Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Sam Costa]

Hey guys/gals,
Recently picked up 4 QSC K12.2 and so far I'm really liking them, so much so that I'm planning on picking up 2 more.
I have one more event that I'm planning on slapping them pretty hard before I place them in my inventory, but I was curious to know if anyone has any suggestions on proper splay?
I would like to place at least 2 per side for FOH on a medium sized outdoor area for up to 500 people, but noticed that the box design doesn't allow it. In testing with both cabinets angled about 15 degrees, I noticed there was a slight phase issue.

Would it be a better option to go with 2 more cabinets (for a total of 3 per side) and offer more stereo imaging and tighten up the coverage area?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Here's a photo:

[Chris Grimshaw]

I'm not convinced that adding more K12.2s will improve things for you. You're heading towards KLA, and we know how that plays out.
I'd think about something bigger, like a 2x15"+2", and move the K12.2s to monitor/fill duties.

Chris

[David Winners]

Something like the SRX835p or KW153 would give you more output. Trying to splay K12s is not going to be good. I personally prefer the JBL 3 way to the QSC, but having a matching system has its benefits. What subs are you using?

[Scott Olewiler]

Splaying cabinets gets you wider coverage, but not that much more SPL across the coverage area.   3 a side is going to probably result in more phase issues but not get it any louder at the back.

Are you just trying to get more coverage in the center front? If so, use fronts fills.

If you really need more volume you need a louder box.

[Peter Kowalczyk]

I haven't used K12.2, but I did a series last summer using 2x KW-153 per side.  Not my rig; I was just brought in to mix.  I splayed them wide enough to minimize overlap, and it sounded fine, but was far wider than our narrow-and-deep coverage area, and not really loud enough.  We tightened them up and got a bit more level, but the phase cancellation made for a frustrating mixing experience.  I didn't take the gig this year. 

Boxes like K12.2 aren't really designed to be arrayed.  By all means, set 'em up and have fun making noise.  But if you're trying to level-up your rig, as others have said, then replacing your mains with a higher-output / arrayable design will be money-better-spent than just adding more of the same.

[Robert Lunceford]

With 3 per side you can do a dash-array with some custom hardware.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/QSC-K12-2-CUSTOMIZED-AS-LINE-ARRAY-12-000-W-SYSTEM/173909101772?hash=item287dca4ccc:g:EAEAAOSwX3ZcVo4M

Whatever you end up doing, you should get the mains up higher in the air. They look a bit low even when stacked on the subs.
It looks like you have a matched pair of subs on one side and a mixed pair on the other side.

[Xiang Cao]

the spread is 75 degree. Agree that these are not designed to be arrayed. Put two speakers together does not necessarily make it louder.

[Mal Brown]

Worse yet the spread is conical.  Look k12’s and 12.2’s are great single boxes but they do not Array well.  Virtually nothing does in that end of the market.

You’d be way better off with some older quality trap array boxes that will.

Been there, done that, got the tee shirt in multiple colors...

[Weogo Reed]

Hi Sam,

For wider coverage, multiple boxes separated by at least 10 feet would work.
For more volume at the back of the venue, use a pair as delay-fills.
As already noted, get the boxes up higher, and if you just need louder, get louder boxes.
Physics says the phase issues are worse than you are initially aware of.

I recently took down an array of two three-way boxes that are 17" x 34", and put one of them back up.
Better quality sound with only a small hit to the low mids, which had originally been dialed back to make the rig sound good.

Thanks and good health,  Weogo 

[Sam Costa]

I haven't used K12.2, but I did a series last summer using 2x KW-153 per side.  Not my rig; I was just brought in to mix.  I splayed them wide enough to minimize overlap, and it sounded fine, but was far wider than our narrow-and-deep coverage area, and not really loud enough.  We tightened them up and got a bit more level, but the phase cancellation made for a frustrating mixing experience.  I didn't take the gig this year. 

Boxes like K12.2 aren't really designed to be arrayed.  By all means, set 'em up and have fun making noise.  But if you're trying to level-up your rig, as others have said, then replacing your mains with a higher-output / arrayable design will be money-better-spent than just adding more of the same.

Sorry guys, I guess I should have mentioned that I already have delays about 55'ft in front of the stage going into the grass seating area. People bring in their lawn chairs and blankets and sit on the grass so that part is covered. I was more concerned with the proper splay for these particular QSC's..

I also had my other rig which is a EAW KF300 box (2 per side) which I used for a similar event at the same location and they were a bit louder. I typically do place the KF's on top of my subs just as I did with the QSC's on this photo, however I do place them higher on 2 matched anvil cases I have and raises them about 21" higher (wrap them with black duvetyne to hide the cases) and strap everything down to the subs.

Regarding this QSC K12.2 rig, I wanted to see it's potential and see the difference of my EAW KF300 boxes were going to be. I didn't raise them because of time constraints but they were heard pretty well until the delays took over.

The subs I'm using, believe it or not are still the Gen 1 and Gen 2 Carvin dual 18" boxes. The reason you see one that has a larger box on the bottom is the Gen 1 and I still to this day cannot find another box like it! lol, it's crazy I know, but they do sound really good.

[ProSoundWeb Community]