10 year old thread. Please try harder when you Internet............... |
I agree that a 12X13 room is way too small for K-Horns, La Scala, or Cornwalls, for that matter, and marginal even for the Heresy. if for no other reason than its simply not long enough to allow generation of LF wavelengths (40 Hz has a wavelength of 28 ft so the room needs a 14 ft wall just to support a 1/2 wave) and more subjectively, horn mids in my experience need a good 15 to 20 feet to keep from being literally 'in your face'.
My first serious exposure to K-horns was in a smaller room, where they were driven by a big Pioneer receiver. They sounded ragged and hard at every level and the mids were simply too much. Visiting a couple years later, The horns had been replaced with Heresies, and the system seemed much more relaxed. The owner just shrugged his shoulders "These just work better in here."
He sold his K-horns to a friend with a huge bonus room. It was the only time I ever heard K-horns sound 'right'. The room was about 16 X 30+ feet long, and the couch was set about 20 feet back. They were driven by an old McIntosh MC240 tube amp, and they sounded glorious - open and dynamic. Listening at live sound levels (upwards of 100 dBa) the system was not sounding stressed, as there was still a good 15-20 dB headroom left.
Full disclosure - The K-horns were Speakerlab clones (using the same Electrovoice Mids and T-3500 tweeter as Klipsch used at the time) and built by a Boeing engineer 'to aerospace standards' which included 11-ply Baltic birch plywood, stainless screws, epoxy glue, upgraded caps and resistors in the crossovers, T-nut threaded inserts for driver mounting and some extra bracing to reduce panel resonance. The tops and front panel holding the mids and tweeter were Corian. I don't think a better executed K-Horn exists. The Heresies were stock, except the crossovers which were upgraded to Sprague 'Orange Drop' capacitors. |
La Scala's have the unique quality of a fine aged wine, only a connoisseur can appreciate them. |
I found the dynamics of the Lascala's illuminating and intense and energizing and wonderful, for a time. However, it proved too much of a good thing over time. I never tried them with tubes, though, and maybe I should have. I also never really had them in a space where they really had the room they need. Most of my critical listening was in a 12X13ish space with one side wall opening to a kitchen space of smaller dimension, although I did have them in a 20X15 space for a time, but with lesser electronics. I do admit to being curious what they would sound like with my current electronics, many times more expensive and better quality than anything I had when I owned the Lascalas.
Good luck with your decision. I do agree with others it would be best for you to hear the Lascalas for yourself before making a decision, but if there are other personal considerations and pressures, it may not be the best situation for experimenting with your acoustic tastes. |
I would take the La Scalas and don't look back. Since it didn't cost me anything, I wouldn't sell either. Man, I wish this would happen to me but only if I owned Harbeth's. I'll quote Jack Handy (and I'm not this type of person, but in your situation........) Jack Handy quote - "I hope that when I die, people say about me, 'Boy, that guy sure owed me a lot of money". |
I assume the OP was taking room size into account, when was a 12x13 mentioned? Of course, if the intended listening room is not adequate, I wouldn't recommend taking them, but is there any reason they couldn't be used in a "second system"? I have found that two(or more) systems are better than one! I like to have a "small sound system" (Quad ESL63,Spectral DMA50/DMC6,RegaPlanet,WellTempered) for voice & jazz in my living room, and a "big sound system" (KEF 107/2,LuxmanB12s&M12,ARC-SP9,SonyXA9000ES,SOTA Star)set up in my basement. If you have the room, I really think it's easier to optimize a couple of systems for specific use, rather than trying to make one that can "do it all". I think, room permitting, a pair of LaScalas could be an excellent base for a "power Jazz & big sound/dynamics" alternative system to compliment the Lores.
...just food for thought.
Cliff |
Last post ....A 12' x 13' room is not adequate for Khorns, or Lascalas, ime. |
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On the other hand, I might agree with JohnK. There seems to be an underlying emotional thing with this friend of yours( or you) about giving you the Lascalas......what is that about....That is why I said "loan" on my previous post....Although, I do know JohnK does not like the Lascalas much, from other threads I have read, and that is ok. Again, to each his own...... |
I have not heard the Lores, but based on opinions of others, I believe them to be fine for the money. I am a Lascala owner, for many years, as well as a Klipsch Heritage admirer, with much experience with them. I have modified the cabinets, built risers ( which also added 60 lbs of mass to each ), spent much time with room set up, equipment matching, tweaking, and so on. I find my Lascalas to be amazing in portraying recorded music in a very realistic way, as live unamplified music does, and often they disappear. As I have mentioned in other threads, there are times I listen at peak levels approaching 110 db, and higher. I do not believe the Lores will do this. They are very different animals. So, based on room size, acoustics and set up, musical taste, listening levels, associated equipment, and many other factors, get the Lascalas, at least as a loan, to live with them and see(hear). If you like them, the Klipsch site has a forum to help you optimize the basic design and make a good loudspeaker into a great one. I think the Lascala is the best design from the Heritage line, based on the upgrade path and their simplistic room integration(corner placement not needed or desired). Keep in mind, they are large in dimension... |
I owned LaScala's for several years, and I am a current Lore owner. I second Sebrof's comments. The LaScalas will not have anywhere near the bass frequency extension nor weight of the Lores if the Lores are near enough to the room boundaries to get bass reinforcement. If the Lores are way out into the room and you're not getting wall reinforcement, the LaScala's MIGHT be equal in bass weight, maybe. The quality of bass is great with the LaScala's, but I don't think the Lores are any worse - they're great too.
LaScalas would have more dynamics, but with less tone than the Lores. They also have some stridency than the Lores would not have. Lores would be the more coherent speaker for a normal living space. With a LARGE room, the LaScalas might be preferable, but for anything of reasonable home size, I just can't see a LaScala competing. |
LaScala for life. I would run from this deal.... |
Take the LaScalas. Like Cliff, I haven't heard the Lores either, but I agree with his comments on the LaScalas - surely they will have just as much bass, and much more dynamic range (soft as well as loud). |
I've never heard the Lores... or any Tekton speakers, for that matter, but I've listened to K-horns, Lascalas & Belles quite a bit. Have you ever heard any of the "Heritage" Klipsch speakers? If you like one, I think you'd like the others, they have very similar "flavor". My guess is, if you have the room for LaScalas, and like horn sound & dynamics, you won't be disappointed with the change. I find the sound from LaScalas to be VERY similar to K-horns, even closer than Belles, I think because they use exactly the same tweeter & mid horns as the K-horns, where as the Belles use a different mid horn (in order to make the cabinet shallower).
As far as Roxy54's comment, I can't imagine the LaScalas giving up any bass to the Lores, but again I haven't hears the Lores, so I could be wrong on that. Just seems unlikely those relatively small Tektons could generate as much bass as a Klipsch folded horn.
Cliff |
Even as a former owner of K-Horns, I would advise against the La Scalas. I loved the K-Horns, but they are a specific taste, and that taste may not be yours. In addition, some people find them lacking in bass. They are also a little homely, if that matters to you. |
The size of your room and what you listen to will have a bearing on the outcome. If you listen VERY LOUD, the La Scalas would probably be the better choice, IMO.
But I would not take La Scalas over Lores.
I had Klipschorns in what I consider to be a good setup for them. I had good corners, and I drove them with a few different amps: A 100 watt tube integrated, a 75 watt SS integrated, and a 2A3 SET. At some point I saw an ad for Tekton Katz Meow V1, similar to the Lore but with different 8" drivers. I had a 30-day money back, so I figured what the heck.
Long story short - I gladly sold the KHorns. Never looked back.
I now have those Katz and also own a pair of Lores. I'd take either over KHorns.
I've never heard LSs so I can't comment.
FWIW - I repleced the crossovers with Crites, sealed them in the corners, reinforced the corners of my room, wrapped the mid horn, and some other well-known KHorn tweaks to get them sounding their best. They did sound very good, but not as good as the Katz or Lores. Most people who like Klipsch Heritage have modified them beyond normal tweaks/mods.
My room is 12' x 13' |
I would go for it and take the La Scalas regardless( I never owned a pair but have always wanted them, or the Belles for size purposes). If you still prefer the Lores, no problem. You would then have two great speakers and could switch out from time to time. I currently have MG 20's, vintage Dahlquist DQ 10s (with amazing upgrades from Bill L. at Millersound) and a pair of Audio Physic Virgo IIs (plus a few mini-monitors including Fried Betas, Spendor S 3/5s and Sound Dynamics 300ti's and RTS3Bs). I obviously also have a very understanding wife. On certain works each speaker has its advantages. I use a CJ Premier 8A (modified by Bob and Gary Backert at rhbSoundDezign) for the current hungry Magnepans and DQ 10s, and a Deja Vu PP 2A3 for the Virgo II's and mini-monitors. As my wife says, you can have all of the speakers you want(within reason of course),but ONLY one wife. Works for me.
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It sounds to me like, for whatever reason, you feel that accepting the free LaScalas would obligate you to use them in perpetuity. Basically, you'd be selling your freedom to use the speakers of your choice for about a grand, because that's about what fifteen year old LaScalas go for.
This is less clear from your post, but it sounds like your friend gave the speakers to someone else and now wants them back. So in her mind, they may not be your speakers even after she's given them to you.
I know you were probably hoping for a comparison of the LaScalas vs the Lores, but I'd decline the gift on general principles regardless of what speakers are involved.
Duke |
Sell off the Lores if the La Scalas sound that much better with your current system.
However, why not have both. |
