Dynamics, volume, efficiency

Heavy, obtrusive, they require a big room (you''ll want to be at least 15'' away from them)

These are very good speakers. No speaker does everything perfectly, but when it comes to presenting dynamics, volume, and clear sound, these are exceptional speakers. However, they don''t offer the same type of sound that a good electrostat delivers, so after trying them for a while I did end up going back to my ML CLS''s. This is really more a matter of personal taste though. Also, I HIGHLY reccomend that any owner of these speakers visit the klipsch BBS and get info on the "rope caulk" and ALK crossover upgrades. I did both to mine while I had them and the improvements were very noticable. The guy I sold the speakers to had a pair of stock La Scala''s at home and he commented immediately on how the modified ones sounded better. These do have a horn sound to them, and have a very strong midrange. I was amazed how weak and pittiful my Spica''s sounded after I moved the LaScala''s out. Also...don''t run these with a receiver...get good components. Any good speaker will reveal poor components upstream. I also feel that many people who don''t like them may have listened to them on the wrong equipment. Of course they do have a particular sound that some people may not like. For inexpensive equipment I found that the Monarchy SM-70 is an outstanding SS amp for these speakers. It complements them with a mild tube-like sound and smooth character that I''ve heard best $5k amps. I rate these a 4 because of the size, and room requirements they impose. Also, they have a definite "character" to them that some people may not like.

Similar Products Used:

ML SL3, ML CLSIIa, Magnepan MMG, Spica TC-50, Definitive BP-8, Coincident Eclipse

Wonderful midrange, sound stage, dynamics, efficiency.. Ability to play quietly when they have to, and then to easily keep up with any dynamic demand for music reproduction... Wonderful reproduction of piano, and string bass, each note hangs and decays just like the real thing... and all this on a very modest amplifier diet... I can hit over 100 DB with a 40 W channel NAD receiver... Thanks Klipsch for a true classic, If you find a set used, please audition them... You may find yourself making room for these big boxes...

Not the finest pinpoint imaging, low bass is not there, but that is what they make sub woofers for.

I was shopping at a local AV retailer today.. I explained what I was using in my system and he immediately pointed out that the B&W''s he carries are much superior to my "PA Speakers"... Well sorry, but if these are PA Speakers, then I''m a monkey''s uncle... 5 Stars for a true classic design, that still has the ability to bring the performer and the band right into your living room...

Similar Products Used:

Klipsch THX LCR setup.. also a classic and impressive design.

Excellent reproduction of music.

Could use lower bass.

Bought an older pair for $450 for both, with minor scratches in original unfinished birch color. Best investment in speakers I've ever made. The mids and highs are excellent and provide excellent imaging. Lows could use a little more range. At first I thought the low end was terrible, but the more I listened to them, the more I noticed there actually was a lot more low end than I first thought. They are an absolute pleasure to listen to, and actually put a smile on your face as you just sit there and listen. I will probably add a subwoofer to the system, or I might just use the 18 subwoofers from my PA system, that should add just enough low end. I like heavy metal by the way.

Longevity

Not many , Size and placement are a concern . Will not fit in a pull behind Scotty Trailer ...

I've had my pair La Scala's as my home speakers since '89 when bought new w/trade in policy at a fine audio dealer ,since gone from business. I traded those Heresy's
(NOW THAT'S HORNIE !) in at purchase price ... Which was all part of the plan . I have seen and helped assemble 100's of concerts in clubs to amphitheaters. 2 - 4 Klipsch have powered medium size clubs ,while being virtually bullet proof. While all the best sounding concert shows I've been involved with ,all used passive boxes of the same design .Can you imagine 20 - 30 stacked on each side of a 40' stage with Stevie Ray Vaughn in control. AS for SRV "Riviera Paradise" should be on everyone's list as a top 3 speaker testing CD. At home they are also well suited , providing you can get them far enough apart otherwise the imagery / separation will be subdued . Getting more bass and balance can be obtained with a couple 2x6x12" end pieces of lumber wrapped with a towel , use this to jack the front of the cabinet up an inch or two and get those waves off of the ground where it will all become ear level and more readily move in 3D ,angling in a foot or two from the room corners helps also. Buy them if you get the chance !!!

Similar Products Used:

HERESY ,CV ,JBL ,Meyers and a lot of pro gear in various R&R Venues.

I traded up to these great speakers by selling my Forte2's 11 years ago. I purchased them for 1050.00 back then. They have brought a lot of good times to me and my family. It's great to know that no matter what you hook up to them they'll always have the power and sound that you may need. The only thing I regret is that I sold my Forte2's to get them. I hope Klipsh reissues them. If not then some years down the road I'll purchase some KLF-20's.

A little light on the bass, and a bit big 123 lbs. each

I have had these for about a year and they still amaze me on how clean they are. I still hear things in songs that I never heard before. I highly recommend this speaker definitely something you have to hear to understand.

Clarity,huge soundstage,unrestrained dynamics.

Need a larger room,but that should be obvious given the size of speaker.

I have held off for a while with my review of this true American classic. I am now ready to give my observations. First I view this speaker as a music lovers product.Unlike most of the other "audiophile"speakers I previously have owned, these speakers recreate a large,believable soundstage with no compression of the sound on large scale transients. They are lighting fast and will make just about any other speaker sound slow and plodding by comparison. I attend a large number of live shows every month and to my ears, this is the first pair of speakers I have owned that can recreate the attack and speed of the real thing.
For those that complain about the lack of ultra deep bass, it is not the size of the cabinet, it is due to the limited size of the bass horn itself. The bass that is available on these beauties is unbelievably fast and natural. If you want that exagerrated, boomy bass buy a sub. For all the things that these speakers do right, there should be very little to no nit picking. For the price most of us paid for these, what else could you buy for the same price that could come close to these? I will never again blow money on overpriced, wimpy audiophile speakers that need boat loads of power to become only remotely dynamic. I highly reccommend these beauties. Five stars all the way.

Similar Products Used:

Merlin,Joseph Audio,Magnepan,Platinum Audio,Near

Fantastic sound reproduction, very loud w/ NO distortion

None as of yet

Everyone on this page is going to hate me. I was able to purchase a pair of LaScalas and a pair of Crown amps all for $90 from the theater at the university I attend. They were upgrading their sound system and wanted to get rid of all the old equipment. Apparently the manager of the theater was going to be involuntarily replaced a few months later, so I think he felt bitter and hence I got a great deal. I guess he didn't know what he had. Let me tell you, I have put these monsters to the test outdoors as well as in several rooms of various size, and they have never ceased to amaze me. These loudspeakers crank out the tunes and never fail to operate cleanly and smoothly. They will definitely travel with me long after graduation.

Similar Products Used:

none can Compare

Very clean and distinct, low distortion.

Big and heavy.

I liked my Klipsch THX Home Theater System so much that when I saw a pair of 20 year old La Scalas on ebay I sucessfully bid on them. It is amazing the number of old Klipsch products that bring a good price on ebay. I am very pleased with these speakers - they are extremely clean sounding and very distinct due to low distortion. I hear things on my recordings that I've never heard before or with far less clarity and presence. I am amazed at how easy it is to pick out and focus on one instrument among many and how real various instruments sound. I would expect horns to sound great, but so do violins, pianos and voices! They may not have the resounding low punch of the THX sub woofer but they are extremely musical and natural sounding. Like every other speaker I have ever owned, room accoustics can make a great speaker sound bad. The room and what's in it can make a BIG difference. Positioning can make or break a speaker. How the prior reviewer could rate these speakers so poorly is beyond me, unless they were in the wrong room or the wrong place or were broken (which would be hard to do with these overbuilt old Klipsch designs). He likes the Klipshorns which contain the same speaker and crossover components. The only difference is that the bass does not go as low since the Klipschorns have a longer folded horn due to their corner design which makes use of the room's walls to extend the length of the horn and thus the lower end of the woofers output. There is no way I could get anywhere near the quality of sound that I get from these at the $750. price I paid. If I could fit them in my room's corners I would get a pair of the bigger Klipschorns. I am not sure that I've ever heard a better pair of speakers - I would really need an A-B comparison in my home to tell - that's how good these are.

Similar Products Used:

Klipsch THX Home Theater System.

they are efficient and loud

Horn sound, poor bass, poor treble, shouty

I am a Klipsch fan. In fact I love K-horns, and Cornwalls especially.
I was in a used hifi store and found a set of black Klipsch LaScala's for sale ($800 pr) at www.thesoundwell.com
They were in the store connected to a Pioneer and/or Hafler amp. These speakers were squalky, with thin bass and no deep bass. The treble was not extended, and the midrange shouted at me. This is THE WORST product that Klipsch has ever made. These are the epitome of fatiguing to listen to.
The sound is hard, harsh, and too directional. These are very boxy sounding pa/disco/theater speakers. They sounded AWEFUL next to a set of Cornwalls that the soundwell sold this week. The la Scalas are lower midfi.
With a tube amp, I would give these a generous 2 stars, but with solid state they get one star.

Similar Products Used:

A variety of Klipsch products, like the Cornwall