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Good Value PA Powered Speaker Recommendations (2025)
- Thread starter Smallmouth_Bass
- Start date
Supadope
Supporting Member
- Nov 30, 2015
- 845
- 2,873
- Disclosures
- My goal is to leave the world a cooler place than when I arrived.
The Yamaha DBR line is a great bang for the buck. Great sounding, decently high SPL, light and reliable with a 7 year warranty.Active.
We don't have a specific budget, but we won't be looking at top of the line stuff. There's no need for onboard EQ, DSP's (whatever that is!) and other bells and whistles. Just something basic that sounds half decent. Maybe $500 - 600 per (Canadian, so like $2 US...).
There is a very big Long & McQuade near us, so Yorkville is readily available.
I have been looking at specs, and why is it that all the PA speaker manufacturers list their power ratings so high (peak?)? Not one I have seen yet is rating in RMS. There's no way a 12" speaker is putting out 1200W!! Ughhh....
And yeah, sadly RMS on specs is a thing of the past.
I highly suggest getting a powered speaker with DSP, they will give you a better controlled sound.
For home I have an EV ZLX12P with an EV ZXA1 sub. Those two can handle a low B no problem.
I preferred EV ZLX12P over Alto TS312/Yamaha DBR12/Yorkville YXL12P/Mackie Thumb12.
Column arrays might work well for home, but never used them.
For home I have an EV ZLX12P with an EV ZXA1 sub. Those two can handle a low B no problem.
I preferred EV ZLX12P over Alto TS312/Yamaha DBR12/Yorkville YXL12P/Mackie Thumb12.
Column arrays might work well for home, but never used them.
Used EV Elx 112p camp be found within that budget. Nice speaker. I took one of mine to a smallish gig as my backline Saturday eve.
I run QSC K8 x2 plus a K12 Sub.
I'm amazed how well these put out in a loud band.
We run vox and kick and snare, sometimes acoustic gtr.
QSC K series are the older model so should be cheaper if you can find them.
I used to use Yamaha DXR12 and they did well but I think QSC is worth the extra money.
Alternatively, I'd check prices for QSC CP12 but would alway use a sub there too for a rock gig.
I'm amazed how well these put out in a loud band.
We run vox and kick and snare, sometimes acoustic gtr.
QSC K series are the older model so should be cheaper if you can find them.
I used to use Yamaha DXR12 and they did well but I think QSC is worth the extra money.
Alternatively, I'd check prices for QSC CP12 but would alway use a sub there too for a rock gig.
QSC release at NAMM a new woofer, top combo. The top can actually support several subs if you need even more bottom.
A wave guide on the top gives it extra wide coverage. Expensive, but looks to be a great solution.
www.qscaudio.com
A wave guide on the top gives it extra wide coverage. Expensive, but looks to be a great solution.
KC12 K Column
K Column Overview | Powered | Loudspeakers | QSC
Building on the legacy of the K Family, the KC12 "K Column" is a 3-way, 3000-watt loudspeaker system that combines a column aesthetic with the acoustic performance of traditional "box" systems. Easy to transport, deploy and use, it’s ideal for musicians and bands, DJs and mobile entertainers...
Giving its Canada you are probably looking at Yorkville I would ask your local store about used Parasource, I mean I cant say I am a fan but it works generally and is abundant up here, My preference if you are going new would probably be Yamaha DXR but you are into over 2000 Cad for a pair, (I run Yamaha DZR12s and love them).
QSC release at NAMM a new woofer, top combo. The top can actually support several subs if you need even more bottom.
A wave guide on the top gives it extra wide coverage. Expensive, but looks to be a great solution.
KC12 K Column
K Column Overview | Powered | Loudspeakers | QSC
Building on the legacy of the K Family, the KC12 "K Column" is a 3-way, 3000-watt loudspeaker system that combines a column aesthetic with the acoustic performance of traditional "box" systems. Easy to transport, deploy and use, it’s ideal for musicians and bands, DJs and mobile entertainers...
Maybe for Duos etc, I wouldnt uses these for a full band situation,
Why not the TX series? We play small to medium size venues and are not a loud band. Vocals and just a touch of guitars in the mains. Was considering TX412's for mains on stands and 4 TX410's for monitors.
Hi Pepj. with all brotherly love and respect:
JBL is a company with many levels of product. I'm willing to bet that a PRX912 would go toe to toe with a K10 pretty easily. In short sound quality is there.
RCF are well regarded by lots of operators, and tho I haven't used them, the 900-series lil traps look pretty nice too.
But I'm a peasant! We came up using whatever we could cob together to do DIY shows so anything near the modern mid-priced powered boxes would have seemed like incomprehensible magic to me then.....
JBL is a company with many levels of product. I'm willing to bet that a PRX912 would go toe to toe with a K10 pretty easily. In short sound quality is there.
RCF are well regarded by lots of operators, and tho I haven't used them, the 900-series lil traps look pretty nice too.
But I'm a peasant! We came up using whatever we could cob together to do DIY shows so anything near the modern mid-priced powered boxes would have seemed like incomprehensible magic to me then.....
I'm sure RCF and JBL have great lines but the bar band stuff isn't really it.
They do ok...but there are better options, imv.
They do ok...but there are better options, imv.
I have a pair of cp8s and yamaha dbr10s. I think they perform about the same. Color me impressed. I'd get 12s for mains.
For our needs we use Makie Thump 215XL’s.
They are pretty inexpensive and a great bang for the buck.
We play out once a month and didn’t need super professional stuff, and it has totally changed our game.
Coming from Yamaha 12 passives.
They are pretty inexpensive and a great bang for the buck.
We play out once a month and didn’t need super professional stuff, and it has totally changed our game.
Coming from Yamaha 12 passives.
WHARFEDALE PRO TITAN 12 I Professional Loudspeakers PA Speaker | eBay
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for WHARFEDALE PRO TITAN 12 I Professional Loudspeakers PA Speaker at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.ca
Titan 12D - wharfedalepro
Titan 12D The Titan 12D active PA speaker is the result of years honing the Titan design. Q-Bit DSP technology, a titanium compression driver and a heavy-duty cast-frame woofer, ensure absolute accuracy, high output and the smooth, wide dispersion of the critical mid and high frequency ranges...
wharfedalepro.se
I have a pair of Alto TS108's and they could work at least for us in our band (we have a passive system though). All I can say is that I have thrashed these things for 3 years now and they're doing fine. Really get a work out. Heavier than they look, and hiss a little. But I'd say if you're on a budget they'll probably be better than expected. I use one of mine as a monitor and it's great.
