Vandersteen 3A Sigs vs Klipsch Forte III

I have owned 2 Vandersteen speakers (3A and Quattro) and 2 Klipsch speakers ( RP-160M and La Scala II).  I am a subscriber to the philharmonic and use live classical music as my reference.  There is no comparison.  The La Scala hints at what the sound of live music sounds like.  It has a big dynamic sound similar to what I hear in the concert hall.  The Vandersteen is a pale and compressed imitation of the real thing.  It sounds OK but nothing like the live sound.  Even though I use classical music as my guide in evaluating audio gear, I do listen to all types of music as well.  Play Creedence's "Ramble Tamble" on both speakers.  The Vandersteen sounds flat and boring.  With the La Scala the band is in the room.

Phil, very interesting. I just saw a LaScalla II review, albeit by someone who sells them, and he commented that the II is much improved over previous. They are beasts and take a room that can accommodate. At least the top tweet and mid are removable from bottom cabinet for better handling. 
Phil, how do u assess their soundstage, imaging, depth, etc?

+1 Phil......When set up properly, the Lascalas can disappear, giving you that height, width and depth of a soundstage. But more importantly, it is that "effortless" quality you hear at a live performance. A buddy of mine owns some top of the line B & W speakers. I do not want this to be a hammering of the B&W or Vandys, Since owning horns for over 30 years ( with some other top brands and models ), nothing sounds " as live ", as said by Phil. Keep in mind, not everyone wants this or likes this, or has experienced this. This friend of mine comes over, and is always blown away. But, he goes home, happily, to his B&Ws. And I am sorry to say, the Fortes, even the series 3 ( I heard them briefly about a year ago at an audio meet in S. Florida ), are nothing to a pair of Lascalas. Lascalas can use good subs for that last octave, if you can find some that can keep up. MrD.

Most won't believe it but the La Scala is the best imaging speaker on the planet, IMHO.  The depth that the speaker creates is just uncanny. Like a mini monitor, the speaker totally disappears.  But unlike a small monitor the scale is so big, dynamic with a very full bass range.  The secret to the La Scala's imaging mastery is the "doghouse".  The bass horn, which is coherent with the mid and high frequency horns (no separate driver effects here) launches a sound wave unique to my ears.  The three dimensionality of the sound is not exceeded by anything else.  And I speak from experience.  I have owned or heard all types of speakers from boxes to electrostatics to magnetic planars to omnis to line sources to other horns , etc. The sound is huge but instruments stay focused with proper sizing.  The Avantgarde horns, also excellent, do not sound as convincing as the Klipsch probably do to this "doghouse effect".  The AG's also do not have the coherence since the bass is self-amplified unlike the Klipsch where one amp drives the whole system.

The La Scala gets to about 45 Hz in my setup.  It can be listened to without a sub.  But bass is the foundation of the live orchestral sound so a sub crossed over at about 35Hz fills the bass that is lacking. You can get the growl that the low strings have at a live classical concert.

I am not familiar with the original La Scalas but the II version has zero grain, glare or brightness.  It is ultra smooth sounding. 

The Lascala II has taken care of many of the weaknesses of the original. Thicker, less resonant cabinet ( especially noticeable with the doghouses ), upgraded crossover components, upgraded wire, etc. But, even the series II can be improved, but, it is my secret on how......sorry..........MrD.