Double Bass Markbass Nano Mark 300 impressions?

[Ric Vice]

Since I'm not fond of having a compressor that can't be switched off, I wouldn't be interested in the Nano 300 Mark II. It's nice for EB but not DB.
The original Red Nano Mark 300 is a great DB amplifier

 

[Bassemma]

I bought the Nano (I) to amplify the Double Bass. At first I was impressed, wow, such a little thing and so much power. But then I compared it 1 : 1 with my old Tecamp A/B-Amp - and the difference is so clearly audible: The lows have more headroom and the highs are more clear and natural with the A/B-Amp. And the high mids have something penetrant with the Nano (I thought this came from the pickups or strings). Passing the preamp(s) by using a Fishman platinum or a Headway edb-2 helped only a little bit. To me the Nano of course can be used for DB-Ampflification - but there are better sounding options.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

The Nano is a very clean sounding head but there is something going on in the mids that I can’t quite define but maybe it sounds cold and sterile. The TC BAM200 has a warmer tone with some midrange bloom, and probably higher distortion, yet sounds more natural to me. The BAM is also much smaller and less powerful.

 

[Ric Vice]

I bought the Nano (I) to amplify the Double Bass. At first I was impressed, wow, such a little thing and so much power. But then I compared it 1 : 1 with my old Tecamp A/B-Amp - and the difference is so clearly audible: The lows have more headroom and the highs are more clear and natural with the A/B-Amp. And the high mids have something penetrant with the Nano (I thought this came from the pickups or strings). Passing the preamp(s) by using a Fishman platinum or a Headway edb-2 helped only a little bit. To me the Nano of course can be used for DB-Ampflification - but there are better sounding options.

I am fortunate enough to a Grace Felix Preamp and powered MAS 1/8 speakers. It sounds incredible, that said comparing that system to
the BAM 200 that I owned just wouldn’t be fair. The original Tech Amp with the Powersoft Module sounded lovely with Double Bass, I tried one of the newer
Tech Amps with the Ice Power module and thought it was better suited for Electric Bass. Better sounding options usually cost more. Just my take however.

 

[Ric Vice]

The Nano is a very clean sounding head but there is something going on in the mids that I can’t quite define but maybe it sounds cold and sterile. The TC BAM200 has a warmer tone with some midrange bloom, and probably higher distortion, yet sounds more natural to me. The BAM is also much smaller and less powerful.

I hear you Greg. My experience has been that most Markbass amps are voiced for bass guitar. T I agree that the BAM 200 sounds great with DB, my experience was that it’s underpowered for things like quintets or big band. It reminds me of my old GK 200MB’s tone quality. I think that it’s just an accident that the BAM 200 and Nanomark work for DB.

 

[Bassemma]

I compared the Nano to an older Tecamp Tiger which has a Class A/B Poweramp. Ric, it's interesting that you liked the older Class D Tecamp Puma more than the newer Eich Class D Amp. I thougt the modern ICE-Power-Modules are the non-plus-ultra in Class D. Isn't it the same Power-Amp in the Eichs, Glockenklangs, Acoustic Images?

There is also a 5MOhm Version, modified by Thomas Eich, availiable: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] But isn't something like the AI Clarus more suited for Double Bass?

Maybe my whole chain (Schertler Stat B -> Nano Effect return -> SAD 1x12"Box with Tweeter) brings out some frequencies of the Nano, that I don't like and make the Nano a NoNo to me .

 

[Ric Vice]

Bassemma,
I’ve never been able to hear one of the Eichamps here in Missouri. The only reason I ever played through one of the original Tech amps was because a close friend in St. Louis owned one for a time. I liked how it sounded IcePower units are the dominant supplier to most bass and PA amp manufacturers. All my powered MAS cabinets use them. Their very reliable. My Monique M700 uses the Hypex power amp. The Grace Felix makes virtually any power amp pickup sound wonderful. So my chain is a Remic DB 5400LB FOH or the Ehrlund EAP to the Grace. Acoustic Image builds very reliable amps.