Klipsch La Scala or Altec 838 speakers

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?

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. 

Keep us posted

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?