Hi Phil,

Do you know what soeaker series they're recommending?

I like QSC amps too and it makes good sense to buy powered speakers from a company who, first of all, makes good power amps like QSC or JBL (which are Crown powered).

We had a rock band (with self-contained production) using QSC speakers pass through our black-box auditorium about 2 years ago. I thought the QSC speakers did a real nice job. They had just recently bought them, so they were still breaking them in. A good friend of mine is in that band, I'll shoot him an email and see how they've held up over the past couple years of touring.

This band had what looked like the HPR series, 18" sub + 15" 3-way top. If I remember correctly 2 subs and 2 tops on each side of the stage, plus something smaller for a low center-fill for the people pressed right up front against the stage. (The band had no backline, no wedges - they are all in-ear, so there is no spill from stage except the drums.) So there was no backline helping, what you heard FOH was all from the QSCs. For reference, this place seats about 800 max. including the balcony, but with the chairs off the floor for a concert - there may have been 800 just at floor level and a hundred or so in the balcony. It was plenty loud (peaking at 114dB-117dB max.) , punchy and clean. Their soundman had recently quit and took his EQs and FOH Fx with him - so much to my surprise, at the last minute I ended up running sound for them (without any EQ for the mains in a room that has a wicked 80Hz mode). So that's the extent of my experience with the speakers in question.

I thought the QSC speakers did a very decent job for a rock band. Whether they have enough finesse to do a choral-based presentation would be another issue. If you like what you heard, I'm sure you'll be happy with them. Meanwhile I'll see if I can find info on the track record / durability after being dragged a couple dozen laps around the country.

Hey,

It's just a 200 seat house so they're recommending 4 K8's which have a 12" sub and tweeter.

We would definitely just go acoustic for choir stuff, but theater and recital stuff would likely get the most use.

Phil

the K-series stuff is phenomenal. Except i'd strongly recommend the K12s and would absolutely settle with nothing less than K10s.

the only real downfall with the K-series is the Ksub, which produces excellent clean lowend, but it does not carry at all. within 10 feet of the sub, the sound is amazing. beyond 20 feet and it disappears.

i've only heard the K-12s, and those tops are fantastic

Hi Dave,

Yeah I think there's a typo on their bid sheet, it said K8 and listed a 12" sub so I was assuming its really the K12. The K8 is cute and sounded ok with a sub, but a sub is not always practical in the type of set ups we do.

The room is pretty well balanced and only 60' x 40' w/ most set ups done with the 60' wall being the front.

I don't know about you, but w/ multiple set-ups I'm still questioning the powered speaker situation. In addition to any cabling I would have to run an AC power cord to each speaker. In a theater/ madrigal dinner/ theater in the round it seems less than ideal. Any thoughts? experience?

Phil

Hi Phil,

I have used the QSC hpr12's quite a bit and find them a great sounding versatile box that definetly outperforms the plastic boxes in its class, I believe the K series is the plastic box version of the HPR series. We've mostly used them for mains during banquets but also as monitors at concerts.

For a 200 seat theater I would think qsc's would work great. I would be curious as to how they plan to set them up? The best sound I ever did was in a 150 seat in the round black box theater in which we were able to fly a center cluster of Meyer UPA's, no subs needed(acoustic show). Point source supreme!

The plan (at least as I understand it) is to not have a permanent installation of the speakers. They would have the yokes on them so flying them from the light grid or on stands or on a wall mount would (and should from my point of view) all be options.

There is a plan for 4 breakout boxes (mic/line in - and a line out) on the wall(I think I'll push for 6) 2 on the 60' walls and 1 on each 40' wall. I'm also thinking a break out box suspended in the ceiling would not be a bad idea for hanging mics on a theater in the round set-up and running a line out to speakers as well.

Thoughts?

Phil

Hi Phil,

My friend replied that the QSC they've been touring with have held up well under what he categorized as physical abuse. He gives them a 9 for durability. They had some minor issues with the 3-way fullrange cabinets, but QSC scored a 10 for customer service. Overall he's been very happy with them.

Dave

Thanks for the update, will let you know how things turn out.

Phil

Wow the specs say the K8 has 105 degrees of coverage. 4 of those might be a bit much fro such a small hall, of course they are only 8"s so depending on
what types of event take place in this room? Perhaps 2 -12"s could work in the space?

A cool way to set the system with the 4 k8's and a sub would be to fly everything as a center cluster with the sub in the middle, 2 k's out towards the house and then the other k8's facing on stage as monitors. May not be able to put all that weight on the light grid but a would be worth some custom rigging.

Good call Terrapin, that's the downside of conical horn patterns. It's hard to get even coverage out of an array without lobing issues.

In looking at the specs, I see that the K10s have a 90˚ conical pattern and the K12s have a 75˚ conical pattern. It's also interesting that they distribute the power 500w to the LF and 500w to the HF. Every other powered cabinet I've seen used something more proportionate.

it's all headroom

I have just got my hands on this new "portable DJ system" that has two QSC powered speakers.
I am already in love!
I put it a mackie 1604 (I hate them to death, but it does the job I need it to do) in the rack, and now it is my go too portable rig.
They are far out preforming my JBL eons that I have been using for portable set ups in the past.

But I am still jsut working them in, and have not really put many hours on them. But I like what I hear so far.

pmolsonmus, post: 292446 wrote: Hi,

I like qsc's amps, really quite good bang for the buck and haven't had any issues. The sound company that may be doing the install in a black box theater in our school is recommending qsc's powered speakers.

Any real-life stories. I have heard them and think they would fit the bill, but I'm not sure on the track record.

Any help RO would be appreciated.

Phil

We are dealers and sell them. We also sell JBL, EV, etc. They are rock solid. They will kill anything else out there. The HPRs are heavy. The K series is the lighter, bang-for-the-buck line. QSC will be releasing a bunch of new speakers based on their new Class D switch mode amp and circuits. The only thing that I do not like is their folded horn sub. Yuck.

I've got the K's and the HPR's. It's hard to explain but the K's sound more processed and "hi fi". The HPR's seem a bit warmer sounding. It's difficult to beat the light weight of the K's though. And both of them are fantastic for monitors too.