the box CL 110/118MKII Basis Bundle

I spent several weeks running the CL 110/118MKII Basis Bundle across rehearsals and small weekend gigs to see whether this the box package really lives up to its reputation as a budget-friendly, full-bodied PA system. I came in looking for solid low-end impact without a lot of fuss in setup, and I judged it from the point of view of a working gigging musician who needs reliability, usable tone, and quick deployment.

First Impressions

The first time I rolled the kit into a rehearsal room I noticed the subwoofer - the CL 118 - is a serious piece of kit in a reasonably compact footprint, and the tops are surprisingly neat and well finished for a value-oriented set. The tops are built around a 10" woofer and a 1" compression driver with a 90° x 60° horn, while the CL 118 houses an 18" driver and the amplifier section that feeds both the sub and the tops; that combination shows up in the sound immediately as tight, focused low-end and clear, forward mids. Setup was straightforward - stand the tops, connect via the Speaker-Twist outputs on the sub, dial the levels and you are essentially ready to play.

Design & Features

Design-wise the bundle feels pragmatic - MDF cabinets with a textured black finish on the CL 110 tops and a PU-coated CL 118 sub that comes with butterfly handles and transport wheels. The sub's rear panel gives you combo inputs (XLR / jack) and Speaker-Twist outputs so you can run the tops straight from the sub's amp, and there are separate Main and Sub level controls that make balancing very quick at soundcheck. The tops include a high-frequency boost switch which proved useful when I needed a little extra presence without resorting to EQ on the mixer.

Build Quality & Protection

The construction is solid for the price point — the tops are wooden (MDF) rather than plastic, and the PU finish on the sub wears reasonably well against scuffs and transport knocks. I did treat the corners with a little extra care when loading in, but overall the fit-and-finish felt like a product aimed at professionals who need value without collapsing on durability. The wheels and butterfly handles on the sub make moving the 47 kg cabinet far less painful than I expected for an 18" enclosure.

Comfort & Portability

Portability is a mixed bag - the tops are light and easy to carry at about 11 kg each, and the included Millenium stands are adequate and fold down neatly into the supplied bag. The sub, however, is heavy at roughly 47 kg, so it needs wheels and preferably two people to move safely. For me, the level of portability is acceptable for club and small-venue work where vehicle access is reasonable, less ideal if you need to carry gear up multiple flights of stairs alone.

Real-World Experience

On the road the CL 110/118MKII bundle delivered what I needed: punchy, tuneful bass from the CL 118 that tightened up the low-mid and freed the tops from doing all the heavy lifting, while the CL 110 satellites handled vocals and guitars with directness and adequate headroom. I used the set in a 60-120 person club and at a rehearsal for a 5-piece band - the sub gave the kick drum and synth bass real presence without feeling flabby, and the tops projected well across the room thanks to a sensible 90° x 60° dispersion. I did keep the sub level conservative on tight stages - pushing it very hard made the tops struggle a touch in the upper bass when the band was very loud, but backing off the sub a bit solved the balance issue quickly at FOH.

The Trade-Offs

There are a few trade-offs to be explicit about - the system lacks DSP-based tone shaping and protective limiters you find on more expensive active tops, so you must manage EQ and gain staging carefully to avoid thermal stress on the electronics. I also encountered intermittently audible fan activity on hot days when the sub was pushed hard - it wasn't constant, but it's something to be aware of for quiet-speech events. Finally, while the tops are clean and work well for live bands, they aren't studio monitors - you won't get the last word in micro-detail reproduction, but you will get reliable stage coverage and intelligibility.

Final Verdict

After several rehearsals and a handful of small gigs with the CL 110/118MKII Basis Bundle I came away impressed by how much useful, gig-ready performance this package offers for the money - especially the CL 118's low-end control and the CL 110's punchy projection. I recommend this bundle to solo performers, small bands, and DJs who need a one-sub/two-top configuration that is fast to set up, delivers satisfying bass impact, and represents solid value; if you require lightweight-only transport or advanced DSP protection, consider alternatives or a powered-top upgrade.