2024 Update - L Class is no longer available for rental from WiredUP. Please check out alternative solutions here.

Earlier this year, QSC Audio Products released a teaser video based on what would eventually be known as the L Class Line Array Loudspeakers, or LA for short. The product line features four technologically advanced and redesigned products, including a 2-Way Powered 8” array — the LA108, a 2-Way Powered 12” array — the LA112, an 18” Powered direct-radiating Subwoofer — the LS118, and a Windows based and iPadOS based app known as SystemNavigator (or SysNav) for short. Each product ties the L Class together in one way or another, thus having created a family of products that integrate with each other.

WiredUP took delivery of 8 boxes of LA108 in early September. In our testing thus far, it seems that QSC has seriously listened to their user base and created a product that is really like nothing they’ve made before. If you’ve ever heard QSC’s WideLine or KLA boxes, these are not even close in performance. Since QSC isn’t paying us to write this, we can honestly say how much we hated the sound of WideLine and KLA. KLA, being constant curvature, or a fixed articulation array, was a useless product for us. As of writing this, the LS118 subwoofer is not yet available.

L Class features adjustable splay angle, as a Line Array should. On the technology side, L Class will automatically tune itself to the array size and splay you’ve setup, using built-in Ar-Q Array Equalization. LA boxes communicate this with their “Array Friends” to optimize settings throughout the array. The RapidDeploy rigging system makes it easy for a single person to build an entire array by themselves.

SystemNavigator, the add-on app for L Class, allows for complete settings control of individual boxes in the array, as well as viewing live telemetry of the boxes such as temperature and line voltage. SystemNavigator will allow for 6 L Class speakers in a single array configuration. However, at a 7:1 Safety rating, the array frame can handle 16 boxes, based on safe working load specifications. 10 boxes at a 10:1 safety factor. We advise you to speak with your certified rigging company for more on this information.

The compliment subwoofer, the LS118, as acoustically the same as KS118 subwoofers, just with added rigging hardware. A downside in our eyes is that LS subwoofers cannot be flown in the same array as LA speakers. I’d like to see a reparation to that at some point in the future, maybe even with a different version of the subwoofer, or even a smaller LS115 subwoofer to be flown above LA108 speakers. We’d also love to see a dual 18” “LS218” or “KS218” subwoofer that can play lower and louder. Just thinking aloud…

The good, the bad, and the ugly — We love these boxes. They sound fantastic. We’ve been able to take on different types of events that would have not been possible without a sound system like this. However, these speakers just aren’t trusted by the industry yet. Folks hear “QSC Line Array” and think of KLA right away. We’ve had to prove to folks that these are not similar, and that the LA series boxes are truly a refined product, with lots of great technology. Though we’ve had success with proving these facts to locals, we aren’t able to do this alone on a large scale. And the ugly. Sorry QSC, but these speakers are very limited. Introducing a large format speaker without being able to scale the system to larger than 6 speakers in a single array is unreal to me. (Again, this seems more like a software limitation). If you want to compete with speakers in the same class (JBL SRX900, RCF HDL), the product line needs to not only feature a dual 18” subwoofer, but also the ability to have more than 6 speakers in a single array. The second ugly — single tote bags for Line Array Element speakers cannot be the only transport solution. We need carts, we need slip covers, we need road cases. Though — these are items that we have constructed and facilitated custom, in-house.

Nonetheless, we love our LA108’s, and do plan to purchase more, and while there are some caveats to the product, we think overall they are really great speakers. Most importantly, these are the first ever QSC Powered Speaker to feature Audinate’s Dante protocol. In addition to that, being able to see live telemetry of the boxes while using Dante is a really nice touch. Kudos QSC, very nice job. Finally, QSC’s Industry-leading 6-Year warranty instills confidence in using the product.

Demo’s for the L Class and KS118 subwoofers, and any of our rental inventory can be scheduled by sending us an email at sales@wiredupny.com. Our entire inventory of QSC products, and more, are available for rental.