combo jack is of the NL4 style but is only loaded with 1+/1- contacts (referred to as + and -) and is compatibe with both NL2 and NL4 style plugs. Combo jacks are generally green and protrude farther from the chassis than NL4 jacks do.
We all learn something new every day. And my commom sense apparently was not a good match for this problem.
Why do they use a 4 way female socket on a mono output? Greater flexibility?
And how do you dertermine the difference just by looking at it?
 
We all learn something new every day. And my commom sense apparently was not a good match for this problem.
Why do they use a 4 way female socket on a mono output? Greater flexibility?
And how do you dertermine the difference just by looking at it?
So that it's more compatible with the plugs based on the applications it was intended for. It was first introduced for the pro audio industry.

The information is in Neutrik's data sheets, but the general rule is that the NL2 jacks are stand alone in t hat the NL2 jack will only accept an NL2 plug. The NL4 jack will accept NL2 or NL4 plugs and the combo jack is based in the NL4 format without the 2+/2- contacts.
 
  • Like
Reactions: abarson and SJan3
I noticed the NL4FC plugs I have (genuine Neutrik) fit much more tightly in the SpeakOn combo jack than in non-combo jacks. There was enough resistance I figured the FC version was not compatible with the combo jack.

The NL4FC plug fits easily in a non-combo SpeakOn jack. The NL4FX plug fits easily into both the combo and non-combo jacks I tried.

IMG_8863.JPG


IMG_8866.JPG
 
Hello everybody,...well, i stupidly put the speakon cable 180 ° the wrong way into my CMD 121, and i cant put it back so the female speakon in the CMD 121 needs to be replaced...the place of the connector inside the amp is not so easy to access before an exterior concert in the semi darkness of the evening!!
the amp is not two years old and is ok, but the waranty wont work because i made the mistake.
so i have just a little question please:
is it possible and not too complicated to self change this connector in the amp (the female side then)?
it must be not so hard or am i totally wrong?
thaks a lot and have a nice day
Philippe from France
 
Bon jour, Phillipe. If I'm reading you correctly, you managed to insert the Speakon speaker cable into the back of the amp the wrong way and damaged the Speakon connector on the amp. Now the amp won't accept a cable inserted the correct way? Or is it that now you can't remove the speaker cable from the amp?

And someone is bound to ask, so I'll go first: is the connector on the speaker cable a genuine Neutrik connector and not a clone or counterfeit? Are you certain the connector on the speaker cable isn't the bad one? (Have you tried to insert a different speaker cable, or the opposite end of the same cable into the amp?)

Although it seems odd, with Speakons, the speaker cable has the female connectors, and the amp output and speaker cab have male connectors.
 
Bon jour, Phillipe. If I'm reading you correctly, you managed to insert the Speakon speaker cable into the back of the amp the wrong way and damaged the Speakon connector on the amp. Now the amp won't accept a cable inserted the correct way? Or is it that now you can't remove the speaker cable from the amp?

And someone is bound to ask, so I'll go first: is the connector on the speaker cable a genuine Neutrik connector and not a clone or counterfeit? Are you certain the connector on the speaker cable isn't the bad one? (Have you tried to insert a different speaker cable, or the opposite end of the same cable into the amp?)

Although it seems odd, with Speakons, the speaker cable has the female connectors, and the amp output and speaker cab have male connectors.
Hello Redbrangus, and thank you,
i have used already several times the markbass cmd 121 with the cab new york 121, and it works perfectly with my cable.
The problem is, we played a gig outside in a camping place and there was very little light.
The place to connect the speakon in the cmd121 is very odd...We dont see the connexion.
____
this is correct :
_______________________
If I'm reading you correctly, you managed to insert the Speakon speaker cable into the back of the amp the wrong way and damaged the Speakon connector on the amp...
...Or is it that now you can't remove the speaker cable from the amp?...
_______________________
i put the cable 180° the wrong way apparently! Actually this was very easy to do.
I send it back where i bought it, because i didnt want to break something else, but as they say it is my fault, witch is true, i am wondering if i will pay more for a repair or try to do it myself if it is not that expensive, i think i can do it, quietly...i am waiting now for the price of the repair!
with the cab newyork 121, there is no problem, the connexion is on the backside,
but with the cmd 121, the place of the connexion is just stupid i think. Markbass said to me that the place is there because of the build of the amp, well anyway...
thank you
 

Attachments

  • photo_3.jpg
    photo_3.jpg
    824.3 KB · Views: 15
The combo jacks are difficult to replace without the necessary tools and experience because they are almost all PC mount and with multiple pins (there are different versions of the combo jack. You need to have the right one, and installed without damaging the PCB
 
  • Like
Reactions: WRM
Thank you agedhorse, i think i remember having choosen this amp because you write somewhere it was a very good amp, witch is true, even if i am not a pro to judge!
Then i have to wait the answer to know the price of the repair...
The place of the speakon in the amp cmd 121 is a little weird no? Am i supposed to leave a cable always in, so i dont have to bring a light, anyway i will be very careful in the future, if i get my amp back und funtionnal.