Short answer: the Yamaha CXR15mkIII. It ranks #32 of 62 15-inch pa speakers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $799; the LD Systems Stinger 15-A-G3 ranks #36, rated 3.4/5, and costs $1,044, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Yamaha CXR15mkIII does well: The passive version of the measured Yamaha DXR15mkIII, with the same 15” 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.
The case for the LD Systems Stinger 15-A-G3: Medium-quality vendor data shows a 4.10 ideal-subwoofer preference score with 39Hz measured extension, the deepest bass reach of any RCF-priced alternative in this tier, at an affordable price for a 15-inch active box. The tradeoff: The measured preference score is modest, and its 90° x 50° horn is narrower than several higher-scoring competitors.
Buy the Yamaha CXR15mkIII. It is rated higher for sound quality than the LD Systems Stinger 15-A-G3 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Worth knowing: the Yamaha CXR15mkIII has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 3.1 to 3.9, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Want more options? Browse the full PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha CXR15mkIII | LD Systems Stinger 15-A-G3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799.00 Passive | $1,044.00 |
| Ranked | #32 of 62 in 15-Inch PA Speakers Estimated | #36 of 62 in 15-Inch PA Speakers |
| Weight | 41.9 lbs (19 kg) | 59.1 lbs (26.8 kg) |
| Rigging | 3 x M10 and 4 x M8 inserts; 35mm pole sockets (0° or 7°) | 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 | 15” woofer, 1.75” voice coil compression driver | 15” woofer, 1” compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 20kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Coverage | 90° x 60° | 90° x 50° |
| Power Handling | 1,200W peak | - |
| Maximum SPL | 126dB (manufacturer specified) | 133dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 95dB | - |
| 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 | - | 29”H x 18.9”W x 17.9”D (737 x 480 x 455 mm) |
| Inputs | - | 2 x XLR/TRS line/mic inputs; XLR mono mix output |
| Cabinet Material | - | 15mm plywood with polyurea coating |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 41.2Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 2.20 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 4.10 |
| 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 | - | Yes |
| Guitar Input | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Yamaha CXR15mkIII:
- RCF ART 715-A MK5 vs Yamaha CXR15mkIII
- Yamaha CXR15mkIII vs RCF ART 735-A MK5
- LD Systems Stinger 15-A-G3 vs FBT J15A
- RCF ART 745-A MK5 vs LD Systems Stinger 15-A-G3
- LD Systems Stinger 15-A-G3 vs RCF ART 745-A MK4
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 CXR15mkIII: $799.00 Passive Estimated B&H Photo Video eBay
Same family: the Yamaha DXR10mkIII (smallest powered model, rated 3.8/5), the Yamaha DXR12mkIII (powered model, rated 4.1/5), the Yamaha DXR15mkIII (largest powered model, ranked higher, rated 3.8/5), the Yamaha CXR10mkIII (smaller passive model, estimated 3.5/5) and the Yamaha CXR12mkIII (smaller passive model, estimated 3.8/5). See every Yamaha DXR and CXR generation.
Pros: The passive version of the measured Yamaha DXR15mkIII, with the same 15” woofer, 1.75” voice coil compression driver, horn and port design. Yamaha rates it at 95dB sensitivity, 126dB maximum SPL and bass to 50Hz (-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 CXR15mkIII 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 | 15” woofer, 1.75” voice coil compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Maximum SPL | 126dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Power Handling | 1,200W peak |
| Rigging | 3 x M10 and 4 x M8 inserts; 35mm pole sockets (0° or 7°) |
| Sensitivity | 95dB |
| Weight | 41.9 lbs (19 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 15-A-G3: $1,044.00 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 12 A G3 (smaller model, rated 3.5/5).
Pros: Medium-quality vendor data shows a 4.10 ideal-subwoofer preference score with 39Hz measured extension, the deepest bass reach of any RCF-priced alternative in this tier, at an affordable price for a 15-inch active box. Measured bass extension of 41.2Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The measured preference score is modest, and its 90° x 50° horn is narrower than several higher-scoring competitors. At 26.8kg it is one of the heavier budget-tier boxes here.
Full LD Systems Stinger 15-A-G3 review and specifications →
| Released | 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 1000W peak / 500W RMS |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 41.2Hz (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 | 29”H x 18.9”W x 17.9”D (737 x 480 x 455 mm) |
| Drivers | 15” woofer, 1” compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | 2 x XLR/TRS line/mic inputs; XLR mono mix output |
| Maximum SPL | 133dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Optical Input | No |
| Passive | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Rigging | M10 suspension points; 36mm Dual-Tilt pole mount |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.20 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.10 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 59.1 lbs (26.8 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons