QSC K12 Review

The QSC K12 is very powerful for a 12” speaker. It's very loud, peaking at 131 dB, which is equivalent to a marching band of 200 members. Basically, using this speaker won’t be a problem for both smaller and bigger crowds, it can easily handle 200+ people.

The speaker features extensive DSP (Digital Signal Processing). What this means – the speakers offer matched low-frequency and high-frequency clarity all around the spectrum so something like a guitar won't get overpowered by a kick-drum in the final product you hear being played from the speaker.

What’s more, the speaker’s coverage pattern is 75 degrees conical and it features DMT (Directivity Matched Transition) for a matched listening experience and an equal performance in the whole area.

The speaker packs a rugged ABS enclosure and a 16-gauge steel grille, so it can sustain regular and long-term gigging.

If the speaker happens to be pushed closer to its limits, not only is it indicated by a signal light, but a cooling fan turns on, which, luckily, isn’t hearable.

One of the more impressive features the speaker packs is the onboard mixer with switches for equalizing.

The HF (high-frequency) setting can be set from "_Flat_" (normal mode) to "_Vocal boost_". This enhances the mid-frequency area where the human voice is located for additional clarity, making this a good enhancement for people using the QSC K12’s for karaoke or playing vocal-heavy tracks.

The LF (low-frequency) switch can be toggled from "_Norm_" (regular mode) to:

1. "_Ext sub_" for the removal of low frequencies from the speaker in the case of an external subwoofer being present,
2. "_Deep_", which extends the bass frequency response without distorting the signal or adjacent frequencies, smoothly and effectively enhancing the bass output from the speaker.

This is ideal for people wanting to play bass-heavy music such as hip-hop or electronic music without fear of having to spend more money on a subwoofer.

While the QSC K12 is quite heavy (41 lb / 18.6 kgs), it’s still reasonably portable due to the two handles.

A feature that is unique to this speaker is that it has a dual angle pole socket that offers you the possibility of tilting the speaker 7.5 degrees downwards. This is very useful for achieving maximum coverage from a high-positioned speaker.

The M10 suspension points also offer the possibility of suspending the speaker from the ceiling, though this requires a K Series M10 kit, which is sold separately.

Since the speaker is asymmetrical, it can also be used as a stage monitor.