How to connect two cabs (4 & 8 Ohm) and two heads (Markbass)

Syl_Funky_bass

Syl_Funky_bass

Jun 4, 2016
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#1
Hi All,

I own two cabinets:
1. Markbass 410 HF (4 Ohm), power rating 800W.

2. Markbass 212 Ninja (8 Ohm), power rating 800W.

My two heads:

1. Little Mark 3:
  • 500 Watt @ 4 Ohm
  • 300 Watt @ 8 Ohm

Here is my question: what is the most simple and efficient way to connect them all together without running any risk to damage my equipment?

Many thanks in advance guys.

Kind rgds,
Syl
 
#4
Thanks for the insight guys.

Would any of the above suggested options cause any loss as far as sound quality/signal is concerned?

If I understood well, I have the choice between an ABY splitter or a Stereo FX pedal?

Concerning my two amp heads, one (the Little Market Ninja 1000 Watts) is much more powerful than the other (Little Mark 3, 500 Watts). Can you please give me any insight as far as power distribution between the two cabs is concerned?

I actually have the same question concerning both pre-amps? How are they "used"? What's going on when I'm turning the knobs on both heads?
Ideally I would like to use only the preamp of the more powerful head.

Thank you in advance and sorry for my noob questions.
 
#5
Not altogether sure what you're wanting to know tbh. What value do you think there is in running both amps instead of just one?

You didn't mention the Ninja before. If you were to use all that power you could certainly destroy your cabs, not to mention your ears.
Counter intuitively the safest option appears to me to be to run the 1000 into the 212 at 8ohm, in which case the 1000 is specified to deliver 600W, which gives a reasonable safety margin, and the little Mark into the 4ohm cab, 500W, so again a reasonable safety margin.

A stereo FX pedal (or most anyway) with the FX off just acts as a splitter anyway, so there isn't much difference.

If you want a single pre amp controlling both you could try running from FX loop out on one to FX loop in on the other. I don't know if that would be an approved config from Markbass though.

But honestly, do you really need that much volume? Your ears won't thank you. Nor, most likely, will venues or even audience. Either of those combinations should provide a loud enough rig.
 
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#7
Thanks a lot for for the great insight.

To put it simply: I don't specifically need/want two amps powering two speakers.

Thing is I first acquired a Markbass 410 HF (4 ohm) and a Little Markbass 3. I've always loved this rig.

But recently I realized I needed something more portable while keeping nearly as much power. After doing some search I came to the conclusion that the New York Ninja 212 + a Little Mark Ninja was the best option for that.

However, I also think in some occasions I might need just a bit more than a single Ninja 212 so I decided to keep my 410 HF 4 ohm.

Maybe another option would be to get a rid of my 410 (4 ohm) cab and Little Mark 3 and buy a second Ninja 212 cab? But I still love my 410...
Then it would be: two 212 Ninja + Little Mark Ninja.

If my 410 cab impedance was 8 Ohm instead of 4 Ohm I guess I could use only one head, the Little Mark ninja then, and add a 212 to the rig.
 
#13
Syl_Funky_bass said:
...Concerning my two amp heads, one (the Little Market Ninja 1000 Watts) is much more powerful than the other (Little Mark 3, 500 Watts). Can you please give me any insight as far as power distribution between the two cabs is concerned?

I actually have the same question concerning both pre-amps? How are they "used"? What's going on when I'm turning the knobs on both heads?
Ideally I would like to use only the preamp of the more powerful head.

Thank you in advance and sorry for my noob questions.
Click to expand...

Oh, OK, so you have a Little Mark 3, and a Markbass Ninja? Your initial post lists only the Little Mark 3, right?
 
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#14
Syl_Funky_bass said:
Hi All,

I own two cabinets:
1. Markbass 410 HF (4 Ohm), power rating 800W.

2. Markbass 212 Ninja (8 Ohm), power rating 800W.

My two heads:

1. Little Mark 3:
  • 500 Watt @ 4 Ohm
  • 300 Watt @ 8 Ohm

Here is my question: what is the most simple and efficient way to connect them all together without running any risk to damage my equipment?

Many thanks in advance guys.

Kind rgds,
Syl
Click to expand...


Are you saying that you have TWO LM3's? If that's true, I'd run one to each cab then I'd run a send from one into the other.
 
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#20
So the sensible thing to do is to use one head per cab. Does not really matter which. Just make sure that you operate within safe parameters. The wattage rating of the speakers usually means how much power they can take before the voice coil melts, but they usually will suffer mechanical damage long before that. So use your ears. Increase the volume carefully and as soon as you hear any kind of farting or distortion from the cab, you're getting into dangerous territory. Back off a bit. Mind that turning up the bass knob usually will push more watts into the cab, too - so know the limits of your equipment and never cross them.
With that out of the way, you can use the line out (XLR) of one head into the FX return of the other head. unfortunately, Markbass is a bit off the mainstream on the FX loop, which is usually located between the preamp and the power amp. On Markbass amps, however, the FX return is affected by the EQ. You should get along by setting the receiving amp flat, though (all EQ controls at noon, all filters at zero).
So after you've set all that to your liking, you can use the master on each amp to set the desired volume of the cab. This should get quite loud.
 
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