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Suggestions to replace my Klipsch La Scalas

pioneerhip

pioneerhip

Active Member
So after 2 years of trying to make them work, they just aren't the speaker for me. Here is some detail so you can help me decide what to move to next.

My room is untreated and 12X13X12
Sources: Vinyl and Dac both tube driven
Preamp and amps are all Tube Driven
Amps are: SET 7 watt and 2 different push pulls 20 watts from one and 60ish from the other
Music : Blues,Classic Rock, Indie, Some modern, some heavier rock ,and just discovering how good Jazz can be

I have tried:
solid state amps,crites crossovers, ALK corn-scal-wall crossovers, svs subs added,horn loaded subs added, Schiit Loki in line, toed in toed out. Corner loaded, pushed together, I even moved my room 90 degres to try and get a better sound out of them. Trust me I have tried it all.

Here is what I liked:
Huge soundstage
You are there live at times when listening
Love being able to hear the detail they offer
Love the bass when present

Here is what I disliked:
They can get shrill quick
They are so revealing music can sound just bad (I realize that should be a positive, but it isn't)
Very bass shy
They aren't "warm" at all. There is no real thickness to the mids. Detail, but not thick.

We are going to sell this house eventually so I do not want to invest a bunch on treatments for the room. I have 2 other speakers that can be run. Some older Polk Monitor 7A that are actually pretty impressive, and could have the crossovers updated and a few other things to really make them shine if I wanted to. I realize they aren't a Hi-Fi speaker but they are balanced and warm/musical. The other option is the Decware DM947 speaker system. It's good and fairly new to me so I haven't decided to keep or move them down the road. So far they are laid back with some nice sparkle. They image really well and are very forgiving of the room and the recording I am listening to.

So let's hear it! What did you replace your Klipsch speakers with, or what are you using that matches what I am after.

$2500ish budget
 
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lol. Should have proofed that before I posted it.:rflmao:

I had Fortes and sold them. They were good, but next to the La Scalas felt like they were lacking. I sold them before I changed the room up 90 degrees. Wish I had them to give another go. I have considered Cornwall as a real option, but am starting to wonder if I just ultimately don't like the Klipsch sound.
 
Mike Gibson said:
If you still like horns try some Altec Valencias. I've had mine for eons. They aren't perfect to be sure but I've never heard vocals sound better on any other speaker.
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I am not sure I want to stay with horns. I am almost horn shy at this point. I keep thinking horns might not be for me.
 
I prefer Cornwalls, but the new Forte would be my choice. Find the right customer for your La Scala and you easily can afford the Forte III. You might want to wail bit and make sure you get models with the new tweeters announced this year. But instead of only needing 5 watts per channel, you will probably need 20 to be safe.
 
I think that room is just too small, and it's also a cube, which is going to have some serious reflections and standing waves. I don't enjoy my La Scalas until I'm a good 15 feet away from them, and even then there's lots of room to breath behind the sofa. When I'm too close it sounds almost blaring, the mids dominate so much. La Scalas work best when there's a lot of room to breath, I think ideally you'd have an auditorium to fill.

I would say that if you're planning on moving soon to a place with a bigger room, you may want to hold off until you get to try them in your new location. If that's not in the works, then something more appropriate for a small room may be a good idea. Before you commit to finding a highly sensitive speaker to suit tube amps, for a reality check, I suggest to go to an audio store and audition speakers in the $2500 range. Just get an idea what this money buys brand new, so you can calibrate your ears to what to expect.
 
maxhifi said:
I think that room is just too small, and it's also a cube, which is going to have some serious reflections and standing waves. I don't enjoy my La Scalas until I'm a good 15 feet away from them, and even then there's lots of room to breath behind the sofa. When I'm too close it sounds almost blaring, the mids dominate so much. La Scalas work best when there's a lot of room to breath, I think ideally you'd have an auditorium to fill.

I would say that if you're planning on moving soon to a place with a bigger room, you may want to hold off until you get to try them in your new location. If that's not in the works, then something more appropriate for a small room may be a good idea. Before you commit to finding a highly sensitive speaker to suit tube amps, for a reality check, I suggest to go to an audio store and audition speakers in the $2500 range. Just get an idea what this money buys brand new, so you can calibrate your ears to what to expect.
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I agree with everything you have said here, but I am at a point with the La Scalas that the best thing to do is move on for now. I do want to go and audition some speakers for sure.
 
pioneerhip said:
I agree with everything you have said here, but I am at a point with the La Scalas that the best thing to do is move on for now. I do want to go and audition some speakers for sure.
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I think with the internet, it's too easy to get caught up in other people's opinions which may be based on totally different criteria than you're after. Nothing substitutes for actually hearing what you're going to buy, and being your own judge. For example, does good mean you can crank it up until the neighbors hear it? Does it mean it will allow your SET amplifier to crack 100dB? Does it mean you can hear bass down to the lowest organ pedal? Does it mean vocals sound natural, at a soft listening level?
Do you want brass instruments to sound best, or violins? I've always thought panel speakers do a better job on violins, horns on brass, and big cones for electric guitar. That's just my pure opinion. I also think large multiway speakers do electronic music best. Piano I'm not so sure, it's both percussion and string at the same time, it needs great speakers to sound perfect.

All I'm saying is that in order to pick the right speaker, you have to be realistic about what YOU want, and what are YOUR priorities, since pretty much everything is a compromise of one kind or another. The fact you like your polks makes me wonder if you wouldn't be best off looking at some very conventional but high end box speakers, and just accepting that maybe SET isn't really for you. Or maybe I'm wrong, and what you really need, is Fostex speakers. Though one thing is true - the "conventional" approach of two or three way box speakers with a dome tweeter is conventional only because it is the most suitable approach for the majority of people. And I wouldn't begin the search by assuming your needs are way different from average - instead begin with average and then go on a tangent, if you feel the need.
 
maxhifi said:
The fact you like your polks makes me wonder if you wouldn't be best off looking at some very conventional but high end box speakers.
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Good point and I have thought the same might be a good fit. I am interested in hearing some Tannoy, and Harbeth speakers. Have any others you consider to be in the same league or worth noting?
 
pioneerhip said:
Good point and I have thought the same might be a good fit. I am interested in hearing some Tannoy, and Harbeth speakers. Have any others you consider to be in the same league or worth noting?
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Tannoy sound fantastic, but their tweeter is horn loaded, and does have a bit of "bite". I think you should listen to it, but it won't be the absolute opposite of your Klipsch. Actually it could well be the best of both worlds. I find them very detailed and engaging, while retaining good bass response. The only Tannoy speakers I haven't been a fan of, are the cheaper non dual concentric models. Harbeth I haven't heard in person, but they always review well. Listening to some British speakers is actually a great idea, there's many good ones.

A lot of it will be down to what your local dealer sells.. your room is too small for Magnepan speakers, or any other panel I can think of so that's more or less out.
 
@GordonW speaks very highly of Tannoy’s XT8 and the reviews are pretty strong, as well. Top end on those is supposedly pretty tame and mid range lush and warm. And though you may be thinking you’re not a horn guy, because of your room it sounds like you could benefit from a design that has somewhat more tightly controlled dispersion than what you’ll get from cones and domes...which a waveguide could provide or in the caseof the Tannoy’s a driver cone that acts as a waveguide.

 
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I’m afraid the break in period for the Fostex would be too long for the OP.
It almost was for me until I started rope-a-doping them.
 
I would suggest JBL L112's. Present bass, not harsh at all. Reasonably efficient (maybe not 7 watt SET efficient, but...). Imo, they represent a good representation of the West Coast Sound if you push them, but sound pretty East Coast in general.
ADS 710's would be another. 3-way speaker with smooth top-end and great mids, decent bass in a smallish room.
 
If Klipsch isn't working out, I would recommend vintage Infinity speakers with planar drivers, if you can find some. Also, panel speakers like electrostatics such a Martin Logan or older Acoustats. You might need to crossover to a subwoofer or two though, if you want loud bass. Parts Express Dayton brand has relatively inexpensive but nice sounding subwoofer kits.
 
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