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Picking a Markbass Rig

FatPhalanges

FatPhalanges

Jun 1, 2014
29
6
New York
#1
Hey there! I cant seem to find helpful information anywhere and I emailed markbass with no response so far.

I am in the market for a new amp/cab rig and had my eye on getting a LM Tube 800 with a 104HF(4 ohms).

When I went to put the rig on layaway at my music shop, they didnt have that cab. Instead they had a cab pair of 104HF(8ohm) and a Traveler 102P(8ohm). My first reaction is that it might be nice to have those two extra 10s in case I need them for bigger and outdoor shows. However, I have some questions before I buy, as I am new to the world of cab/amp pairing.

Will the cabs share the 800w equally? if so, would that lead to the 102P sapping some of the power that the 104HF could be using and making it quieter than the 102P?

Would using just the 8ohm 104HF alone(at 500W) be substantially lower volume than if I were to just get the 4 ohm version alone? Would it be able to keep up with a 7 piece band at a club?
 
#2
If you use two 8-ohm cabs, half the wattage from the amp will go to each. The potential problem is that in the 4x10, that juice gets split among 4 speakers, but in the 2x10 it gets split between two. That means that the speakers in the 2x10 are working harder than those in the 4x10 at any given volume, so if you push the 4x10 to its limit the speakers in the 2x10 could be damaged.

Used alone, the 8-ohm version of the 2x10 will not be quite as loud as the 4-ohm version, but the difference should be less than you might expect and I've gotta think that it would still be plenty of volume to meet your needs. (If not, the band is too damned loud!)

Personally, I'd ditch the 4x10 and go with a pair of 8-0hm 2x10s stacked vertically. That would use all the wattage available from the amp -- just like a 4-ohm 4x10 -- but there are many advantages to the vertical stack relative to the 4x10 box.
 
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#3
Lobster11 said:
Personally, I'd ditch the 4x10 and go with a pair of 8-0hm 2x10s stacked vertically. That would use all the wattage available from the amp -- just like a 4-ohm 4x10 -- but there are many advantages to the vertical stack relative to the 4x10 box.
Click to expand...

Thats an interesting idea! Would you be able to elaborate? My concern without the 410, I would have only the piezo tweeters as opposed to the compression driver/Horn if I just got two 210s. Do you think it would make much of a difference?
 
#4
FatPhalanges said:
Thats an interesting idea! Would you be able to elaborate? My concern without the 410, I would have only the piezo tweeters as opposed to the compression driver/Horn if I just got two 210s. Do you think it would make much of a difference?
Click to expand...
I'm sorry I can't answer your question about the tweeters vs. horn, because I don't use no stinkin' tweeters. :smug: But assuming that the cabs have volume controls for the tweeters (which I assume most do), you'd have the option of using the tweeters in both cabs, or only one of them, and I'm sure you could find a sweet spot in there somewhere.

Some of the advantages of the vertically stacked 2x10s: (1) Most important to me is the fact that I can hear myself so much better than with a cabinet on the floor blasting my ankles. (2) The physics guys say that having the drivers in a vertical linear array provides the best horizontal dispersion of sound in the room. (3) Two 2x10 cabs take up a little more total space than a single 4x10, but are often easier to get into a trunk or back seat and are easier to carry. (4) Vertically stacked 2x10s have a smaller footprint on stage than a 4x10, which is great for small/crowded stages and for storage at home. (5) For smaller gigs you can just bring one of the cabs. (6) If you put your head on top of the cabs it's almost up at eye level, so easy to see and access the controls. (7) It looks cool.
 
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#9
rodl2005 said:
As above. Go for the 2 8 ohm 210s. .. or. .. 2 8 ohm 410s. .. or 2 8 ohm 212s
In either case. ...one cab for most / smaller gigs, both of them for bigger
Click to expand...

Great advice. I have similar flexibility and can do small club stages to big theater and outdoor stages, no problemo.

If you need more stage volume than those arrays will provide, you also need a couple of roadies and a tractor trailer, because you must be playing stadiums and arenas.
 

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