klipsh scala speakers

If the OPs son can stretch his budget, the current Forte or Cornwall will put many a modern day conventional speaker to shame. The Cornwall IV has been around long enough that they are hitting the used market. This speaker need make no apologies for any aspect of its performance. Quite a heavy hitter.

Oz

As per above posters, I wouldn't have kept my Klipschorns if kept in stock form, crossover and driver limitations. Some have no problems with Klipsch Heritage series running solid state, no way for me. Tube pre and amp are absolutes for me, the lower the power the better. My 300B SET monoblocks best followed by 845 SET, and then EL34 push pull. They'll get far louder than I need with any of these amps. I agree Klipsch's can sound very nice at lower volumes as well, really incredible micro and macro dynamics, loud or quiet volume settings. And yes, the larger Klipsch heritage will give more bass. Finally, yes, Klipsch heritage needs absolute first rate total system to sound best, they are quite revealing!

I auditioned LaScalas and found the total absence of sub- bass unforgivable in a speaker at this price. They are just incapable of playing modern music- electronica, trip hop, rap, dance music all depend on a foundation of sub bass. Your son's friends will laugh at him.
Also the cuppiness would have been a deal breaker.

The list of apologies made by all Klipsch speakers should be fairly long but no speaker ever made neednt make at least a few. 

And please quit talking about the importance of upstream components with Klipsch speakers. This is true of any good speaker design and other than noise, I would think Klipsch would be more forgiving than many. Are you guys referring to the incompatibility with most S.S.? 

Again havent heard the new line, but I doubt they would change the sound significantly as they have a pretty dedicated following. 

Understood. Not everyone wants rich tone, whipcrack dynamics, a 3 dimensional soundstage, realistic images and dense vocal reproduction. So this is you, no shame in that. This type of sound is not for everyone.