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View Full Version : I pulled the trigger on some La Scalas


Tonedeaf
07-01-2006, 05:28 PM
Picked them up over Father's Day weekend. Circa 1979, raw birch. I had to borrow my sisters van to get them home. My brother came over to help me get them in my apartment. First impression was these things are big and look very impressive. My brother says "hook 'em up, let's see what they do". Understand my brother is a Bose user and I could not talk him out of it, so he is already trying to rub me with a poor attempt at humor. I figured I'd show him. I really didn't want to move around a bunch of gear because I had to get my sister's van back and pick up my daughter, so I quickly hooked them up to a Marantz 1070 with the Toshiba 3960 giving no regard to placement. I had to make room for them as it is.
The sound was well... :puke:
My brother looks at me and can see by my expression I was having serious buyers remorse and replied, "well, at least they work". Yea, they were that bad. If I knocked on the bass bin, that was the extent of my bass response. The sound of a hollow box.
Over the rest of the weekend I was surfing AK and the Klipsch forums and ran into a post that mentioned nearfield listening positions, while someone had a tagline, (NOS Valves?) that read, "LaScalas, all the bass you need to hear". So I began working on placement. Things got better. But they really opened up when I swapped out the 1070 for my Dared tube integrated.

Much better but it seemed as if something was still missing. The bass response of these things only hits 53hrz, but I felt that with the size of the bass horns, it should at least give the impression of hitting lower frequencies. Well I played a little more and swapped out the Dared for my Marantz 2235 pre-outs running a Marantz 8B tube amp.

Now we're talking! These things are simply amazing! I cannot believe they are rated at 53Hrz. My daughter is back for the summer and I put on some Mya and Rhianna to see how low they will go and all I can say is WOW! The bass is so detailed and defined. They are no sub woofer, but when the note hits at just the right time the La Scalas will go boom. So thanks to AK again for such a great site and thanks to the Klipsch guys on their forum, I am a happy listener again! :music: :thmbsp:

gonzp
07-01-2006, 06:15 PM
Congrats on your Scala's. When the upgrade bug hits we will prolly see you here again :D I purchased a pair of BEC networks from Bob Crites and, they really brought the Scalas back to life. I am in the process of trying out a pair of DeanG's ALK Jr networks, I am liking what I am hearing. These networks give quite a bit of versatility to the speakers. You can adjust the volume of the squawker to like 6 differant positions and run it hotter then heck or, you can cut it back as far as like -9DB. When does it end??? :scratch2:

Tonedeaf
07-01-2006, 07:13 PM
Thanks!
I seen alot of the upgrades on the Klipsch forum. Wrapping the squaker with rope caulk, freshening the caps in the networks and of course Bob Crites networks. I am just happy I can hear what they're supposed to sound like as is! I'm sure my set up isn't optimal for La Scalas, but for now, I am really happy with them. Next up is a tube pre-amp, but for the price i paid for them of one month's rent, I'm gonna have to wait a bit. :sigh:

jcmjrt
07-01-2006, 07:19 PM
Thanks!
Next up is a tube pre-amp, but for the price i paid for them of one month's rent, I'm gonna have to wait a bit. :sigh:

I don't know what you pay for rent but if you are at all handy consider the bottlehead seduction or hagerman clarinet. They are both fine preamps for much less than most cost unless you hit a very good deal on a vintage pre. I've got most of the parts for a clarinet sitting in boxes right now. I'd have them all but I was shipped some incorrect caps. Oh well, I'll work on something else this weekend...like my tan... :))

Tonedeaf
07-01-2006, 09:36 PM
I've had my eye on a Bottlehead for a while, and I'm in no hurry so I would really like to run across a Marantz 7C for less than a mortgage. Until then, as you can imagine, it's a little cramped with the La Scalas in my apartment, so I'm selling some bookcases to free up a little breathing room. When I get some extra cash, the bottlehead will look even more attractive. :yes:

BULLWINKLE
07-01-2006, 10:31 PM
LaScalas are wonderful. I recently sold mine and deeply regret it. Enjoy them!!

whell
07-02-2006, 08:42 AM
Next, check in with DeanG over in the Klipsch forum. He custom-makes replacement crossover networks. Many believe that the electrlytics in the old cross-overs become the weak point in the speakers after a while. Dean's replacements have received rave reviews.

jcmjrt
07-02-2006, 09:19 AM
Once again, if you are handy, renew the network yourself. You'll only be paying for the parts. You probably should replace the caps. You may want to replace everything including inductors, etc and just make a new pair of crossovers. I made an entirely new set of Cornwall crossovers - to the Al K design - for about $300- in parts. that was caps, inductors, wire, posts, etc. The difference was REAL. On the other hand, if you want to buy a set, then Dean G and Bob C are both decent guys known for good work.

steamer01
07-06-2006, 09:20 AM
oh yea...BABY!!!!,tubes and LaScala's!!!!!!
Great combo,been runnin' Scala's for years.Congrats and yes there are lots of upgrades available.First listen to what you have then pull the trigger on the crossover upgrade,big bang for the buck.
Greg

steamer01
07-06-2006, 09:21 AM
BTW,has your brother heard them on tubes?
Greg

Tonedeaf
07-06-2006, 07:08 PM
BTW,has your brother heard them on tubes?
Greg
He hasn't been over since we unloaded them. Too bad, he doesn't know what he's been missing. :music: