klipsh scala speakers

A few questions to the OP:
(1) how big is his room? Do you understand how large La Scalas are?
(2) do you really want to spend $12K on speakers for your kid (assuming new)? If so, congratulations on your deep pockets and generosity.
(3) if his primary desire is loudness (assume he is going to listen primarily to rock or club music), steer him toward Klipsch Heresy, JBL L100 or vintage Cerwin Vega speakers.

"way too much stuff" hit it right on the head! you absolutely need good components ahead of any klipsch speaker. i have owned my cornwall 2s since new and would never give them up, BUT YOU NEED good high quality equipment ahead of them. that goes for cables too. with cheap recievers and cd players your ears will bleed. 

Speaking as one who is no fan of Klipsch products, but who has sold them professionally, the latest Forte should be the ticket for your son...quite sensitive, and much fuller range and better balanced than La Scalas, and therefore more forgiving.  Driven by a Rogue Pharaoh tube/ class D hybrid integrated they should do their best.  Consider reminding him too of the long term damaging effect of overly loud playback on one's hearing.  It shows up decades later...believe it!

They look more impressive than they sound. Not to mention the size.
He might be a Tekton buyer. 

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