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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
pioneerhip's avatar
pioneerhip OP
44 posts
 
@dmdalton Decware DM944 are currently on music duty since I moved the La Scalas out. I like the ribbon tweeter and they image really well. 

I should have some of the Heresy II this weekend and give them a go with a sub I have. I really don't want a sub in the room. mainly due to lack of floor space. Ultimately I want a floor standing full range speaker that is either sealed or front ported so they can go closer to the wall. 

I am leaning toward the Tannoy speakers. I am not sure the line yet. I love vintage but the idea of buying new and having a trial is appealing as well. In the newer range of Tannoys I was looking at the XT8F. Has anyone compared these to the older line of Tannoys? Would there be a benefit to going vintage vs. new?

@kink56 I had Forte 1 and wish I still had them so I could compare in the room configuration now. Did you like the mid horn better on the Forte II vs the Cornwall, or what was your deciding factor to go Forte II vs. Cornwall?

Thanks for all the help so far everyone!
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,328 posts
 
I find Klipsch speakers have a THEY are HERE, rather than YOU are THERE experience.


Interesting comment that kinda rings true for me.

I’ve been there and done "you are there" to my satisfaction for quite awhile now, but Klipsch continues to capture my interest in that they are somewhat unique and different. I like to try different things. Maybe that is the appeal for me. The size involved with the Legacy Klipsch in general is not appealing to me though at this point. I am way more interested in downsizing, making things smaller and easier to deal with without losing the zing, than having more big heavy things to find room for and handle.

I did add a Klipsch subwoofer in one room with my monitors last year but I chose the Klipsch sw308 sub because it delivers a lot of extended bass out of a small box, compared to most, by using a 8" driver and two 8" passive radiators .

Also I tend to get smitten best by speakers that deliver coherent sound. These days for example that means the OHM Walshes and I also recently added a pair of KEF ls50s (used with the sw308 sub in a smaller room). I do like the KEFs and their UniQ driver.
gosta's avatar
gosta
839 posts
 
In that case would recommend you to find a set of DC10T. I have the DC10A even though I drive them as monitors with the big bass coming from a pair of ATC 150 ASL. Nice comb :-)
gosta's avatar
gosta
839 posts
 
Can also recommend the DSPeaker Anti-mode 2.0 for automatic + manually added (DSP) room correction. Incl fine DAC when you want.
br3098
996 posts
 
Gents, equalizers or DSP can do a lot, assuming that you are willing to put up with the extra analog-digital-analog conversion.

But an equalizer CANNOT compensate for either a bad room ratio (square) and too much speaker in too small a room.  DSP can help with the square space but still can't completely fix pumping too much energy into too little volume.

Fix the room and match the speakers to the room or accept the compromise.  Everything else is a waste of time and money.

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