Any experiences with QSC CP8 for NordStage(2)?

[tommes]

Hello,

I am looking for good monitors for my Nordstage 2.

The last years I played with a quite loud fusion band with InEar - that was perfect in terms of sound.

Now, however, I play in a jazz fusion trio with bass and drums in a perfect rehearsal room (former studio) and we play at very pleasant volume without InEar. I see this as ideal in the line-up, but I am not so happy with my Nord sound, especially for acoustic pianos, but also Rhodes and Hammond.
Currently I play mono through a Behringer B210d. My idea is to replace the Behringer with two QSC CP8s.

The band is still being formed and I will only need to carry the speakers for occasional small gigs in clubs or pubs - realistically maybe 3-4× per year.
I assume that we will play there partly without an extra PA and that the speakers will then have to transmit the announcements in addition to my Nord - but then on the stand.

I've read a lot about the QSC K8.2 here, they seem to be great. But I prefer the CP8. Why is that?
- No fan which you can hear or that can suck in dirt or break down as a floor monitor.
- No high-tech DSP with display which I don't need for my use and that is probably more sensitive than the simple manual controller.
- Price half as K8.2.

Unfortunately I have no possibility to listen to both models.

Does anyone from you have experience with the CP8, maybe even in comparison to the K8.2?

I am looking forward to your answers.

Greets

[Rusty Mike]

I have not heard the CP series directly myself, but I can give you some perspective as the former owner of the original K8’s and current owner of a K10 and a pair of K8.2’s.

The specs and features of the CP speakers look very similar to the original K’s. They were also introduced about the same time as the K.2 series. My interpretation is that QSC took most/all of the original K design and put them into the CP series. It’s not an exact match, and it’s been a while since I read the specifications so I can’t recall the exact differences to the original K’s.

Looking at it that way, you are essentially buying the original K series for much less money than they originally were. And the original K’s sound great.

[FZiegler]

I'd see it the same as Rusty Mike. The CP8 does have a DSP - that's why it's able to sound relatively flat and clear. Just doesn't have a controlling unit. So if the 1000 W are enough, it should be fine. You just can't set it to different settings for different scenarios as floor wedge or monitor on a stand. I'd set those monitors onto small stands like K&M 21455 or (new!) 21454.

EDIT: Sorry for the wrong information! Because there are 6 EQ presets, the conclusion with the stands isn't mandatory - I'd recommend it anyway.

[tommes]

As far as I understand you can select contours for commonly-used applications, e.g. default, dance, floor monitor, speech, besides the automated DSP with "Intrinsic Correction".

500W RMS (1000W Peak) will be definitely enough, especially if I use 2 of them.
The B210d with 170W RMS (200W Peak) was already loud enough for the loud fusion band.
I just hope that the CP8s sound good even at low volume and don't loose sound quality.

[Elias]

If you search this forum and other music related forums as well, you will find tons of comparisons and reviews of these speakers. I have read a fair bit of them and here is a summary:
If your current amplification is not very good (like cheap PA speakers or a "keyboard anplifier"), the CP series will be a huge improvement. K.2s are devine, CPs not excellent, but very good.

[MarkJames]

I have CP12s that I use in stereo as floor monitors with my setup. Very happy with them. I only went with the 12 vs the 8 as they were on sale and nearly the same price plus they go a bit lower.

[MarkJames]

As far as I understand you can select contours for commonly-used applications, e.g. default, dance, floor monitor, speech, besides the automated DSP with "Intrinsic Correction".

500W RMS (1000W Peak) will be definitely enough, especially if I use 2 of them.
The B210d with 170W RMS (200W Peak) was already loud enough for the loud fusion band.
I just hope that the CP8s sound good even at low volume and don't loose sound quality.

Correct - I use the floor setting on mine.

[NordBanger]

I have a single CP12 in my studio. I find the sound quality quite good. I got the 12 instead of the 8 as it has a slightly lower frequency range. I know a 12 is not what you asked about; just sharing my experience of the quality of the CP series.

[tommes]

As I want a speaker that is small and easy to transport, I am considering accepting the narrower frequency spectrum (about 3 keys less in theory) of the CP8 compared to CP12.

K.2s are devine, CPs not excellent, but very good.

Excellent rather than very good sound would of course be even more great, but then I have the above-mentioned issues of the K8.2 again (fan, display, double price).

At the moment, both versions are not available anyway and I have to be patient ... maybe I'll come across one of the two pairs on the second-hand market and can test them.

[Rusty Mike]

If you are looking at the second-hand market, keep your eyes out for the original K series as well. The K8’s are great speakers.

Regarding fan noise, I do not ever recall them being an issue, either on stage or in the studio.