La Scalas vs. K-horns - Best Fit?

PowerHungry

PowerHungry

New Member
I am looking at upgrading to either a set of La Scalas or K-horns. I have a Kenwood Supreme 600, but I am restricted by the room in which my system resides. The room is about 20 X 16, and only has one full corner available for K-horns. Instead of building false backs for the K-horns, would La Scalas make more sense for this room? Any loss of sound from the K-Horn to the LaScala - or are they both overkill for this room?

Thanks!
 
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Neither is overkill for the room. I'd much rather have the Klipschhorn - more balanced speaker - than the LaScala but you would have to build a false corner if you don't have one.

Have you ever run this amplifier on something as revealing/high efficiency as either one of these speakers? The least bit of harshness, distortion, buzz, etc will be readily heard. I'm not saying that your amplifier is like that but having made the journey to high efficiency speakers myself, I've been surprised before.
 
Thanks for the input. The specs and warmth of the Supreme series are legendary (at least among us integrated amp guys). I haven't made the leap to separates yet, but maybe K-horns would be the reason to consider them in the future.
 
I have La Scalas and would advise you to go the K-horn route simply because it they should sound better, with a much improved bass. La Scalas really aren't a shrinking violet and are quite large in their own right so they will require a nice chunk of turf themselves. I find myself wishing they had a bit more fullness on the bottom.

I picked up a set of Altec Valencias recently to duel with the La Scalas for main system speakers, but have a quandary as the Altecs have a better bottom and maybe mids, and the Klipsch the better highs, but it appears it may be easier to get highs to the Altecs than bottom to the Klipsch.

But I'd give the K-horns the nod in your choice.
 
Is there a pair of either for sale in the metroplex? The Khorns are great speakers...there's no doubt...as I own a pair myself. I had some La Scala's years ago and was very fond of them, though.
 
If this is for strict 2 channel listening with no sub, the Khorn will absolutly smoke the LaScalas. The problem with LS is the size of the mouth of the horn. It starts dropping at 80-90 and is pretty much gone by 45 hz. Ok for more traditional instruments and 70's rock which enjoys that 100-250 kick the LS has, but not flat by any means. The additional height of the K-horn and the fact that you are forced into corners, therefore reducing early reflections off the side walls are other benefits.

If you only have to do one-half fake corner for one, that's no big deal and can be done quite successfully.

At 20x16, best placement is along the 20' dimension and you'd want to sit about 2 feet from the back wall. This is nearly identical to my gallery room which is a very nice Khorn listening room.
 
PowerHungry said:
Andyman,
Thanks for the comparison. So far, it's H-horns in the lead. I can always build a false corner for one.
Click to expand...

Andy,

I'm in the same boat and own Khorns , I'm at break right now, but I'll be brief.

A guys who's opening up a stereo stereo near me, is going to fabricate enclosures out of Mdf board and seal the bass bins for me. I have 1 corner and a 2/3 corner with just about 8 inches of the right rear side that is showing due to my Living room ( raised ranch )

my email is zork52@verizon.net

email me direct and I'll send you some pics of my current set up and we can compare. also, I may be upgrading the actual mid range horn through ALK engineering ( Al Klappenberger ) after the enclosures are done.......

Gotta go.........You amp should be find BTW.......
 
There are several threads on the Klipsch Forum (check 2 channel or modifications groups) for either the false wall or enclosing backs. NOTE: even with enclosed backs, the Khorns needs to be within 12" of a real corner. The backs are to aid in alignment, to assist the owner in toe-ing the speakers for best soundstage. The LF bin still need proximity to a corner of some type.

I'd go for a short false wall. It can be of securely braced 3/4" plywood, just slightly longer than the Khorn itself.
 
Get the Jubilees and kill several birds with one stone...

1. No need to enclose the backs
2. No 'need' for corners (though it's beneficial)
3. Jubilee was originally designed to replace the Khorn.... is it an improvement? :yes:
 
Coytee said:
Get the Jubilees and kill several birds with one stone...

1. No need to enclose the backs
2. No 'need' for corners (though it's beneficial)
3. Jubilee was originally designed to replace the Khorn.... is it an improvement? :yes:
Click to expand...

Yeah, but officially, the company is still claiming that they are not a current home speaker.......:nono: As a result, if he is interested in Jubs, you might have to help him through the process because he certainly won't find them in a residential brochure, ad, or order point.

It is puzzling to me that the company has decided that both the latest flagship and the Jub cannot both be promoted from a marketing standpoint and sold as fine speakers for the home.:scratch2:
 
I have the Jubilee order form if anyone needs it. It's a direct purchase from the factory. No marketing channels yet.
 
Once again everyone has been really helpful and has gvien me a lot to consider. A friend has had a really nice set of 1980-vintage K-Horns in storage for about 15 years, and I am in the process of talking him out of them. Unless he gets stupid about the price, then I'll probably go that route ans they look to be in perfect condition. They're painted black, but I'm pretty good at woodwork and re-finishing. I'm thinking a deep cherry would look nice...
 
avguytx said:
Is there a pair of either for sale in the metroplex? The Khorns are great speakers...there's no doubt...as I own a pair myself. I had some La Scala's years ago and was very fond of them, though.
Click to expand...
A guy in Rhome (right down the road from you) had a pair of K-horns on an auction site that just sold for $1600 but the crossovers were rusty, corroded, and nasty looking, as though they had been stored underwater for awhile. There is a pair of La Scalas for sale in Orange TX, not far from Houston.
 
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