Dr Funk
"If you ain't appearing then you be disappearing"
Please let us know a direct comparison between the LM Tube and the LM Tube 800. I can't wait to read your findings, thanks.
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MarkBass Little Mark Tube 800
- Thread starter Red Planet
- Start date
Please let us know a direct comparison between the LM Tube and the LM Tube 800. I can't wait to read your findings, thanks.
I love the LMIII! It's got a great sound and it's loud. No distortion at all. Even at high volumes. I blasted it with my custom 2 15 to the point were my ears couldn't take it anymore. I need to tweek the e.q. a bit but overall it's great. Now only if it had the power of the LM Tube 800 and a tuner mute then I would be a happy camper. But I am being way to nit picky. IMO it is well worth the money.
I've pushed two 1x15 Ampeg cabs with my LMII and it got as loud as my Ampeg SVT-CL ever did with those cabs. I've been very impressed with it.
Well I made up my mind I just got the Shuttle 12.0 and IMO it blows away the LMIII. So I am returning it to G.C. One thing that I do not like on the LMIII is that it seems to have some kind of built in limiter in the preamp section that you can't shut off. My signals seem to be squashed. I really didn't notice it until I played through the Shuttle.
The Shuttle is much more versatle than the LMIII both in sound and wattage capabilities.
It was more expensive but IMO it was worth it.
The Shuttle is much more versatle than the LMIII both in sound and wattage capabilities.
It was more expensive but IMO it was worth it.
I wonder if the new limiter is doing some strange things, since the LMII SPANKED the original Shuttle 6.0 (at least for most who A/B'd them). I need to get a Shuttle 6 Max and check this out. Seems like the Genz boys raised the bar versus the original 6.0.
LilRay
Commercial User
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Or could the limiter be defective on the LMIII that davidjbass has? Especially with it being a new component.
God Bless, Ray
I really want someone to compare the LMII to the LMIII. These limiter issues are somewhat curious.
+1 I have the F500 with the new limiter, and have A/B'd at high volumes with my F1 and can hear no difference when pushed (i.e., I can get either to compress or hit safety limiting at all, even at volumes that are extremely uncomfortable!). Except for slapping at stupid high volumes at 8ohms, I have yet to reach the 'limiting peak' of any MB amp, even at what I consider 'ear plug stupid inappropriate' loud volume, using slap technique into large 4ohm 410's. However, I guess I pride myself on an even, controlled technique (I have zero need for a limiter/compressor), and also find no need to add any EQ to my tone (although I cut a bit of upper mids in some situations). I guess if you are cranking the low end and 'gorilla-ing' the technique, things could easily be different across various pieces of gear.
Not sure what is going one. I guess each individual's playing styles differ, and some rigs work better than others for different players.
As has been posted by many others, the LMII is noticeably louder, more even, deeper, and less compressed than the original Shuttle 6.0. I have not idea if this relationship has flipped between the LMIII and the Genz Max heads. So, not sure what is going on here.
My old LMII never had this problem. It never sounded squashed. I know that the LMIII's have some form of new limiter circut in them to help them be more dynamic. I have been trying to find an artical about it. I know I read it somewhere. I have a very even style of playing. I play hard but very evenly. So I know it's not my playing style. I also keep all my active basses set at center detent on the e.q. so it's not like I am overloading the signal with the bass preamp. It would seem very strange that I would get 2 bad units in less than 2 weeks. But who knows I am buying them from Guitar Center and the LMIII was a floor model.
Interesting! Yes, the new limiter is listed as a dual band, which means it's supposed to impact the top end less than the low end, in the spirit of maximizing headroom.
So, this makes more sense now, since I've never experienced the 'clamping' or the LMIII that you and Red Planet are discussing with my LMII, and it seems you haven't either with your LMII.
Maybe they need to tweak the settings on the new limiter of the LMIII a bit more to get the max out of it. Bummer if they designed this to result in more transparent safety limiting, and it actually has resulted in being able to hear it more when it kicks in.
Nah, the LM II is pretty easy to hear the squash on, you just have to have the experienced ear to hear it. You can here it just as well on the LM III it is just a little different.
This is not esoteric rocket science.
BTW been gone a few days, what else you boys need straightened out on.
This is not esoteric rocket science.
BTW been gone a few days, what else you boys need straightened out on.
So, is the lmk800 tube louder than the lmkII or jjust sound different? Im getting lost.
Very different sounding, maybe a bit louder.
I guess thats where Im lost. People say the lmk800 is like the sd800 and the sd800 is a lot louder than the lmkII. But it sounds like the lmk800 isnt much louder than the lmkII from what Im reading in this thread.
I guess thats where Im lost. People say the lmk800 is like the sd800 and the sd800 is a lot louder than the lmkII. But it sounds like the lmk800 isnt much louder than the lmkII from what Im reading in this thread.
I've owned all three. The PRIMARY difference is tone, with the SD800/LMTube800 having a wider low end, less low mid push (even when EQ'd), MUCH more aggressive upper mids, and a more 'clinical' top end to my ear.
While the volume of the LMTube800/SD800 is a bit more than the LMII, the TONE profile (i.e., less punchy) results in the increased power of the 800 series to not really seem louder than the LMII (I have not played the III) in a mix on the gig.
Again, if you think that the LMTube800 or LM800 are 'louder' LMII's or III's, IMO and IME you will be disappointed, given that they sound so different, and the volume difference is not night and day. IMO and IME!
I just bought the LMTube 800, after diferent tests, etc. and consultation with Dave at 'Club Bass' in Toronto.
I had a LMK II before and it is definitely different than the LMK II in the sense that it has more 'balls' and low end that is for sure. The best mix is 50-50 solid state and tube, and it offers a round, low end and very fast attack, which is different than my previous LMK II. I dig the fact it has two inputs, so I might need another bass !!!!! I also dig the Mute switch.
I like it a lot, it is a very clean amp, as all MarkBass products.
The bigger headroom ( 800 watts ) also seem to play a good part in the Tone in my opinion. At 800 watts, this is certainly an amp that will easily push my 410 / 210 HF combination of MarkBass cabinets.
I will keep this one.
What I get is a more 'round', with more bottom end, and warmth tone I was used to. This is a great amp.
I had a LMK II before and it is definitely different than the LMK II in the sense that it has more 'balls' and low end that is for sure. The best mix is 50-50 solid state and tube, and it offers a round, low end and very fast attack, which is different than my previous LMK II. I dig the fact it has two inputs, so I might need another bass !!!!! I also dig the Mute switch.
I like it a lot, it is a very clean amp, as all MarkBass products.
The bigger headroom ( 800 watts ) also seem to play a good part in the Tone in my opinion. At 800 watts, this is certainly an amp that will easily push my 410 / 210 HF combination of MarkBass cabinets.
I will keep this one.
What I get is a more 'round', with more bottom end, and warmth tone I was used to. This is a great amp.
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These tonal differences are a little surprising.
I have only A/B -ed the F1 and LMII.
After reading all this I'm glad I did not go with the LMTube.
I'm happy to have my 2 LMIIs
Must be that different power amp section.
These tonal differences are a little surprising.
I have only A/B -ed the F1 and LMII.
After reading all this I'm glad I did not go with the LMTube.
I'm happy to have my 2 LMIIs
Must be that different power amp section.
+1 The LMII/III, F1/f500, and LM800/Tube800 all have different power sections, a 500 watt class A/B, a 500 watt class D, and a 750 watt class D (not sure why they call it '800'
). As the post above from the TBer who digs the heck out of the LM800Tube suggests, 'different' does not mean 'better or worse'... just, well... different.
My preference is the F1/F500 quickness and also tightness in the low end versus the bigger, warmer sounding LMII/III or the deeper, wider, crisper and a bit more solid state sounding 800 models.
Different strokes for different folks, and all this stuff sounds good.
The F500 is just FLOATING my boat in a BIG way!
