Powered 12" speakers

J

Jason Raboin

Sophomore
Apr 6, 2011
224
2
18
Northampton, MA
What's out there in a powered 12 that can be pole mounted, has a monitor angle, and sounds great? There seems to be a huge no man's land between sub $1000 QSC, Yamaha, and JBL offerings and $4000+ Meyer and L'acoustics offerings.

Extra credit if the horn rotates and even more if the horn points down, like an ARC.
 
Re: Powered 12" speakers

RCF TT22A, NX12SMA, NXM12A. There will soon be a NXM22A with a larger HF driver. The NX12SMA is primarily a stage wedge, but does have a pole mount cup.
 
Re: Powered 12" speakers

I didn't know the VPs had pole mounts.

The KV2 EX12 would be good, except there is currently no U.S. distributor.
The EAW JF29NT has optional "adjustable legs for use as a stage monitor".
 
Re: Powered 12" speakers

I have used the KV2 EX12. Great stage monitors and even used one a side for a concert in a chapel. Didn't touch the house eq that day. Really impressive. If they were available and supported in the USA, they would be the answer. Obviously I would need to hear for myself, but in a general sense how would the RCF offerings compare to the KV2?

The JBL VP series, while interesting, are in the same price range as Meyer UPA, and from a business standpoint, might not make as much sense. I think corporate clients like to see the Meyer name, and might lump all JBL powered 12" speakers in as Eon or PRX. I don't know if that's a fight I want to fight.

I didn't get a chance to hear the EAW speakers, as I was enthralled with the Fulcrum Acoustics boxes at the expo last month. Once I came home and investigated the costs of getting processing and amplifiers for them, I wished I had taken more time to listen to the EAWs.
 
Re: Powered 12" speakers

Talk to Bennett about the Eona ADR line. Ales may well have something for you that comes in a little under the Meyer price point (but just under). You might have to explain your speakers are made with secret sauce in Slovenia....

If you're putting together a rig to deal with corporate types, buy whatever sounds good to you and meets your criteria for weight, mounting, etc. Keep 4 brand badges in your briefcase: Meyer, EAW, l'Acoustics & JBL. Whatever brand the client wants, you accommodate. :D

Have fun, good luck.

Tim Mc
 
Re: Powered 12" speakers

ISP Technologies' HDM 112 fits all the requirements other than having the horn rotate/point down. It is however a pole mountable three way box that still manages to be quite compact. We have a larger rig made by them and the sound quality is absolutely superb and we've found their build in amps to be very efficient power wise, which is useful in SOS type gigs where power isn't always the greatest. Has powercon inputs too.

It would have the name recognition issue, however for the kind of thing where you are using SOS's I wouldn't imagine riders being that much of a concern.

Here's the manual:

http://www.isptechnologies.com/index.php?option=com_rokdownloads&view=file&task=download&id=325:high-definition-hdm-tm-monitors
 
Re: Powered 12" speakers

Peter Etheredge said:
ISP Technologies' HDM 112 fits all the requirements other than having the horn rotate/point down. It is however a pole mountable three way box that still manages to be quite compact. We have a larger rig made by them and the sound quality is absolutely superb and we've found their build in amps to be very efficient power wise, which is useful in SOS type gigs where power isn't always the greatest. Has powercon inputs too.

It would have the name recognition issue, however for the kind of thing where you are using SOS's I wouldn't imagine riders being that much of a concern.

Here's the manual:

http://www.isptechnologies.com/index.php?option=com_rokdownloads&view=file&task=download&id=325:high-definition-hdm-tm-monitors
Click to expand...

Hello, I like the ISP gear too. When I can get a chance, I'm going to dump all of my JBL and Renkus Heinie boxes and buy the ISP boxes.

Hammer
 
Re: Powered 12" speakers

Those things are little beasts. Since they already have a rotatable horn, maybe we can think of a design for an external stand to hold the either at a monitor angle, or at a verticle angle to use on their sides as front fills. They could even be set as mirrored pairs easily.
 
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Re: Powered 12" speakers

Jay Barracato said:
Those things are little beasts. Since they already have a rotatable horn, maybe we can think of a design for an external stand to hold the either at a monitor angle, or at a verticle angle to use on their sides as front fills. They could even be set as mirrored pairs easily.
Click to expand...

DSC03337.jpg

Brackets like shown are available for years now, just not advertised.
CAD file also available on request.

With respect
 
Re: Powered 12" speakers

Hi Jason,
If you try a passive xover you will need next to nothing in processing.
In most cases EQ the mic to taste and no EQ for the box.
I bet my passive box will get louder before feedback and sound better to the musicians over all.
This is a coaxial box loaded with BMS driver.

BMS 12CN680
 
Re: Powered 12" speakers

Jason Raboin said:
...in a general sense how would the RCF offerings compare to the KV2?
Click to expand...

I haven't played them side-by-side but would say the TT22A and EX12 are equal in clarity and output. The EX12 has a bit deeper response and fuller sound in the midbass. Whether that is cabinet tuning or processing I don't know.

I use some NXM10A tops on a regular basis and find them to be nearly equal in sound quality to the TT cabs, but I do miss the sound of the larger HF drivers they use in the TTs. I'm looking forward to hearing the NXM22 versions. The NX12SMAs that I have auditioned also seem very solid performers.

Where are you located, Jason?
 
Re: Powered 12" speakers

Jason Raboin said:
The JBL VP series, while interesting, are in the same price range as Meyer UPA, and from a business standpoint, might not make as much sense. I think corporate clients like to see the Meyer name, and might lump all JBL powered 12" speakers in as Eon or PRX. I don't know if that's a fight I want to fight.
Click to expand...


I will not lie, I have to throw in a vote for the VP's. Meyer is a legend for a reason, and I totally understand why people came up with the acronym for JBL(Junk but loud) but as a monitor guy, the VPs have yet to let me down. They take very little shading to take care of most feedback issues and have a wonderful sounding low end without being floppy. Everything is there, and everything is intelligible. I know I might be a bit late in posting this, but I just had to chime in. From talking heads to full out rock I have yet to be disappointed with these boxes.
 
Re: Powered 12" speakers

I wasn't discounting the VP series for anything other than price. They look to be in the $4000 range.

I have taken David Nickerson's Eona boxes to 3 or 4 gigs in the past few weeks but haven't used them yet. I'll have to give them a listen.

Does anyone know if KV2 is going to get US distribution anytime soon?
 
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