Klipsch LaScallas vs Klipsch Cornwalls?

I have owned both, Cornwall is much better for Home use.

Altec why the Klipsch?

I have owned both as well. I presently own Lascalas. However I have done much work to them to get them to "disappear". (You can visit the thread Why Not Horns). Have you listened to either of these in lenght, in a room your size, with electronics of good quality ? Owning Spicas you will be getting a musical presentation that is quite different with either of these Klipsch. I find the Lascala to be more coherent between the drivers/crossover than the Cornwall, but the Cornwall does extend a bit further down in hz. Although I am an advocate of my Lascalas, how did you decide on these versus others ? Just some thoughts....

Venus Williams vs Serena Williams ..........

I have tried to replace my Spicas for many years but I haven't found a speaker that gives me a bit more sparkle on the top end and dynamics. The Spica TC60's are great and I'm using 2 subwoofers with them. I'm getting a very good balance but I want something more. I have a pair of Klipsch Promedia Computer speakers. There is something I like about them. I'm honestly not sure it's the speaker I will live with for a long time but I feel that's what I want to try next.
I honestly wanted a pair of Spendor Sp1/2's but they never show up here in these pages of late.
I'm not a huge bass fan and my room size does not allow me to use deep deep bass. The LaScallas may be a bit overwhelming for my room but I want the delicacy and dynamics of them. The Cornwall has the bass but may not be as good in the inner detail as the LaScallas are supposed to be.

I'm using a modified Dynaco ST 70 w sound valves input board and tweaked by Tom Tutay. And a VanAlstine Super PAS3si preamp also modified by Tom. A Arcam DV78 DVD/CD player with Scott Nixon Tube DAC, and a Systemdek IV turntable with a Rega RB600 and AT OC9MLKII on the business end. I have pretty good synergy but I want something to give me more of something that I may not be getting right now. . . .
So I'm not sure I will like the Klipsch. But I do know they sound better than the Reference Series. So that's worth a try, I think.
Getting them to disappear is important and the room size is a problem. That I know!

I've owned several pairs of vintage Klipsch Heritage speakers. They offer great bang for the buck, but to really make them sound great they can all use a bit of work in various ways. Of your two choices, LaScalas benefit greatly from a better tweeter (as is a weak link on many of the Klipsch Heritage). Dampening the metal horns with Dynamat or caulk or similar materials (or fork out for a wood horn replacement from one of two or three folks making them - a bit expensive). Internal cabinet bracing on all Klipsch speakers leaves a whole lot to be desired (only an issue for the bass driver really). I found replacing the wiring and crossover also improved things, though the older AA crossovers are pretty damn good on the Scalas. Cornwalls, as has been already mentioned, will reach lower than LaScalas. The latter drop of steeply at around 50hz. Midrange horns are extremely fast and detailed and require careful matching with amplification. A mismatch can potentially yield some pretty harsh sounding results that are a world away from what is possible with these speakers. Both LaScalas and Cornwalls are high--sensitivity speakers. A 14X13 room is on the verge of being a bit small for either, with the bass being a bigger potential problem with the Cornwalls - I've used and enjoyed LaScalas in an even smaller room, but found they were much more enjoyable in a larger space. The older vintage Heritage speakers were made from cabinet-grade plywood and used metal horns and were made entirely in the USA. The Heritage models that are still being sold by Klipsch are made from MDF, have entirely different crossovers and drivers, and are no longer made in the USA (a replacement driver for one of my speakers was made in Mexico). That's not to say they sound bad, just something to be aware of. The older ones are very easy to work on, and plenty of replacement and aftermarket parts are available for them. Go over to the Klipsch forums for more information than you'll ever need. Altec would be a fine choice as well, per JohnK.

Don't take this the wrong way but I wouldn't put either Klipsch in a room that small. My Cornwalls were barely small enough for a 15 x 22 room. You will have loads of detail and volume but no imaging at all. Stand mounted Heresey's should image better with a little less bass(I've had these too). KG4's may work too.

I'd suggest finding some Coincident speakers if you can't find Spendors. In a room your size, it will be like having giant headphones using a pair of Cornwalls. I love/miss my Corwalls but would never use them in a room that small.

I Agree the Heresys make more sense for that room. I own LaScalas and Heresys both the first type.
The secret to getting a satisying sound from any of them I found was to give the woofer power to spare so it will breathe and balance the overall tone. McIntosh power amps synergise well inspite of the general conviction that these highly sensitive are ideal with SETs.
I also agree to dampen the squawker horn and would take some nasty sizzle out of the tweeters via upgraded crossovers if they were not just part of a collection of speakers that aren't in my primary or second systems.

A 15 x 22 room would be fine for Lascalas or Cornwalls(from lots of experience). If an image cannot be created some placement trial and error (both speakers and listening seat), room treatment, and associated equipment would help. As far as a 14 x 13 room, this could be a bit small for either of them, but could work with the right know how. Just the speakers and 1 listening chair could be magical, as well as everything else I mentioned.

I've been researching trying Klipsch/horns for a 12X12 room with similar size constraints.

Here's where I am these days.

Heresy's would seem to be the place to start. Cornwalls would be next if bass in Heresy's turned out to be an issue (not sure it would be for me from what I have read, particularly with newer heresy IIIs, in that these would not be my main speakers and used more for background listening.

If I had the room and time and patience to deal and tinker with them, I would consider pure horns rather than hybrids like La Scala or Klipschorn.

JohnK keeps mentioning Altecs. Maybe, but I am not sure how to recognize exactly what I am getting with many older Altecs I see on the used market these days. Plus, I recall hearing Altecs on occasion years ago (albeit not on great systems) and not being impressed at the time.

I'd heartily second Elevick's recommendation for Coincident as a good alternative. They have been of very few speakers I've heard that offer the speed and sparkle that satisfied the expectations I had from coming off of LaScalas for so many years. Disclaimer: I am selling a pair, which would not likely apply to you as they are larger and being sold locally. Other conventional dynamic driver speakers I might check out are Silverline and Merlin if you require high-sensitivity options. I've owned two pairs of vintage Heresy's, one of which I tweaked out practically as far as I could, to make it sound fuller and reinforce the bass. Ultimately I couldn't get the satisfaction from them, but they are certainly fun speakers and offer big bang for the buck if purchased locally (they are pretty bulky and heavy to ship otherwise). In the Klipsch line, if you were sticking with them, I'd point instead to Forte II's I think someone's already mentioned...although for your particular tastes in music the Scalas or Cornwalls would be better if you had the space. The only reason I think the LaScalas MAY work in your room is that you said you did not listen at loud volumes. I did find they throw a better stage though in a larger space.

If he does not play them loud, which was what he said in his first post, room size becomes a much smaller issue. Possibly a non-issue.
I have KHorns in a 12' x 13' room. When I play at moderate volume the room is not a problem at all. When I play loud, the room quickly takes over and ruins a good thing. That's why I have a lot of room treatments and bass traps.
btw: The way KHorns push into the corner, they may make more sense for Recordho's room, I don't know. But they are the biggest speakers I've had in that room and I now feel like I have more room than ever. He definately won't have bass issues with KHorns either (until he plays loud).

I would go for the LaScala and tweek them with the help of the Klipsch chat group people....I used to run these with the Trend little wonder and the sound was perfect and very affordable....BUT after I moved to Altecs and now JBL.

the cornwalls or heresys in a small to medium room...but all the spica models still sound incredible.

I find it hard to imagine that someone who really likes the Spicas will find happiness with any of the Klipsch models. None of the Klipsch will image or soundstage like the Spicas.

I find it hard to imagine that someone who really likes the Spicas will find happiness with any of the Klipsch models. None of the Klipsch will image or soundstage like the Spicas.

I owned TC50's for eight years, from brand new. Probably the longest I've owned any pair of speakers. I've also owned many pairs of Klipsch. I'd have to agree that Spica's are superior in soundstaging, but well-implemented Klipsch are really not that far behind in my experience (typical of a three-way floorstander vs a 2-way monitor...OK, the Spicas really do shine there, but not worlds apart). Klipsch Heritage do have qualities they excel over Spicas in (speed, dynamic prowess, resolution, and in the case of the larger Klipsch, scale. I was delighted going over to the various Klipsch models I owned, but I believe I also initially made the jump from SS to tube amplification and that could have been part of the equation. I held on to the Spicas and went back to them once or twice and always enjoyed the heck out of'em whenever I did. Classics for sure! Eventually I sold them, but bet I'd enjoy them to this day. They did not take anything away from enjoying the Klipsch though. They are different speakers for sure.

It is interesting and refreshing to here someone (other than myself) talk about a speaker that has speed, dynamic prowess, resolution and scale. These are all attributes of live music. I also put emphasis on rhythm, beat and tempo, (similar to speed) which are other attributes of live music. Thank you.

I love some of the Klipsch Speakers (3 ways). I have a pair of highly modified Forte II that are great for what I use them for. Large room, high spl for progressive rock.
I do not think they really shine in small rooms or at low sound levels, but thats just how my ears hear it. With your size room, I would try to listen to the new Heresys III, much improved over the older ones.
I see the Altec 19 suggested often, however they very seldom come up for sale, as I have watched.

I had Cornwalls and Lascalas and listened to them in a moderately sized space of about 20 x15 and then in a smaller 13 x13 room when I moved my system. I actually liked them both better in the smaller room. Both pairs were stock (although the Cornwalls had the factory risers). I found that the Lascalas were more pleasing with my system - there was some trade off in that bass was more powerful with the Cornwalls but the midrange with the Lascalas was fantantic. I think either would work in your room as they did with me. I should say that I don't have either pair now. My son took the Cornwalls for his system and I sold the Lascalas. I'm now using Khorns in that smaller room. Love the sound! I did install Crites tweeters and crossovers and Trachorns for the midrange. I think the imaging would be better in a larger space but I'm still very happy with my system.

I have owned both. THE LA SCALLAS ARE M U C K better

I've owned both (as well as KHorns, Chorus, Fortes, Quartets, Heresy's, KLF-20s, CF-4s and RF-7s) and used them in even a smaller room than yours. Unless you are a head banger (I'm not) a horn speaker (even a large one) can do great things in even a small room. I like listening at low levels but still having a whole signal to listen to. Klipsch are perfect for this. The Cornwalls will give you a bit more bass, the LaScalas will sound a bit more 'open' due to the flare of the horn. I would go for the Cornwall first, but would be happy with the LaScala as well.