Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
First off, I read at least fifty reviews on these speakers, here and elsewhere. It's been thirty years since I was in college and I've been into high-end, but affordable, stereo since 1974. I've learned a whole lot about
audio since then and bought and sold a LOT of equipment.

I came across a pair of these DCM KX-12s at a local pawn shop. I recently had the left channel of my Adcom GFA-585 power amp develop a problem. After Internet research, I found it was common and didn't want to spend $280. plus shipping both ways to get it fixed. I'd only spent $149 TOTAL for it, the matching pre-amp and power conditioner. So, I listed it on eBay as-is and sold it for $149.95. Once the replacement amp, a Kenwood KM-X1000 arrived and I hooked it up, I found no bass from the left speaker. WTF? I took the cover off and saw the woofer jammed all the way back! It turns out the amp killed it. Sort of a murder/suicide, I guess. An autopsy revealed the voice coil had overheated and bubbled, causing the jam.

SO, I was trying to decide to replace both woofers with some Dayton 15" ones or buy something else. THUS, my trip to the pawn shop.

They had them marked down to $149 and based on the dust, they'd been there a while. I remarked on this to the pawn salesman. He said, "How's $115 sound?" So, after listening to them and assuring all six drivers were working, I bought them. They DON"T weigh 90 pounds like someone said, but they are heavy.

Hooked them up to my system and zeroed the equalizer. Just toed them in a little, then began some initial
equalization and critical listening.

Despite some reviewer's comments, they have a great sound stage. I have a LED power meter and with it displaying between 0.04 and 0.11 watts, it is a very comfortable level. About where my Optimus Pro 4000 speakers (which are 92 dB sensitive @ 1 watt) would be around 1.0 watts. Read those numbers again. Basically, they are at least twice as sensitive as the Pro 4000s are. I can believe the 99 dB I've read.

Being that I've gone from a 250 WPC amp to 130 WPC, I was looking for more sensitive speakers and I've found them!
How, what to do with the gorgeous walnut Optimus Pro 4000 speakers, less one woofer? Part them out?
They are too heavy to ship, but the walnut veneer is so pretty...........

Price Paid:  $300.00 from Circuit City, Duh (h

Summary:
I've had a pair of KX-12's for over 10 yrs and the matching center channel.

For the value, they are great speakers.

Are they "purist quality"? No. But that is fine for my music tastes and usages.

I do have them augmented with a 12" self-powered sub now, but for the first 7 yrs I had them, I didn't have them augmented.

I'm tempted to buy a pair off ebay for my rear channels (to replace the crappy rear I have now.. thankfully, most rear content seems to be "fill" so I've never had an issue)

HTH.
Jason

Strengths:
Bang for buck
HARD pounding speaker

Weaknesses:
Not "exact" on mids/highs... unless you are VERY particular, it isn't an issue for almost all content.
Imaging is fine unless you are a purist

Price Paid:  $120.00 from pawnshop

Summary:
I am using 2 of the original KX-12's and an additional pair of KX-12 Series II. These work excellent for music as well as movies in my living room. high's are crisp, mid range well developed, and thunderous bass. I love listening to these at 200 watts! My neighbors dont tho!

Strengths:
High's are crisp, mid range well developed, and thunderous bass. Efficiency and clarity...

Weaknesses:
Directional, requires proper heighth for best bass production..

Similar Products Used:
ESS AMT 1D

Price Paid:  $100.00 from ebay

Summary:
Like the other dcm reviews I have listed, I think this speaker is wicked. I have been more than impressed with this speaker and would not sell these speakers for anything but the dcm kx212's. By the way, audioreview says that these speakers have 2 12inch speakers and they only have one, and the picture is for the wrong series. Anyways, I got the pair I have for $100 on ebay and they rock. I put them on 14.5" tall stands and the bass has dramatically improved. Transmission line enclosures work better on stands. The bass drastically improves. I recommend these speakers to anyone whether they want to spend 100 or 1000. These speakers rival much more expensive speakers that I have heard and I wouldn't give these up for any infinity's or bose system, or even klipsch. I am a die hard dcm fan and always will be. Find them, buy them, and enjoy them for life. p.s. your neighbors with hate you for having these.

Strengths:
highs are crisp and clear, mids are full and alive, bass is deep and earth trembling. No distortion at least on my stereo no matter how high I turn it up. Awesome.

Weaknesses:
None that I have found.

Similar Products Used:
dcm kx6 series two surrounds-still use
dcm kx center-still use

Price Paid:  $700.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
The best speakers I have ever heard. I am not sure how any others can speak badly of them. Full rich bass at all levels that will rattle the walls, clear sound and acoustics, great for LOUD STUFF, and I have tried and unless you are TRYING to bust them, you can't push these speakers too hard. I will use the speakers until they are worn out or I die. . .

Strengths:
TREMENDOUS BASS. No sub needed. Clear sound. They can be made very LOUD. Sleek case design and speaker placement.

Weaknesses:
Your power bill may increase some with continued use, if you catch my drift. . .(you will use them ALOT)

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer loudspeakers w/ Dual 10" woofers, 2 8" midranges, and 1 6" tweeter(Don't hold a candle to my DCM KX12's)