The development of better technologies for powered speakers over the years made setting up events with live sound a lot easier. When it comes to reliable, high quality, and high-performance audio products, one name that music industry professionals are familiar with is QSC. Today, we will compare two of the brand’s popular portable powered PA loudspeaker systems designed performances: the CP12 and K12 Active Loudspeakers. Since PA speakers are powerful and can get very loud, both of these speakers are not suitable for a small room and home use. If you’re looking for a sound system with an audio performance that fits that area, consider these products:
In summary, if you’re performing at a small to medium-size conference hall that requires a decent sound volume and range, the QSC CP12 is a great option. But if you’re setting an event in a bigger room, the QSC K12 delivers a louder and better sound quality. To help you choose which among the two models fits you best, we’ve created a full comparison of the two.
Have you ever noticed that there often tends to be quite the opposite opinions about a speaker?
I can understand this for more "personal taste" kinda products like clothing, for example.
But for engineering products like speakers? Personal tastes and preferences probably still play a role. But shouldn't it be less?
Why is it that we can't set a universal metric for sound quality?
First time I asked this question to myself has been a pivotal day.
Because it turns out that in the mid 90's, Electrical Engineer PhD Floyd Toole came up with a method called Spinorama. This is exactly what he accomplished with this. Turns out that his book Sound Reproduction is like the bible of audiophiles.
Put it simply, Spinorama is a set of measurements that gives a comprehensive overview of a speaker's performance from various angles.
It allows you to compare the performances of different speakers before even laying your ears hands on them.
Isn't that amazing?
This is why Spinorama was apparently groundbreaking news for audio industry. Hence in the mid-late 2010's, most brands and magazines began publishing Spinorama measurements, despite the challenges of making such measurements.
Fortunately, now we have the Spinorama data for a bunch of quite popular speakers. Pierre Aubert put all this untidy data together and put it into https://www.spinorama.org/. This is a stunning source. Pretty valuable stuff from him right there.
All good up to this point.
Now there comes a caveat.
Since the sound speakers propagate are in the form of omnidirectional waves, all measurements are obtained in anechoic or semi-anechoic chambers (a super-quiet room where soundwaves don't bounce back, here's how different that room sounds [a mind blowing time-adjusted video]).
This is a problem because it means that Spinorama alone, unfortunately, won't give us all we need. Placement and reflections play an equally important role there too.
This is why most A-class brands (like SVS, Bang & Olufsen, etc) often come up with room correction features, adjusted either manually or automatically. The EQ adapts itself to the placement (room, corner, center, etc) for a better (deeper and more accurate) sound. Which is great.
Additionally they often emphasize the importance of placement, here is an example: https://www.svsound.com/blogs/subwoofer-setup-and-tuning/75365187-the-art-of-subwoofer-placement
Anyways...
The source code under Pierre Aubert's work is licensed under GPL (General public license). He didn't perform any of the measurements himself, and instead he compiled all of them into one place, so that makes sense.
At this point, I thought that if there was a tool that combined both the Spinorama with the room acoustics data, it'd be extremely useful.
Unfortunately, it turns out that there wasn't any.
This is where I stepped in and partnered with an Acoustics and Audio Engineering PhD in order to achieve this.
We combined Spinorama data with room acoustics and came up with Soundton. A very simple, 2D online tool that allows you to:
- Reveal optimal speaker positions in a room,
- Test with real speakers from real brands,
- Compare different speakers and different positions in the room.
It can be very valuable for the vast majority.
The colormap provides you the locations with the best (green) and worst (red) listening experience.
It works the best with subwoofers since Soundton processes low frequency response waves only.
- Soundton is going to be, say, 80% accurate. Not 100%.
- Because, other parameters such as the age/materials of the building, furniture/windows in place also have an impact on room acoustics.
- If you want absolutely the most detailed room analysis, then what you need is an acoustics consultant. Mind you that's going to require deep pockets and patience though... assuming you find the right person and they get the job done.
Anyways...
Design and Build
The CP12 Powered Loudspeaker is designed in a simple black finish with a black powdered 18 gauge steel grille that looks stylish and rugged at the same time. It has a product dimension that measures 20.3 inches tall, 13.8 inches wide, and 12.7 inches deep. Because of the compact form of this PA loudspeaker, you can mount it on a pole, attach it to a wall or truss using a yoke mount, or use it as a floor monitor. It’s relatively smaller than other models, making it suitable for use in smaller stages or cluttered spaces.
The K12 Powered Loudspeaker also features a black matte finish with 18 Gauge black powder-coated steel grille. It measures 23.7 inches tall, 14 inches wide, and 12 inches deep. Since it’s bulkier than the QSC CP12, this model is only ideal as a stage monitor in large, spacious venue stages. You can also mount it on a speaker stand or hang it from a truss using the integrated suspension points.
Here is the User Manual for QSC CP Series.
Features
The QSC CP12 features a 1000-Watt Class-D amplifier module that powers the 12-inch woofer and the 1.4-inch titanium compression driver. At the back panel of the speaker, there are three inputs and several easy-to-use switches. Both inputs A and B use combo XLR-1/4 inch connectors, while input C provides a stereo 3.5 mm TRS auxiliary input.
Input A functions as a Line input when dealing with a mixer that combines multiple input sources. Meanwhile, Input B provides a Microphone or Line switch option and a Microphone Boost button which adds an extra +25 dB of gain to the input. On the other hand, Line C is a connection line for portable audio devices such as MP3 players and mobile phones.
The QSC CP12 speaker has 6-way contour presets for commonly-used applications such as Speech, Floor Monitor, Default with External Subwoofer, and more. It includes two knobs, each with ten levels, to adjust Gain A+C and Gain B. For a surround sound experience, the speaker features an advanced DSP with intrinsic correction. It also has a DMT that matches the angle of the woofer and the horn to ensure a consistent frequency response throughout the entire venue area.
The QSC K12 loudspeaker also has a built-in 1000-Watt Class-D amplifier. It features a 12-inch woofer at the bottom and a 1.75-inch tweeter or diaphragm compression driver on top. The speaker’s back panel has more easy-to-use switches, inputs, output ports, and connectors than the CP12.
It comes with a combo XLR and ¼-inch TRS jack for Microphone or Line signals and a stereo RCS for portable audio device connections. There is also a dedicated XLR output to send mixed signals to other speakers. As for the control, the K12 has two knobs for Gain A and Gain B to balance the mix.
It also has 3-way Low-Frequency adjustments to enhance the deep part of the music and 2-way High-Frequency level selection. The QSC K12 speaker also features an integrated DSP technology and an extensive DSP. The front panel of the QSC K12 speaker has an LED light feature with three modes: power, limit, and off. Unlike the QSC CP12, this speaker has a small fan that cools the internals.
Portability
The QSC CP12 speaker weighs in at a light 30.3 lbs. It has an integrated handle on top for easy transport. This PA loudspeaker also comes with a polypropylene enclosure, which is an extremely durable material that can handle the rigors of the road.
The QSC K12 speaker is slightly heavier at 41 lbs. However, it has more handles than QSC CP12 located on the top and at the side. Although the QSC K12 speaker features an impact-resistant ABS, this material is less durable than the polypropylene casing of QSC CP12.
Sound Quality
Despite its size, the QSC CP12 speaker is loud enough to cover a small to medium venue with up to 250 audiences. It pushes out 126 dB, which gives it decent volume. It also has a wide frequency range of 49 Hz to 20 kHz and a 75° coverage for an excellent bass rumble and treble end.
The QSC K12 loudspeaker performs better at larger venues since it produces a sound that can get up to 131 dB. The sound signature puts out a 75° radius of sound, but it plays at a slightly lesser range of 52 Hz to 18 kHz. Unlike the bass-boosted QSC CP12, this range gives it a smoother, fuller, and more clear sound.
You can also check the complete specifications of the K.2 Series Active Loudspeakers on the QSC website.
Price
For small to medium-sized events, the QSC CP12 is an ideal PA loudspeaker sound system that doesn’t go over $500. It provides several features and a loud volume suitable for most performances.
The QSC K12, on the other hand, costs a premium price of almost $1000. It’s not an ideal option for an entry-level sound system since it’s designed mainly for large events.
Verdict
Both loudspeakers deliver excellent sound performance and plenty of features suitable for events. They are deafeningly loud and cover a wide area. However, these PA loudspeakers are designed for varying venue sizes. Here’s our verdict on which is the best option for each specification.
Size and build - Winner: QSC CP12
Portability - Winner: QSC CP12
Frequency range - Winner: QSC K12
Sound quality in small to medium venues - Winner: QSC CP12
Sound quality in large venues - Winner: QSC K12
Price - Winner: QSC CP12