More Dynamics Please
Addicted to Fun and Learning
First post here and looking for some expert opinions. On various pro and home audio forums (including this one) I've been researching for many months modestly priced 8" active studio monitors with a wide dynamic range suitable for higher SPL home theater and music listening. This has led me to the JBL 308P MkII and Kali LP-8 as the leading candidates with perhaps a slight edge to the LP-8 based on all the reviews, measurements and comments to date. Then on a pro forum I ran across a comment where someone said his QSC CP8 had "near" studio monitor audio quality while being able to play cleanly at much higher levels. Further research on pro forums showed consistently high ratings from touring musicians, DJs, etc., with many describing it as having an almost "hi-fi" sound.
When I looked at the dimensions of the CP8 I was surprised to see that it's very close in size and weight to the 308P and LP-8 studio monitors -- 16.2" × 10.7" × 10.1" and 21 lb. With much more powerful amplifiers and maximum SPL the CP8 would certainly have a greater dynamic range than the JBL and Kali. But what would the tradeoffs be? Background hiss is often mentioned as an issue with modestly priced active studio monitors. Yet one CP8 review said hiss could only be heard when the ear was almost touching the speaker.
The studio monitors definitely have an advantage in low end extension with the CP8 dropping like a rock below 60Hz. But the CP8 is designed with an internal high-pass filter of 80Hz suggesting it's designed for crossing to a sub at 80Hz where I'd be crossing the studio monitors anyway.
Certainly the studio monitors must have an edge in measured audio quality for a home setting. But how much of an edge and would the CP8's greater dynamic range and higher SPL be worth the tradeoff for someone prioritizing those qualities? Measurements of PA speakers are not very common but one German site did provide extensive measurements and the CP8 graphs looked pretty good to me for a relatively inexpensive ($400) active PA speaker.
So I am now really seriously looking at the QSC CP8 as an alternative to the Kali LP-8 or JBL 308P MkII and would really appreciate thoughts from anyone about the comparative merits. For your consideration I'm including three links below to the QSC website. The first is to the CP8 page, the second to the German Production Partner Magazine review with measurements and the third to the Sound On Sound review that mentions virtually inaudible hiss:
https://www.qsc.com/live-sound/products/loudspeakers/powered-loudspeakers/cp-series/cp8/
https://www.qsc.com/resource-files/articles/q_ar_livesound_prodpartnermag_cp8-ks112_review.pdf
https://www.qsc.com/resource-files/articles/q_ar_livesound_sosmag_cp_review.pdf
When I looked at the dimensions of the CP8 I was surprised to see that it's very close in size and weight to the 308P and LP-8 studio monitors -- 16.2" × 10.7" × 10.1" and 21 lb. With much more powerful amplifiers and maximum SPL the CP8 would certainly have a greater dynamic range than the JBL and Kali. But what would the tradeoffs be? Background hiss is often mentioned as an issue with modestly priced active studio monitors. Yet one CP8 review said hiss could only be heard when the ear was almost touching the speaker.
The studio monitors definitely have an advantage in low end extension with the CP8 dropping like a rock below 60Hz. But the CP8 is designed with an internal high-pass filter of 80Hz suggesting it's designed for crossing to a sub at 80Hz where I'd be crossing the studio monitors anyway.
Certainly the studio monitors must have an edge in measured audio quality for a home setting. But how much of an edge and would the CP8's greater dynamic range and higher SPL be worth the tradeoff for someone prioritizing those qualities? Measurements of PA speakers are not very common but one German site did provide extensive measurements and the CP8 graphs looked pretty good to me for a relatively inexpensive ($400) active PA speaker.
So I am now really seriously looking at the QSC CP8 as an alternative to the Kali LP-8 or JBL 308P MkII and would really appreciate thoughts from anyone about the comparative merits. For your consideration I'm including three links below to the QSC website. The first is to the CP8 page, the second to the German Production Partner Magazine review with measurements and the third to the Sound On Sound review that mentions virtually inaudible hiss:
https://www.qsc.com/live-sound/products/loudspeakers/powered-loudspeakers/cp-series/cp8/
https://www.qsc.com/resource-files/articles/q_ar_livesound_prodpartnermag_cp8-ks112_review.pdf
https://www.qsc.com/resource-files/articles/q_ar_livesound_sosmag_cp_review.pdf