yamahaSHO

If we want to discredit everything else, I suppose it doesn't matter. It's just an updated speaker for the times that sounds better to me. I grew up with La Scalas my entire life as my dad bought a brand new set the year I was born, which is going on 39 years. They are completely original (original AL crossovers as well) and they sound great, but so do mine. I can't ask him to compare as 26 years of flying fighters and another 23 of airlines has made his hearing less than desirable. I suppose if they were perfect, Klipsch would still be selling the original model, with the same drivers and plywood, but here we are. I had a couple of RW-12d's and they were okay. I took one of the drivers and put it in a sonotube and it is fantastic, like really good (read, significantly better). I don't call that an RW-12d as I completely changed the cabinet, but I do make it a point to point out the driver. It's even got a Klipsch badge on it off my dad's La Scalas.

A modded La Scala is still... Wait for it... A... La... Scala! I suppose I could put my own name on it and push people away from the brand. Just like a car, you start with a platform. In my case, it's an S2000, based on capability around a track. However, I wanted to go faster, so it's now got a turbo, big wing, big splitter, big brakes, much better suspension, etc. I didn't change the body or geometry of things, just like I didn't change the horn loading for every driver. In tuning cars... Lots of engineering there. Mostly, it's done around emissions and when I tune it, it runs better and makes more power. It's still, X car.

I was going to post along the same lines... I'm a big car guy. I tune professionally and I have my own race car. We constantly make it better with parts, engine swaps, brake upgrades, etc. I am proud that we have a 1,200 hp 1995 Ford Taurus running a stock block and crank, but we have upgraded rods and pistons, modified the heads, etc, but that doesn't make it not a Ford Taurus (we get told, "it's just a Taurus" all the time). In this case, if we do shy away from this motor, it won't really be an SHO anymore, because that was really the only thing that made it an SHO, but it's still a Taurus. Same with say, a Mustang... If I swap a better built motor in it, it's still a Mustang. Much of the La Scala is in the design, no? Some of us chose to install what we think are better drivers and in the case of the tweeter, I liked the CT-120 so much more, I did it again on another set of Klipsch speakers, the Heresy... So do I call it the Heresy squared due to what I did? There's been plenty of changes over the years to the Heritage stuff and clearly, people have favorites. Same as I prefer the older, plywood Heritage stuff to the new stuff with MDF... That's my preference. I originally just planned on doing the tweeter, but the K-55's on my La Scalas were beat up with magnets having not been treated well, so I gave the A-55-G's a try (it also didn't have the original crossovers and I don't think the tweeters that were installed were original). For the Heresy's, they had two different drivers, K-55-M and soldered K-55-V's. I preferred to swap out to new, and I considered the Atlas drivers. That said, I could not hear a difference between the two K-55's, so I had no reason to suspect they were different before opening them up. I like the sound... A lot. I still call them Klipsch La Scalas and an audition has turned many friends into Klipsch enthusiasts, looking for their own set.

I installed CT-120's, A-55-G's, new K-33's, and A4500 crossovers into my 78 La Scalas, and love the sound. When I originally picked up some Heresy 1's, I ended up doing the same thing with it (woofer was swapped with CW1228), even though I intended on not putting money into them, but since I was refinishing them... I think you'll like then with the parts you bought, just as much or more than the originals.

It's caulk, not glue. I would not call that welding. I've seen your bracing before (pretty sure you posted it for me in another thread recently) and it's nice, but I never thought the speakers sounded bad to begin with, so I did a more simple solution to improve what was there. No, I don't plan to remove the bracing. I have put mass on the horn and will put some on the bass driver before closing up, but it was for whatever improvement it offers since I was already rebuilding them to go past my lifetime... Which probably won't be a problem considering they had never had any treatment to protect the wood before I got them. In the end, these should be better than they have ever been and I don't want to get sucked down the modding hole... I have cars and SxS' for that. That said, these speakers will be used in my workshop. Room acoustics is what's going to be the problem here. However, if I move to a place that won't support my La Scalas, I'd be happy to use these in my living room as I have a capable sub already.

It's a thin bead on the outside, they should remove fairly easy. The wood where it was caulked was also treated with polyurethane so in the case they need removed, it won't pull wood. Nothing poor about the choice and I am glad you made it clear to me that they are mine to do as I please. My bracing will be difficult to remove as well, maybe I should not have done that. No, I don't want to remove them ever again. They made it 38 years prior to this...

I elected to caulk as there isn't much flange on the horns to put a gasket on, and I didn't want it poking out.

Starting to come together... I am now waiting on a part to brace/support the horn, but as soon as I get that, the backs should go on and ready for some tunes. They're getting more difficult to carry!

I went ahead an added some mass loading to the mid-horn. I never really had a problem with the sounds or any perceived 'ringing', but didn't think it would negatively affect sound, so I gave it a try without going overboard. I lined the walls of the cabinet with some egg crate like foam. Figure it would help with the volume removed from the bracing and slightly bigger drivers. I will not add any stuffing. I did put the tweeters back in. I am going to run some caulk around them to make sure they have a seal, and I will do the same when I install the mid horn. Nearing the home stretch as I get a little done every day. After they are back together, I'll have to get the grilles done. They have some slight warping, so I am going to see if I can get them flat again with some moisture, heat, and clamping to a flat surface.

I should get my 30x40 building up this year, which I'll put the Heresy's I'm almost done refinishing in for tunes. I also plan to refinish my La Scalas with all the space. Otherwise, I'm happy with what I have. I *may* build a subwoofer or two to compliment the Heresy's...

I'd just solder on new, longer wire.

I live in Denver... Just PM'd you.

I forgot one of the horns had some poor prep work at the factory and some corrosion under the paint, causing bubbles. That said, I sanded and painted them today and I was pretty happy with how they turned out given the difficulty of getting it even down the throat. I need to let them cure a day or so and I might put them in the oven to help speed that up. I will be making a bracket to support the squawker so that all that weight isn't hanging on the baffle screws... Just waiting for the clamps to show up. The bracing will serve purpose there, and you can see how the rear panel is braced. Back panel has been coated with Duratex... Original terminal holes have been filled and I will install binding posts for use with banana plugs. I hope to assemble this week... Which reminds me that I need to solder the crossovers.

Figure someone here would jump on this: https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/ele/d/washington-klipsch-k55-compression/7252740962.html

These were actually in pretty decent condition... But I think you know me at this point from the last 20 years on car stuff. I wanted to refresh them to better than new and give them another 50 years. If I ever found myself where I've moved in a house that will not work with the La Scalas, I'd be happy with these... But for now, they'll be shop speakers! Plus, this is good practice for the La Scala refinishing next year, which should get a cool finish without taking away from the original look.

Working on getting the front texture/finish even between the two speakers and I think one more coat tomorrow will do it. Looking forward to testing these out. I picked up a new amp to drive them and also curious on how it does vs the T amp I have been using.

Option 1... Be done and put them to use.

I have never had an Emotiva, so I am curious to try it out. I have actually liked the T amp, but wanted to try something "better". I'm hoping I can tell a positive difference. I was also looking for something small and simple as I will connect it to a computer with a good sound card.

Have been using a Dayton DTA-120 with my Heresy speakers, but wanted to try something different.

They both appear to have a riser.

The original link in the posting, maybe...

For reference, the Crites CT-120 use the B&C DE-120, but with a horn to make it work.

CT-120's will extend the frequency. That said, in your position, I'd just keep the Heresy's and get a sub.

I came across these on eBay and came here to see if there were any reviews. I am curious to know what they sound like... Just not curious enough at that price+shipping as my actual La Scalas were like only $250 more. 😛

Those look fantastic!