Klipsch La Scala or Altec 838 speakers

Congrats. Personally, I would not change anything at this time, just enjoy them. Get them situated in your listening room relative to your listening seat....dial them in. My 1st thing to do would be to buy Dynamat and tame the ringing of the mid horns. I would also Dynamat the area where the crossovers sit (requires removing/lifting the crossovers). Also, the little bracket holding the rear of the mid horn transfers energy into the horn from the doghouse (bass horn). Wrap the bracket as well, tightly, with some dense material such as rubbery foam from your local hardware store. Do this bracket thing last. After you do these simple mods, continue to enjoy them, as they will be much improved over stock. Believe me, this is the way to go....for now. Enjoy! My best, MrD.

I heard Heresy and sometimes La Scala models here and there, and thought they had a salient signature. They have a unique "shoutyness" -- the midrange seems clipped or compressed, or somehow distorted. I can’t put my finger on the technical problem I hear, but something audible is definitely going on. Maybe it’s the try-something-new bug in me, but I’d recommend you give the La Scalas a try.

Hmmm, he should buy the Heresy Lascala abominations just to try something new? Is such a recommendation aimed at providing another sucker a dose of the misery you endured? ’I suffered, hence, you shall too’ type of thing? (That may be just a lil twisted, sister).

I have the Crites AB-2 "gold" crossovers in a set of 1980s vintage Klipsch Belles - very similar to the La Scalas. I purchased them from Bob Crites (RIP) before the various copper, silver, and gold levels existed (they have the SonicCaps - equivalent to the highest level) - and, thankfully, didn’t have to pay $775 for them. Many (myself included) consider them to be updates rather than upgrades - and I have no complaints. If Al (ALK) is still making his crossovers, my sense is that these were, to a certain degree, considered superior to the originals. I doubt you’ll go wrong with either, but prepare to open up your wallet. IMHO, the limiting factor of these older Klipsch Heritage speakers isn’t the crossovers . . . . it’s the horn and cabinet resonance. Still, after 40+ years, it’s a sound investment (pardon the terrible pun) to refresh the crossover components. My .02.

UPDATE!!

So. Brought home the La Scalas last night and the seller in fact was wrong. They were from 1979 with corresponding serial numbers and all original horns and AA crossover networks. Traded him my Heresy I’s  and gave him some cash to complete the deal. They sound incredible. I’m not sure I want to mess with the original internals, but everything i am reading says that new tweeters and new crossovers would be the way to go. Does anyone have any opinion on the aftermarket ALK crossovers as opposed to the Crites?

Keep us posted

The original EV T35 tweeter diaphragm had leads as thin as human hair that can burn up under high power. So make sure that both tweeters are working properly. And any scraping sounds from the woofer would be a concern as well.

I would also budget in a crossover rebuild, which is pretty easy and economical on Heritage Klipsch due to the way that they structure the crossovers on boards. While you are doing that work, spin the woofers around 180 degrees to take the pressure off of the spiders and to better center the voice coil in the magnetic gap. And enjoy!

Thanks for all the great advice. I have decided to pull the trigger on tbe La Scalas. I am going to go give them a listen at the buyers spot and I am wondering what I should be listening for in terms of tweeter, bass & mid range deterioration .  I have owned horns (1983 Heresys) for the last 20 years so I know the coloration and the sound profile, etc. etc but I am used to my tube system and its sound and will most likely be listening on a ss amp with much higher wattage than my 2A3’s. Basically, what i can deduce on the spot that would influence my decision on what to offer on price. Thanks. 

Decades ago, I had an opportunity to choose beteeen Klipsch La Scala and Altec 604Cs.

Speakers aren’t everything. It depends what you match them with. At the time, it was the Dyna Stereo 70 I had built myself when I was 14.

I chose the Altec 604Cs.

The Stereo 70 got replaced with a pair of Dyna MK IIIs, and then the Futtermans. The Futtermans are amazing. I tried other speakers: in particular, Duntech and Klipsch again. But the Futtermans love the Altecs.

It’s been Altec 604Cs, with a pair of Ds as backup. Which is a little OCD because I take care of the Cs: remagnitizing and reconing them every 15 years.

Each time, I found the Klipsch to be softer, … weaker somehow. Good for classical, but not for other material that wants more presence.

Each can have the shouty thing, but that’s corrected with better crossovers, the right tubes, and a device to (subtly) manipulate the phasing.

But basically, for me, it has been Altec for 46 years.

You may feel differently however.

That last sentence sorta negated everything didn’t it?

I have had LaScala's, currently have Klipschorns and Altec 604E and Klipsch Heresy's.  My opinion is there are equally satisfying but in different ways. Properly set up the LaScala's are very good and I would vote for them.

So have you heard a set of Carmels then?

I still find it remarkable that in answer to a simple either/or question all the “experts” come in out of the woodwork to recommend anything BUT the two choices given by the OP.

My vote is with LaScalas, but I’ve been a Klipsch fan since 1973-ish working in a music store and I’ve also owned Ohm Walsh 2’s and 3’s (sold recently).

I prefer the Klipsch Heresy IV’s but lately I’ve been using a pair of Ubiquitous V2 speakers and Subiguitous subs - I replaced the drivers and tweeters in the V2’s and will be listening to those for as long as I’m on the planet, or until I win the lottery and can afford a new set of something like German Physik omnis.

Get the LaScalas, if they don’t work for you I’m sure they’ll sell.

Never klipsch 

What mrdecibel said.

Funny how we all differ. The Lascala has been my favorite Heritage for years. However, I would like to point out, there are several simple and inexpensive mods/upgrades as mentioned above to be made to the Lascala that can make them smoother and cleaner. If you enjoy being in front of a band or orchestra, without PA amplification, the Lascala will do it for you. I lived it, and I do. Admittedly, the "live" presentation can be too much for many listeners, as I personally know of some. Horns in general are not for everyone. Over the years, I have succeeded in helping many listeners with their horns, of all manufacturers, to where they become not only very listenable and non-fatiguing, but extremely enjoyable and engaging. Enjoyable and engaging are two characteristics I give to the Lascala, making it easier to "listen to the music". I do not need to own 50 pairs of speakers as some above, because my one pair does it all for me. They continue to sell very well today, so the proof is in the longevity of the model and the numbers. Last point: just like ice cream flavors, we are all different. The shapes of our ears and ear canals alone, simply makes us different as listeners. Add that to the fact that we all have specific areas of music reproduction that attracts us and stimulates us, and this, leaves us to each his/her own. I have owned and listened to many different speaker brands, and personal taste come into play. The particular Altec you refer to is not my favorite Altec, but this is where personal preference comes in. When I stated I am here to help....I am. I wish everyone enjoyable and engaging listening. My best, and ENJOY! MrD.

Altecs are more relaxed then the laScalas will be in my experiance. 

Tha said you need to consider rebuilding/restoring either.  i did some Lascalas a few ywears ago and after a upgrade and restoration they were much better then original. 

For the LaScaal's you're going to want to upgrade that old tweeter and crossover minimum.  that will get you a good way to a much more balanced sound then factory. 

oh my. yea, if it were me id go with  the altec. 

 

My daily drivers were various incantations of VOTs for maybe 30 years. Towards the end of that time, I started trying numerous "mid fi" speakers. None had the LF smoothness, many had lower frequency extension, but -- most noticably -- many were less strident. The upshot is that I didn't like the metal horns; perhaps they were somehow ringing, although I did use some with dampening material applied.

I heard Heresy and sometimes La Scala models here and there, and thought they had a salient signature. They have a unique "shoutyness" -- the midrange seems clipped or compressed, or somehow distorted. I can't put my finger on the technical problem I hear, but something audible is definitely going on.

Maybe it's the try-something-new bug in me, but I'd recommend you give the La Scalas a try.

I have Bolero's, Santana 1's, Segovia's and Stonehenge 1's. I wouldn't trade any of them for Klipsch.

the Altec is furniture. If a mid-century icon is a great addition to your decoration, it's a no brainer.

Don't like the K401 horn, believe they used that horn in 1990's. Type A crossover with tractrix horns, now you have a nice speaker.

I own several vintage Altec speakers. They are much better balanced tonally than Klipsch. Efficiency is high enough to work well with low-power tube amps.

I broadly prefer vintage Klipsch to Altec, but in the specific instance, I would take the Carmels. The LaScala can sound shouty, not my favorite older Klipsch at all. The Carmels might need some crossover work but should end up being more even tempered, IMHO, and YMMV.

I am partial to the Lascala. What kind of sonic "presentation" are you wishing for? How is your room set up? What types of music do you favor? I know you have owned Klipsch before. I am here to help. Always, MrD.