Sparky Mark Posted December 17, 2014 Author Share Posted December 17, 2014 (edited) Markbass literature used to describe the sonic differences between their analogue and class d power amplifiers, so I think it is fair to say that the new class d LM3 will sound different to the previous analogue version. This is also the opinion of Bass Gear Magazine's tombowlus who compared the Big Bang with the LM2. I think it's interesting that Markbass introduced this change to their flagship head seemingly without any publicity (perfectly within their rights of course ) as if they understood it might be perceived as making the LM3 a different amplifier. Looking at the two versions the analogue would almost certainly be more expensive to manufacture and now that the class d power section is used in almost all of Markbass 500 watt heads and combos the economies of scale are obvious. Edited December 17, 2014 by Sparky Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_S Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Makes me wonder what I should do with my Big Bang powered Combo Head 2. It's currently a standalone head wearing the top-panel and feet from the LM800 that I put in the combo and I was torn between keeping it in the cupboard to swap back in the event that I wanted to sell the combo, and offering it up for sale on here to get some of my money back. Now I wonder if I should actually take it to a rehearsal and have a listen to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Mark Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Ed_S' timestamp='1418894347' post='2634455'] Makes me wonder what I should do with my Big Bang powered Combo Head 2. It's currently a standalone head wearing the top-panel and feet from the LM800 that I put in the combo and I was torn between keeping it in the cupboard to swap back in the event that I wanted to sell the combo, and offering it up for sale on here to get some of my money back. Now I wonder if I should actually take it to a rehearsal and have a listen to it. [/quote] Definately give it a proper run out, it's a great sounding amp. You might even prefer it and the power difference is negligible. Edited December 18, 2014 by Sparky Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_S Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Sparky Mark' timestamp='1418894900' post='2634465'] Definately give it a proper run out, it's a great sounding amp. [/quote] I guess I could take the LM2 and F1 along and try to ascertain, side by side, whether the CH2 is anything I don't already have in the other heads. Sounds like a plan... [quote name='Sparky Mark' timestamp='1418894900' post='2634465'] You might even prefer it and the power difference is negligible. [/quote] Absolutely - I swapped the CH2 for the LM800 because conventional wisdom stated that the LM3/CH2 was still much like the LM2 with a couple of added features but the same basic workings, and as much as I like that for classic rock, I wanted the snappy response of the LM800 with its digital power amp for use in my metal band. If the LM3/CH2 is now a fundamentally different beast, there's always the chance that it'll have something unique. Edited December 18, 2014 by Ed_S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Mark Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 [quote name='Ed_S' timestamp='1418895198' post='2634472'] I guess I could take the LM2 and F1 along and try to ascertain, side by side, whether the CH2 is anything I don't already have in the other heads. Sounds like a plan... [/quote] Trouble is in the time it takes to swap leads over it's very difficult to do a true A to B to C comparison of similar sounding heads, which these are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_S Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 [quote name='Sparky Mark' timestamp='1418895912' post='2634493'] Trouble is in the time it takes to swap leads over it's very difficult to do a true A to B to C comparison of similar sounding heads, which these are. [/quote] It'd have to be two or more sets of A/B comparison with the combo being used as one 1x12 cab, the matching extension cab being used as the second, and an ABY box used for switching between them with the same settings on each head. Would be as close as I could get to a fair test... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 on the other hand, if the difference is so subtle that you can't be sure after swapping leads and you need to devise a more complex arrangement... it probably means that either would do and you coud just choose one based on features. Or colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 [quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1418901583' post='2634593'] on the other hand, if the difference is so subtle that you can't be sure after swapping leads and you need to devise a more complex arrangement... it probably means that either would do and you could just choose one based on features. Or colour. [/quote] Either way you'll need a pre-amp to make it sound interesting. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_S Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 [quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1418901583' post='2634593'] on the other hand, if the difference is so subtle that you can't be sure after swapping leads and you need to devise a more complex arrangement... it probably means that either would do and you coud just choose one based on features. Or colour. [/quote] I strongly suspect that's what it'll come down to! The LM800 will win as its panel is black with yellow bits, which I prefer to the CH2's yellow with black bits. The LM2 and F1 look better still for not having the yellow knobs, however. [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1418901841' post='2634599'] Either way you'll need a pre-amp to make it sound interesting. [/quote] Nah, I like 'em as they are. The VTDI comes out for recording, but not live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 [quote name='Ed_S' timestamp='1418906090' post='2634661'] Nah, I like 'em as they are. [/quote] Horses for courses. My preferences have changed over time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildebassman Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 (edited) I know this an old thread but..just pulled the amp out off my CMD 121P, made in march 2012 and found the double heatsink etc. is this the older modell, AB output amp? Edited April 13, 2020 by wildebassman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 I always though the Combo Head II was equivalent to the LMIII and the earlier Combo Head without the Master gain was the LMII.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 4 hours ago, yorks5stringer said: I always though the Combo Head II was equivalent to the LMIII and the earlier Combo Head without the Master gain was the LMII.... Correct. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 18 hours ago, wildebassman said: I know this an old thread but..just pulled the amp out off my CMD 121P, made in march 2012 and found the double heatsink etc. is this the older modell, AB output amp? MarkBass changed from Class A/B to Class D in the Little Mark in 2012 IIRC. Not sure of the month though. Yours looks like a Class A/B one but if you contact MB either direct or on FB, they will be able to confirm one way or another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassmanPaul Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 Class AB with a Toroid power transformer compared to Class D with a SMPS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildebassman Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Still no real clue, at least it's an older design with bigger heat sinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 On 13/04/2020 at 20:09, wildebassman said: I know this an old thread but..just pulled the amp out off my CMD 121P, made in march 2012 and found the double heatsink etc. is this the older modell, AB output amp? On 16/04/2020 at 21:31, wildebassman said: Still no real clue, at least it's an older design with bigger heat sinks. It's a Class A/B. Probably one of the very last ones before they switched to the Class D power section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildebassman Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 On 20/04/2020 at 14:03, BassBunny said: It's a Class A/B. Probably one of the very last ones before they switched to the Class D power section. Thanks for the information! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Mark Posted April 28, 2020 Author Share Posted April 28, 2020 This what the class D power section looks like. Only needs a single heatsink due to the higher efficiency compared to the class AB. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassmanPaul Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 On 17/12/2014 at 18:15, Sparky Mark said: Markbass literature used to describe the sonic differences between their analogue and class d power amplifiers. Class D amplifiers are analogue too. Difference in size could be the difference in Class AB and Class D output sections. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.