Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Klipsch La Scala Speakers by mg16

Model:	La Scala
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$2798.pair
Description:	3 way,full range horn design
Manufacturer URL:	Klipsch
Manufacturer URL:	Klipsch

Review by mg16 ( A ) on October 31, 2002 at 19:17:48
IP Address: 24.154.78.232

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for the La Scala

I was looking for a tube friendly speaker, that would image well, and go to high volume levels on occassion with out breaking up, or clipping my tube amps. I had always passed on horns. My reference was having heard pro sound speakers that used horn and piezo horns for the high end. I didn't like the ear bleeding brightness I had heard from them, and figured all horns would sound like this. I am an ex Magnepan owner, and loved the air and smoothness of the ribbons.
With the right electronics, the Lascalas satisfied my requirements. SET amps are made for these. They are not the last word in deep bass extension,(about 50hz cutoff), but with either Bottlehead Paramours, or my home brew 45 amp, the bass is clean fast and satisfying with nice impact. When I heard the solid clean floor tom "whomp" on Pink Floyds The Wall, it brought a smile to my face. Dynamics are as good or better than any speaker I have yet listened to. The midrange is typical tube style midrange magical. You don't need to strain or try to hear the "musicians in the room effect" its just there. Highs are clean and detailed and yes, just a little on the bright side. I tamed it somewhat by wrapping the horns in Morite caulk, and by disconnecting the large power diode connected to the + terminal. Also changing to Telefunken 12au7's in my Foreplay preamp helped a lot. The little extra brightness is really not a major detriment. They image really well, and the extra detail is fun to hear, unless you have a badly recorded , or overly bright recording.

Product Weakness: very large and heavy, mine are black and kinda ugly compared to my planars, can be a little "bright" on some recordings
Product Strengths: Exceptional performance for the money. 104 db/1w/1m makes them great for SET's like the 45. Dynamics, imaging

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Barbour 45 or Paramours
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Bottlehead Foreplay
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Proceed CDP, Oracle MKII TT
Speakers:	Klipsch Lascalas
Cables/Interconnects:	Cardas Quadlink
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock, Blues
Room Size (LxWxH):	24' x 12' x 8'
Room Comments/Treatments:	side wall foam by speakers 1' by 1'
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 year
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	none
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	very large and heavy, mine are black and kinda ugly compared to my planars, can be a little "bright" on some recordings
Product Strengths:	Exceptional performance for the money. 104 db/1w/1m makes them great for SET's like the 45. Dynamics, imaging