Short answer: the Yamaha CXR12mkIII. It ranks #33 of 78 12-inch pa speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $699. The LD Systems Stinger 12 A G3 ranks #48, rated 3.5/5, at $585.91, $113.09 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the Yamaha CXR12mkIII: The passive version of the measured Yamaha DXR12mkIII, with the same 12” woofer, 1.75” voice coil compression driver, horn and port design. The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers.
What the LD Systems Stinger 12 A G3 does well: A rugged birch-plywood cabinet, dual-tilt pole socket and two-channel input section make it practical for repeated live work. The tradeoff: 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.
Buy the Yamaha CXR12mkIII. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $113.09 with the LD Systems Stinger 12 A G3 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
About the ratings: the Yamaha CXR12mkIII’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.4 to 4.2, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha CXR12mkIII | LD Systems Stinger 12 A G3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.00 Passive | $585.91 |
| Ranked | #33 of 78 in 12-Inch PA Speakers Estimated | #48 of 78 in 12-Inch PA Speakers |
| Weight | 34 lbs (15.4 kg) | 45 lbs (20.4 kg) |
| Rigging | 3 x M10 eyebolt points; 4 x M8 points | M10 suspension points; 36mm Dual-Tilt pole mount |
| Passive | Yes | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker | Active 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker |
| Drivers | 12” woofer, 1.75” voice coil compression driver | 12” woofer, compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 51Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) | 58Hz - 20kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Coverage | 90° x 60° | 90° x 50° |
| Power Handling | 1,100W peak | - |
| Maximum SPL | 124dB (manufacturer specified) | 131dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 94dB | - |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | - |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| DSP | No (passive) | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification | 1000W peak / 500W RMS |
| Dimensions | - | 24.7”H x 15.4”W x 14.8”D (627 x 390 x 377 mm) |
| Cabinet Material | - | 15mm plywood with polyurea coating |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 42Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Inputs | - | 2 x XLR/TRS combo |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 2.96 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 4.97 |
| 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 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Yamaha CXR12mkIII compares with other leading options:
- RCF ART 732-A MK5 vs Yamaha CXR12mkIII
- Yamaha CXR12mkIII vs RCF ART 712-A MK5
- HK Audio LINEAR 5 112 XA vs LD Systems Stinger 12 A G3
- RCF HD 12-A MK5 vs LD Systems Stinger 12 A G3
- LD Systems Stinger 12 A G3 vs Martin Audio XP12
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
Yamaha CXR12mkIII: $699.00 Passive Estimated B&H Photo Video eBay
Same family: the Yamaha DXR10mkIII (smallest powered model, rated 3.8/5), the Yamaha DXR12mkIII (powered model, ranked higher, rated 4.1/5), the Yamaha DXR15mkIII (largest powered model, rated 3.8/5), the Yamaha CXR10mkIII (smaller passive model, estimated 3.5/5) and the Yamaha CXR15mkIII (larger passive model, estimated 3.5/5). See every Yamaha DXR and CXR generation.
Pros: The passive version of the measured Yamaha DXR12mkIII, with the same 12” woofer, 1.75” voice coil compression driver, horn and port design. Yamaha rates it at 94dB sensitivity, 124dB maximum SPL and bass to 51Hz (-10dB) with 90° x 60° coverage, and its PX and PC-D amplifiers carry a dedicated processing preset for it.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers. It needs an external amplifier and, for its rated response, speaker processing; the powered model has that built in. Without Yamaha’s preset its tonal balance depends on the amplifier’s EQ.
Full Yamaha CXR12mkIII review and specifications →
| Released | 2026 (this year) |
|---|---|
| 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, 1.75” voice coil compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 51Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Maximum SPL | 124dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Power Handling | 1,100W peak |
| Rigging | 3 x M10 eyebolt points; 4 x M8 points |
| Sensitivity | 94dB |
| Weight | 34 lbs (15.4 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
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