“The QSC KC12 raises the bar in the column-system game. Nice work, QSC.”
First, a little history… in the 1960s, as the space race was in full swing and The Beatles were dominating the airwaves, a young engineering student named Patrick Quilter with a fascination for audio equipment set himself a bold challenge.
A family friend needed an amplifier for his bass guitar, but he could not find an amp that matched his desired specifications within his budget of $250. Quilter came to the rescue and actually built his friend an amp from the ground up. This Quilter fellow was quite obviously a wiz.
Now, almost 60 years later, QSC is one of the most-trusted names in the pro-audio space and has earned the respect of DJs, musicians, and sound engineers around the globe. As an example for our side of the market, the K Series powered loudspeakers are favorites in the world of mobile DJing.
New Systems: However, past glory can only travel so far. The loudspeaker landscape is changing, and the era of column-style speakers is here. These units have a subwoofer, but, instead of a single top box, they have several smaller speakers arranged in a column. This set-up has a couple of advantages when compared with the traditional “subs-and-tops” model.
For instance, columns have superior sound dispersion, especially in the horizontal direction. Second, as the column usually shares control with the subwoofer, the system requires just a single input to provide signal to both the top and the sub. There’s also no need to adjust the crossover point or calibrate the top separately to account for the sub.
Third, they’re easier to set up and people like the way they look. Column-style systems have a sleek, low-profile appearance and take up less stage or floor space, with no need for speaker stands.
KC12: Borrowing DNA from the existing K Series, QSC makes a confident entry into the column array market with the KC12 (“K Column”). This may be QSC’s first foray into the column market, but it lands with the precision and power expected from the brand. Inside, there’s a 3,000-watt Class D amplifier, which pushes out a peak SPL of 132 dB. There’s a 12-inch subwoofer, two 4-inch midrange drivers, and a 1-inch high-frequency driver. A trademarked system called QSC LEAF (length-equalized acoustic flare) helps deliver even coverage across wide listening areas.
The system consists of three modular components: a subwoofer base, the mid/high section, and a spacer column that slots between them. (In my estimation, the spacer is like a 21st century speaker pole.) In my testing, the assembly was easy, and each component clicked with satisfying solidity – no tools required.
The engineers at QSC tell me they specifically designed the components to be able to withstand the punishment of frequent gigging – welcome to our world. With the system, there’s even an included bag for the top section and the spacer. As mentioned, I had the speaker set up single-handed in a matter of minutes.
There are two color choices: a traditional black finish and a striking all-white option (mostly, for the precious wedding market). I’ll let you decide which color makes the most sense for you.
In Action: The KC12 also impressed me with its sound quality and performance. In my testing, I found the speakers had a good punch and crystal-clear vocals. Good sound, all the way.
There’s an integrated three-channel mixer on the subwoofer. Two of the three channels accept signal via combo XLR/TRS inputs, and the third channel accepts either a headphone jack or a Bluetooth input. The Bluetooth feature can also be used to link up to four KC12s together.
There are also two XLR outputs – one is a simple loop-thru, while the other is post-mixer. There’s even a USB-C port for charging mobile devices. Further control can be achieved using a small text-only screen. The controls for the screen (a scroll wheel and two buttons) took some getting used to, but navigating the screen became easy once I got the hang of the layout.
Conclusions: The QSC KC12 raises the bar in the column-system game. At $2,199 street price for a single unit, this is certainly no impulse buy, but the KC12 offers premium sound quality in an attractive compact form factor. This would be a good choice for mobile DJs and live-sound companies who value the column-style aesthetic.
At around 60 pounds, it would also be a good choice for solo performers who need a loudspeaker that can be truly plug-and-play. Nice work, QSC.