Hey Mike - I've paired off my Mini-Mites with my vintage Heresy's from the late 70's (metal horns and K55V/K77M drivers). Dynamat on the inside, same on the horn bodies, 3/4 MDF back (replaced the stock back and terminals), window caulking around the rear seal and driver seals. For the interior wires I used DH Labs silver and it was a big improvement over stock both in the Heresy's and in the LaScala's I have in my other system. The MiniMite+Heresy combo is killer for the money you need to spend on it. Used MM's go for around $600-700, and a good set of vintage Heresy's are only around 300-500. Good deals on vintage Klipsch stuff comes around at garage sales and pawnshaps all the time too. I have not been crazy about the Mini-Mites paired off with the Scala's in either my home or at work. Just more punch and less finesse. My expectations with the Scala's are SET high (pun intended).
Plato - An excellent suggestion; I agree you can get a taste of the vintage Klipsch sound with Cornwalls or Heresy's....and a rockin-out version with Forte's or Chorus (though I found the Forte's a bit less refined, and heavier on the low-end than the others mentioned, yet a very enjoyable speaker for not a lot of money). I've owned two pairs of Forte II's, Heresys and LaScalas and have pretty extensive listening experience with all of those with several different systems, as well as directly comparing many permutations in my own systems, while throwing in several Klipshorns, a Belle and Chorus that did not belong to me in other systems. Though the smaller Klipsch give you a taste, and are impressive on their own merits for less money, if you can afford the money/patience, and do have the room, I would always go with the Scalas or Khorns above all others. They simply compound all the merits of the smaller speakers into a fuller yet refined and effortless expression of the music. The one type of speaker I really would like to compare them to, that I have yet to try is a good single-driver design like Terry Cain offers. I have a feeling I would enjoy that.
Marco
Plato - An excellent suggestion; I agree you can get a taste of the vintage Klipsch sound with Cornwalls or Heresy's....and a rockin-out version with Forte's or Chorus (though I found the Forte's a bit less refined, and heavier on the low-end than the others mentioned, yet a very enjoyable speaker for not a lot of money). I've owned two pairs of Forte II's, Heresys and LaScalas and have pretty extensive listening experience with all of those with several different systems, as well as directly comparing many permutations in my own systems, while throwing in several Klipshorns, a Belle and Chorus that did not belong to me in other systems. Though the smaller Klipsch give you a taste, and are impressive on their own merits for less money, if you can afford the money/patience, and do have the room, I would always go with the Scalas or Khorns above all others. They simply compound all the merits of the smaller speakers into a fuller yet refined and effortless expression of the music. The one type of speaker I really would like to compare them to, that I have yet to try is a good single-driver design like Terry Cain offers. I have a feeling I would enjoy that.
Marco