Klipschorns, LaScalas or Legacy Focus SE?

[livinon2wheels]

Hi all, I have a question for those who have had the pleasure of hearing these three speakers...or maybe only two of them. These are the speakers that I am desperately trying to decide between. I want a set of horn speakers for their 'live' sound characteristics. But between the Khorns and LaScalas, its a tough choice. La Scala's have less bass, but better linearity. The Khorns have the better bass but with much less linearity over their bandwidth. Then there is the traditional modern Legacy Focus SE. Great low frequency extension though with higher distortion than either Klipsch...throughout the bandwidth. Then there is the consideration of whether, if buying Klipsch, to go for the new AL6 or AK7 or buy an older model used and plan on acccepting its sonic faults ( I have no idea how much of a trade off this is ) and savoring the lower cost of the older generations of these to Klipsch speakers. Regardless of the choice, I will be augmenting their performance with subs. So, the limited bass extension of the AL5 compared to the AL6 is not much of a concern. The difference between the midrange horns is a big question. My opinion based on what I have read is that the new midrange is a really significant upgrade and worth having. Since I have not heard either one, I cannot speak to the improvement provided by the AL6. When AL6 systems are going for nearly 16k new and AL5 systems can be had for less than 2/3 that price it begs the question if the newer speaker is worth the extra money. Then there is the consideration of the Focus SE, very good sensitivity at 95 db and wide bandwidth....would this give me what the Klipsch will? Or more, or less? What say you?

 

[Paul1960]

I own the old La Scalas with the Crites upgraded crossover and mid range driver and the SMAHL V2 tweeter/horn upgrade. I have heard the Legacy Focus SE at a dealers and at a show. I have never heard the Klipschorns which require a very specific kind of room to sound good. I also heard the AL6 at T.H.E. show in Costa Mesa this summer. I also own two highish end electrostatic speakers as well as the Magnepan 20.7s and have owned quite a range of speakers over the past 5 years.

So I have been very happy with my upgraded La Scalas but my total cost on them is $3300. I am using it with a carefully integrated subwoofer and a nice 300B amp. I also only play that system using Roon and I have used the PEQ in Roon and Room Equalization Wizard to tune the system. On some tracks it sounds fantastic. Really a very special sound with great dynamics, transients, attack and liveliness. And on certain tracks they have a remarkable, if somewhat focused, soundstage. However, I don't feel they are a good all around speaker and I think I would be unhappy if I had paid $16K for them. I would never spend the amount of money they are asking for the AL6. Here is a playlist of tracks that I think sound fantastic on the La Scalas. https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/33136616 And here is a playlist of tracks that I didn't think sounded very good. https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/33136624 It is a fun system to listen to but I would not be happy if it was my primary system and nothing I heard with the AL6 made me think it would be much better. I think you can upgrade the midrange horn in the old La Scalas relatively cheaply and that might make a noticeable improvement.

The Legacy Focus SE is a very good all around speaker and quite excellent for the price. I didn't buy it because I felt it was only marginally better than the Tekton Moabs I was using at the time. There is a very nice used pair on US Audio Mart for $7.5K in Ohio. That would be a good value but even new the prices aren't insane.

But I would like to suggest you consider the Volti Audio speakers as a better alternative to any of the Klipsch speakers. I have heard them at multiple tradeshows and they always sound fantastic. Rooms are packed, buyers are happy, and the owner seems like a genuinely good guy. Their upper end Rival is about the same price as the AL6.

All of the high efficiency speakers you are considering really sing with a good SET tube amp or a First Watt SIT. I am very happy with my Aric Audio Super 300B SET amp with Kron Balloon 300B tubes.

 

[Al M.]

But I would like to suggest you consider the Volti Audio speakers as a better alternative to any of the Klipsch speakers. I have heard them at multiple tradeshows and they always sound fantastic. Rooms are packed, buyers are happy, and the owner seems like a genuinely good guy. Their upper end Rival is about the same price as the AL6.

I heard the Volti Rival at AXPONA 2017 and was very impressed. Full-bodied and astonishingly uncolored sound, very dynamic.

 

[livinon2wheels]

I own the old La Scalas with the Crites upgraded crossover and mid range driver and the SMAHL V2 tweeter/horn upgrade. I have heard the Legacy Focus SE at a dealers and at a show. I have never heard the Klipschorns which require a very specific kind of room to sound good. I also heard the AL6 at T.H.E. show in Costa Mesa this summer. I also own two highish end electrostatic speakers as well as the Magnepan 20.7s and have owned quite a range of speakers over the past 5 years.

So I have been very happy with my upgraded La Scalas but my total cost on them is $3300. I am using it with a carefully integrated subwoofer and a nice 300B amp. I also only play that system using Roon and I have used the PEQ in Roon and Room Equalization Wizard to tune the system. On some tracks it sounds fantastic. Really a very special sound with great dynamics, transients, attack and liveliness. And on certain tracks they have a remarkable, if somewhat focused, soundstage. However, I don't feel they are a good all around speaker and I think I would be unhappy if I had paid $16K for them. I would never spend the amount of money they are asking for the AL6. Here is a playlist of tracks that I think sound fantastic on the La Scalas. https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/33136616 And here is a playlist of tracks that I didn't think sounded very good. https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/33136624 It is a fun system to listen to but I would not be happy if it was my primary system and nothing I heard with the AL6 made me think it would be much better. I think you can upgrade the midrange horn in the old La Scalas relatively cheaply and that might make a noticeable improvement.

The Legacy Focus SE is a very good all around speaker and quite excellent for the price. I didn't buy it because I felt it was only marginally better than the Tekton Moabs I was using at the time. There is a very nice used pair on US Audio Mart for $7.5K in Ohio. That would be a good value but even new the prices aren't insane.

But I would like to suggest you consider the Volti Audio speakers as a better alternative to any of the Klipsch speakers. I have heard them at multiple tradeshows and they always sound fantastic. Rooms are packed, buyers are happy, and the owner seems like a genuinely good guy. Their upper end Rival is about the same price as the AL6.

All of the high efficiency speakers you are considering really sing with a good SET tube amp or a First Watt SIT. I am very happy with my Aric Audio Super 300B SET amp with Kron Balloon 300B tubes.

I can't thank you enough for your reply and your candor. I was just looking at the tekton Moabs this morning wondering how they would compare against the Legacys. I looked at the Ohio listing and thought about it, the logistics of getting them home and in the house would be difficult to manage, especially since the house is not in move in condition yet. I have been lusting after the astonishing clarity and viscerally live sound I remember from my one and only Khorn experience. This has been nearly a 50 year longing so I am wondering if this one of those things that we just might be better off not insisting on. I may stumble across a pair LaScalas after we get back in the house that need rescuing and go thru the steps to mod them to something approaching SOA. At this point, I'm trying to get the house finished so I can get back home...and until I have a move in date pretty well nailed down, this is all just trying to make a plan gel well enough that when the time comes I can pull the trigger without having to do a bunch of head scratching at the time. So many things have to come together that it is a disturbingly complex situation. Volti is certainly a consideration. I will check them out now...thanks again.

 

[jadedavid]

I have heard the Khorns, laScalas and the Legacy Focus (which I owned) many many times.
IMO, The two brands present music in entirely different ways.
The Klipsch present in a more “live“ at an outdoor concert type presentation. Very good with rock and roll. Great jump factor.
Whereas the Legacy has a more “audiophile“ presentation. Better staging, imaging depth, etc. Notes hang in the air.
Both are good, just different and a lot depends on your musical taste.

 

[Paul1960]

I can't thank you enough for your reply and your candor. I was just looking at the tekton Moabs this morning wondering how they would compare against the Legacys. I looked at the Ohio listing and thought about it, the logistics of getting them home and in the house would be difficult to manage, especially since the house is not in move in condition yet. I have been lusting after the astonishing clarity and viscerally live sound I remember from my one and only Khorn experience. This has been nearly a 50 year longing so I am wondering if this one of those things that we just might be better off not insisting on. I may stumble across a pair LaScalas after we get back in the house that need rescuing and go thru the steps to mod them to something approaching SOA. At this point, I'm trying to get the house finished so I can get back home...and until I have a move in date pretty well nailed down, this is all just trying to make a plan gel well enough that when the time comes I can pull the trigger without having to do a bunch of head scratching at the time. So many things have to come together that it is a disturbingly complex situation. Volti is certainly a consideration. I will check them out now...thanks again.

If you have the budget and the space and don't find them ugly the Tekton Ulfberht 15s are fantastic speakers for the money. I'm not quite sure what he does with his "upgraded crossover" but the ones I heard had custom 3rd party high end crossovers and they sounded fantastic and were clearly better than the Legacy's. However, they are very vertically specific in terms of their soundstage. It was a little odd to hear how different things sounded getting in and out of the chair. And as Jadedavid pointed out a lot of this just comes down to what kind of sound you prefer listening to.