LD Systems LDS-MON12AG3W, 12" Powered Coaxial Stage Monitor - White

The LD Systems MON 12 A G3 W (LDS-MON12AG3W) is a 12-inch powered coaxial stage monitor in white, made for bands, houses of worship, AV crews and mobile DJs who need a wedge that suits a light-coloured stage set. A Class D amplifier delivers 300 W RMS and 1200 W peak into a coaxial 12-inch woofer and a compression driver, reaching 127 dB peak SPL with a response of 68 Hz to 18,000 Hz (-3 dB) and 55 Hz to 20,000 Hz (-10 dB). The cabinet measures 425 x 453 x 315 mm (16.7 x 17.8 x 12.4 in), weighs 17.4 kg (38.4 lb) and sits at a fixed 33-degree monitor angle, with a speaker stand socket so the same box can also be used front of house.

How does the MON 12 A G3 W compare with the MON 10 and the MON 15?

Every monitor in the MON G3 W range shares the same 300 W RMS / 1200 W peak Class D amplifier, the same 50° x 90° CD horn and the same 33-degree wedge angle. What changes from model to model is the woofer, the low-frequency reach, the crossover point, the maximum SPL and the weight.

Model	Woofer	Max SPL (peak)	Low end (-10 dB)	Crossover	Weight
MON 8 A G3 W	8 in	121 dB	59 Hz	2500 Hz	29.1 lb (13.2 kg)
MON 10 A G3 W	10 in	126 dB	58 Hz	1700 Hz	33.5 lb (15.21 kg)
MON 12 A G3 W (this monitor)	12 in	127 dB	55 Hz	1400 Hz	38.4 lb (17.4 kg)
MON 15 A G3 W	15 in	129 dB	48 Hz	1300 Hz	51.0 lb (23.15 kg)

The table ranks on the -10 dB figures. LD Systems publishes the same -3 dB lower corner (68 Hz) for both the 8-inch and the 12-inch, which cannot be right and makes that column useless for comparing models.

Read against its nearest neighbours, the real differences are these:

• Against the MON 10 A G3 W: 1 dB more peak SPL and a lower crossover point. The 12-inch is published at 127 dB peak against 126 dB, and it crosses over at 1400 Hz rather than 1700 Hz, so more of the upper midrange sits on the compression driver rather than the cone. It also reaches lower, 55 Hz against 58 Hz at -10 dB. The cost is 2.19 kg of weight and 45 mm of cabinet width.
• Against the MON 15 A G3 W: 2 dB less peak SPL and 10 Hz less low end, for 5.75 kg less weight. The 15-inch reaches 129 dB peak and 48 Hz at -10 dB, but weighs 23.15 kg against 17.4 kg and is 505 mm wide against 425 mm. If the monitor has to go in a car and onto a stand single-handed, the 12 is the sensible upper limit for most people. If it is being used as a drum fill or as a stand-alone front PA without a subwoofer, the 15 is the one to look at.
• Against the MON 8 A G3 W: 6 dB more peak SPL and a lower crossover. The 8-inch is published at 121 dB peak against 127 dB, and crosses over at 2500 Hz rather than 1400 Hz. At 13.2 kg it is 4.2 kg lighter than the 12, which is the main reason to choose it.
• Against the black MON 12 A G3: the finish only. LD Systems publishes the same amplifier, driver, SPL, frequency response, cabinet size and weight figures for both. Pick on the colour of the stage set.

What does the coaxial driver change on a stage wedge?

It puts the low frequency and high frequency sources on the same axis, so the monitor behaves as a single point source instead of two drivers sitting apart from each other. That matters most at the short listening distances a wedge is actually used at, roughly one to two metres, where a conventional two-way cabinet has the performer's ears much closer to one driver than the other. The compression driver sits on a 50° x 90° constant directivity horn, which gives a wide vertical spread when the cabinet is on its side as a monitor and a wide horizontal spread when it is stood upright.

Can I daisy chain several monitors from one signal feed?

Yes, both signal and power loop through. There are two line inputs on XLR / 6.3 mm jack combo connectors and two XLR line-thru outputs, so the audio can be passed on to the next wedge. Mains power uses PowerCON compatible connectors with an input and an output, so a short link lead carries power to the next cabinet as well. In a multi-monitor set-up this keeps one run of cable along the front of the stage rather than a separate pair back to the rack for every box.

What can the onboard DSP do?

It runs LD Systems' DynX DSP (Gen. 2) and gives you a 3-band EQ (high, mid and low), four application presets, a delay line and a notch filter, all set from a single rotary/push encoder against an LC display. The notch filter is the practical one on a wedge, since it lets you pull down a single ringing frequency rather than dropping a whole EQ band. Protection covers a multiband limiter plus overheating, overvoltage and overload.

Can I use it as a front-of-house speaker rather than a monitor?

Yes. The cabinet has a speaker stand socket in the base, so it can go on a pole and be used as a main or a delay speaker, and the 50° x 90° horn pattern becomes 90° x 50° when the box is stood upright. That is the more useful orientation front of house, where you want the coverage wide across the audience and tighter vertically. The same cabinet therefore covers both jobs, which is worth knowing if you are buying a pair and only need monitors at some of your events.

How is the cabinet built?

It is a bass reflex enclosure in 15 mm birch plywood and MDF, finished in a polyurea coating with an aluminium front grille and two handles. The 12-inch coaxial woofer has a ferrite magnet and a 2.5 in (65 mm) voice coil, and the compression driver has a titanium diaphragm on a 1 in (25.4 mm) outlet with a 1.75 in (44.45 mm) voice coil. Loaded weight is 17.4 kg (38.4 lb).

Specifications

Type	Powered (active) 2-way coaxial stage monitor
Colour	White, polyurea coating
Amplifier	Class D
System output	300 W RMS, 1200 W peak
Max. SPL, average (sine burst)	120 dB (100 Hz to 12 kHz, fullspace @ 1 m, 10% THD)
Max. SPL, peak (sine burst)	127 dB (fullspace @ 1 m, 10% THD)
Frequency response (-3 dB)	68 Hz to 18,000 Hz
Frequency response (-10 dB)	55 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Crossover frequency	1400 Hz
Dispersion (H x V)	50° x 90°, CD horn
Monitor angle	33°
Woofer	12 in (304.8 mm) coaxial, ferrite magnet, 2.5 in (65 mm) voice coil
Compression driver	1 in (25.4 mm) outlet, titanium diaphragm, 1.75 in (44.45 mm) voice coil, ferrite magnet
DSP	DynX DSP (Gen. 2)
Processing	3-band EQ (high, mid, low), 4 application presets, delay line, notch filter
Protection	Multiband limiter, overheating, overvoltage, overload
Controls	On / off switch, rotary/push encoder
Indicators	LC display
Line inputs	2 x XLR / 6.3 mm jack combo
Line thru outputs	2 x XLR
Power in / out	PowerCON compatible, loop-through
Power supply	Switch-mode (SMPS)
Operating voltage	100 V AC to 230 V AC, 50 to 60 Hz
Power consumption	150 W
Mains fuse	T4AL 250 V
Cabinet	Bass reflex, 15 mm birch plywood and MDF
Front grille	Aluminium
Handles	2
Operating temperature	0 to 40 °C
Humidity	Below 80%, non-condensing
Dimensions (W x D x H)	425 x 453 x 315 mm (16.7 x 17.8 x 12.4 in)
Weight	17.4 kg (38.4 lb)
Manufacturer part number	LDS-MON12AG3W(US)

Common questions

Does it need a separate amplifier or processor?
No. The Class D amplifier, the DynX DSP and the limiter are all built into the cabinet. You need a mains lead and a signal feed and nothing else.

Will it run on US mains?
Yes. LD Systems rates it for 100 V AC to 230 V AC at 50 to 60 Hz, so a standard 120 V supply sits inside that range.

Does the MON 12 G3 PC padded cover fit the white version?
Yes. LD Systems builds the MON 12 G3 PC around the MON 12 A G3 cabinet, and the white model has the same 425 x 453 x 315 mm dimensions.

How many can I chain from one amp output?
The cabinet gives you two XLR line-thru outputs for the signal and a PowerCON compatible mains output for the next box. The number you can safely chain on one mains circuit depends on your supply, at 150 W rated power consumption each, so ask us if you are planning a large stage.

What warranty does it carry?
This listing carries the Free 2 Year Warranty.

Video from LD Systems

Compare it with the rest of the stage monitors we carry, or browse the full LD Systems range.

Not sure whether the 12-inch or the 15-inch is right for your stage? Tell us the room, the band and how many wedges you need and we will tell you which one to buy. Get in touch.