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Lets replace my Klipsch La Scala Speakers

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. 


128x128pioneerhip

Showing 3 responses by cd318

cd318
2,636 posts
 
"You are there live at times when listening" 

That is quite an achievement for any loudspeaker. I'm guessing you'll have to give up a fair bit of sonic immediacy and life when making this change. No loudspeaker does it all.

But if greater midrange density is what you want I'd also suggest trying a large Tannoy DC (a 12/15 incher to stay in the same ballpark as your La Scala's). Your listening room is almost exactly the same as mine and I would never accuse the Tannoy's with their lovely fat midbass of sounding thin. 

If you're able to find a used pair of DeVore 0/96s or 0/93s within your budget, that might be another option. 
cd318
2,636 posts
 
When it comes to efficiency most Tannoy Dual Concentrics will fit the bill as a replacement for the Scala's.

Whether you can find something from the current Prestige or Legacy ranges or even pick up a vintage Arden or Berkeley you cannot go far wrong. Placement is fairly straightforward as long as you get the tweeter level with ear height.

There are many things wrong with the Tannoy sound, but I find there is something gloriously right about it.

Difficult to describe, but it just sounds familiar and correct in the mids. Probably not as ambitious a sound as the Klipsch's but generations of Tannoy lovers don't seem to mind. 
cd318
2,636 posts
 
@schubert 

"Tannoy is a Symphony , Klipsch is a rock band ."

Which is why some of us are curious about the legend of Klipsch.

Berkeley's are simply wonderful, and if the bigger Arden's are even better..

Sure there are some reports of a slightly raucous treble, but it can be very easily treated.

Some high resolution loudspeakers can all too easily let you hear what's wrong with them (along with all that's right).

Almost all of the Tannoys I have heard have sounded beautifully balanced, but for sure there will be better, more kick-ass loudspeakers out there for Rock.


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