Canadian Musician - November/December 2018 | Page 20

ROAD
TEST
QSC KS112 & KS212C Powered
Subwoofers
By Jon Matthews
A
s live sound professionals, I think
it’s safe to say we’re all constantly
searching for new and effective
ways to lighten our loads and make
our gigging lives easier, while at the
same time maintaining the quality standards of
the audio experience we deliver. The folks at QSC
have recently unveiled two new entries in their
low-frequency arsenal that seem purposely de-
signed to help us with those very objectives: the
KS112 and KS212C powered subwoofers.
Overview
After unboxing, I was instantly struck with the
quality fit and finish of both units, with a hand-
some black paintjob covering the solid-feeling
enclosures, and well-placed cast aluminum
handles. Both the KS112 and KS212C are tricked
out with sturdy-looking “silent” heavy duty cast-
ers, a welcome and useful feature, along with
some chunky slip-resistant rubber feet on both
the bottom and side and matching feet cups
built into the cabinet to allow for stable stacking.
Both units also feature M20 threaded sockets for
standard 35 mm speaker poles, one of which is
included with the KS212C.
Both models share the same rear controls and
connections, with two separate female combina-
tion XLR and 1/4-in. inputs, and a pair of pass-
through male XLRs. Note that these output con-
nections provide the same signal as the inputs
and are not passed through a crossover in the
subs, so you’ll need to engage high-pass filtering
on your chosen top speakers. There are back panel
LEDs for “Power” and “Signal,” a red LED indicating
limiter engagement, and a gain knob allowing
adjustments of plus or minus 10dB to the internal
amplifier. Both subs feature DSP controlled via a
digital display menu, offering selection and dialing
of features such as crossover frequency, delay, and
saving or loading “scenes.”
In Use
Let’s start with the compact KS112, which serves
up 2,000 W of class-D peak power in a sixth-order
bandpass 15 mm birch enclosure and weighs in
at a lower back-friendly 62 lbs. Inside, you’ll find
a 12-in. excursion driver capable of handling a
maximum peak SPL of 128dB at 1 m. QSC quotes
the unit’s frequency response (-6dB) at 41 to 108
Hz, with a frequency range (-10dB) of 38 to 121
Hz – impressive for a single 12-in. subwoofer. The
20 • C A N A D I A N M U S I C I A N
enclosure, including casters, measures 24.5 x 15.5
x 24.25 in., making it very attractive to those who
need big performance in a compact package.
Fortunately, the KS112s performance belies
its size. I took it out for a test drive paired with
my favourite powered 10-in. full-range speaker
and was quite pleased with the results. I set
the subwoofer crossover point at 100 Hz and
ran the system flat while auditioning a variety
of program material, from folk to pop rock to
bass-heavy EDM. I found the KS112’s sound to
be deep, clean, and even with decent throw. I
think a pair of KS112s would be quite suitable
for most small to medium DJ, club, or live music
applications, with the added advantages of easy
lifting, transportation, and placement.
Now, the KS212C is an entirely different
beast altogether! QSC touts this product as “the
world’s first-in-class single-box powered cardioid
subwoofer solution,” meaning it is designed to
provide a degree of bass attenuation to the rear
and sides. (More on that later).
The KS212C is spec’ed to deliver 3,600 W of
peak power to its dual 12-in. drivers inside an 18-
mm birch plywood enclosure. This unit is capable
of handling 132dB of peak SPL at 1 metre, with a
quoted frequency response (-6dB) of 44 to 104
Hz and a frequency range (-10dB) of 39 to 118
Hz. As you would expect, the KS212C occupies a
larger slice of real estate than the KS112, measur-
ing 24.5 x 15.5 x 33.5 in. including casters.
The main advantage of a cardioid subwoofer
setup is in enhancing directivity and minimizing
the buildup of bass energy in unwanted areas
like the stage, where it could potentially inter-
fere with musicians’ monitor mixes or amplifiers.
Typically, this is achieved with multiple subs in
a front-back-front configuration, but now, the
advantages of this kind of setup are accessible
to those of us running more modest systems
thanks to QSC’s K Cardioid Solution. The KS212C
is quoted to provide a significant 15dB rear re-
duction at 70 Hz, and in practical testing, this
welcome effect was easily noticeable.
Upon swapping in the KS212C with the same
trusty 10-in., full-range top speaker used earlier,
I was again struck by the fullness, clarity, and
push of the low end it produced. As expected,
the KS212C had plenty of headroom on offer, and
as such, would be an optimal choice for a single-
subwoofer solution. The added benefits of the
rear attenuation make the KS212C an even more
attractive prospect for this role, though it would
work just as well in a multi-unit configuration.
QSC’s K and KS Series have become trusted stan-
dards in the pro audio world, and these strong
and innovative new subwoofer offerings should
continue to uphold the company’s well-earned
reputation – particularly in highly portable enter-
tainment and installation applications.
Jon Matthews is an acclaimed producer and stu-
dio and live sound engineer based in Charlotte-
town, PE. He is the owner/operator of The Sound
Mill and a 2018 East Coast Music Award nominee
for Producer, Studio Engineer, and Live Sound
Engineer of the Year. For more information, visit
www.thesoundmill.ca. Facebook:
www.facebook.com/thesoundmill Twitter &
Instagram: @redmudmusic or @thesoundmill.