The demand for portable sound reinforcement systems is only increasing, and while many manufacturers have provided their own solutions to cater to this market, more often than not, portability is often synonymous with some sort of compromise, in either sound quality or design.
From underpowered systems through to clunky designs, it seems that no matter what approach is taken, bringing forth the perfect solution to consumer demand is marred by some misstep in design or execution that leads to the product not being as good as it could be, or in worst-case scenarios, totally unusable in real-world applications.
Well, not anymore.
The QSC CB10 is a battery-powered loudspeaker that leaves no holds barred when it comes to delivering professional portable PA performance for the modern consumer. Not only does the CB10 excel in delivering professional-grade sound, but it also manages to do so in a portable package that doesn’t skimp out on any of the important stuff.
The first thing I noticed about the CB10 was its compact size, measuring in at 18 x 12 inches. The speaker feels substantial without being a hindrance to handling and movement. As a matter of fact, the CB10 boasts a handy carrying handle at the top of its enclosure, providing a secure and convenient means of grabbing the system while on the go.
Catch up on all the latest features and reviews here.
Along with its carrying handle, the CB10 incorporates a clever 30-degree tilt-back mechanism for easy floor deployment, as well as an inbuilt pole cup, making it extremely easy to mount the CB10 onto a stand.
The CB10 is not going to break your back while doing so, either, weighing in at a very reasonable 12kg. I feel like QSC has struck the perfect balance between making the CB10 light but not so light that it feels fragile.
Using polypropylene in the construction of the unit’s outer enclosure is a major contributor to both the unit’s strength and weight, and I would have no reservations about bashing the CB10 around, as it’s built to take abuse. A notion further accentuated by the unit’s steel speaker grille.
The unit itself pushes an impressive 440 Watts of Class D power through both a 10” woofer and a 1” High Frequency Compression Driver with peak SPL measuring in at 127db at 1 metre. The inclusion of a three-channel mixer makes the CB10 ideal for a variety of applications, including DJing, Outdoor events, and musical performances.
Not only does the CB10 sound great, but QSC have also managed to pack it with a plethora of features that will appeal to the modern consumer.
The CB10’s hardware connections cover basically everything you would want from a unit of this type, including 2 locking XLRS, a single 3.5mm TRS connection, 1 6.3mm TRS connection for an optional footswitch, a single XLR for mix output and a locking IEC cable.
I also loved the array of handy LED indicators situated on the backpanel of the CB10, where I found indicators for input signalclipping, battery charge, limiter, Bluetooth and power/standby functions.
Additionally, the CB10 packs 5.1 Bluetooth Audio with true wireless stereo. Pairing with the CB10 was headache-free, and the handy QSC Loudspeaker Control App gives full control over the unit and its integrated mixer, meaning I was up and running within a matter of minutes.
The Loudspeaker Control App itself is both an attractive and intuitive user interface, providing a seamless experience on both Apple and Android devices. I was also very impressed to see the array of advanced features tucked away within the application itself.
From controlling input gain, digital reverb, inbuilt ducking, custom routing, footswitch functionality and much more, it’s obvious that QSC have put a considerable amount of thought into what consumers would need and expect from a unit such as the CB10.
Another aspect of the CB10 that left a considerable impression on me was the unit’s battery life. With the CB10 gaining a full 12 hours from a single charge, this is more than long enough for most events without needing to engage the use of the unit’s included IEC cable, granting the CB10 unparalleled levels of portability.
Users also have the option of purchasing extra battery packs for the unit, which take around 4 hours to reach full charge and are user-changeable. Combining a CB10 with a few extra battery packs would equate to literal days of portable power without the need to connect to a mains output.
All in all, the QSC CB10 is a must-see for anyone in the market for a portable sound reinforcement system in 2026. With so many options on the market, it can be somewhat easy to get lost in the sea of products; however, the CB10 stands tall with a strong feature set, quality build, and stellar sound profile.
