Short answer: the HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 X. It ranks #51 of 83 12-inch pa speakers by sound quality (rated 3.5/5) at $899 and is still sold new; the PreSonus CDL12 ranks #56 (rated 3.3/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The PreSonus CDL12’s replacement, the PreSonus CDL12P, is rated 3.5/5 at $949.99.
What the HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 X does well: A passive 12 inch PA top with a rotatable long throw horn, made to sit on a subwoofer or work as a floor monitor. The catch: It is designed as a top for use with a subwoofer: bass measures 103Hz at -3dB and about 67Hz at -10dB, and the standalone preference score is only 2.20.
The PreSonus CDL12 is the deeper-bass pick. A powered 12 inch PA speaker with a column of tweeters for controlled coverage, designed to scale up into flown arrays. Its bass reaches about 58Hz before falling 3dB, against 103Hz for the HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 X. The catch: This is a specialized, heavier cabinet whose rigging and array behavior add complexity for ordinary portable-PA buyers.
Buy the HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 X. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the PreSonus CDL12 is discontinued.
Still deciding? The full PA & Live Sound rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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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Specifications Side By Side
| HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 X | PreSonus CDL12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $899.00 Passive | $1,999.95 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #51 of 83 in 12-Inch PA Speakers | #56 of 83 in 12-Inch PA Speakers |
| Rigging | 3 x M8 rigging points; DuoTilt 3°/7° pole mount | Integrated array rigging; dual-position 35mm pole mount |
| Passive | Yes | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way PA speaker and floor monitor | Active 2-way constant-directivity PA speaker |
| Drivers | 12” woofer (2.5” voice coil), 1” compression driver (1.75” voice coil) | 12” woofer, eight 2” high-frequency drivers |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 18kHz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 26.4”H x 14.6”W x 11.8”D (670 x 370 x 300 mm) | 18.6”H x 20.8”W x 17.5”D (473 x 529 x 444.5 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification | 2,000W peak / 500W RMS (1,000W peak / 250W RMS per band, manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | 500W RMS / 1,000W program | - |
| Maximum SPL | 135dB peak (manufacturer specified) | 131dB peak |
| Coverage | 60° x 40° (rotatable) | 120° x 20° per enclosure (-6dB) |
| Cabinet Material | Birch/MDF hybrid | 15mm eucalyptus plywood |
| DSP | No (passive) | Yes |
| Weight | 43 lbs (19.5 kg) | 65 lbs (29.5 kg) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| 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) | 103Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | 58Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 67.1Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.20 | 2.20 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.51 | 4.79 |
| Inputs | - | XLR input and direct XLR line output |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 420Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Network Control | - | Worx Control remote control (compression, polarity, limiting, delay, EQ and presets) |
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