WHY PERFECTION DOESN'T MATTER! La Scala Review! Klipsch La Scala AL5 

★ *QOTD: What product (HiFi or not) has made the biggest emotional impact in your life & what lengths have you gone to keep it?* ★ *REVIEWING: **bit.ly/klipschlas** / **bit.ly/36bPQVb** NEED MORE INFO? ✔︎ THE ⬆︎DESCRIPTION⬆︎* ★ *Check out our post review conversation at the end!* ★ *COMMENT RULES: Please be respectful. No outside links, URLs, email addresses, etc. Violations are automatically deleted.*

In 1980 I was 20 years old when I walked into Jerry's audio in Tucson Arizona. My best friend and I were just killing time waiting for a movie to start and a Salesman walked up to me and asked me the fateful question " do you want to hear the best?" At the time I was living at home and didn't own a car and was depending on a 1974 Honda CB125 as my only transportation. I had just gotten a job at one of the local mines so I was beginning to come into some money. I needed to buy a car and move out of my parents house and all sorts of other adult things but 30 minutes later I owned a set of Klipsch La Scala's! In 40 Years of ownership they have brought me to tears thousands of times. My life has been an absolute nightmare of ups and downs but the one constant, the one thing I could never let go of has been the Klipsch's. I watched your face when you were talking about letting them go and I thought "this guy gets it". Son, you're young and at a pivotal point in your life, don't make a bad decision. Keep them and her and you will never regret it.

"The La Scala is very much an instrument, and not an audio Xerox machine." Well done sir!

When I was a kid my dad and I were driving in his 1986 Plymouth Horizon. We were listening to AM Radio and "Whole Lotta Love" came on. My dad rolled up the windows, cranked it up, and looked at me and said, "Get ready for this." We listened to the whole song. It was perfect. It was also on arguably the worst system that has ever been. I've never heard the song sound that way ever again. Perfection is an emotional experience that goes way beyond technical specs. Excellent review.

Ok, Andrew, you've convinced me. Now I just have to break it to my wife....

Thanks for the great review Andrew. I have owned many Klipsch speakers over the years but have not had the opportunity to hear the new LaScalas. I have enjoying my (3) 1980 LaScalas behind a 150" acoustic transparent screen in my dedicated theater room for many years. The detail and dynamics during movies is quite exceptional. The midrange is definitely where they excel the most. Be blessed.

I am biased but listened to my Klipschorns in 1981 and have parted with three wives, and many houses but not my Klipschorns

I really enjoyed your humanity today

Hands down, the most engaging and entertaining review from you guys. And probably the best hifi review I watched in a long time 🙌🏻

Andrew and Kristi, both of your responses in this video strikes such a cord with so many of us subscribers, the honesty and genuineness that is shown is just so moving!! I have owned so much sound gear over the years both consumer grade and professional sound gear from Yamaha, Pioneer, Polk Audio, Biamp, JBL etc. as I ran my own mobile dj/sound production company for 20 plus years. The description of how you both feel not just about these speakers but everything that comes into your house to be reviewed and enjoyed is so refreshing and helps me enjoy (now a hobby rather than a job). You ask us to describe what we viewers use for gear that moves us, well currently I have 2 different setups in use that do that for me. First I have set of Polk Monitor series 4 bookshelf speakers that belonged to my sister, she purchased them new in 1990 and I inherited them from her in 1994. I hate to say that they sat unused until this year but I could not bring myself to use them until last year when I found a Pioneer SX 750 that was in very rough shape. I restored it and hooked up those Series 4 to it when I completed the restoration. Following your motto of "remember the only person who has to like the sound of your system is you". When I powered that Pioneer up and heard the first sounds coming through those speakers I was brought to tears (now also as I am typing this) thinking of my sister and how much she loved music and helped shape my taste also. I have always wanted that receiver since I seen and heard one in the late 70's at a hifi store here in Atlanta, the opportunity never came along until last spring. I was always chasing the latest and greatest sound gear. The second setup is a Pioneer SA6500II amplifier and another set of Polk Audio monitor 4's that I also found last summer. I use a bluetooth receiver so I can stream music from spotify with this setup and use it daily in my office/store. I run a locksmith business and makes my day when customers make comments on how much they like the music and how good it sounds. Watching the past couple of videos has been refreshing and uplifting! Please keep up the great work. Looking forward to many more like this.

When I was in college in 1981, my roommate’s father had a pair of La Scala’s powered by an inexpensive Pioneer SX-450 with a B&O turntable. I didn’t think there was any way that little receiver could power those speakers, but it did. I don’t remember much about the rest of his system, but I remember how spellbinding those speakers were. He later upgrade to McIntosh equipment with the LaScala’s, and listening to David Sanborn was like an orgasmic experience. I’m only 62, but when I grow up I hope to own a pair of my own.

Welp, after viewing this I went down to a local dealer to check the La Scala's out. My wife and I spent more than a couple of hours listening to them. At times I had to fight back my tears. I bought a pair. Delivery sometime in October. We are now in the process of rearranging the house to fit the f****** in. This is my first step into quality stereo systems. I'm so looking forward to this journey. Thank you for coming from a space of emotion. If you hadn't I probably wouldn't have jumped.

I listened to the LaScala II extensively and compared them to the Cornwall IV. It was a very difficult choice but I went with the Cornwall IV's ... for now. The two sound similar overall, but the Cornwalls are tonally better balanced as they have more bass weight. That said, the effortlessness and freeness of the LaScala midrange was awesome! Give the Cornwall IV's a go, you might really like them!

I could see Andrew’s heart break right when Kristie says they are too big for their living space. The nostalgia is real.

I purchased Klipschorns in the late eighties, have been threatened with divorce ever since; if I hear “walnut refrigerators” many more times she’ll go and they’ll stay. Auditioned many, many speakers and still have never heard anything that appeals to me more, just superlative sound that I never tire of. Admittedly not the best for rock and roll but they nail everything else, an immersive listening experience that’s absolutely intoxicating. I’ve gone through many speakers, all moving on in a few years for various reasons, but these will remain till death do us part. They do, as you stated, touch an emotional chord which can only be experienced by extended listening. It’s difficult to get the music lovers and audiophiles out of the house once they’ve experienced them, even after the wine and or beer has run out. Thanks for sharing. Ciao.

The end Is so emotional; it's like the E.T of speaker reviews

I was sold on these just from hearing this and other reviews. I finally took time yesterday to listen to them at a dealership... I promise you, if you close your eyes, you'll find yourself sitting in the front row of a live performance. I've been in this crazy "audiophile" world since 1983, and have never heard anything close to what I heard yesterday. Great job Klipsch !

Andrew is spot on. I shopped for a pair of speakers for 15 years before I pulled the trigger. I finally purchased a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls. The attribute that distinguishes Klipsch Heritage speakers is "JOY". After many years, I still look forward to each listening session with the same enthusiasm as an 8 year old child waiting for the popsicle truck to come down the street. When it arrives it is always great, always special.

Tears. Yes. It happens with these. I've owned LaScalas since 1973. I will have these forever. Why? I can't tell you. Andrew, your review is the best explanation of what the LaScala is that I have heard. I've tried to explain the connection to many and they just can't understand until they experience them. Over the years I've introduced many people to the LaScalas in person. Both indoor and outdoor. Their reactions are the best part. Everything from "Oh my god.", to "Holy Shit!", to "Lock your doors, bro!". Thank you so much for sharing the 'connection' aspect of what you experienced. Once you feel it, you want/need it often. I've just subscribed and will share this review with anyone who wonders why I will never part with the LaScalas. Then I will invite them over for a demo. One of my favorite introduction tactics was to seat the victim in the sweet spot and put on anything they wanted to listen to. I would start the demo at about 65 db. I had my pre-amp in a spot where the listener could not see it or me. I would very slowly (over 5 minutes) raise the output to about 100 db. They never noticed until I would tap them on the shoulder, they tried to talk, and couldn't hear themselves. And that's the point. LaScalas can be dainty or raucous. But, the quality is always the same. Thanks again.

Do try the Cornwalls. Maybe they will, at least, ease your pain.

I can still remember...from MANY years ago, as a child, lying on my bed at night, long after all of my family were in their beds, with my Teac receiver driving my small Realistic bookshelves, which I laid down on the pillow on each side of my head next to each of my ears, playing music at low volume for hours on end (could not afford headphones). Certainly the sound quality was probably quite poor, but I don’t think I could ever spend enough now on high tech, modern equipment to replicate the joy I lived in those moments. They were the BEST! Andrew, thanks for a fantastic review and a reminder of what can be the ultimate outcome from our hobby and what the music can bring - joy.

If you're not having fun when listening to your music and enjoying it, what's the point? That's the whole point of Klipsch.

F*ck practicality--KEEP EM!

LaScala’s bass reproduction is very much depends on their positioning in your room in accordance with a listening position. Put them far from walls, sit about 5-6 meters from them and you’ll hear (and feel) the deepest and clearest bass notes you can imagine. And even a real sound of a hurricane in movies.

"if you are one of the lucky ones that has a space large enough to accomodate a speaker this size" .... dude, you are talking about a $12.000 pair of speakers, OF COURSE you will have a space large enough if you are even thinking about buying these :D

Your detailed description is spot on! I thought I would share some owner feedback. We have a pair of the Klipsch LaScala AL5 speakers; they're driven by a PrimaLuna EVO 300 integrated amplifier, and the music is provided by a basic, entry level CD player. The detail that these speakers reveal is exceptional. They allow you to hear individual notes from every instrument being played while capturing every vocal nuance from the lead singer. Their imaging capability is stunning. Each time we press "play", we invite the performers into the room, front and center, for what sounds and feels like a private, live performance. Their clarity is phenomenal, and they maintain their extraordinary clarity at any volume level. IMPORTANT READ: What any interested buyer must consider is the genre of music they listen to most often before making their purchase decision. We spin CD's ranging from CCR, Zeppelin, the Stones, the Who, and Skynnrd to all types of Jazz to classical to Ella, Melody Gardot, Aretha and everything in between. That said, from the truncated list provided, you can get a real sense that most of the music we play through the system is NOT bass demanding. We predominantly tap the mid-range and the upper range of the LaScalas. In that area, they are magnificent. I honestly feel that you would need to spend well over $20K dollars to acquire a pair of speakers that can do better - no doubt, they are certainly out there if budget permits. However, for under $10K, the LaScalas are an excellent choice with the understanding that they DO require bass assistance if you plan to play 70's and later rock music. You definitely lose lower bass with music from those groups. Don't get me wrong. They still sound terrific, and there is adequate bass to fully enjoy the music. But, if you want to experience the true chest pounding, furniture moving capabilities of certain bands, you need a subwoofer. We plan to add a REL subwoofer to each speaker to gain that much needed, lower octave bass. A pair of REL subwoofers will cost about ~ $1200. Added to the price of the LaScalas, and you're still under $12,000 for a stunning musical listening experience. We give the LaScalas an enthusiastic two thumbs up, and, with the addition of the REL subwoofers, we cannot imagine spending less than $20K to find something we would like better. Obviously, hearing is completely subjective. But, if you enjoy the Klipsch sound, the LaScala speakers are most certainly worthy of an audition. BTW, after a lot of experimentation, we spaced our LaScalas 10 feet apart, center to center, they're 3 feet off the side walls, 1.5 feet off the rear wall, toed into toward the seating, and the room is 18'W x 28'L.

Heard the LaScala for the first time last weekend and just now realized you had a video up on it. Your comments are right on. You really can’t understand until you hear them yourself. My only regret is I don’t have the space or the budget for them. I’m going with the Cornwalls which are amazing, but still. Thanks again for a great review.

Man guys...the way this review went seemed to exact what the La Scala is. Just brilliantly. Because like in the end when you say you can talk about the way a speaker sounds and we listen and respect your opinion...this video you showed us how you feel. We felt y’all. And THAT seems like what the La Scala is. There comes a time when you aren’t meticulously looking to be impressed...you’re wanting to feel. And really that seems to be a common denominator with what most of you great reviewers and personalities express about good Klipsch speakers. The good ones have an IT factor that doesn’t show in specs. It’s why I’ve been very attracted to the company for a while.

I just got my new LaScala AL5's last week and all the comments you said are so true. I have never heard the presence, soundstage....vocals, strings, horns all come to life with the LaScala's. You need good amps to really bring this out, I am using a PrimaLuna 300 amp and preamp and this is truly a match made in heaven

Two guests described the LaScalas as "it's like the musicians are right in front of you playing, like being there". Both have been playing instruments for 15 + years. A friend who is a former A List keyboard player described them as like sitting on the bench listening to a TOTL Grand Piano when listening to December. Another guest described a track on Nicks Trouble in ShangraLa as "I could reach out and touch her right in front of me". My LaScalas are in a 14x17 room and sound great, you don't need a huge room. I originally had them in a 20x30 room where they sounded even better. When in the large room, people would ask me where the sound was coming from while looking at the speakers from the the other side of the room, the image was several feet 8-10 into the room. Put glass tops on them and lamps or plastic plants or photos or whatever, no plants with water.

Hey Andrew, Volti Audio does exactly what you're asking Klipsch to do with regards to making a matching subwoofer for their horn loaded speakers. Their Vittora system is a modern refinement of the La Scala that comes with a matching sub. The sub is not horn loaded but it integrates perfectly and keeps up without issue. The Vittora system is the only La Scala inspired system I've ever heard that bettered the original. As you are probably aware but many viewers may not be the reason the La Scala only plays down to 50 hertz is simply because the folded horn in the cabinet is limited to a length that limits extension to 50 hertz. Actually it's probably not that low but in room it will get there. A true folded horn design that would play down to 20 or so hertz would be three times the size of the current La Scala. In the past year and a half I have listened to all the newest Heritage line products and I have to say that for most people the Forte III and the Cornwall IV will be the sweet spot between having that Klipsch musical accuracy, realism and engagement with increased bass response and tolerable size. The La Scalas and Klipschorns have better integration and speed because of the horn loaded woofer in each but for most folks a Cornwall IV will flat get the job done at half the price of the La Scalas. Not to mention 60 percent of the size and no special room set up needed like the K-Horns. Now, just for the record. I have never considered myself an audiophile but I do love great music and great reproduction of that music. Over the last twenty or so years I have listened to perhaps a hundred different speakers both in stores and in home and it's always seemed odd to me that the speakers those who call themselves audiophiles love are speakers that while detailed and clinically accurate are rarely musically accurate or engaging. Klipsch Heritage line speakers are musically accurate and engaging. It's sort of like the difference between the hand drawn cartoons from the forties and fifties and the computer generated cartoons of today. One is technically perfect while the other is more engaging and organic.

Dear Andrew, you just hit my heart. I have a pair of La Scala in a big room of the top floor of our home. A big tiled stove and edged corners made this the best sounding room I`ve ever lived in. As you can imagine, it´s hard to finde some good sounding speakers, but finding the perfect room for it is a life task. And finding the perfect room for a pair of la scala is like the holy grale. I can undstand you so well talking about the effort to carry those heavy bastards, the room they need, the presents they have, and that its worth it. I´m listening to tracks like the first time, after being audio engineer for 14 years and started a event company 12 years ago and building speakers for 8 years. So the topic of full range horn loaded speakers was not new to me, but the live charactarics a pair la sacala can reproduce indoors is unbelievable. And even if they look like a brick, they can sound so delicate. If you think I´m a lucky guy - your wrong. My little castle is starting to fall. My partner is moving out and she takes our two year old son with her. As heardbreaking this is, the fact that if decided not stay longer alone in this very beatiful house, paying rent for 167m2 and a garden and shed and a carport and... What I want to say: Be thankful for your supportive girlfriend!! Because it feels a little lonley sitting here in front of my la scala next to ScanSpeak Illumation Series with concrete enclosure and a pair of TangBand Full range horns. And looking into a future without this room building a symbiosis with this speaker, realy scares me a little bit. The position of the speaker and the couch, which amp, the choice of bass speaker to extend the lower range, building the bass speaker, finding a setup for the bass to sound as fast as the la scala. It was such a long journey to come hear. Giving up a relation ship is same as difficult as giving up this dream of a perfect sound. Maybe people are even more gracious then the laws of physics. I realy dont know what came into me to write those words. I never do comments. And even my english is bad. But you realy touched me a little with your talk, and so I´m reaching out to you from one audio enthusiast to the other. Thank you for letting me use your comment list as my personel self-therapy. All the best. Simon

I'm 69. I bought the Klipsch Corwalls in 1973 when I was 18. My good friend bought the LaScala's a few years later. I hated them. I very much preferred the non horn bass of the Cornwalls. They're both the size of a washer and dryer and my wife hated them because they took up too much space, but they are the better sounding of the two speakers.

Perfect. I’ve imagined owning the La Scalas with a McIntosh tube preamp, or whatever. I “felt” La Scalas would be it. Damn. Maybe Forte iiis with Yamaha 1200. Or Cornwalls with ... Parasound? Idk 🤷‍♀️. A girl can dream. Not an audiophile, but a musician and music lover. I love hearing you two really hash this out.

Thank for the La Scala review, This week I had a Sony CD player repaired after Sony Ireland whom I handed it to for repair. Thesaid it was not worth repairing and returnedI it broken to me. Lawless Brothers in Malhide, County Dublin, Ireland fixed it for me. I bought it originally with money my grandfather gave me for my 21st birthday. I am now 51. It has moved countries with me 12 times. Sony CD player CDP-790

I have to admit, your presentation on this, and other things, is phenomenal. The way you speak, tone, cadence, etc is just pleasant and refreshing. I feel your emotions. You absolutely did the speaker justice.

From your past videos I was expecting that your La Scala review would be unique and personal, but what wasn't expected was catharsis. Thank you for the vulnerability, and not just in regards to your take on the performance of the speakers. But rather, in subtly revealing your genuine frustration over existing in a live music-less culture. These stereos act as a phantom limb in ways for those of us who lament this loss, and I think that you expressed that sentiment well in this review.

As a professional sound engineer of over 40 years I have had the privilege to spend a lot of time with some of the greatest studio and sound reinforcement speaker systems ever built. At home I choose to listen to Klipsch Heritage and have owned La Scalas, Klipschorns, Cornwalls & currently Heresy IVs. Let's face it, by todays standards, the components are cheap, the specs are pretty poor and on paper they shouldn't perform well at all. Yet PJK managed to infuse his speakers with something so dynamically and emotionally involving that the sum far outweighs the parts. The best compliment I ever heard for them came from a trumpet player, who turned to me and said "when I play in a big band this is exactly what it sounds like!" For myself, the Heritage are the only speaker I've found capable of really bringing the elusively magic part of the recording studio or stage home with you.

You have found the holy grail of audio! Audio started with Klipsch,Electrovoice(which launched Klipsch),Altec,JBL, Jensen, Goodman's,etc.......McIntosh,Harman Kardon,Dynaco, Heathkit,etc.....

Having both of you in the reviews is the better format. Love the end section with her

I’ve had my La Scalas since 1978. I bought them from the regional Klipsch rep (and good friend) for $850, and I had to promise Paul personally that I would never tell a soul. The crossover and drivers have been updated along the way. From apartments to ever larger homes, to our downsized retiree villa, I’ve found a place the for them. I’ve driven them with an old transistor radio all the way to a 700 watt Phase Linear amp to the current Yamaha network receiver (a good match, BTW). For spousal reasons, currently they sit in my 10x10 office where I have discovered they are phenomenal near field speakers. So yeah, I’ll do pretty much anything to keep them. Here’s the thing: I have two other systems scattered about, and I do swap components from time to time just for grins … BUT … when the La Scalas are cranking in the background, and I’m walking around the house doing other things, they are the only speakers that stop me in my tracks to listen. Just Damn!

Nice review. Favorite quote: you know your sound system is spot on when you can't wait to listen to it. Klipsch are those kind of speakers.

Thanks for such a heartfelt review of a legendary speaker. I know exactly what you are saying.... I restored a set of klipschorns and had them in my living room until room for the family became our main priority in a very small house. I couldn’t stomach the idea of selling them so they are living with a close family member for the time being. Like your experience with the La scala, nothing can move me or take me to another place like a klipschorn. There is magic in the klipsch heritage line.

I'm really, Really, impressed with how honest you try to convey your experience with these speakers. It's very, very, refreshing. Thanks for sharing. It was a great video. Particularly your conversation in the second half.

The last half of the video is them explaining an emotional breakup with someone they still love.

I don't see any reason why this speaker could not be in every house. You don't need more than 2-3 metres listening distance from them and most homes can provide that. In addition, this speaker has the distinct advantage of a providing performance which is largely position independent unlike all ported or infinite baffle speakers which need the right distance from the walls and floor. If you think about it, most floorstanders end up needing much more space than the LaScalas whereas most bookshelfs offer a much worse performance (unless you place them on stands whereby they become floorstanders, as far as their space requirements are concerned). By contrast, you can treat LaScalas as ordinary pieces of furniture e.g. place things alongside them or on top of them without significant detriment to their sound. In fact, the only constraint is leaving a clear unobstructed straight path between yourself and the speaker fronts. Try that with any other speaker! Economically, it makes a lot more sense to buy LaScalas and partner them with a low power amplifier which, by definition, will be cheaper, simpler, easier to repair and therefore much more long-lasting and trouble free than any other high or medium power amplifier. The LaScalas, on the other hand, being simple speakers (no rubber is used in their drivers) will last for many decades without any noticeable deterioration - unless of course you abuse them. If buying new LaScalas is quite a significant expense, older second hand ones are usually a bargain - relatively speaking of course. The only reason I could think of for not wanting the LaScalas is their limited bass extention and there extremely revealing capacity - the latter can ruin many favourite recordings for a lot of people.

There's something about full horn loaded systems that makes them stand out. The way they envelop you with their sound. I Just love them. Wether a klipsch la scala or other (homemade) horns, they give you a visceral experience of the music playing. I started dj ing on a pair of la scala's when i was 17/18 years old in a small club. Loved them to death. The music could be loud through out the the dancefloor but nowhere sound obnoxiously loud or distorted. I'd love to hear the new (improved?!) version.

This was quite possibly the best review by you yet. There is something a bit magical about the feelings you describe not about the product but the sound. I think you conveyed that perfectly. One thing you said on a previous video was how people are always chasing "better" sound and not satisfied with what they have. I'm always curious if the manufacturers provide samples that you have to return or how that works. You obviously can't keep everything. Nice work.

This is the best review I ever heard on RU-vid!! No need to say more ... beautiful,honest job!🇨🇦👏👏👏👍👍😍

This is such a good review and I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation after. Too many audiophile reviews get bogged down in specs, comparisons etc and completely ignore the reason many of us are here in the first place, which is the emotive quality of sound. A case in point for me, I have some pretty old (>20 years) Mission floorstanders in my office, which on paper should be hopeless compared with other setups in the house, and they are, if you crank the volume up. Listening at lower levels, however, there is just something about them, and I can't place my finger on what it is, that just moves me, and I can't explain it!

Andrew, for what its worth, I have Klipschorns. For many years I found a similar problem with the Bass and Mid Bass. Didn't make sense that a 15" driver couldn't do the job. I ended up with using Transmission Line Subs but I knew there was something wrong. What I have figured out is LaScala and Khorns, although sensitive work best with a high current amplifier. My Solid State amp has 150 watts but has 160,000mf of capacitors on the power supply. The difference is amazing, the 15" drivers sound punchy, balanced and effortless. What I think is going on is the bursts of energy needed to push a bass driver of that size, not volume but micro bursts of current or load. I packed up the subs, not needed. Try the LaScalas on a high current amp, big power supply and at least 160,000mf or more of capacitance.

Way way way beyond any audiophile thingies, this review is such a great, philosophical expression of feelings. in any area. everything simple is endlessly hard. high five man. also thank you.

I had to stop at 16 minutes to write this. I have had those moments. I usually ask myself, is it the music or is it how it's portrayed? I actually got emotional from you saying that. I was like I'm not alone here. I've got a VERY modest set of DIY C-Notes I built from Parts Express. High end? No. Perfect? Far cry from it. But I've set up my room, spent countless hours arranging it and the speakers to sound the best as I possibly can. It's the overall sheer enjoyment that we are after. The emotions a song can give without one lyric. The pride one has that they are having the best experience possible with what they can achieve and afford.

I FELT your review. Thank you.

Interesting .... first Andrew review La Scala and then Christie review Andrew :-))

This may be the best review of audio equipment of all time.

Every "audiophile" THINKS they know what a great speaker sounds like until they hear a Klipschorn or La Scala or Cornwall.

I love my Industrial La Scalas, my Heresy IIs, they're a center channel. Yes, they are amazing, nope, they are definitely not monitor speakers. They're famous for dynamic range and particulate energy most of the heritage stuff is about Dynamic range, it's about feeling the music not just listening, at any volume level.

That was absolutely the best review you have ever given on anything ever. Music and the equipment that is played through it. Should be moving and soulful. Weather you love it or hate it or just soso about it.

I've watched this review three times now. Probably my favorite equipment review of all-time. I owned a pair of La Scalas back in the day and 25 years later can still remember what they sounded like, because they were the sound of 'live music in your room'. Anyone who uses that term and has not heard La Scalas or K-Horns, needs to check themselves. Say what you want about the Heritage series, but they are emotional monsters. I'm 56 years old and have been saving for a pair of Cornwall IV's (I've been living with Cornwall II's for 22 years). I'm trying to put together sort-of an heirloom system that I can pass down to another music lover in my family in the future. I'll have the Cornwall money at the end of next month, but maybe I should keep saving. Isn't this what 401k's are for?

Love part that klipsch is still owned and made with American pride and engineering. 👍

My favorite video of yours to date! My father was a professional musician until his mid 30’s, so I grew up with all kinds of speakers and equipment. We had a hi-fi stereo vcr in the late 80’s when that was still kinda rare. At the end of the movie when the orchestral score would start my dad would sometimes lay down on the floor with the top of his head facing the speakers and close his eyes and soak up the sound. He was that guy... and now so am I to MY kids. He turned me on to horn loaded speakers. A pair of old altecs come to mind. This video reminded me of all this... thank you. The emotional connection to sound is all to often taken for granted and your take was perfect. I sent this to my dad (83yrs). He enjoyed the video and he mentioned that he remembered the original klipschorn (mono) and met Paul Klipsch once. Said he was quite a character. :-)

I've owned mine since '83. I've had them in four different rooms, typically with corner placement. I would not agree with the assessment of being light in the deep bass, but that is just me. Otherwise, I'd say this is a fair assessment of the sound quality from La Scala. As a musician (I play bass in a wide variety of genres in bands ranging in size from three to 15 pieces), I've found the sound from the La Scala is as close as it gets to a live performance for most styles of music. (Sorry, no experience with hip-hop live, so that's off the table.)

I had a lot of different sets of speakers throughout the 80's and wasn't happy till I ordered a pair of Cornwall ll"s in 89' and was happy for the next 12 years till I changed careers and downsized from 2200 to 1100 sq. ft. and the Cornwall's went away. Almost 20 years later and I still miss those speakers. That's impact.

Wow! What a great review and I really felt the emotion! Thank you! I have emotional attachment to my Klipsch Forte IIs that my wife bought for me in 1990. This past summer, I got exposed to tube amps and since then I have become emotionally attached to Klipsch Heresy IIIs, Cornwall IIs and finally La Scala IIs. You really feel the music and my ears never get tired! Now I want to get emotionally attached to a Decware amp. Is it emotional or is it an addiction to beautiful music coming out of these heritage speakers!

Welcome to the world of well designed horn loaded loudspeakers. You are hearing 3 things, in order of importance 1. You are hearing a lack of compression which means "real" dynamics, those are due to: 2. Very low momentum of the horn coupled drivers which means an orders of magnitude less distortion. (Clarity) 3. Better directivity control which means your walls are not muddying up the waves that get to you first. All of these things beat the hell out of a perfectly flat fr. I will now tell you this. Its possible that a fine JBL horn loaded speaker (even more money) might even get you all of it, but know this one thing Andrew. You will never be happy without what you heard, horn loaded speakers My life and my entire career in audio has taught me that. Oh yeah, one more thing You can't mix on them because no one has them in general. You must mix on "conpressed" direct driver speakers. Welcome to the sound of horn speakers. You will not get passed this

Any plans for reviewing the large K Horns??

Am I the only one that has to watch this every few months?!?!?! I own LaScalas. I really enjoy the concept of this video. "Perfection Doesn't Matter".

The bonus content section is so revealing of your ethics and ethos. Thank you for sharing your joy at their arrival and sadness at their imminent departure.

I bought my first "serious" stereo 40 years ago and have had maybe half a dozen systems since. I've had my AL5s for 10 weeks. They are too big, too heavy, impossible to move without unstacking, too close together and in too small a room. You said "impractical" -- no better word for them. But what they do right --- OMG. (My theory is 90% of Cornwall/La Scala/Klipschorn owners don't truly have a big enough room for them.) You were describing what they do to you and I said "stop you in your tracks" just about five seconds before you did. Personally I have experienced zero lack of bass above 50 cycles or so. I had Heresy IIIs for about a year and decided to step up the game with Dynaudio Heritage Specials. Perhaps the greatest disappointment of my audio life. When I wired my Heresys back up I was a happy man again, and realized what I really wanted if anything was more of that. When my AL5s were delivered by freight and he put them in the garage with a mini-forklift, I thought: "What have I done??" I still can't quite believe they're in my living room and they literally bring me joy every dam day.

I recently purchased two 1986 LA SCALLAS. For added bass I also purchased the Hersey 4s. I'm running them with a pioneer sx-3900 fluroscan at 120 watts per channel. Added a pioneer 9809 Equalizer which added bass to the LA Scallas.i agree with tears of enjoyment hitting me. My speaker search is over. I retired my Large advants from the mid 70s along with HPM 100S 200 watt versions. The pioneers were pretty good sounding. The Advents? Very very nice as well as the memories of my dad bring them home and watching him research and review dozens of receivers. He taught me the appreciation of good quality sounding music. I'll sell my HPM 100s.But I'll never sell the Advents. When I positioned my LA Scallas and Hersey 4s in the room for best 3 dimensional sound. I paused and reflect times bonding with my dad In the STEREO ROOM. and looked up teary eyed telling him hey dad? I'm at that level now. Enjoy my system with me.....thanks dad....r.i.p.

LETS GOOOO!!!! Been waiting for this one. Thank you!

I've never seen anyone being so much in love with basically a tech equipment. Never in my life. Even i don't love any gear this much. And I love tech alot but not to this extent.. Wow that was quiet a review. I just can't imagine what you'll say after you hear the Klipschorns in the future. Above and beyond Andrew cheers 🥂 ❤️

To be frank I dislike most of you reviewers when talking about sound quality. To me a decision can only be decided by the user. I bought a set of La Scalas from the PX in Germany. As floor models they wanted them gone as it was such a pain to move them around. That was 1984. Since then those birch playwood boxes have traveled back to canada and all over the world. When buying a new house their size and placements was part of the decision making process. In those days there was no talk about cable. I simple purchased gold/silver connectors, 50 feet of welding cable and had the boys from avionics silversodder everything together. After thousands of hours they still sound magical and turned down hundreds of offers to sell. Speakers are for the individual and when your down crank up a certain song and it all goes away. For that reason I give you a ten on your explanation of what is about these speakers you enjoy. thank you.

Having not really watched the video I thought I should comment on the title alone and why I couldn't agree more. I formally of (thebudgetaudiophile) fame, know a thing or two about hifi. In all my findings I've realized that the best sound for me and the most fun I had with listening to music was not with a perfect system. What I mean is that often times I found that the better the specs got with a type of product, whether that be a amp or speakers or whatever, the less I enjoyed listening to it. The closer the product came to its catagories logical precipice and the more the specs claimed and showed perfection the less I liked it. Don't get me wrong there are things about those products that wowed and excited me but ultimately did not show me the humanity in what I was listening to. So from here on out all I need is a rega amp and turntable and a pair of klipschs and I'm good.

This went beyond a speaker review and I love it.

I understand your emotion about how they are impractical and are not close to the best or being great in general. Although sounding fantastic in an emotional way with the raw experience of the music! I have TEAC LS-F300s that are older than me, but I’ve grown up with, they used to be my fathers until he gave them to me. I’ve been trying to passively improve them for more than 6 years! I used to push them over as a child and they would fall and the midrange driver magnet broke and the cabinet became less rigid. I’m almost 18 now and I’ve repaired them to almost new internally! The sound is unmatched compared to more expensive systems in my own opinion. Thank you for the bonus content as I have learned how you have felt about these speakers in a more emotional and less critical way. I could greatly relate to your emotional experience with how I’ve grown up with my own speakers. I haven’t cried to music yet, but I get closer every day! Amazing review I’ve been waiting months for since you announced it!

I have had the La Scala for more than 22 years now. I got them from a close friend of mine who was moving. These are from 1980. Over the ensuing years, my love and affection for these had me lugging them around all over this country. I have not regretted it once. They are big, heavy and a pain in the ass but I love them allthe same.

LaScala is like Michael Jordon. No perfect, but just plain beautiful. Don't listen to these speakers! These pieces of ART are like crack cocaine. Beware, Critics, stay away. These will remove your head from your lower region, and open up the world of beauty.

Best review for the La Scala I have experienced. I have had mine since 1979. They have brought me to tears with their power and real... yes real sound hundreds of times. They are my prized possession. Truly at this stage of my life I joke that if my house were burning down I’d save my wife my cat and my speakers. A lot more story behind my La Scalas but that’s for another time. You did a great job describing my overall experience with them. Thank you.

Hands down, your best review that I have watched. You did something so few reviewers do, which is to discuss your experience with a piece of equipment in a very personal way and discuss how it makes you feel on an emotional, human level. The intangibles are so rarely addressed. You conveyed a sense that this review was special and personal. Great job. Thank you.

Bro you and the wife are awesome, with that said I am new to the hobby and am getting ready to pull the trigger on several new two channel stereo equipment. The mantra “ no one but you “ speaks to me and the end of this video says it all. Give it a listen and make up your own mind. Stay motivated.

Very interesting review. I have Cornwall fours and also Dali Helicon 800s which are far more accurate for the most part. However I now find myself listening to the Cornwall fours for all of the exact reasons you have stated. I’m using them with a BAT Bk 56 tube amplifier and a VK 33se pre amp. Lovely

This is one of the very very few videos i did not fast forward. Thank you for helping me better discover the world of hifi and home theater! (Ordered a 5.1 set from Q Acoustics yesterday, very excited for my first setup!)

Early 80s I paid 1,250 a pair for these speaker 🤯🤯🤯 I used to DJ they were awsome. People were blown away.

I'm not crying, you're crying. Emotion is awesome. Great job! Thank you!

Why do we feel the need to apologize for or rationalize following our heart over our brain? I'll venture to say that, of the two sexes (modern gender identifications excepted) men are the more guilty of getting excited over specs, numbers, watts, horsepower, cost. We like to feel validated. We like to measure up. Who hasn't measured "it" at least once in our lives just to see where we stand? We need proof. I purchased an Arcam system many years ago with some Dynaudio speakers, a solid, well-researched, well-thought out purchase. After living with it for a few months I stopped listening to music. That was in 2001. I am a professional musician. Truth is, when I got the system home it didn't move me. So I fell out of listening to music around the house. Fifteen years later I walked into a Williamsburg record store and was struck by the jazz that was playing throughout the store. I went to the counter to ask what it was. "It's just a MIles record" the guy said with hipster dismissiveness. "Hmmm, I didn't recognize it, the bass sounds sooooo good" I replied. I went searching for the source. I realized that it was a simple record player attached to a simple old vintagey looking receiver hooked up to a pair of raggedy looking speakers with the name Ohm on the back. I walked around that store, loitered really, just so I could hear the next track, to live amongst that sound. And, I never forgot that feeling, that visceral excitement of sound. So it really has very little to do with numbers (or length or girth) and everything to do with connection. Our number one goal in love is connection and so should it be with sound. Speaking of size, I have to agree, those La Scala's look too big in that room. And I distinctly remember you were thrilled with the Heresy IV's. I suggest you get yourself some other Klipsch speakers to explore, or even other horn loaded speakers to sample. Forget your own numbers and go all out for connection. If, in the end, the La Scala's are the one, make it happen. Again, Kristi with the win down the stretch, distilling your man-thoughts and conflicts with grounded clarity. Why do we always say women are overly emotional?

i want thank you for the brutally honest review and the moving emotion admission at the end . Yes you, your wife and thousands of others have discovered the "gold standard" with Paul Klipsch and his line of vintage creations that only can be challenged with very minor improvements. He was a genius in this field and in my opinion remains the dominant figure in audio.

When I was 15 "2001" I purchased a Kenwood KA-9100 stereo integrated amplifier from 1977 for $40. I fell in love with that amplifier and still own it today. After getting a beautiful untouched matching pair of 1993 AL-3 La Scala's a few months ago, I've had to go back and relisten to every song I could ever remember listening to. The La Scala is a speaker that will make you feel like it's the first time.

Long time ago I used to own the Klipschorns, I did form an emotional attachment with the Klipschorns, because that was the time I was going through a divorce, so you can say it was my lucky charm, thanks for the review, it was worth the wait.

These speakers are tough to describe. I spent a couple hours listening to them today. Compared them to Cornwalls and Kef reference series. On my first listen I was completely blown away. The midrange is the best I have ever heard. As I continued to to listen, they started to feel fatiguing. They are forward and lacking bass. By the end of my listening session, I actually preferred the Cornwalls. Don’t get me wrong, incredible speakers especially if you listen to classic rock, jazz, classical etc. I bought the Cornwalls

Great review. I have the La Scala II’s and what you speak of is how I feel about them. After having many speakers in the past, they are where I stopped. I don’t know about the AL5 series, but the type II transport me to a wonderful place every time I play them, it is an emotional experience.

I was about to get La Scalas but found the Cornwall 4s to sound significantly better for less.

You're right about having an emotional connection to a set of speakers, even though they may not sound "perfect". I have a 50+ year old pair of KLH Model Twenty-Twos, which I restored a few years ago. Yes, they have rolled off, rather laid back highs, produce little if any bass below 50hz, and sound a little like a box, but in a near field listening setup, they are a really enjoyable listening experience, especially with familiar music.

Ok. Subscribed. This is the best speaker review I’ve ever seen. You captured exactly what we all began with. Thank you👍

OMG, I never leave a comment but the bonus content was SOOO good. It goes way beyond a speaker review and touches on so much more. It how music and moments can touch us. Thanks so much of this and one day I hope to own a pair of these!!!

Outstanding review, Andrew! I’m a professional recording engineer and working musician, and I have a studio downstairs with high-end studio monitors. I’m not looking for a studio monitor experience in my living room-I want something more visceral and alive for pure listening enjoyment. I’m getting ready to order the La Scala’s for myself. I remember hearing these speakers years ago and being knocked out by them. Your review was exactly the “second opinion” I needed to pull the trigger. Your honest and heartfelt comments solidified my choice. So, thank you!

What a great review! You summarized emotions and hearing the music so well! Like Glen, I too have had my KHorns since about 1979 and they still give me goosebumps and can bring me to tears, or actually the way they enable me to hear music does that. I remember hearing them at a dealer, comparing the KHorns and the LaScalas, and deciding I had to have the bass of the KHorns. And the are driven by a 1960s era Scott 222D, which was a big improvement over the Crown amp and pre I bought them with, followed by the Audire Difet II and an Adcom 535. This was the first of your reviews I’ve seen, but I’ll be sure to check out some more!

My Les Paul. Owned it for 30 years. Played it to sold out crowds at the Whiskey and Roxy. I've skipped many meals to make rent as opposed to selling it.

31 minutes of you justifying these to yourself since they are $11k! Just keep them man, nobody will judge you unless they hate Klipsch.