Short answer: the RCF ART 712-A MK5. It ranks #34 of 50 12-inch pa speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $549; the HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 F ranks #46, rated 3.2/5, and costs $666, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Why pick the RCF ART 712-A MK5: A compact, relatively affordable RCF with 129dB claimed output, FiRPHASE processing and familiar 90° x 60° coverage. The catch: The local low-quality manufacturer data has no computed preference score, making its measured tonal position uncertain.
What the HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 F does well: 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.
Buy the RCF ART 712-A MK5. It is rated higher for sound quality than the HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 F and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| RCF ART 712-A MK5 | HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 F | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.00 | $666 |
| Ranked | #34 of 50 in 12-Inch PA Speakers | #46 of 50 in 12-Inch PA Speakers |
| Configuration | Active 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker | Passive 2-way PA speaker |
| Drivers | 12” woofer, 1.75” compression driver | 12” woofer (2.5” voice coil), 1” compression driver (1.75” voice coil) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (manufacturer specified) | 79Hz - 18kHz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 25.1”H x 15.2”W x 14.3”D (637 x 387 x 363 mm) | 26.3”H x 14.6”W x 14.4”D (668 x 370 x 365 mm) |
| Coverage | 90° x 60° | 60°-90° asymmetric x 55° (rotatable) |
| Maximum SPL | 129dB peak (manufacturer specified) | 135dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR/TRS combo | - |
| Amplifier Power | 1400W peak (1000W LF + 400W HF) | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Crossover Frequency | 1600Hz | - |
| Cabinet Material | PP composite | - |
| Rigging | 2 x M10 inserts; 35mm pole mount | - |
| DSP | Yes | No (passive) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Weight | 39.2 lbs (17.8 kg) | 52.7 lbs (23.9 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | Yes | 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 |
| Power Handling | - | 500W RMS / 1,000W program |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 82.5Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | about 60Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 1.13 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 4.21 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How RCF ART 712-A MK5 compares with other leading options:
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- KV2 Audio EX12 vs RCF ART 712-A MK5
- JBL PRX912 vs RCF ART 712-A MK5
- RCF KX 32-A vs RCF ART 712-A MK5
- RCF ART 932-A vs RCF ART 712-A MK5
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
RCF ART 712-A MK5: $549.00 Amazon B&H Photo Video Guitar Center eBay
Older model: the RCF ART 712-A MK4 (rated 3.1/5).
Pros: A compact, relatively affordable RCF with 129dB claimed output, FiRPHASE processing and familiar 90° x 60° coverage. It is an appealing simple top for buyers who plan to cross to a subwoofer and do not need app control.
Cons: The local low-quality manufacturer data has no computed preference score, making its measured tonal position uncertain. The smaller compression-driver assembly offers less vocal headroom than the ART 732-A MK5.
Full RCF ART 712-A MK5 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 1400W peak (1000W LF + 400W HF) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Cabinet Material | PP composite |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Configuration | Active 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker |
| Coverage | 90° x 60° |
| Crossover Frequency | 1600Hz |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 25.1”H x 15.2”W x 14.3”D (637 x 387 x 363 mm) |
| Drivers | 12” woofer, 1.75” compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR/TRS combo |
| Maximum SPL | 129dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Rigging | 2 x M10 inserts; 35mm pole mount |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 39.2 lbs (17.8 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- RCF ART 712-A MK5 vs Yamaha DBR12
- RCF ART 712-A MK5 vs HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 FA
- RCF ART 712-A MK5 vs HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 XA
- RCF ART 712-A MK5 vs Coda Audio G512
- RCF ART 712-A MK5 vs RCF HD 12-A MK5
- RCF ART 712-A MK5 vs Martin Audio XP12
- RCF ART 712-A MK5 vs HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 X
- RCF ART 712-A MK5 vs RCF ART 732-A MK5
- See all 27 comparisons
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