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Double Bass Heads Up: QSC K-10 $589.00 shipped

Jason Sypher

Jason Sypher

Jan 3, 2001
3,836
5,203
Brooklyn, NY
jasonsypher.com
#1
I just bought my K-10 on eBay from Unique Squared. I wrote them to ask if it was B stock because it is so cheap (they usually sell for no less that $699). They replied that the B-Stock has run out but that they would honor the ad with a brand new in the box model for the same price. If anyone is looking for one of these, now is the time.

Cheers
 
#3
Jason, how do you like it? I'm about to pull the trigger on a powered speaker.....I was up in Memphis today and I went by Guitar Center to try one out.

Unfortunately, they only had the 12.

I plugged in and played through it with my bass using the Heil PR-40 in my H Clamp and my goodness the best amplified sound I've ever had. People kept coming in to check it out.

It sounded great on a pole either with or without a preamp (I was using my Schertler Pre A III.

I'm half tempted to go blind on the K10 if it is half as good as the 12. Still trying to convince myself not to get the 12....41lbs gets heavy when you already have a heavy bass.
 
#4
I just got the K12, technically for all-purpose use by the jazz department but specifically for bass applications. It sounds GREAT. And you can plug just all kinds of sources straight into it and it works like a charm.

I would like to try the 10. The 12 is not heavy but it's a bit cumbersome in the One Handed Steeplechase. I would not hesitate to pull the trigger on the 10 without trying it, based on my experience with the 12, especially from a store with a generous return policy like GC or, much better yet, Sweetwater.
 
#5
There are 2 used K10's on eBay I'm soooooo tempted by from a DJ.

Buy it now $450 + $43 shipping.

I just dropped a chunk of change today on a Gary Watts 5 string electric that I promised myself I'd buy if it ever came up for sale (since he doesn't make them anymore) so I'm hesitant to spend the cash, although I do have a buyer for my Bose system

The Bose sounds good too, but I'm not playing anywhere I have to provide something for a singer anymore, and most stages I'm on are just too small to get enough separation anyway to use to it's full benefit.....besides the fact it doesn't work with the bass player steeplechase leaving the gig in one trip.
 
#10
Some interesting thoughts from a sound engineer friend on the QSC K10 vs K12:

Monte

The QSC K-series is definitely great sound at a great price. If I may, I'd like to suggest you consider the smaller driver models. The main reason is the horizontal coverage angles. The K12 is 75 deg, the K-10 is 90 deg, the K-8 is 105 degrees. Wide coverage not only helps those on the sides to hear better, the sound hitting the side walls is not really a bad thing. Lateral reflections add spaciousness to music. For speech we are concerned about sound hitting walls because of intelligibility, but less so with music. Part of what makes the Bose L1 what it is is that it's horizontal coverage angle is 120+ degrees. I won't presume to tell you which is best for your sound, but to suggest that you consider the angles in your decision. The bigger speaker gets louder and lower in frequency as well, so that's also a consideration. Perhaps the optimum, except for cost and portability, would be a K-8 on top of a K-Sub.

Anyway, I just wanted to insert a plug for good sound over a larger area as opposed to great sound at one spot.

Dale Shirk
Shirk Audio & Acoustics
Terre Hill, Pa.
 
#12
The QSC K-series is definitely great sound at a great price. If I may, I'd like to suggest you consider the smaller driver models. The main reason is the horizontal coverage angles. The K12 is 75 deg, the K-10 is 90 deg, the K-8 is 105 degrees. Wide coverage not only helps those on the sides to hear better, the sound hitting the side walls is not really a bad thing. Lateral reflections add spaciousness to music. For speech we are concerned about sound hitting walls because of intelligibility, but less so with music. Part of what makes the Bose L1 what it is is that it's horizontal coverage angle is 120+ degrees. I won't presume to tell you which is best for your sound, but to suggest that you consider the angles in your decision. The bigger speaker gets louder and lower in frequency as well, so that's also a consideration. Perhaps the optimum, except for cost and portability, would be a K-8 on top of a K-Sub.

Anyway, I just wanted to insert a plug for good sound over a larger area as opposed to great sound at one spot.


Well, for my application the smaller one is better. I need stage sound and reinforcement for small club dates. I'll still be through the FOH. I think this quote is more about using the cabs for FOH applications...
 
#14
Jason Sypher said:
If I may, I'd like to suggest you consider the smaller driver models. The main reason is the horizontal coverage angles. The K12 is 75 deg, the K-10 is 90 deg, the K-8 is 105 degrees. Wide coverage not only helps those on the sides to hear better, the sound hitting the side walls is not really a bad thing. Lateral reflections add spaciousness to music. For speech we are concerned about sound hitting walls because of intelligibility, but less so with music. Part of what makes the Bose L1 what it is is that it's horizontal coverage angle is 120+ degrees. I won't presume to tell you which is best for your sound, but to suggest that you consider the angles in your decision. The bigger speaker gets louder and lower in frequency as well, so that's also a consideration. Perhaps the optimum, except for cost and portability, would be a K-8 on top of a K-Sub.
Click to expand...


Jason ~ I'm pretty sure those dispersion angles are related to a specific frequency range. It's common knowledge that the larger the speaker size, the more the "beaming", or narrowing of dispersion angle. I think this only applies to mid-frequencies.

Also, while the powered 8, 10, and 12 has gotten great reviews, the K sub series hasn't really gotten the same praise.
 
#19
OK, it's here and it's beautiful. These folks know how to make a classy cab. The fit and finish of a Mercedes. It's quite small and light. I hooked everything up in my little practice room and started tweaking. The mic really sounds great. I've been using my mic near the g side f-hole but I find that the typical, just below the bridge feet or even slightly in the direction of the edge gets pretty nice results. I tried the 'deep' setting but there was no point in this little room for more bass. The gage pick up sounds pretty good if you dial out some low mids but once you hear the mic alone the gage seems boxy. I imagine a little bit of gage, just on the 1 or so, might be the ticket onstage. I got a little tweeter rattle at Bb on the g string but it doesn't happen with the gage so it's something on the bass or mic. I had it as loud as I want to hear it and it was very nice and clear, definitely true to the sound of my bass. Nothing, of course, sounds exactly like an acoustic instrument but this is very true to what the mic is picking up. I tried to get feedback by putting the mic over the f hole and standing right in front of it, once I got it, it was easy to dial out with the notch filter. I agree that any notch takes out other warm organic sounds as well so I would sooner eq things than go with the notch...even at the lowest settings. It's really a whole new world for me, being in control of my own amplified signal. Im sure I will learn a lot by experimenting. I'm not an amp guy, I really just love the sound of my bass but this is an easy compromise for me because it sounds so true. I wonder what the DPA would sound like....oh no, back to eBay....
 
#20
nice review. just as i expected:p

I should have a k10 (via that ebay auction) in hand next week.

However, I couldn't resist doing a little experiment ...

On last nights gig I took my 12" full range PA speaker (brand=Technomad), stuck it on a speaker stand, lugged a heavy power amp and pre amp (Millennia TD1) and wired it all up.

For a mic, i used a Beyer M88 on a standard mic stand right around the f-hole on the g-string side.

I will just say this ... I don't think I'll ever use a pick-up again:bassist:

GREAT sound, louder than I needed it to be and no feedback issues.

I'm going to run it again on tonights gig, which will be a louder situation. I'm curious to see how it holds up.

I imagine the k10 will be a bit louder and fuller with the built in DSP/poweramp and it will be great NOT to have to bring that heavy power amp.
 

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