All user reviews for the Markbass SD800

I paly small venues, but occasionally outdoors, and this amp is my most powerful.
I play in a duo, and in a string band. No drummer either way. Usually play fretless.

Under $600, used at the local GC. Summer is here, and wanted a bit of extra watts for outdoor stuff. I like my LittleMark II, and this is a similar amp, especially the front end, where most of the 'voice' lives.

I like MarkBass amps, especially the two filters [vpf and VLE, see review of LM II]. This only weighs about a pount more than my LM II, but has some extra power, and I REALLY like that it has parametric control of both the upper and lower mids. With FL, controlling the mids is 'The Big Deal'. It also has 2 speaker output jacks. The LM II has just one ... and I figger an extra speaker is also handy for outdoor gigs.

It only weighs about a pound more than the LM II but is a much larger box. Also, it's a class-D power stage. Those always make me nervous [the LM II is analog]. It has a fan that runs all the time [but lots of amps have that lately].

Hard to judge electronics by looking at the outside ... except that I see it has those black plastic 1/4' jacks ... which I've never really fully trusted. I actually hafta mod some plugs to use them in those those jacks. But again, such jacks have become as common as the cooling fans that also bug me :-(

It sounds great, didn't cost me too much, is now my highest wattage box, and has lotsa useful controls ... speaking of which, the FX loop is both a like and a dislike, so I didn't mention it in either section above. I like that it's parallel rather than series, but I wish it had a blend or a level control. Also the loop is POST EQ, which is sometime right and sometimes wrong ... so it should have a switch or a second jack ... but it does NOT.

It's a really nice unit but I have enuf negative reactions to rate it less than '5'. The basics really rate a '5', but some of the features drag it down, so it averages out to a '4'.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Digital amp 800w at 4 ohm
Input jack for automatic adjustment of impedance and adjustable gain level
Input clip indicator (and yes it's digital so this clip).
Parallel effects loop
Line OUT XLR with adjustable level and post / post EQ
2 Outputs Speakon
4-band EQ with 2 semi-parametric mids
2 settings Assayable Pre-shape (a vintage and modern)
Fan cooled discrete noise draws air from inside to outside of the amp (much more intelligent than the reverse as regards the accumulation of dust.
I had the bag with him like a glove with just a hole for the fan.

My regrets: no headphone jack (at the same time ... is not sure what we are asking for a 800w amp)
no possibility of the series effects loop or the switcher.


UTILIZATION

Super easy to use.
One branch is left completely flat and it already sounds crazy even on the line out.
Mainly I not touch the EQ (I use a GT10B for that)
If it comes the desire to connect me to live préshapes usually sufficient to choose between his fingers or slap.
The only time I touch the eq is to remove low to spare the neighbors when I play at home.

SOUNDS

JazzBass connected to a standard 5-string is great!
Its huge, it really feels to have the pure sound of the instrument with a dynamic and harmonic richness uncommon.
The transparency of the amp can handle sound input through a preamp or effects pedals without then having to compensate the amplifier. Certainly it is a bit cold ... I'll call it instead of precision. If you want a dirty sound of large lamps is not what you need.
Connected to an 8ohm 104hrs of the same brand is a real bazooka sound ... and still under 8ohms was "only" 500W. If you do not watch even on an outdoor stage was quick to sound a little more than a rather weak or repisser in microphones. In a closed room you never exceed the first mark on the volume.

OVERALL OPINION

Purchased during the month of June.
I tried other models in stores like Ampeg, TC electronics, EBS. I could not try before you buy SD800 because it was a case on ebay. Nevertheless, I knew I was risking nothing with the reputation of the brand. TC electronics tempted me but the weight of 4x10 cabs I was a little disheartened. Indeed one of the biggest asset of these amps Markbass is the weight. The amp weighs almost nothing and never heated. Is to ask where this leaves all that power
I think I'm not ready to part with it.
Sure, it's an investment. But it's the price of quality and I'm really not disappointed. Furthermore I still take a second and a reserve power to connect a second baffle 8ohm.