Markbass: 102HF or CMD121p+NY121?

[incubass]

I currently got a CMD 121p combo which I'm diggin', but I'm struggling to decide on something.
I also have a MarkBass 102HF (4ohms) cab which I absolutely love and usually pair with a Orange BT500. I've been offered to trade this cab for a NY121. That way it would be much more portable and could use the 121 to pair either with the combo or with my Orange.
Do you think the combination combo+NY would lose in terms of volume and specially low end that I have with the 102HF alone? Or would it be a step up? Since I never tried a NY121 I'm afraid I would lose all the low end and punch I get from the 102HF. 

[Lozz196]

I’ve no experience of the 102HF but the CMD121 & NY121 together makes a much bigger sound than would be expected, the addition of the NY really makes a difference, much fuller and richer sounding.

[franzbassist]

I have used both two NY121s and a single 102HF in gigging situations.  I liked both and wouldn't say there's a huge amount of difference between the two.   The 102 is possibly a little bit more articulate/punchy, plus it has a sweeter top end due to the horn, but the NY stack isn't lacking anything.  The NY stack is more versatile due to size. 

[Lozz196]

And there is a mod that can be done to put a horn in the NY121 rather than the Piezo.

[incubass]

I already turned off the piezo in my CMD, it made so much noise it was the first thing I did. But now it sounds great and with plenty of highs for my taste. But maybe it will be nice to have a tweeter in the NY121.

 

My doubt comes from the fact that I usually gig large venues with my HF102 alone and it always delivers. The CMD alone is far from that, but I believe an extension cabinet will do the trick! 

[yorks5stringer]

I have no experience of the HF102 but the CMD121P and NYC 121 is my rig for bigger gigs.

[Sparky Mark]

I used to gig with the CMD121P and NY121P cab and I found it could replace my LM3 and STD104HF on all my gigs with a loudish rock covers band. I ended up selling the CMD121P and buying another NY121P cab so my lightweight rig is two NY121P cabs and one of my Markbass 500 watt heads. The NY121P is sonically more capable than the combo as it has a larger internal volume and does go lower so adds a lot more than you'd expect when used as an extension cab. I'm sure that your combo plus a NY121P will be at least as capable as the STD102HF. 

Edited November 27, 2019 by Sparky Mark

[Muppet]

I bypassed the tweeter in my CMD (easy swap of spade connectors and totally reversible) to reduce the hiss but I left the one in my NY121  alone as it has a L PAD. there is no tweeter control on the combo.  both together is awesome, easily keeps up with a loud rock band. 

[incubass]

Thanks for the useful insight. I decided to keep my 102HF for now since I really like it. I will be searching for a NY121 'though, and if I can get one at a good price I'm definitely going to get it. It looks like a super portable and capable cab.

[nottswarwick]

102hf is Markbass’s best cab in my experience.