QSC K10.2 or K8.2 as combo bass amp?

[Craig22221]

Is anyone here using a QSC K x.2 powered PA speaker as a combo bass amp? I am considering using a K10.2 or 8.2 and skipping the dedicated bass gear. I see more people doing this lately. Pros and cons?

 

[chadds]

Sound first.

 

[rickdog]

One of the people I play with has (I think) a K10. He plays acoustic guitar through a preamp into it. I plug my tube preamp into the second input on it for rehearsals, my bass sounds great.

But that's at rehearsal levels, suitable for unamplified vocals. I don't think I'd want to gig with that in any decent size room, or with a drum kit.

What kind of use were you envisioning? What style of music? It might work as an onstage monitor, if you have good PA support.

 

[Redbrangus]

First: did ya do a search? There have been several threads about using K10's and K12's.

Second: What's the situation? You and an acoustic guitarist busking in the park? Sure, the K8.2 will rock your world. You playing bass in a soul/funk band with a 4-pc horn section and three singers? Not so much. Are you somewhere between those points on the 'need to get down' scale? More data is needed to answer such a broad question, but do search out a couple of those earlier threads; the actual answer is 'it depends....'.

 

[Craig22221]

I’ll have to look up the old threads. Small gigs, church gigs with FOH support. Basically, the kind of gigs you would take a combo amp to. Why buy a small dedicated combo when these are available at 2000 watts and biamped for $700 with DSP and multiple use

 

[Redbrangus]

My advice is to take that 2000 watt rating with a grain or three of salt...and in general, don't get too enamored of advertising and marketing 'specs'. In this particular case, they're using 'peak' watts (undefined) and adding together the total power of the LF and HF amps. That said, it sounds to me like a K10 might do the job for you; I wouldn't consider using the 8-inch one in a large room like a sanctuary myself, but I don't have any real, direct knowledge of it. IMO, starting with a small, molded-plastic enclosure probably isn't the most direct route to tasty bass tones. But hey...YMMV. I'd also advise seeing if you can rent or borrow one to try out at a gig or two before committing to the concept.

 

[seamonkey]

Powered PA cabs like the K12 work great.
You need a pre-amp or some kind of signal processing to get it to sound "bass head/cabinet" like.
Some elect to use modeling from an iPhone or iPad - IK Multimedia for example.
Other get pedals, or other hardware like a Line 6 Helix, or a Kemper, or just a bass pre-amp.

Once you get a good pre-amp sound it can go from powered PA to FOH to Studio and retain the same great sound.

 

[10cc]

K12 works great, it’s a little heavy though.

 

[Redbrangus]

I've already weighed in, but I'll offer this additional observation: the K12 and its brethren are great little packages, but aren't really optimized to be good bass production systems. The LF response if purposely compromised in order to keep the form factor small enough to lug around, and the LF is also somewhat de-emphasized in order to deliver better performance in the rest of the LF driver's spectrum. One of the central design concepts of this type of system is that if more LF response is needed--like to reinforce the kick drum or bass--that a separate dedicated sub-woofer system will be used.

Having said all that, there seem to be a fair number of folks who are deliriously happy with their K12's, so clearly they're capable enough for some situations. I haven't gone back to look at those older threads, but IIRC, there weren't quite as many testimonials as to the effectiveness of the K10s or smaller ones. I'm still in favor of your trying to demo one 'in situ' to be sure that it will work for you. Let us know what you think if you get to do that.

If you live in range of a GC, you could avail yourself of their generous return policy to try them out...I guess you could do that with mail-order too, come to think of it.

 

[Zbysek]

I haven't gone back to look at those older threads, but IIRC, there weren't quite as many testimonials as to the effectiveness of the K10s or smaller ones.

My feeling from following both BG and DB forums here on Talkbass is that there are more DB players using K10s or smaller ones...

 

[Zbysek]

Is anyone here using a QSC K x.2 powered PA speaker as a combo bass amp?

I am not currently.

Pros and cons?

I would only consider using one for my personal monitoring (especially with DB or EUB)..-not for carrying the room.

Pros:

• FRFR-it would give me an idea what my bass sounds like in FOH
• ability to mount it on a stand at ear level
• ability to use it for other purposes (vocals, guitar, keys)

Cons:

• it's not designed with bass (guitar) in mind...

 

[seamonkey]

I've already weighed in, but I'll offer this additional observation: the K12 and its brethren are great little packages, but aren't really optimized to be good bass production systems. The LF response if purposely compromised in order to keep the form factor small enough to lug around, and the LF is also somewhat de-emphasized in order to deliver better performance in the rest of the LF driver's spectrum. One of the central design concepts of this type of system is that if more LF response is needed--like to reinforce the kick drum or bass--that a separate dedicated sub-woofer system will be used.

Having said all that, there seem to be a fair number of folks who are deliriously happy with their K12's, so clearly they're capable enough for some situations. I haven't gone back to look at those older threads, but IIRC, there weren't quite as many testimonials as to the effectiveness of the K10s or smaller ones. I'm still in favor of your trying to demo one 'in situ' to be sure that it will work for you. Let us know what you think if you get to do that.

If you live in range of a GC, you could avail yourself of their generous return policy to try them out...I guess you could do that with mail-order too, come to think of it.

QSC is not as limited as you'd have people believe.
The QSC K12 have actual published measurements - go check out the site. Bass gear in general does not have anything near what QSC has published. QSC does not rob Peter to pay Paul any more than any other amp/cabinet design - even bass gear. All cabinets are some sort of compromise and bass gear is full of it.

Adding a sub when/if needed is not a problem for theses designs. Trying to do the same for typical bass gear is a not easy.

For people looking into these QSC is a wealth of information. They also have a simplest guide here: https://www.qsc.com/resource-files/productresources/spk/k.2/q_spk_k.2_appguide_livebands.pdf
In anycase, try before you buy. Rent for a live situation and you'll have actual gig experience with it. Rent a sub if you need one for a large gig, but it's better to put the sub in the FOH.

 

[Ric Vice]

I used a QSC K8 for nearly 5 years as a Double Bass and Electric Bass amplifier along with a 3Leaf Audio Preamp. It works really well with a 4 String Electric, not as well with a 5 String, but I've played

through a K10 and a K12 and the K line sounds progressively better as you move to the bigger cabinets with bigger speakers (the power amps are the same for all three models) . That said I think the Quilter Line, which I've been told is actually built in the QSC plant

are far superior to the K Series. When Mike Arnopol started to build his powered MAS 1/8 specifically for Double and Electric bass, I saved my pennies and moved to a powered speaker designed specifically for bass.

There is a big difference between the K8 and a MAS 1/8.


P.S. I receive no compensation from Mike I payed the same price as everyone else does.

 

[Downlowsince81]

I just found a set of MAXO PA speakers in my Acoustic Combo. I guess PA full range speakers can be used for bass guitar, but I had always heard differently, unless its running through DI or live.

 

[Omega Monkey]

Cons: It will probably sound like garbage.

Pros:

 

[Ric Vice]

Cons: It will probably sound like garbage.

Pros: The OSC K series with a good preamp like the Headway EDB-2, Grace Felix, or Bassics Preamp sound good with Double Bass.

 

[DanL]

Hey Ric
I’m curious why you chose the QSC K 8” vs the 10” or 12”
I’m thinking of getting one myself for smaller venues / music theater pit work
Thx
Dan Laney

I used a QSC K8 for nearly 5 years as a Double Bass and Electric Bass amplifier along with a 3Leaf Audio Preamp. It works really well with a 4 String Electric, not as well with a 5 String, but I've played

through a K10 and a K12 and the K line sounds progressively better as you move to the bigger cabinets with bigger speakers (the power amps are the same for all three models) . That said I think the Quilter Line, which I've been told is actually built in the QSC plant

are far superior to the K Series. When Mike Arnopol started to build his powered MAS 1/8 specifically for Double and Electric bass, I saved my pennies and moved to a powered speaker designed specifically for bass.

There is a big difference between the K8 and a MAS 1/8.


P.S. I receive no compensation from Mike I payed the same price as everyone else does.

 

[Craig22221]

I bought the K10.2 and use a subway preamp. Sounds great.

 

[DanL]

I do play about 60/40 double bass / bass guitar - a lot of music theatre shows some jazz piano trio gigs / the occasional 17-20 piece swing band / and church worship team - that’s DI and in-ears
So portability & ease of use & quality of sound with lots of head room are all important to me
I’m close to buying one or a pair
Just trying to decide if 8”, 10” or 12” is right for me...

 

[Craig22221]

Try the 10” first. If you need more, then the 12 should do it.