QSC K10 Active Loudspeakers - overview and user guide

[@mootsym]

I recently got to take home the DXR10, K10 and EV ETX-10P for about 6 weeks. This is my take.. It really depends on what you need, what your main use will be for these speakers. For DJ use, I'd definitely look at 12s, but if you're cutting the lows out I don't see why 10s wouldn't be just as good. I was stuck with 10" due to portability issues traveling with a band. For prerecorded music, the DXR10 needed the most EQ. 1k had to be cut a good bit, and 16k boosted. The EV, in comparison, needed minimal to no EQ, and if you needed it, the dsp on the back has tons of EQ options, really an incredible speaker. The K10 needed less EQ than the DXR10 to sound right. The EV really is an incredible speaker, but at nearly twice the price of the DXR10. I think if you're DJing events every month, they're well worth the investment. Music sounds superb through them, with next to no adjustments. The best speaker is always the flattest out of the box, and EV brings it with their speaker. Tons of power, clarity, fullness, punch, dynamic frequency range. All good things. If it's a few times a year, the DXRs will do great. With some EQ they really hold their own. Flat or not isn't a huge issue if you're only using these for live sound/DJ, as opposed to keyboard monitor/amp for shows with a band or solo piano work. For DJ'ing, I preferred the DXR10 over the K10. With both of them EQ'd, the DXR sounded a little better, slightly fuller.. and surprisingly more comparable to the EV. The DXR10 really held it's own in my extensive A/B with the EV. The K10 could get a little harsh in the 2.5k and some high mids (obviously at peak sound levels that you may not even run). I'd go with DXR over K series for DJ purposes. as far as volume goes, they all get crazy loud and hold up great. Clarity and volume isn't a comparable issue if you're using the 100hz cutoffs, or the 120hz option of the DXR. It's also ridiculous when people take bass into account with these tops. If you need bass, get a sub.. not a 10", or even 12" woofer that's going to be on a tripod further limiting whatever bass you feel. Bass coming out of these tops isn't going to project in the air, nor will it carry through the floor via tripod poles. The only scenario where I'd even think about bass with tops, is if you have them on the floor in your house as a stereo or something. In that event- the K series wins out with their "deep" technology. Lows extend much lower then DXR and even lower than the EV. But no one really uses these for that anyway.. For keyboard amp/monitor applications, I was fortunate to have 3 shows in the time I had these speakers, so I was able to try each of them. The DXR fell short to K series and EV. It lacked the projection of high-mids/highs, and can't be EQ'd because the soundboard gets the line out straight from the speaker, which gets both L/R from my keyboards (so i can't go left to amp and right into D/I box.. then both mains and my speaker would be getting half of my sound.) It was actually a tough call between the K10 and ETX-10P for keys. K10 had a tiny bit better mids, and the EV was very pristine and polished. I liked the 90 degree conical dispersion of the K10, and that it's over 10 pounds lighter and a few inches smaller than the EV. It's easier to lug around, takes up less space in the car, and I think cuts through the mix a little better than the EV. The EV is great for DJing, as well as DXR10, but I liked the K10 better as my amp. The K10 has stronger high-mids/highs and doesn't have the 1k boost of the DXR10; it requires less EQing to sound right to my ears. I know the crowd mostly hears the sound coming from the mains, but some venues are smaller and stage volume and sound quality is important. Even at larger events, people closer to the stage are getting blasted with drums and guitar amps- you want your keys to be where they need to be in the mix, both tonally and volume wise. SO Pro DJ- invest in pro gear- Yamaha DSR or EV ETX series. Hobby DJ- DXR series. With some EQ, they really do sound great. Keyboard amp.. it's your call if you want to lug around the bulkier and heavier (birch) EV, or much more manageable K10. I thought the K10 sounded more than good enough to choose it over the EV. I went with the K10 because I'm not DJ'ing even 4 events/year.. and it's not like the K10 sounded bad for prerecorded music, the other 2 just sounded a tiny bit better with the proper EQ. It's easier to manage bringing to shows and I think makes a really stellar keyboard amp. I even had 2 strangers come up to me and compliment me on the sound. Let your ears be the judge.

[@GLBProductions]

Matthew Maneri Thanks for the review - you should definitely do a video version and post it on your own channel! Look forward to more input from you in the future.

[@GLBProductions]

- Thanks for the question. They would be suitable if you had enough of them, but if you do mainly large venues I would look at the larger K12s, the KW series or the KLA line array system from QSC. They have reasonable bass response for a 10" speaker but for any sort of live music or DJ work at higher volumes I would definitely use a subwoofer.

[@GLBProductions]

- An interesting observation. I think their idea is to have the signal flow from the top of the panel to the bottom, and if you trace the arrows they sort of guide you from the inputs to the outputs.

[@246Musicman]

Man you explain things with such clarity! Good job! Considering these speakers for my DJ gigs! Sound in your church must be heavenly! All the best!

[@GLBProductions]

- Yes, it's normal to have some noise when plugging a device into the K10. You should always turn the volume knob all the way down when making or breaking connections to minimise this. Alternatively, plug in with the speaker turned off and then turn the power on.

[@GLBProductions]

- Thanks for the question. The best sound would be achieved by having the speaker at ear level, in the same manner as hifi speaker - this will allow you to hear an even balance of the lows and highs. To achieve this you could place the speaker on some sort of chair or box. All the best with your music!

[@GLBProductions]

- Thanks for the positive feedback! Hopefully we give honour and glory to God through the sound at our church ;) The K10s are a great choice for DJ work, especially paired with a powered sub or two.

[@jeremyotero4575]

I really enjoyed your explanation and video . The way you have explainded was very easy to listen to and easy to follow. very good video, 5 Stars.

[@GLBProductions]

+jeromee otero Thank you for watching, really appreciate your support!

[@WazzyTV]

+GLB Productions ..whats the difference between k10 and k12 in terms of loudness and sound..

[@GLBProductions]

ken ark The 12s go slightly louder because of the bigger driver but the main difference is the angle of coverage - the 12s are 75 degrees and the 10s are 90 degrees, which means the 12s are better for distance whereas the 10s are better where the audience is close to the speakers.

[@WazzyTV]

GLB Productions ..ok. can any speaker beat the qsc k12..like the yamaha dsr112 or yorkville ps12p..in terms of sound quality,for a hall with 400 apple or more..speaker that don't distort when loud..

[@GLBProductions]

ken ark In terms of sound quality only you can answer that question - you'll need to listen to the k12s and compare the way they sound to other speakers. I would definitely check out the active speakers from JBL and FBT.

[@Buckles0528]

Makes sense to me. I will make sure I do the same when I get my speakers. Thanks for the reply!

[@GLBProductions]

- I would think so - start at about 1m and experiment. Every room is different and everybody has different preferences so it's not possible for me to make specific recommendations. At the end of the day if it sounds good that's the correct placement. Note that the K10s are not designed to be listened to from very close range (they are sound reinforcement speakers not studio monitors) so you should listen to one before you buy. Myself I find them a bit 'sterile' sounding compared to my FBTs.

[@GLBProductions]

@gibsoneer321 Glad to hear your K10 has arrived safely. As the QSC has 2 inputs, you could use a standard reverb or delay pedal on your guitar, and then use something like the TC Helicon voicetone R1 on your vocal mic. Alternatively you could use a unit designed specifically for singing guitarists like the TC Helicon voicelive play GTX - this has inputs for both guitar and vocals. You would then run a single mic cable from the unit to one of the QSC's inputs.

[@lamarcy]

Wow! Really good information. I just love the way you explain things. Thanks again!

[@GLBProductions]

lamarcy You're welcome, happy to share the knowledge :)

[@Djtonydraper]

Awesome video/review. Your understanding of this box & explanation of it was great. Thanks for sharing.

[@GLBProductions]

+Tony Draper You're welcome, thanks for watching! If you would like to support the channel please consider signing up to become a patron at www.patreon.com/glbproductions?ty=h Every little bit helps!

[@Djtonydraper]

+GLB Productions: Subscribed.. Thanks again.

[@GLBProductions]

- You're welcome, all the best with your music!

[@zorg8]

@ Gibsoneer. I have two of these speakers that use for acoustic setup. You are going to need a small mixer due to the K10 being very loud on the low volume. Without a mixer you'll have BIG feed back issues. I use a soundcraft notebook, compact and reasonably priced. I run a fishman reverb for my Martin guitar. I use a Neumann kms105 mic through a TC.Helicon voicetone create-XT. Best sound ever for me. You can get this set up for under $2000US if you shop around. All the best with your sound. Gr

[@GLBProductions]

- It should be no problem - you would simply run the output from the wireless receiver into one of the inputs on the K10. What sort of group do you play in?

[@GLBProductions]

- Hi there, thanks for the question. Your keyboard has 2 sets of outputs - one pair of XLRs and one pair of jack connectors, so you can connect one set to the K10 and the other set to your studio monitors.

[@cybrbeth]

So helpful, methodically explained, and reassuring to n00bs! Thank you, Bruno.

[@GLBProductions]

You're welcome Beth, let me know if you have further questions.

[@GLBProductions]

- That's a fair point but if the loudspeaker is flown a power cable vibrating loose during the show is a major issue. If on a speaker stand I will always ensure that cables running to the stand are properly taped down and hence cannot be tripped over.

[@thepianokid27]

I see. Ok thanks for the great advice. Will keep that in mind when I listen to them at the showroom soon :)

[@1crazynordlander]

Excellent videos! They make sense. Our Church has the K8s and I love them. We moved into a different building that is actually a traditional Church building. I am setting these two up front for the first time in this building using the daisy chain method with the first speaker input going to the mixer. The current system has a Crown amp that powers a center speaker that is hung way up in the peak of the the vaulted ceiling. Since I have these K8s and I am not all that thrilled with the performance of the center speaker I am connecting them to the Right side of the mixer output since the Crown amp is connected to the Left side. It is an EV mixer. The output seems hotter than our Mackie 1402 VLZ3 mixer that I used before with the output sliders set at zero and the K8 at 12 o-clock in the Line setting. I know this is a weird mixture of speakers. I am thinking of cutting the center one out and just using the K8s. I think I need to watch your video on how to set the gains on all my channels. Thanks Kevin

[@GLBProductions]

+1crazynordlander I suggest you do a comparison between the two sets of speakers and see which set sounds better. Also very important is to see which set has better coverage - with the K8s on stands the front may sound great but the back may not be able to hear.

[@1crazynordlander]

GLB Productions This Sunday is the first week that I will use the K8s in our new building. The K8s are on stands now but I plan to hang them with cable and eye hooks. I might buy two more and mount those midway back on the sides of the church. I would at that time daisy chain two together on each side. I found your channel because I would like to add my Mackie mixer to the EV mixer that came with the church and your video came up. I have a fair grasp of sound systems but need to learn so much more. I subscribed! I knew the difference between line and mic but it did not hit me what the XLR connection on the mixer and the 1/4" jacks that one was mic and the other line. I think our mixers have a line / mic switch though.

[@GLBProductions]

+1crazynordlander Be very careful about hanging speakers above people's heads! There are serious safety implications and you should really have it done by a professional rigger who will use the appropriate load-rated hardware. Glad the videos have been helpful, feel free to get in touch any time with questions. If you fancy supporting the channel please consider signing up to become a patron at www.patreon.com/glbproductions?ty=h Every little bit helps!

[@DJJIMMY214]

thanks. i just bought 2 k12s...love them

[@rolandobarrera2281]

Super!! Thanks for a great explanation of the K10!!

[@GLBProductions]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@thepianokid27]

This is by far the most comprehensive video on KZbin I have seen regarding the K10. Very well done. Thanks! :) I would like to purchase one of these as a keyboard amp for use mostly at home in the living room. I intend to place it on the floor as opposed to mounting it on a pole. May I ask how should I set it up to achieve the best sound possible? Thanks :)

[@willnottsubmitt3514]

I love your videos Sir. VERY helpful. 😎👍

[@GLBProductions]

@gibsoneer321 Hmm, what does it look like? Rubber or plastic? What colour?

[@GLBProductions]

@gibsoneer321 You're most welcome, hope your K10 gives you many years of good service!

[@solya3908]

Very good explanation brother

[@GLBProductions]

Thanks for watching!

[@GLBProductions]

- Sure, which make and model of speaker do you have please?

[@terracotta7425]

Great demonstration. Thanks.

[@GLBProductions]

You're welcome :)

[@danthibeault40]

Great, I learned something very important

[@RAfA95]

Very good video. Learned a lot... Thanks

[@GLBProductions]

Glad to hear that, thanks for watching!

[@Samuel.mulinge]

excellent overview....would really love to get a pair, how much do they cost

[@willnottsubmitt3514]

Question Sir, I was about to buy a pair of the EV ZLX 12Ps. I would be using them for a small band in coffeehouse to small outdoor events of under 100 people. These are much more expensive but lighter (getting a bit older) and I’d heard in that application they might have as much as a deep full sound as the 12” cheaper EV speakers. I’m thinking it might be better to consider paying a bit more for the weight and if the Bass is comparable for smaller venues? Thanks. Looking forward to your response. 🙂

[@GLBProductions]

If you look purely at the specs of these two boxes, you'll see that the EV is rated as having a frequency response of 65Hz - 18kHz, while the QSC is 60Hz - 18kHz. So on paper the QSC actually has better low frequency performance than the EV! However to be honest with you none of these 2-way boxes has the sort of frequency response that you would get from a separate subwoofer. My suggestion would be to audition both of them and choose the one that best suits your needs and tastes.

[@willnottsubmitt3514]

GLB Productions thank you Sir. 🙂👍

[@petersonscay]

Great video. I have a mike and acoustic guitar setup with a single QSC K10 speaker and a ZED 10 FX mixer. I'll be purchasing a Voicelive/ Play Acoustic very soon and want to know if I can still have a great sound and volume control while only using the Play Acoustic(a vocal and acoustic guitar effects pedal) and NOT going through the mixer, but straight into the K10 powered speaker. Thanks for any assistance and again, very nice video.

[@GLBProductions]

Ryan Carroll The outputs on the Voicelive are line level (+2dBu according to the website) so you should have no trouble at all running directly into the K10 using the line level setting. Volume control may not be so straightforward as I do not see a dedicated volume knob on the Voicelive - one solution would be to set up in arm's reach of the K10 so you can adjust the volume there directly.

[@petersonscay]

GLB Productions Thanks. So, the knobs marked 'Gain A and Gain B' would be the volume control for my mike and guitar respectively? Therefore, I would be without a master volume control?

[@GLBProductions]

Ryan Carroll Yes that's correct. If you want a master volume control you could run both your guitar and mic through the Voicelive and then just use a single input on the K10, using the mono output option on the pedal.

[@DJToddMaverick]

Excellent review !!!

[@GLBProductions]

Thanks for watching!

[@Reptilusable]

excellent and I learn I can tilt of 7,5 degrees I didn' t see that about my K10 thanks !!

[@GLBProductions]

You're welcome Bobinal!

[@Reptilusable]

@@GLBProductions thanks and qsc the best!!!

[@GLUEALLSTAR]

I have an active speaker with a line level control and volume control and I would like to know the difference between them and also how to set their values.

[@thepianokid27]

Ok. Thank you very much :)

[@GLBProductions]

- Pricing is specific to each world region, so I suggest you go to qsc.com and locate your nearest dealer. Thanks.

[@thepianokid27]

Hi, I just got a Roland RD-700NX stage piano and want to connect it to my K10, plus also to a pair of studio monitors. How should I go about doing this? Would I need a mixer and if so, what type? Thanks for the help :)

[@trombaclassicsff]

Thank you so much for the information! I will get back to you.... trombaclassics

[@renzoadrianbonassinalvarez7146]

GLB, enjoyed the video! simple question. in line level we set the volume knob up to 12 oclock, but, why exactly? it cant be fully opened because it doesnt make sense to have it working at full level even if the signal from the mixer is low, but why do we do it at 12? does it has to do entirely with the speaker, on wich we deal with a level of signal (that comes in) and the output result (spl) of the speaker? im just enyoing all the info im getting from your vids, thank you very much

[@GLBProductions]

Hello Renzo! 12 o'clock is referred to as 'unity gain' - in this position the input signal is neither boosted nor attenuated before being sent to the power amplifier section of the active speaker. You don't have to set it to this position, it is simply a convenient starting point, and in big systems ensures that gain is equal across all loudspeakers. In a small system, this knob would be used to set the final level of the PA - if it is too soft turn it clockwise, too loud turn it anticlockwise as appropriate.

[@renzoadrianbonassinalvarez7146]

GLB Productions thank you very much on the answer, I'm beginning with backline set ups and I'm thrilled to learn much more, have a great one!

[@tuanphan8076]

Well explained Thanks !!

[@KitingPanda]

awesome video man

[@GLBProductions]

KitingPanda Thanks for watching :)

[@alcon04]

Thank You

[@GLBProductions]

You're welcome :)

[@DedeAldrian]

great

[@GLBProductions]

Thanks for watching!

[@avesyan]

When i plug in my iphone directly into my k10 it creates alot of static and popping sounds but when i turn the knob to the off position i can safely plug it into my computer or iphone without any feedback. Do you know if this is normal and how can i reduce this issue? Thanks

[@DRelTaylor]

Sup Man, yo, i jsut copt the zlx 15p"s but i couldn't even bang those boys without the 'limiting' poping up. I'm returning those as we speak, am i making the right choice, leaving EV, and going to these speakers??

[@GLBProductions]

D Rel Taylor It sounds like you run pretty loud - if you're doing DJ stuff with a lot of bass make sure you get a separate powered sub to take the low end load off the main speakers, that's the best way to avoid constantly hitting the limiters.

[@DRelTaylor]

Ok bet, thx...

[@sSeSs808]

D Rel Taylor QSC K Series, You CAN NOT go wrong with these series!

[@LaraLatin]

Would these speakers be good for a Salsa band? I would plan to pair them with subs. Often times we play in small/medium ballrooms but every so often get asked to play for medium sized outdoor shows (100-200 people). How do I determine what size would be appropriate?

[@GLBProductions]

Sure you could do that - these are general purpose speakers and can be used for any application. If you only occasionally play the outdoor venues it's probably a good idea to buy a smaller rig for regular use and then renting additional boxes when needed.

[@LaraLatin]

GLB Productions thanks for your input!

[@LaraLatin]

So, if I were using kw181 subs, would using k10s put out the same volume as the k12s since both sizes are rated at 1000 watts?

[@GLBProductions]

No, the drivers play a part in the maximum volume attainable - the K12s go 2dB louder than the K10s, which is not much really.

[@LaraLatin]

GLB Productions thank you! I really appreciate all of your videos and the time you take to explain things. If you have any books that you sell, I would live to learn from you!

[@thepianokid27]

Thanks for the reply. I see. Ok, will take note of that. So if I only use one speaker as a monitor, should I be placing it right smack in front of me at ear level? What distance would be optimal? :)

[@najibpestman81]

Hi I jus want to ask about my powered warfedale speaker output... I use this speaker as my monitor from my own small mixer n I line it in, Can I use the output of the powered speaker to line in the main mixer of the house?

[@GLBProductions]

Yes this is fine - you can connect the line level output (NOT the speaker level output!) of your powered speaker to the mixer input, just be aware that it will be line level so tell the house engineer to turn the gain all the way down to begin with.

[@djknowt]

Hi, can i mix 2 sets of speakers, i already have 2 x dxr10 and i'm planning to get 2x K10. Are there any issue if use these 2 sets at the same time? I also already have 1 x kw181 subwoofer.

[@GLBProductions]

Sure, although the two sets will not sound the same and you'll need to work out how to balance them against each other.

[@djknowt]

+GLB Productions thanks

[@trombaclassicsff]

Could I use this QSC K10 with (clip-on mic.for trumpet) AMT P808-5c ?

[@Buckles0528]

Wouldn't you want it to not lock in? Unless the bass vibrates the power cord out I would rather have someone trip and pull the power out rather than trip and pull down my whole speaker stand

[@JerrysHouseMusic1]

Can you use these for movies ?

[@GLBProductions]

Most definitely!

[@dtkiya]

i dont know to connected 2 QSC K10 Active Loudspeakers for the church.

[@WildLifeHawaii]

QSC's back panels are always confusing, questionable, not intuitively laid out. Amps, now the pwd spks, you gotta study the crap to be sure. Not dyslexic friendly.

[@johnkiene]

Try a personal mic.