Buy Now, Pay Later
QSC K12.2 vs Thump12v4 vs EON712 vs ELX200-12P: 12-inch PA Compared
Pick the QSC K12.2 if you want the most listed output and plan to run your own mixer. Pick the Mackie Thump12v4 if you carry gear alone and want a built-in mixer and Bluetooth, the JBL EON712 if you want a 3-channel mixer and deep app control, and the Electro-Voice ELX200-12P if you want simple presets and one app for a whole rig.
The short version: who each one suits
All four of these are 12-inch two-way powered speakers, and all four can run a wedding or a quinceañera with the right setup. The real gaps are weight, what is built into the back panel, and how you control the DSP.
The QSC K12.2 is the heavy hitter on paper and the heaviest to carry. The Mackie Thump12v4 is the lightest of the group and the one with the most plug-and-play extras. The JBL EON712 sits in the middle on weight and has the biggest built-in mixer. The Electro-Voice ELX200-12P is a flexible box that the maker pitches as a DJ main, band PA or stage monitor.
None of them is right for everybody. Below we go through what the listings actually say, so you can match the speaker to how you work.
Side by side: the numbers as each maker lists them
Heads up on watts: the makers do not all measure them the same way. QSC and JBL list peak power, JBL also gives an RMS figure, and Mackie and EV just list amplifier watts without saying peak or continuous. Max SPL is the same story, with QSC listing peak SPL and the others listing max SPL. So do not line the numbers up and pick the biggest one.
We copied every figure below exactly as each listing labels it. Where a listing does not mention something, we put a dash instead of guessing.
12-inch powered PA speakers, specs as listed by each maker. "Not in our listing" means our product page doesn't state it; ask us.
| Model | Weight | Power (as listed) | SPL (as listed) | Built-in mixer | Bluetooth / app |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QSC K12.2 12-inch Powered PA Speaker | 39 lbs | 2,000 W peak | 132 dB peak | Not in our listing | Not in our listing |
| Mackie Thump12v4 12-inch Powered PA Speaker | 27.5 lbs | 1,400 W | 129 dB max | 2-channel | Bluetooth streaming, Thump Connect 2 app |
| JBL EON712 12-inch Powered PA Speaker | 32.2 lb | 1,300 W peak (650 W RMS) | 127 dB max | 3-channel digital | Bluetooth 5.0, JBL Pro Connect app |
| Electro-Voice ELX200-12P 12-inch Powered Speaker | 34.4 lb | Up to 1,200 W | 130 dB max | Not in our listing | Bluetooth app control, QuickSmart app |
Weight and carrying
If you load in alone, weight matters more than any spec on the box. The Mackie Thump12v4 is listed at 27.5 lbs, the lightest here. The JBL EON712 comes in at 32.2 lb and the Electro-Voice ELX200-12P at 34.4 lb.
The QSC K12.2 is listed at 39 lbs. That is still a one-person speaker for most people, but after a long night and a flight of stairs, those extra pounds add up across a pair.
Think about your car too. A pair of lighter tops in a sedan is a very real setup for a lot of mobile DJs.
Built-in mixer, inputs and Bluetooth
The JBL EON712 has a 3-channel digital mixer with two XLR combo inputs plus Bluetooth 5.0 streaming. The Mackie Thump12v4 has a 2-channel mixer with dual XLR/TRS combo inputs, a 1/8-inch input, an XLR mix out and Bluetooth streaming. Either one can handle a controller plus a mic, or let someone play a playlist from a phone during dinner.
The QSC K12.2 listing shows two XLR/1/4-inch combos and a stereo 1/8-inch input, with no Bluetooth mentioned. The Electro-Voice ELX200-12P listing mentions Bluetooth for app control, not for streaming music. If you run a real mixer or a controller with mic inputs, that may not matter at all.
If you want the speaker itself to be the mixer for a small gig, the Mackie and the JBL make that easier. If you always bring a mixer, the QSC and the EV lose nothing there.
DSP and app control
The QSC K12.2 does its DSP from the rear display: presets, EQ and delay. No phone needed, which some DJs like because nothing can disconnect mid-set.
The Mackie Thump12v4 has Flat, DJ, Live and Wedge modes, a Feedback Eliminator and Music Ducking, with Thump Connect 2 app control and speaker linking. The JBL EON712 uses dbx DSP with feedback suppression, ducking, delay and parametric EQ, plus a backlit LCD and the JBL Pro Connect app.
The Electro-Voice ELX200-12P has QuickSmartDSP with four presets, 3-band EQ, system-match crossovers and limiting. Its QuickSmart app can control up to six speakers, which is handy if you run a pair of tops, monitors and subs from one phone.
When to go 15-inch instead (or smaller)
A 15-inch speaker usually moves more low end than a 12, which helps if you play without a sub. The Mackie Thump15v4 lists bass down to 41Hz and 130 dB max SPL at 32.6 lbs. The JBL EON715 lists a 45 Hz-20 kHz range (-10 dB) and 128 dB max at 37.3 lb. The Electro-Voice ELX200-15P lists 132 dB max SPL at 41.7 lb.
The tradeoff is size and weight. A 12 is easier to put on a pole, fits more cars and works better as a floor monitor. If you already plan to add a sub, a 12 on top is often the cleaner setup.
Going the other way, the QSC K10.2 is a 10-inch box at 32 lbs with 130 dB peak SPL and 90-degree coverage. QSC pitches it for a pole, a floor monitor or flown, so it suits small rooms, speeches and monitor duty.
When to add a sub
If you play cumbias, banda, reggaeton or house to a packed dance floor, 12-inch tops alone can start to strain on the low end. That is usually the point to add a sub instead of a bigger top.
The QSC KS118 is an 18-inch sub with 3,600 W peak, 136 dB peak SPL and a cardioid mode when you run two or more. It weighs 104 lbs and has casters. The Mackie Thump18Sv4 is an 18-inch sub with 1,400 W, 132 dB max SPL and extension down to 33Hz, at 70.4 lbs.
The Thump18Sv4 has crossover modes for Thump 12, Thump 15 and Thump GO, so it pairs neatly with Thump v4 tops. Both subs have an M20 pole socket for a top. Swing by and Joe can help you set crossovers and levels; call (323) 944-7844 or text (213) 674-9042 first to make sure the one you want is on the floor.
In the shop
Gear from this post
DJ and pro audio
Featured DJ Pro gear
Pioneer DJ, AlphaTheta, QSC, JBL, Electro-Voice, Shure and more, most with prices. Hold it for pickup in South Gate.
Fastest way to a price
Text us what you drive or what you are building
Car audio: send the year, make, and model, and Tony gets back to you with what fits and a price. DJ gear: tell Joe the room or the party, like "backyard party, 150 people" or "starter DJ setup," and he will put a setup together.
More from the blog
PA Speaker Buying Guide for Parties and Quinceañeras
Pick your PA by the event you play most, not by the biggest number on the box. A backyard party, a salon, a quinceañera with speeches and a church service each call for a different setup, and below we show what we would pull off the floor for each one and why.
Read itPA Subwoofer Buying Guide for DJs: Size, Matching and Setup
Add a sub when your tops are working too hard to make the low end, not just because the dance floor looks empty. The easiest win is a sub from the same family as the tops you already own, and below we walk through which ones we would point you to, what size makes sense, and what else you need to plug it all in.
Read itPicking Powered PA Speakers for a Backyard Party or Quinceañera
A backyard party, a quinceañera, a family carne asada. You want the music clear, the toast heard, and the bass felt without blowing out the neighbors. Here is how we size a powered PA system.
Read itQuestions on QSC K12.2 vs Thump12v4 vs EON712 vs ELX200-12P: 12-inch PA Compared
Which 12-inch speaker is lightest here?
The Mackie Thump12v4, listed at 27.5 lbs. The JBL EON712 is 32.2 lb, the Electro-Voice ELX200-12P is 34.4 lb and the QSC K12.2 is 39 lbs.
Can I compare the watt numbers directly?
Not really. QSC and JBL list peak watts, JBL also lists RMS, and Mackie and EV list amp watts without saying which kind. Use them as a rough guide, not a ranking.
Which ones stream music over Bluetooth?
The Mackie Thump12v4 and the JBL EON712 both list Bluetooth streaming. The Electro-Voice ELX200-12P lists Bluetooth app control, and the QSC K12.2 listing does not mention Bluetooth.
How do I get one?
We sell them and you pick up at the shop in South Gate. Call or text first to confirm the one you want is on the floor. We also offer a Payment Plan.
Are you an authorized dealer?
We are an authorized dealer for QSC and Mackie, along with Pioneer DJ and Chauvet DJ.