Short answer: the Yamaha CZR12. It ranks #46 of 78 12-inch pa speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $914; the PreSonus CDL12P ranks #47, rated 3.5/5, and costs $949.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
Why pick the Yamaha CZR12: The passive version of the measured Yamaha DZR12, with a 12” woofer and a 2” voice coil compression driver in a plywood cabinet with 90° x 60° coverage. The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers.
What the PreSonus CDL12P does well: An active two-way PA speaker that keeps the PreSonus CDL12’s hybrid point-source and line-array layout: a 12-inch woofer behind a curved column of eight 2-inch drivers, crossed over at 420Hz, with 120° by 15° coverage. The tradeoff: 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.
Buy the Yamaha CZR12. It is rated higher for sound quality than the PreSonus CDL12P and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
About the ratings: neither speaker has been measured yet, so both ratings are estimated from measured siblings and predecessors (likely ranges: Yamaha CZR12 3.2 to 4.0; PreSonus CDL12P 3.3 to 3.7). Treat this verdict as provisional.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha CZR12 | PreSonus CDL12P | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $914.00 Passive | $949.99 |
| Ranked | #46 of 78 in 12-Inch PA Speakers Estimated | #47 of 78 in 12-Inch PA Speakers Estimated |
| Weight | 39.7 lbs (18 kg) | 63.1 lbs (28.6 kg) |
| Rigging | 12 x M10 inserts | Integrated flyware for arrays of up to six; 35mm pole socket with 7.5° downtilt |
| Passive | Yes | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker | Active 2-way constant-directivity PA speaker |
| Drivers | 12” woofer, 2” voice coil compression driver | 12” woofer, eight 2” high-frequency drivers |
| Frequency Response | 38Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) | 48Hz - 18kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Coverage | 90° x 60° | 120° x 15° |
| Power Handling | 800W | - |
| Maximum SPL | 129dB (manufacturer specified) | 130dB peak |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | - |
| Cabinet Material | Plywood | Plastic enclosure with 1.2mm steel grille |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| DSP | No (passive) | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification | 2,000W peak / 1,000W program / 500W RMS (250W RMS per band) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 420Hz |
| Inputs | - | XLR line input and direct XLR line output |
| Dimensions | - | 18.7”H x 20.6”W x 18.4”D (473.8 x 522.3 x 467.9 mm) |
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- PreSonus CDL12P vs QSC K12.2
- PreSonus CDL12P vs JBL PRX912
- PreSonus CDL12P vs PreSonus CDL12
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 CZR12: $914.00 Passive Estimated B&H Photo Video eBay
Same family: the Yamaha DZR10 (smallest powered model, rated 3.4/5), the Yamaha DZR12 (powered model, ranked higher, rated 3.9/5), the Yamaha DZR15 (powered model, rated 4/5), the Yamaha DZR315 (largest powered model, rated 3.8/5), the Yamaha CZR10 (smaller passive model, estimated 3.2/5) and the Yamaha CZR15 (larger passive model, estimated 3.7/5).
Pros: The passive version of the measured Yamaha DZR12, with a 12” woofer and a 2” voice coil compression driver in a plywood cabinet with 90° x 60° coverage. Yamaha rates it at 800W handling, 129dB maximum SPL and bass reaching 38Hz, 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 speaker processing to match the powered DZR, which has its FIR-X tuning built in. It costs about as much as the powered model before the amplifier.
Full Yamaha CZR12 review and specifications →
| Released | Jan 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Cabinet Material | Plywood |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker |
| Coverage | 90° x 60° |
| DSP | No (passive) |
| Drivers | 12” woofer, 2” voice coil compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 38Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Maximum SPL | 129dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Power Handling | 800W |
| Rigging | 12 x M10 inserts |
| Weight | 39.7 lbs (18 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
PreSonus CDL12P: $949.99 Estimated Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Older model: the PreSonus CDL12 (ranked lower, rated 3.3/5). See every PreSonus CDL12 generation.
Pros: An active two-way PA speaker that keeps the PreSonus CDL12’s hybrid point-source and line-array layout: a 12-inch woofer behind a curved column of eight 2-inch drivers, crossed over at 420Hz, with 120° by 15° coverage. PreSonus rates it at 2,000W peak (500W RMS) and 130dB peak SPL, with a 48Hz to 18kHz range (±3dB). Up to six can be flown with the integrated rigging, and onboard DSP has array and subwoofer presets. It moves to a lighter plastic enclosure with a steel grille for touring use.
Cons: 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. It still weighs 28.6 kg (63 lb), and it is a professional speaker with no Bluetooth or battery.
Full PreSonus CDL12P review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 2,000W peak / 1,000W program / 500W RMS (250W RMS per band) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Cabinet Material | Plastic enclosure with 1.2mm steel grille |
| Configuration | Active 2-way constant-directivity PA speaker |
| Coverage | 120° x 15° |
| Crossover Frequency | 420Hz |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 18.7”H x 20.6”W x 18.4”D (473.8 x 522.3 x 467.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 12” woofer, eight 2” high-frequency drivers |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 18kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR line input and direct XLR line output |
| Maximum SPL | 130dB peak |
| Passive | No |
| Rigging | Integrated flyware for arrays of up to six; 35mm pole socket with 7.5° downtilt |
| Weight | 63.1 lbs (28.6 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- 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