Short answer: the LD Systems Stinger 12 A G3 if sound quality matters most, the Yamaha CBR12 if price matters most. The LD Systems Stinger 12 A G3 ranks #48 of 78 12-inch pa speakers, rated 3.5/5, at $585.91. The Yamaha CBR12 ranks #53, rated 3.4/5, at $334.99, $250.92 cheaper.
Why pick the LD Systems Stinger 12 A G3: A rugged birch-plywood cabinet, dual-tilt pole socket and two-channel input section make it practical for repeated live work. Watch for: Despite the bass reach, medium-quality vendor data gives only a 4.97 ideal-subwoofer preference score because the broader response/directivity behavior is uneven.
Why pick the Yamaha CBR12: The passive version of the measured Yamaha DBR12, sharing its 12” woofer, compression driver and lightweight polypropylene cabinet with 90° x 60° coverage. Watch for: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers.
Buy the LD Systems Stinger 12 A G3 when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Yamaha CBR12 when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
About the ratings: the Yamaha CBR12’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.0 to 3.8, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| LD Systems Stinger 12 A G3 | Yamaha CBR12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $585.91 | $334.99 Passive |
| Ranked | #48 of 78 in 12-Inch PA Speakers | #53 of 78 in 12-Inch PA Speakers Estimated |
| Passive | No | Yes |
| Configuration | Active 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker | Passive 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker |
| Drivers | 12” woofer, compression driver | 12” woofer, 1” voice coil compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 20kHz (manufacturer specified) | 48Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 24.7”H x 15.4”W x 14.8”D (627 x 390 x 377 mm) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 1000W peak / 500W RMS | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Cabinet Material | 15mm plywood with polyurea coating | - |
| Rigging | M10 suspension points; 36mm Dual-Tilt pole mount | 3 x M8 eyebolt points; 35mm pole mount |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | - |
| Coverage | 90° x 50° | 90° x 60° |
| Maximum SPL | 131dB peak (manufacturer specified) | 125dB (calculated, manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | 2 x XLR/TRS combo | - |
| DSP | Yes | No (passive) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Weight | 45 lbs (20.4 kg) | 30.6 lbs (13.9 kg) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.96 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.97 | - |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | No | - |
| TRS Input | Yes | - |
| Optical Input | No | - |
| Coaxial Input | No | - |
| USB Input | No | - |
| HDMI Input | No | - |
| AES Input | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Microphone Input | No | - |
| Guitar Input | No | - |
| Power Handling | - | 700W peak |
| Sensitivity | - | 96dB |
| Impedance | - | 8 ohms |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Yamaha CXR12mkIII vs LD Systems Stinger 12 A G3
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- LD Systems Stinger 12 A G3 vs Martin Audio XP12
- LD Systems Stinger 12 A G3 vs PreSonus CDL12
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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
LD Systems Stinger 12 A G3: $585.91 Amazon eBay
Same family: the LD Systems Stinger 8-A-G3 (smaller model, rated 3.7/5), the LD Systems Stinger 28-A-G3 (smaller model, rated 3.5/5), the LD Systems Stinger 10-A-G3 (smaller model, rated 4.1/5) and the LD Systems Stinger 15-A-G3 (larger model, rated 3.4/5).
Pros: A rugged birch-plywood cabinet, dual-tilt pole socket and two-channel input section make it practical for repeated live work. Its 42Hz measured bass extension is unusually deep for a 12-inch PA speaker, and the manufacturer claims 131dB peak output. Measured bass extension of 42Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Despite the bass reach, medium-quality vendor data gives only a 4.97 ideal-subwoofer preference score because the broader response/directivity behavior is uneven. At 20.4kg it is heavier than several molded-cabinet alternatives.
Full LD Systems Stinger 12 A G3 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 1000W peak / 500W RMS |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Cabinet Material | 15mm plywood with polyurea coating |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Configuration | Active 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker |
| Coverage | 90° x 50° |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 24.7”H x 15.4”W x 14.8”D (627 x 390 x 377 mm) |
| Drivers | 12” woofer, compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 20kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | 2 x XLR/TRS combo |
| Maximum SPL | 131dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Optical Input | No |
| Passive | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Rigging | M10 suspension points; 36mm Dual-Tilt pole mount |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.96 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.97 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 45 lbs (20.4 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Yamaha CBR12: $334.99 Passive Estimated Amazon eBay
Same family: the Yamaha DBR10 (smallest powered model, rated 3.4/5), the Yamaha DBR12 (powered model, ranked higher, rated 3.6/5), the Yamaha DBR15 (largest powered model, rated 2.9/5), the Yamaha CBR10 (smaller passive model, estimated 3.2/5) and the Yamaha CBR15 (larger passive model, estimated 2.7/5).
Pros: The passive version of the measured Yamaha DBR12, sharing its 12” woofer, compression driver and lightweight polypropylene cabinet with 90° x 60° coverage. Yamaha rates it at 96dB sensitivity, 125dB maximum SPL and bass to 48Hz (-10dB), and at 13.9 kg it is one of the lighter 12-inch boxes.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers. It needs an external amplifier, and without the powered model’s DSP its response depends on the amplifier’s EQ. The measured powered version is a budget design, so expect the same limits on output and smoothness.
Full Yamaha CBR12 review and specifications →
| Released | Dec 2014 (11 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker |
| Coverage | 90° x 60° |
| DSP | No (passive) |
| Drivers | 12” woofer, 1” voice coil compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Maximum SPL | 125dB (calculated, manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Power Handling | 700W peak |
| Rigging | 3 x M8 eyebolt points; 35mm pole mount |
| Sensitivity | 96dB |
| Weight | 30.6 lbs (13.9 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons