TRBboy

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1387798391' post='2315709'] I would jump on a Genz NX2 212T in the for sale section. Especially if it's below £500 as it's basically on par or better than the Markbass (which I've tried and is a great cab) for much less. The Berg CN212 would then swing it for me. [/quote] So Are you saying that you would choose the Markbass over the Berg?

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1387798268' post='2315703'] .. Have you considered Ba... No no, I'll be good.. How about EA... Ouch! Stop it!! Fine, TK.... Arrrrgh the agony [/quote] Oi!

[quote name='skychaserhigh' timestamp='1387798122' post='2315697'] I've got the vanderkley and It's superb. Plenty of everything with a very clear and balanced sound. Fantastic build quality too. Not compared it to the other cabs you mentioned though so I cant comment on them . [/quote] Got chance to try out some Vanderkley cabs the other week and I thought they were awesome. Really wide-open, flat and fast response.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1387797454' post='2315680'] ...The temptation [/quote] Hey! Stop it you!

Hey folks, just wondered if anyone has had any experience of the Markbass cab, and also either the Berg or Vanderkley? Just interested to know how the Markbass cab compares soundwise to these "boutique" cabs. It's a bit smaller and cheaper which is good, but not if it's at the expense of a decent sound! I guess one of my main concerns is that it's rear ported rather than front ported like the other two, so I don't know if it'll be a bit more variable in different rooms (although I suppose you should be able to sort it out with the eq). Thanks for your help! NB: Please only reply with info relating directly to the above 3 cabs. If you have other suggestions, please PM me. I want to try and avoid this thread being derailed and turned into another row!

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1387313190' post='2310656'] I've used 210 combos, 112, 115 cabs and not liked any of them. By that, I mean, they did ok on the gig but nothing to make me consider them further. I appreciated the combo in that it was small and light ( good carry ) and pokey enough and I think it is a great little rehearsal solution but didn't do it to the same degree on a gig. I had to run it with another cab, so the single cab type solution actually wasn't. As for the sound..the amps don't amp up well for me....it is not as simple as just turning up the master and keeping the sound but the Markbass LM amp isn't alone in this, for sure. The cabs...sound harsh/hard at low volumes and NEO, classically.... and people will insist there isn't a NEO sound, but all the NEO's I've used sound same-ish. They have no problem handling the volumes so much, but lack authority, IMO. Getting away from the NEO nuance insinuation.. the 12 and 15, certainly to my ears, sound low mid and flabby. I get this both onstage and in the audience. Contrary to what people are saying here, I've never heard a good sound live or never been impressed much. To this end, my good bass player friend will use Epi cabs with MB head ..and Epi's are known for the pillow sound over Markbass, IMV...!! I think they are decent kit and well made, but are short of being top quality. I think they'll do a good job, but not killer, but can see the attraction.. Decent QC, light weight and good price. [/quote] Maybe you should get a Barefaced cab...

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1387280180' post='2310094'] That surprises me. Did you try 2, or any of the 212 cabs? [/quote] Tried Berg CN112 on its own and as a pair, CN212, and Vanderkley MNT112 on its own and as a pair.

[quote name='dudi8' timestamp='1387272413' post='2309988'] if you're near hungary you are welcome to come and try mine [/quote] Thanks, bit far to drive though!

After trying some Bergantino and Vanderkley cabs at the weekend, I'm doubtful that any 1x12" cabs could deliver the solid low end that I'm after. Just wish there was somewhere I could try a BB2!

[quote name='booboo' timestamp='1387230558' post='2309749'] The rear ported CMD121p is very room dependent, and you have to tweak it's location to suit each venue. Sometimes in a big room it needs to 'bounce of a wall, but in a small place with plenty of volume I'll often move it up on a chair and away from the wall to keep definition. Like many MB users I tend to run things pretty flat, but along with placement there should be enough tonal options with the mid controls and filters to get the sound you want in most situations. I guess you could say this about nearly all half decent combos though. [/quote] Thanks for that, I guess that with an extension cab and using an isolation board it would be adequate for most venues?

[quote name='Reverend' timestamp='1387230402' post='2309744'] Sorry to seem confused here, but why are you asking the opinions of others on MB gear if you already like it yourself? Other people's opinions aren't going to make the cabs sound any different, surely? [/quote] Yes, quite right! It's just that until this weekend, I hadn't heard any negativity about Markbass cabs, and this was quite forceful negativity! It just made me wonder if others feel the same way or not, and whether my perception of the quality of sound from Markbass products was way off or not. I reality, the majority of my gigs are in dingy pubs, and I thinka Markbass rig is more than ample for that!

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1387227446' post='2309681'] At home I have a CMD121P combo (piezo tweeter disabled) with an NY121 cab and also an Aguilar TH500 head with a Berg AE210. They sound quite different but I like them both The lower cost option is definitely the MB route but I love the form factor of the AE210 for gigging. I find it a really good height and it almost seems to disappear on stage where space is often cramped. Although the MB is narrower it's also deeper and taller & feels a bit bulkier on stage. Obviously this is all a bit academic to anyone buying new stuff because the Berg isn't made any more. The CN212 is a killer cab but it's just a bit too bulky for what I need. Where the MB comes into its own for me is transportability. The combo on its own is just great for rehearsing. I can sling it in the boot of a 3 series BM with ease and it's a simple one-handed lift to the rehearsal room. I've not gigged the MB combo plus ex cab yet because the Aggie/Berg unit is tried & tested but I might give it a blast on Friday In terms of the Streamliner plus CN112 route I don't find this a a very pleasing combination. I much, much prefer the TH500 with the CN cabs and the MarkBass heads tend to work well with it too. To my ears the Streamliner can sound a bit squashed and mushy and the CN cabs accentuate this because they are relatively clean and dynamic. Could be just me of course, lol. [/quote] Thanks for that Molan, I guess if you like it, you like it, and that's all there is to it! The CN212 is a killer cab (and compact for what it is), but like you say you lose that flexibility/portability a bit. I think overall I liked the sound of the Vanderkley cabs best. They were justa little more natural, flat and open to me, and to my ears seemed to have a faster, tighter response. I thought the Bergs sounded a little more harsh and agressive to my ears, but then I was sat directly in front of the CN212! All very nice stuff really, it's just difficult to know what to do! I'm fortunate enough to have a local Markbass dealer who had the CMD121P in stock, so I'm gonna try to go and check it out this week. Maybe it's a case of better the devil you know! It did also strike me that although the Markbass stuff maybe isn't the best of the best, after 6 1/2 years perhaps it's become an important part of "my" sound? Of course, the other advantage of my current setup is that it's big enough to fit the PA mixer on top, which actually helps to save some space on stage!

Interesting stuff guys! No one saying they're an abhorrent pile of crap yet anyway! It's good to hear about the CMD121Ps, because I'm potentially looking to change my rig for one of those and a NY121 in order to have something even more compact and portable. I actually went to Bass Direct on Saturday, specifically to try some genz benz heads with Bergantino and Vanderkley cabs (and fully intending on walking away with something). Although they sounded incredible, I ended up feeling like maybe they weren't that much better than what I've already got, and perhaps the difference didn't justify the amount I would have to shell out (despite being told that markbass cabs/speakers are horrifically bad). I was hoping to find something much more portable than what I've got, but actually it wouldn't work out that much smaller and I would need 2 1x12" cabs (or one bigger 2x12") plus an amp. It was really nice stuff, but I dunno..... I think there's something I like about the Markbass sound, I find it to sound very natural, with just the right combination of warmth, puncb, clarity, and bottom end. When I got to thinking about it, a GB Streamliner 900 with two Bergantino CN112s would cost me £1749. A CMD121P and NY121 would cost me £1164, and be more compact. And I don't have to worry about damaging the head or pulling it off the top.... I think I'm answering myself here!

Howdy y'all! It's come to my attention that some people seem to passionately dislike the Markbass speakers/cabs, describing them as being wooly, undefined, and flappy, with poor dispersion, tone, etc, etc. Having been a very satisfied Markbass user for quite a few years now, this has come as a surprise to me! I just wondered what other peoples opinions were really, and whether this does actually come down to anything quantifiable, or if it's purely subjective? FWIW, I had a play around with mine at the gig on Saturday night, and I thought it sounded very tight, controlled, responsive and really punchy. In fact, another bass player came up to me when we finished and was raving about how good my sound was, and how it was punchy and articulate without being overpowering, and he could hear it clearly from anywhere in the pub! Of course the downside to that is that I guess he could hear all the mistakes clearly too! BTW, yes, I do realise I'm probably about to start another row!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1386877995' post='2305933'] Yes, and it's all your fault! [/quote] I think the other couple of threads would have happened regardless! As I believe the contemporary urban colloquialism goes: haters gon' hate! I don't think I've seen any negative comments from anyone who's owned/spent time with a Barefaced cab though, no one who has given one a thorough tryout and really disliked it? It would also be interesting to hear how people who have tried both the older versions and the latest stuff feel about the differences.

[quote name='nottswarwick' timestamp='1386875897' post='2305884'] http://basschat.co.uk/topic/221992-barefaced-bf-big-baby-2-review-bergantino-ip112er-and-acme-b1-content-also/page__p__2277694__hl__barefaced%20review__fromsearch__1#entry2277694 [/quote] Thanks man, very interesting! I'm still struggling to decide what to do. It's great that Alex offers the months trial, but it would just be great to be able to go somewhere and try them out alongside other great cabs. It would be much easier to take a trip to Bass Direct and try a load of stuff and just come away with whatever I like best......

Wow, some passionate discussion about Barefaced cabs going on today! Just out of interest, had anyone on here hat chance to a/b a generation 3 Barefaced cab a comparable high end cab like Bergantino, Vanderkley, etc? I'd be very interested to know what the results were.

I might be interested, depending on when/where.

Thanks very much guys, all very useful info! It's so difficult trying to decide what to do, especially as I would have to buy a head too. It could be an expensive experiment! I do love the idea of having one small cab that gives a monster sound though. I do just worry that wouldn't be able to get the same full, powerful, ballsy sound that I'm used to. The majority of my gigs are pub gigs though, and Alex reckons that a BB2 should easily step up and possibly sound even better. Thanks again people!

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1386680276' post='2302966'] Not "dubby" unless you EQ them so . They just sound great, full range and very loud. The tweeter is allegedly of value to those who (foolishly) slap their basses. I have never been guilty of such violence so I can't say as I've missed it. [/quote] I didn't think the Compacts had a tweeter?

The used Compacts about do look like great value, but do they give enough definition and top end response, or are they inherently quite bassy and "dubby"?