QSC CP12 1000W 12 inch Powered Speaker Reviews

The speakers are excellent, our small church went from busted 25-year-old speakers to an excellent sound. We purchased four of the 12-inch CP12 they sound like a million bucks. Thank you to our very knowledgeable and helpful salesman Mr. Alex Rodriguez he exemplifies exceptional customer service.

I work in a Country trio and paired these with 2 500 watt subs. What great sound clarity and power for such a lightweight cabinet. They look good, sound good, and never fail to please. We mix everything through these and have never even come close to using there full power potential. You cant go wrong with these or any QSC product as far as I'm concerned. I don't know why we suffered so long with older non powered speakers for so many years. Be sure and get the carrying cases for these they are also quality and protect these for all our transports.

Awesome speakers. QSC makes some of the best speakers on the market today. Highly recommended value for the money.

Exactly what I was looking for. A great-sounding powered speaker in a small, easy to transport package. You can't go wrong with QSC.

I own a few QSC 1000 Watt monitors ,I like this one cause its smaller lighter sam power like the old ones

Really great high quality sound speakers best in class.

I was looking for a set of monitors that were, basically, just speakers. Didn't need a bunch of signal processing or mixing capabilities. These speakers fit the bill. Yes, you can do some basic mixing if you really need just the one speaker for a solo gig but for monitors these are great. Loud and clean. The crossover adjustment is just that; a knob with a selection of settings that you turn. No searching through a bunch of settings. Did I mention they were loud and clean? If not they are. Justin knocked it out of the park once again.

Full-featured, crystal clear sound,rugged construction, quick and easy set up, and all at an affordable price -- QSC CP 12 speakers are a band's best friend.

Shout out to Sweetwater's Nick Dutiel for his expert guidance in making this purchase. All gear should be this good and all advisors should be this smart and helpful.

My band has a set of these - they sound great.. I run them from a digital wireless mixer, patched through the qsc sub.. never had an issue.

I felt compelled to come add a review for any of my fellow Sweetwater swimmers that were on the fence about these speakers..

Last Thursday we're setting up for an outdoor gig at a Harley Davidson dealership.. the winds were in the 30mph range.. I had just set the right side speaker up on its stand, hooked up power supply and cables.. I turn my back to walk to the other side and I heard the dreadful thump of the speaker getting blown over and hitting the pavement… HARD.

I was certain it was a goner..

But to my surprise, aside from some scuff marks - it was ok - it performed flawlessly for the entire 4hr set..

I'm impressed.

Purchased 5 cp12s to replace a bunch of alto monitors, set them to the monitor setting, plunked em down and beside turning up the gain a little, they work perfectly with my Qsc touchmix. I set board presets to the K.2 monitor setting and it seems to be perfect. I have also used a pair for an acoustic weekly show. My K12s I think sound deeper but I'd rather use the cps as they easier to drag around. It was a good buy, I recommend!

I spent many days looking over all kinds of powered PA speakers, and I kept coming back to these. So far my band has used them for 2 live gigs and the sound was incredible, more than enough power for the places we play. We are a Traditional country trio, with Steel guitar, keyboards, drums, bass and electric guitar. These carried everyting very well, we also added 1,000 watt sub support which really filled out the sound with crystal clear quality. Lightweight easy setup, what more could you ask for and at an affordable price point. Highly recommend.

I had owned a QSC K10 for about 7 years. The tweeter went out and I will be getting the unit overhauled, but the wait time for speaker repairs in Austin TX is 6-8 weeks. I needed a speaker NOW, and love QSC quality, but didn't want to pony up for another K10 (it's about $200 more now than it was in 2006.)

The CP12 interested me. Same dimensions, but with a larger 12" woofer. My engineer warned me that this was a vastly lesser quality unit than the K10. Sorry, but I must disagree. This speaker, for MY purposes, is just as good as the K10. The sound may be a bit wider exiting the K10 speakers by a few degrees, but that would only be a factor for folks using the unit outdoors. I am a PE teacher and use the speaker inside a gym. The acoustics are live, and the CP12 broadcasts LOUD AND CLEAR, with plenty of power and excellent highs and lows.

Highly recommended.

I don't normally write reviews, but these speakers have earned one. We've been using a pair of these, with the QSC 12" sub, for a couple of years. They sound awesome, but that's why you buy QSC, right? Last Saturday, we were breaking down after a gig, and the tripod holding one of them got knocked over. Off the stage (4' high), off the tripod and onto the (luckily empty) dance floor. About a 10' drop, plus about 15' horizontal. Not a scratch, not a dent, still works perfectly. I couldn't believe it. I think these things would probably stop a bullet.

I bought 3 of these so far . Was and lighter than the other series but giving the same quality and power . I only need one more to have two sets or have all speakers if occasion calls for much bigger and louder setup. Ask f I am a DJ or do stuff processionally ? No I am not . I just like having gear with all the power needed if you need them . But use them occasionally for professional performing .

I have bought 2 Speaks from this Company for our Church, and I love these speakers. Perfect lows, mids and heights, perfect sound. Great thing about there speakers, that there is no HOT Zone in from of the Speaker, because sounds spreads through the Air. You can literally put your ear to the speaker while its playing. Thank you also for your Giveaway, God bless you for that. I highly recommend these speakers, and looking to buy something in the future. Thank you.

Budget conscious, I purchased a pair of CP12 speakers a couple years ago with a promotion that included the padded bags. Looking at the prices today, it was a screaming good deal. Initially lured by the "sale" promotion and price, it turns out I could not have done better for my needs. We have played a number of bar gigs and small outdoor gigs. These are great little loudspeakers. Know that they are not the same powerhouses as the K12s but the CP12s have been more than adequate for our mains with plenty of volume and good quality sound. Glad I have the protective covers, I doubt if I'd spring for them. They are spending but so useful. You decide.

I play an acoustic electric Martin guitar and do vocals with a Shure 58. This speaker is all you need. Wow!

We all get caught up in owning the newest, hippest stuff - some of us more than others. In the end, for the gigging musician, it's about owning the "tools" that keep you working. The QSC CP12 is one of the few products that is ALL of those things.

I've been using Behringer Eurolive powered speakers for a few years now: B115s, B112s, B110s, and B108s. The A/B sound comparison to each of those vs the CP12 is no contest. In a low volume environment, the CP12 is cleaner and crisper. Turn up the Behringers to one iota below their clipping point, and THEN turn the CP12 up and hear that the sound quality is exactly the same at any volume. And yes, the CP12 still has more headroom to pass the Behringer clipping points while still producing identical sound as the lower volumes. I played an outdoor party using the CP12 as a sidefill and it not only covered the stage, it also covered the pool area 150ft away - clean, crisp, clear.

I play in a band that uses EV Z-powered speakers and A/Bing the CP12 to them was also as unfair as comparing the Behringers. In QSC-land, the CP12 is lighter and cheaper than the K12. Knowing that you can basically buy a pair of CP12s for the price of a new K12 - it seems like a great first step in building a PA over time.

Quality sound. Goods for monitor voice.

These speakers rock for this price!

I'm retired with lifting/mobility limits. Wanted compact, lightweight speakers for a mobile DJ unit to use for senior and VA centers w/potential MC and band PA use. Research/reviews led me to QSC K12-2s. Out of my price range. Super Sales Rep Ramses recommended CP-12s. Remembered QSC amps from 80s night club days. Purchased unseen, unheard. Paired w/Pioneer DDJ-SX3 controller. Used twice so far - a 58+ independent living facility event and a friend's 250 capacity live-music venue. Very pleased. Great sound quality. Incredible head room. Have yet to clip or reach threshold. Prefer dance mode for added bottom end. Two are fine for small to medium venues, weddings, etc. Recommend subs for large events or modern EDM/hip-hop/rap. I'd trust 4 CP-12s w/subs for large or outdoor events. Just ordered a Behringer X Air XR18 mixer from Ramses for band PA use and plan on adding a lightweight active sub.

I got this to have something for vocals and for bass for a goof around (meaning just friends jamming, not pro level stuff) music room I honestly didn't expect much. But I have to say, I'm am blown away. I got an active DI, and when the bass player plugged in, the little QSC sounds amazing. Nice tight bottom end with good tone.

I was a semi-pro FoH sound engineer for a decade and am pretty picky. Always used top line JBL (though would prefer EAW is money no object) so I was doubly impressed by this small cheap speaker. Highly recommend.

I haven't gotten my mixer yet no experience w/ full band sound, but I think you could gig in small venues with this an be very happy.

Ordered a pair of the CP12 speakers with Nicks help. One of the speakers was damaged,
I had a replacement within a few days. The speakers are amazing and have a smaller footprint than my
previous 12 inch speakers. Big shout out to Sweetwater and Nick for excellent customer service.

Angie A

Sounds great and very usable tone settings.

Couldn't be happier, best powered PA speakers I've heard by far. Just ordered a QSC KS112 SUB, can't wait to get it and add it into the mix. Sweetwater is the best in customer service and support, will absolutely not buy from anyone else.

Bought this to use mainly with my Alesis Nitro Mesh electronic drums. I was using a small Behringer mixer but it just wasn't cutting it. The drums sound awesome through this speaker. Frequency range evidently does matter. I also plugged in my ipad and played a few tunes thriugh it. I like the compact size and weight. Great choice.

I purchased these speakers for 3 reasons. 1) the quality of QSC Speakers, 2) reduced weight from other versions and 3)the price, oh and 4) free cases. This was a great purchase for me.

Bought 2 of these to donate to our church for our musicians to use during services. They are fabulous! The sound is crystal clear, balanced and beautiful. Plenty of power and headroom. The speakers are also relatively lightweight and easy to setup and move. They are certainly a 5 star product. Sweetwater also did a great job with service and delivery. Thank you!

After many years I decided to start playing my keyboards. A friend told me about the QSC power cabs and Sweetwater.... Let me state that I love my new QSC CP12 and the excellent service provided by Charlie Davis at Sweetwater! 5 Stars all the way!!!

If you are looking for an FRFR that you can use with both guitar and bass, this is the speaker for you.

I have a Mission Engineering Gemini 1 and this CP12 blows it out of the water, simply because the bass handling of the QSC is far superior to that on offer from any FRFR on the market.

This handles bass guitar very, very well and will give you a surprising amount of low end thumb with one speaker alone. It has plenty of power for most live FRFR applications. If you need even more for some reason, pair it with another CP12 and you have a setup that will be perfect as a portable PA on top of an amazing pair of FRFR speakers.

I’ve also used this as a PA speaker for practice with vocals, guitar, and electric drums going through it and the drummer was blown away by the sound. He couldn’t believe that this small and light unit was producing such a solid tone, all the way from the kick to the shimmer of the cymbals.

This is a powerhouse of a speaker and a steal at its price. I am extremely happy with it and will be purchasing another soon. Do not waste your time with FRFR speakers. Just get this guy and you’ll be good to go.

I love this speaker! Powerful,easy to set-up and use......... Incredible value, along w/ QSC quality. This speaker/monitor will give you great service and please include the tote bag w/ your purchase! Makes a great ,easy to carry monitor, for your local gigs.....

Picked this up to use as an E-drum speaker/monitor... found the "floor monitor" setting to be the best- great speaker! Also used for FOH for a small band I have- great for that as well. I mentioned "budget" speaker in the title because I have all of the K.2 sizes... and while the CP line is less expensive they certainly have higher-priced sound!

Hands down this is absolutely the best powered speaker system I've ever owned. I chatted with my salesperson a few months ago asking him if the QSC CP12 would handle my keyboards OK or not. (I've owned probably 20-25 amplifiers for Keyboards in my lifetime) I had been looking for a very compact all-in-one speaker combo that wouldn't break my back. The CP12 really surprised me! It sounds SUPER CLEAN on all frequencies, and has plenty of volume to spare. I have tried it also with a vocalist and I playing at the same time. Yes!! Pre-recorded music sounds wonderful and full as well. At the end of each gig I can quickly snap this cabinet up and onto my loading cart, no sweat. Highly recommend to all level musicians/sound engineers.

K series may have a bit more bass, but with sub support (which you should have even with K series), these speakers crank and honestly unless you plan on no sub support you"re throwing money away. I have a big yard party at my house every year, and I have two stages. One stage has some big honking Peavey SP3s that weigh 92lbs each and honestly sound pretty dang good pushed with a powered Yamaha EMX88s. 1x15 with horn. The QSCs keep up with the Peaveys despite SPL wise while being much smaller and lighter. They weigh like 30lbs and less than half the size. Very clear and loud. For the price guy? Pretty hard to beat these little dudes. It"s QSC!!

Para ser sincero no es el ultimo modelo de QSC pero si es mi mejor elección ya que su calidad es apreciable y recomendable para los que disfrutan de la música se lo puedo asegurar

I have been building my PA system for a while and was saving up for a pair of K12.2 s. Then I saw these so I compared them side by side with the 12.2s and there was some slight difference sound wise but Nothing outstanding and for the price of these I you really can't go wrong. I have used them a few times so far and they sound amazing.

Man, these are great! Crystal-clear and plenty loud with room to spare, not prone to feedback easily, makes for one happy singer! We replaced our old passive floor wedges with these, and what a difference! They are super light and much smaller than our old ones so they fit better up on tight stages, easy to use right out of the box, and the bonus is that they also have a pole mount and are powerful enough to double as a backup main speaker in an emergency in case one of our K12.2's goes out or something. Exactly what we needed! Great job QSC, thanks!

I love the speakers. They are perfect for my touring acoustic show. Plenty of punch and frequency range for small to medium sized venues. They have a great warm sound… The lower end on my Gibson J 29 punches through nicely… While the mid range and high frequencies of my voice are perfectly balanced out front. Plenty of volume even at 50%.

I picked up two of these for our band to use as our mains. We were blown away by the quality of sound they could produce, and how they just seem to have limitless power for the price and size. I don't think enough people realize how much smaller these things are than other 12" speakers, and they also don't weigh very much. If you are looking for an incredible value to quality proposition for a live band, it's really hard to beat these. The only think I wish they had was a locking nut for when they are on speaker stands. Other than that, they are pretty perfect for what they are.

I bought these to replace some old JBL power 10's, as I always wished I had 12's, and as soon as I hooked these up the first words that came to mind was "these things bang!". The bass is nice and low and I get crisp highs. I do no need a sub with these at all, and I imagine I would if I were playing a larger event, however for everyday use they are more than adequate. The music I play is primarely House Music, and these do great!

Bought 4 of these boxes to replace aging passive gear, was happy to hear the performers were pleased with the stage monitors, and they didn't sound hollow or body like some poly construction boxes can. The first pair I bought as a result of hearing them at a resort in Cancun we stayed at. They were the workhorses for the resort and had impressive clarity and punch. I bought another pair a few weeks later after using them in the field. There are quite a few eq curve options on back which can assist in dialing im n the units for your specific application, and all at a price point that didn't break the bank. I recommend these boxes to whomever wants a solid performer in a compact and light package. Well done QSC.

I was recently on vacation and the resort where we stayed used these qsc's throughout the entire place from poolside DJs to evening a capella concerts and beyond. These boxes sounded amazing, so much in fact that I ordered a pair right from my beach chair the next morning to assure they'd be on my doorstep by the time I arrived home. I used them that weekend for a small band as mains without subs and they performed flawlessly. These boxes will be a part of my live sound rig primarily as floor wedges, but you can bet they will kick for you when needed as mains. I couldn't give full 5 stars only because I never owned poly cabinet speakers before. Other than that, buy yourself a pair and see for yourself. Well done QSC.

Amazing amount of power...tight & punchy.....a smaller sound than the K12.2s (which are the best sounding powered speakers ever!), but they are more than enough for a smaller venue or backyard party. Smaller and lighter, and $300 less than the K12.2s.....good option for locations that have a cramped stage area.
Looking forward to using these with my keyboard, and for more P.A. gigs. Worth every penny!

First off, I'm not a professional musician, but am, rather, merely an amateur who plays mostly by ear. But I do play well enough to entertain the old folks with the melodies of decades gone by from the "American Standard Playbook," etc., up through the '70's and a few beyond. I read well enough to have played organ for churches large and small for nigh onto 50 years.

Having owned and loved my Yamaha CVP 307 for 18 years, I've long wanted to have a portable decent-sounding piano for nursing homes, banquets, receptions, etc., so I recently bought a Yamaha CP 88 along with a pair of these speakers. The acoustic pianos at these venues are virtually always out-of-tune, worn-out pieces of trash on which only ragtime has even a remote chance of sounding OK.

When I got the speakers connected to the CP88, and set upright on the (hard-surface floor), I was quite disappointed with the dark muffled tone of all the the piano voices. After a couple calls to Sweetwater (I have never dealt with anyone more helpful than they are!), one of their Sales Engineers told me to get the speakers off the floor and turn the "Contour" dials on their rear panel to "Floor Monitor" position. I actually repositioned them to their "floor monitor" position (for which there are rubber pads present on the side of the cabinet), and set the dials as suggested, and--voila! the sound brightened up. Even set to "Default" the sound is more true to life with the cabinets set on their sides. I can see no physical reason for this, but it worked. (What I thought was a "bass port" on the bottom is actually where the stands' poles go.)

Since I plan to mostly use the CP88 as a piano, most of the other issues are only a bit irritating :

>When storing a "Live Set" (i.e.: Presetting layers of up to three voices), things like their respective volumes, effects, etc., are not saved. I mean--c'mon! I'm used to all those things being saved on the CVP, and am quite disappointed that they're not on the CP88;

>My standard earphone didn't work with the 88, and I had to purchase a new one (I needed to replace my old one anyway, but...);

>The damper pedal doesn't stay put for the duration of even one piece, and I'll have to tether it to the bench;

>I'd much rather have a firmly-indexed knob, or +/- clicker button, for transposing than the very-difficult-to-use-on-the-fly "Transpose" button coupled with the VERY-soft-index knob.

Ah well, it ain't a CVP, but it'll do for my needs...

Down and dirty, since I don't have that many years left (I'm 77) I'll make do. Venues like nursing / assisted-living homes are the most uncritical audiences one can have. :)

I purchased a pair with the hopes I can use them for Bar gigs as mains. Unfortunately they are very hollow sounding so i mainly use them for monitors. The cabinets themselves are cheap plastic, behringers would be a better choice and a better price.