Short answer: the RCF ART 712-A MK5. It ranks #41 of 83 12-inch pa speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $549; the HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 X ranks #51, rated 3.5/5, and costs $899, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The RCF ART 712-A MK5 is the deeper-bass pick. An affordable 12 inch powered PA speaker with simple controls, a good top for pairing with a subwoofer. Its bass reaches about 65Hz before falling 3dB, against 103Hz for the HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 X. The tradeoff: The local low-quality manufacturer data has no computed preference score, making its measured tonal position uncertain.
The case for the HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 X: 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 tradeoff: 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.
Buy the RCF ART 712-A MK5. It is rated higher for sound quality than the HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 X and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full PA & Live Sound rankings.
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| RCF ART 712-A MK5 | HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.00 | $899.00 Passive |
| Ranked | #41 of 83 in 12-Inch PA Speakers | #51 of 83 in 12-Inch PA Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 65.0Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | 103Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Passive | No | Yes |
| Configuration | Active 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker | Passive 2-way PA speaker and floor monitor |
| 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) | 100Hz - 18kHz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 25.1”H x 15.2”W x 14.3”D (637 x 387 x 363 mm) | 26.4”H x 14.6”W x 11.8”D (670 x 370 x 300 mm) |
| Coverage | 90° x 60° | 60° x 40° (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 | Birch/MDF hybrid |
| Rigging | 2 x M10 inserts; 35mm pole mount | 3 x M8 rigging points; DuoTilt 3°/7° pole mount |
| DSP | Yes | No (passive) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Weight | 39.2 lbs (17.8 kg) | 43 lbs (19.5 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 (-10dB) | - | about 67.1Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 2.20 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 5.51 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for RCF ART 712-A MK5: