Short answer: the Yamaha DXR12mkIII. It ranks #13 of 83 12-inch pa speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $999.99. The PreSonus CDL12P ranks #48, rated 3.5/5, at $949.99, $50 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
What the PreSonus CDL12P does well: A powered 12 inch PA speaker with a curved column of tweeters for wide, even coverage, flyable in arrays with array and subwoofer presets. The catch: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers, and the measured PreSonus CDL12’s results can’t be assumed to carry over to the new enclosure.
The Yamaha DXR12mkIII is the better-sounding pick. A light, loud 12 inch powered PA speaker with strong amplification, app control and capable onboard DSP. Watch for: The truncated Spinorama data does not produce a preference score, so its tonal advantage over the proven Yamaha DXR12mkII is not yet quantified.
Buy the Yamaha DXR12mkIII. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $50 saving on the PreSonus CDL12P is not enough to make up the difference.
About the ratings: the PreSonus CDL12P’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.3 to 3.7, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
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Specifications Side By Side
| PreSonus CDL12P | Yamaha DXR12mkIII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $949.99 | $999.99 |
| Ranked | #48 of 83 in 12-Inch PA Speakers Estimated | #13 of 83 in 12-Inch PA Speakers |
| Passive | No | No |
| Configuration | Active 2-way constant-directivity PA speaker | Active 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker |
| Drivers | 12” woofer, eight 2” high-frequency drivers | 12” woofer, 1” throat/1.75” diaphragm compression driver |
| Amplifier Power | 2,000W peak / 1,000W program / 500W RMS (250W RMS per band) | 2000W peak / 1000W RMS (1700W LF + 300W HF peak) |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 18kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | 420Hz | 1800Hz (FIR-X) |
| Maximum SPL | 130dB peak | 134dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Coverage | 120° x 15° | 90° x 60° |
| Inputs | XLR line input and direct XLR line output | Balanced mic/line inputs and link output |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| DSP | Yes | Yes, FIR-X tuning, Drive Motion Calibration and D-Remote |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| Rigging | Integrated flyware for arrays of up to six; 35mm pole socket with 7.5° downtilt | 3 x M10 points plus U-bracket points; 35mm dual-angle pole mount |
| Cabinet Material | Plastic enclosure with 1.2mm steel grille | PP plastic |
| Dimensions | 18.7”H x 20.6”W x 18.4”D (473.8 x 522.3 x 467.9 mm) | 23.6”H x 14.4”W x 13.8”D (600 x 366 x 350 mm) |
| Weight | 63.1 lbs (28.6 kg) | 38.4 lbs (17.4 kg) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 60Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| RCA Input | - | No |
| TRS Input | - | No |
| Optical Input | - | No |
| Coaxial Input | - | No |
| USB Input | - | No |
| HDMI Input | - | No |
| AES Input | - | No |
| Aux Input | - | No |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes |
| Guitar Input | - | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- PreSonus CDL12P: manufacturer specifications and listening comparisons; no independent measurement has been published yet.
- Yamaha DXR12mkIII: Spinorama.org measurements.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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