Open Box QSC CP12 12" Powered Speaker Level 1

Most Liked Positive Review

Fantastic for the weight and price!

My pair of (original) QSC K12's have have performed flawlessly for my solo sax with backing tracks act for years. However, I'm now on the wrong side of 50, and hoisting them up on poles and schlepping them in out of my trunk has been murder on my lower back. I hit the advil hard the next day! I was always hoping that QSC would put technological advances over the past few years into a revised K12 with *lighter weight* for the same power (instead of more power for the same weight in the K12.2). And lo, they come out with the CP12. 30 lb vs 42 lb may not sound like much, but when you have disc problems in lower back, it is. Due to the lower price, I was concerned about the quality, so I lugged in one of my K12s into Guitar Center and did a side-by-side sound comparison between my K12 and the CP12, using some of my jazz and commercial karaoke backing tracks. Listening to the CP12, it sounded really rich like I was used to with my K12s, and was not trebly or tinny like Mackie or EV. I could certainly crank it to as loud as I'd ever use at one of my gigs (e.g. wedding cocktail hour, private residence party, nursing home). When I played on my K12, I could nevertheless tell that the K12 sound was a tad richer. The bottom line is that to me, the CP12 gives me 100% of the volume I'd ever need, ~90% of the K12 sound quality at 71% of the K12 weight, at only 62% of the K12 price. Their smaller size frees up extra room to keep my speaker stands, mic/cable bag, and my axes (my entire act) all concealed in the trunk of my Corolla as well, instead of some gear visible to thieves in the back seat. If money and weight are no object, then invest in a pair of K12s. They WILL sound a smidge better and will give you more power. However, for what I and other mellower acts need, and for those on a budget, the CP12 is fantastic for the price and the weight, and why I give them five stars. I'll keep my K12s for those gigs (e.g. outdoor) where I absolutely need the added power.