Short answer: the HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 F. It ranks #46 of 50 12-inch pa speakers by sound quality, rated 3.2/5, at $666. The PreSonus ULT12 ranks #50, rated 2.6/5, at $500, $166 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The case for the HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 F: The passive version of the LINEAR 5 112 FA, with a 12-inch woofer and 1-inch compression driver on a rotatable asymmetric horn that widens from 60° to 90°, rated to 135dB peak. The tradeoff: The standalone preference score is only 1.13, with a 0.806 listening-window deviation and bass measuring 82.5Hz at -3dB, so tonal balance is uneven and it needs a subwoofer.
What the PreSonus ULT12 does well: Very broad 110° x 50° nominal coverage can be useful in shallow rooms, and the plywood cabinet, rotatable horn and onboard mixer are practical live-sound features. The tradeoff: The 3.50 ideal-subwoofer preference score is the weakest in this 15-model group, reflecting major response/directivity irregularity.
Buy the HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 F. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $166 you would save on the PreSonus ULT12 does not close the gap.
Want more options? Browse the full PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 F | PreSonus ULT12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $666 | $500.00 |
| Ranked | #46 of 50 in 12-Inch PA Speakers | #50 of 50 in 12-Inch PA Speakers |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way PA speaker | Active 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker |
| Drivers | 12” woofer (2.5” voice coil), 1” compression driver (1.75” voice coil) | 12” woofer, compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 79Hz - 18kHz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) | 55Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 26.3”H x 14.6”W x 14.4”D (668 x 370 x 365 mm) | 25.2”H x 14”W x 13.9”D (641 x 356 x 353 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification | 1,300W peak / 650W continuous (1,000W / 500W LF; 300W / 150W HF, manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | 500W RMS / 1,000W program | - |
| Maximum SPL | 135dB peak (manufacturer specified) | 135dB (1300W peak power) |
| Coverage | 60°-90° asymmetric x 55° (rotatable) | 110° x 50° |
| DSP | No (passive) | Yes |
| Weight | 52.7 lbs (23.9 kg) | 52 lbs (23.6 kg) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Microphone Input | No | No |
| Guitar Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 82.5Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | 60Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 60Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.13 | 0.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.21 | 3.50 |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 1.6kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Cabinet Material | - | 15mm eucalyptus plywood |
| Rigging | - | M10 suspension points; two-position 35mm pole socket |
| Inputs | - | 2 x XLR/TRS combo |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 F:
- RCF ART 712-A MK5 vs HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 F
- HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 X vs HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 F
- PreSonus CDL12 vs HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 F
- RCF HD 12-A MK5 vs PreSonus ULT12
- RCF ART 712-A MK5 vs PreSonus ULT12
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 F: $666 Passive Thomann eBay
Pros: The passive version of the LINEAR 5 112 FA, with a 12-inch woofer and 1-inch compression driver on a rotatable asymmetric horn that widens from 60° to 90°, rated to 135dB peak. High-quality manufacturer measurements give a 4.21 preference score with an ideal subwoofer, and bass reaches about 60Hz at -10dB. Measured bass extension of 82.5Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The standalone preference score is only 1.13, with a 0.806 listening-window deviation and bass measuring 82.5Hz at -3dB, so tonal balance is uneven and it needs a subwoofer. It is passive and needs an external amplifier; B&H no longer carries it.
Full HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 F review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 60Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 82.5Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way PA speaker |
| Coverage | 60°-90° asymmetric x 55° (rotatable) |
| DSP | No (passive) |
| Dimensions | 26.3”H x 14.6”W x 14.4”D (668 x 370 x 365 mm) |
| Drivers | 12” woofer (2.5” voice coil), 1” compression driver (1.75” voice coil) |
| Frequency Response | 79Hz - 18kHz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Maximum SPL | 135dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Optical Input | No |
| Power Handling | 500W RMS / 1,000W program |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.13 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.21 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 52.7 lbs (23.9 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
PreSonus ULT12: $500.00 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Very broad 110° x 50° nominal coverage can be useful in shallow rooms, and the plywood cabinet, rotatable horn and onboard mixer are practical live-sound features. Measured bass extension reaches 60Hz in the medium-quality vendor data. Measured bass extension of 60Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The 3.50 ideal-subwoofer preference score is the weakest in this 15-model group, reflecting major response/directivity irregularity. It is difficult to recommend for sound quality when stronger measured alternatives are available at similar prices.
Full PreSonus ULT12 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 1,300W peak / 650W continuous (1,000W / 500W LF; 300W / 150W HF, manufacturer specified) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Cabinet Material | 15mm eucalyptus plywood |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Configuration | Active 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker |
| Coverage | 110° x 50° |
| Crossover Frequency | 1.6kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 25.2”H x 14”W x 13.9”D (641 x 356 x 353 mm) |
| Drivers | 12” woofer, compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | 2 x XLR/TRS combo |
| Maximum SPL | 135dB (1300W peak power) |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Rigging | M10 suspension points; two-position 35mm pole socket |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 0.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 3.50 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 52 lbs (23.6 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- PreSonus ULT12 vs RCF ART 712-A MK5
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