MoJoKe

Valid point, there's no way mobile phone footage will even get close to hearing it properly! I do find that mobile footage will easily highlight any nasty loudness traits though! it may also help to demonstrate how discrete they are in a function setting. If anything useable and of value ensues, I'll share it here... If you are in Swindon, might you make it to the SW Bash in Taunton on 8th April?

Regarding the joint issue of yellow speakers and vulnerability of the cones from probing fingers, I have just had an idea which I will feed back. The whole array could quite easily be wrapped in an acoustically transparent stretchy black lycra "sock", hiding all contained from those who might be offended or abusive. Cheaper than making black ones, retaining the brand identity, and practical. It would also stop people putting their drinks/handbags on the subs...

With respect, you pulled your gun first, randomly spring bullets, while only basing your high minded opinion on the limited info of a new product on the Markaudio website. You clearly have no first hand experience of this system so, while anyone here is welcome to "sound off" within the rules of the forum, that renders your opinion at best rather weak. If you feel product or marketing changes should be made, I suggest you take that up with the manufacturer, not me.

Yes. Cheap PA stuff pushes the harsher frequencies to sound louder, distort easily and are very tiring to the ears very quickly. Good stuff can be loud without distortion. Better stuff has great limiters which don't change the dynamics or sound compressed, they just keep the same great balanced flat response to the upper power limit of the system.

Perfectly valid and considered opinion. I agree. Its not going to appeal to everyone until they make a more discrete version with black covers or black drivers...

I am more than happy to apologise if people think I have been out of order. Sorry folks; not normally my style. I have been thinking back and realise that I have probably rarely if ever expressed a strong opinion here before at all, let alone a contentious one, on any threads here. Sure I have commented and been involved in conversations, but I am absolutely certain I have never openly criticised anyone else's products and wouldn't. Its below the belt and thats always going to pretty much guarantee a defensive response (for the record, as for bias, I am not employed by Markbass or Markaudio or their distribution, I am merely a self employed professional player and sound tech in the business, so these are not my products, I am being paid on a flat day rate to demonstrate them (no commission), so perhaps that could be interpreted as commercial interest, but no more than also being the bass player in a pro function band, hoping to have a fuller diary). I normally avoid engaging in any topics which obviously turn into bashing and negativity, I don't need that in my life, but I am always open to constructive and helpful advice. BFM's first "unbiased technical advice" began with "Its a variation on a Bose L1, and that is not a good thing....", or effectively "its rubbish, it won't work". I asked if he had actually heard Markaudio in action, and on what was he basing this "expert" opinion.... he has still failed to respond. He followed up saying all systems "like this one" are rubbish and won't work, as if de-personalising and this generalisation might soften the blow. I would happily have taken my concern with his clear bias (however well intended and technically minded) and his generalistic and unnecessary comments to all here that "we don't know better" off line and PM'ed him, but he has messaging disabled, so I couldn't! I would be very happy to see a debate about PA design, as it is a specific area of interest of mine (lets talk point source and tapped horns, now that would be a good discussion!), but in another place, not one that hijacks someone else's thread, and does nothing but undermine the point of the conversation. As said, all the gear we all use is a compromise between form, function, price and quality. Whether it fits with your opinion, the Markaudio (and lots of others too) are making a good job of bringing compact and good sounding equipment to the market. Interestingly, as HJ found out today, what makes the Markaudio different, is that you CAN separate the top arrays from the subs. You can quite easily run the subs in a cluster and locate the top arrays in another location, if it is your wish and the venue layout allows.. You can add further subs, you can add power amps and add more AC arrays, which can be flown from trusses, and build up quite a large (but still light and portable) system... and it does work... quite well in fact. It is being used by a function band on Saturday night at a party I have been invited to. I am not doing the sound, so I'll try and get some video to share here if that is of interest?

It always has been! haha!

Valid point, and It has already been discussed! All constructive feedback will of course be passed up the line! Its interesting that no hire companies I have spoken to, have specifically yet said they need to be "all black", again I think this is very much a "marmite" thing... some say they like them specifically because they look funky and different..! Whether it works for you, they are playing on the solid marketing of the Markbass look, so it'll be interesting to see how that plays out.

I couldn't agree more! I have been a pro bass player for over 40 years, and run a wet hire PA for the last three years. All PA is far too heavy, and the market needs development and diversity. I too have arrived at the gear I use through years of experimenting and investment. Nobody has ever given me anything.

I do know what you mean... however they didn't ask my opinion either! Interestingly I used them for a rehearsal last night and looked more closely at this... the central black cone is fixed, so cannot move, so you'd need to poke around for a while to damage the speaker diaphragm... No worries! If you are a fan of HK, then you will be pleasantly pleased at the cost, and certainly the weight...! I didn't start this thread, so had no intention of doing a pitch here (unlike some!). While I am not employed by Markworld or MSL, their UK distributor, I do work part time with them, but not as a salesman! If anyone would like more info, please feel free to PM me... I am also happy to arrange other demonstrations if people are genuinely interested.

Read my comment about my Danley rig. You are not wrong, but neither are you right! there are a few other professionals here, so go start your own thread please.

The new Markbass Marcus Miller 500/800 is worth a look. It can't give you Marcus' magic fingers, but can give you his tone, also can still do little mark tone, but also does a fantastic job of a more bassy vintage vibe. The VLE has been re-named "Old School" and now goes down to 200hz (LM3 is 250hz), so much more thumpy if you need it!

Yes, but you'd need a fairly small prick to do that!! Actually the drivers are pretty tough, and can be swapped with just 4 screws, but its a fair observation...

PM me... we can arrange that... you are not that far from me!

That statement is frankly stupid, unhelpful and insulting to many people here. The correct answer is that most venues will not have their own sound system tuned to perfection for live music for that specific room, and they also won't allow you to treat their whole venue as an exercise in sonic perfection, as they have a business to run. So, you get the stage and a bit in front of it and have to do the best with what you have got, in the time you have to do it. I don't know that I have ever been given much more than 2 hours to set and soundcheck for anything smaller than a large theatre, and for most wedding gigs you get even less. So those of us here making a living as professional gigging musicians have to choose a sound reinforcement system to do the job best with consideration to a balance between weight, size, portability, convenience and the best quality you can afford. Many manufacturers, including Mark, Bose, RCF, et al. are investing millions to make this quality accessible. If you are an expert, and want to start a new and helpful thread being negative about compact line array, feel free, but please don't hijack this one!

Mmmm indeed! And the delta amp is amazing! Yup, our bigger PA is 2 x TH115's and 2 x SH69s and they're bad enough! With my THminis I put all four of them in a mono cluster, and they sound epic! I can get the whole PA into my VW caddy along with my bass rig...

Forgive me, that wasn't a telling off! Just that Bill made an incorrect comparison, and this thread is not about Bose , so not really relevant! haha!

Subject to confirmation from Scrumpy Mike, I will happily bring both systems to the SW Bass Bash next month.... More information on the systems here:- http://www.markaudio.it/ PM me if you need more info!

Steve, in the last few months I have had some seriously highly experienced sound guys try to kick holes in the Markaudio systems, and they have mostly been very impressed. With both the Ergo and Audio Chain systems there is NO hole in between high and low frequencies, as Bill suggests. You can sit 4 inches away or 40ft and that still applies. The other issue is that their design means that you can completely separate the elements and position them wherever you like. In fact the AC system is also completely modular, so you can add more subs and extend the size of the arrays (even adjacent to each other), without any noticeable degradation of output or interference. So... Lets stop talking about Bose please!

With the greatest of respect Bill, they have absolutely NOTHING in common with Bose, either in design, or their acoustic profile. Are you speaking from personal experience of Markaudio, or just in general? I have no need to feel defensive here, so that is not meant as a personal challenge! When I am not at Bass shows I am a pro bass player and also run a wet hire PA rig. I use Danley. Tom Danley is an ex-NASA acoustics guy, and you're more likely to have heard of them in the US than in the UK. My "small" rig comprises 4 x THMini and 2 x SM60F, powered by an MC2 Delta 80, giving 8Kw FOH. When I was asked to help launch the Markaudio, I started researching all the available options for compact array systems, and fully concluded that I agree with your comment for 90% of them, so launching another one, however different, was going to be an uphill challenge! When I set the Markaudio up alongside my Danley rig in a big room, I was not able to measure much discernable difference in frequency profile. The only obvious difference was that it had a bit less raw power. The Markaudio systems are specifically designed for live music, rather than the "try to fit every application" (DJ's, mostly!) approach of nearly all other brands. As a result it has real dynamics, its punchy and articulate and doesn't sound at all processed. Anyone free on Thursday, happy to have you along! If this isn't convenient, I am happy to do another session or we could tie it in with one of the Markaudio dealers...?

Steve did a great job getting there. I was with Markbass for the weekend, I live on the Devon Somerset border in the Blackdown hills, and it took me 6 1/2 hours just to dig my van out of the snow and frozen rain, and get it onto the A303... a total of 50m max.... I then had a 4 1/2 hour drive nearly being run off the road into the snow by a Richard in a Range Rover Vogue... I made it for the whole show... wheres my pat on the back?

He avoided the Markbass stand completely, and I spent the whole weekend working, so we nodded at each other a couple of times as we passed, but no time for selfies... And where were you? you didn't come and say hi?

Well, I have a car full of Markbass and Markaudio PA, and a steep driveway in the blackdown hills which currently has a foot of snow on it... Hopefully see you tomorrow!!

Gah, I was there with MSL. Markbass and DV Mark, and nobody said hi... its probably because the sunday lunchtime band permanently deafened everyone!

So, quick answer needed, V7 standard, or worth the extra for a "Vintage"? Want to press the button today...