BassmanBruce

I have had a pair of 1980LaScalas now for the best part of a year. Replaced the mid and tweet diaphragms and updated the caps in the AA crossovers. One of the amplifiers I am running is a pair of Dynaco Mark III's. I have upgraded the Mark III's to the Poseidon driver board and like the Janzen Superior coupling caps in them. Here is my question- What is the better sounding output tube to run in the Mark III's powering the LaScalas- The GE 6550a or the Tung Sol 6550 (USA). On my last pair of speakers, a 3 way transmission line speaker the GE 6550a won out in a listening test. I let one pair of my Tung Sol 6550's go so I don't have enough TS 6550's to do another listening test with the LaScalas without buying another pair of tubes. I know a lot of Klipsch users use the Dynaco Mark III, and an opinion on this would be very helpful. Thanks, Bruce in South Carolina

Hi Moray and thanks for your post. I have several dozen RCA 7025 tubes in my collection. Will sort out a high Mu pair and will try them. I was using a pair of GE black plate 3 mica 5751's, but found that I liked the Telefunken smooth plate 12ax7's better into the LaScalas. Into my previous speakers I perfered the 5751's. Thanks for your comments and best to you, Bruce

Hi Tony and thanks for your post. The Poseidon boards are from Triode,USA http://store.triodestore.com/diytubemk3.html Also look at www.DIYTube.com When I went to triode mode with my Mark III's is when they really started to shine. I have had a pair of Mark IV's and sold them after I bought the 8b. I still have a Stereo 70 in my collection. Thanks again, Bruce

I have had my pair of laScalas now 4 months and still love them. I started off with my Marantz 8b power amplifier that I tube and capacitor rolled till I got what I liked best. Mullard 60's xf2 and Russian K-40y coupling capacitors turned out to be the winners. I have a pair of Dynaco Mk III's that I have done some mods to and tried them with the laScalas but perfered the Marantz 8b. I put the Dynaco Mk III's on the bench and converted them to triode mode, and tried them again on the LaScalas. All I can say is wow, the Mark III's are now the winners!!! Dynaco Mark III mod description- Poseidon driver boards with Telefunken 12AX7 smooth plate first stage, RCA clear top 12AU7 second stage, GE 6550a outputs. Panasonic EF series coupling capacitors. Amps now in triode mode with output tube screens tied to plates through 100 ohm resistors. These Mark III amps sound fantastic on my LaScala's now, and the poor 8b is now on my "B" system. Very sad!!!! Hope you all have a marvelous Thanksgiving, Bruce

Hi Gorm, I am new to La Scala's (one month, 1980), and after replacing 3 of 4 diaphragms, and doing a capacitor upgrade to the AA crossovers, started listening to them. I drive them with a 1964 Marantz 8b tube amplifier, in triode mode, 20 watts per channel. I had to do a lot of output tube swap outs/trials (have 5 different brands) and several output tube coupling caps auditions. Finally settled on RFT/Telefunbken German EL34's and the Russian K-40Y capacitors, and this combonation will take your breath away on natural instrument smooth jazz. I had some of the same complaints you are having on some of the combinations I tried. Also, the speaker wire is also important. I tried "zip cord", boat cable 16/2, and by my ears my Luminous Audio cast ono copper Synchestra Signatures was the bomb. Good luck, and I agree with others, tubes rule with these speakers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bruce

I have a very nice condition Pioneer Spec 2 power amp, and with an inspection of its schematic I see that there is only one capacitor in the audio path. it is C1, right at the input, otherwise, it is all direct coupled. C1 is a 4.7 uf 35 volt electrolytic cpacitor. I believe this amplifier would sound much better with replacing C1 cap with one of the available film capacitors. I have been looking at the WIMA MKS 2 polyester, and the MKP10 polyhprops. Any input on this (not a pun) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Bruce

Thank you for your nice comment. Previous "fronts" were home made,by me, 3 way transmission lines designed by Ralph Hellmer. Audax Aerogel woofer and midrange, 8" and 4", Dynaudio D21/2 dome tweeter. I built these in 1997 and they kept me "happy" for 15 years. The grills move up to the top, to guard the drivers when not in use. The "terminus" is on the bottom front, behind the grill pieces. These speakers are very fast, warm, and image really well. Decided to try the La Scalas, and like them. Thanks again, Bruce

Congratulations on buying a pair of klipsch Belles!!!! Two weeks ago i bought a pair of 1980 La Scalas. I had to replace two diaphragms in one of them, and did a cap replacement on the two AA crossovers. I have a fairly big collection of tube amplifiers, and tubes. My favorite power amp,from my collection, is my Marantz 8B. I have seven different brands of EL34 tubes, and the one that is the winner for home audio, by far, is the Mullard EL-34 XF2 single or double halo version, made in England from the mid to late 60's. The midrange that comes from these tubes is just so much better than the present Russian and Chinese version of the EL34. The EL34 that comes in second place, by my ear, is the SED Winged C EL34. It seems to have a better, more extended top and bottom compared to the English Mullard EL34's, but, that all important midrange, especially heard with my new Klipsch La Scalas, is much more natural sounding with the 60's Mullards. I have a friend who has the Cary/AES Super amp 25, and he likes the JJ KT77. To be brutely honest with you, I think your Cary V12 might be a bit big for your Belles, as they cost a bundle to re-tube, and will be used at a small fraction of the power needed. I have my 8B set in "triode mode" which makes it a 20 wpc power amp. At 104 db sensitivity with my Scalas, the 8b doesn't even break a sweat at medium listening levels. Well, enough of my ranting! I know you will love your Belles, and best to you, Bruce

All I can say is WOW. Yours have mine beat for being the Ugliest Pair!! However, I must say, that I am most impressed with your results after sanding. That was a HUGH amount of work that you have done, and thanks for sharing pics and text with us all. I very much look forward to seeing the finished results with these Scalas. Best luck, Bruce

Bought a pair of 1980 La Scalas on July 14, 2012. Their finish is pretty bad, but this fall I will gut them and prep and paint them black with a marine epoxy paint. Will also do a molding and grill plate around the tweeter and squaker. I had to replace the tweeter and midrange diaphragms in one speaker. A new set of sonicaps in the "AA" crossovers as the original caps were off value. Had a time with speaker phasing as some genious had wired a replacement woofer in backwards, and the other midrange diaphragm had been installed backwards. MAN, these speakers sound really wonderful. I listen at low to medium levels, and I am just astounded at what they can do. They are improving as time goes by. 1964 Marantz 7c preamp Telefunken 12AX7A smooth plate (originals) 1964 Marantz 8b power amp with Mullard EL34 XF. Russian K-40Y 0.1 uf coupling caps bypassed with 0.01 polyprops 1971 Thorens TD125 AB MKII turntable with Denon DL 160 cartridge 1970 Dynaco FM-3, and 1964 Marantz 10b tuners Music Hall CD25.2 cd player Luminous Audio "Synchestra Signature" speaker cables

Yes, thanks, understood. I will use the Duracrest #17 black to cover tweet and squaker on my newly acquired 1980 La Scalas.I understand that is what Klipsch is using for the K-horns. Thanks again, Bruce

Does having the grill cloth piece, over the squaker and tweeter, on a La Scala, distract from their sound at all? On my home made, three way, transmission line speakers it makes a hugh difference, and I always remove them to listen. These speakers have Dynaudio dome tweets, and Audax Aerogel woofer, 8 inch, and Audax Aerogel midrange, 4 inch. I believe the Klipschorns have a non removable grill cloth, so wonder if a removable grill on the La Scala wwill distract from the sound? Thanks, Bruce

Good morning Dennie, The pair of La Scalas I bought are the raw birch, with no grill cloth. The logo badge was glued to the "motor board" just below the midrange opening. It may have not been there when I bought them, but now it definitely not there on one of the speakers. I got a good price on the pair, but there were lots of problems. I had to replace the tweeter and squaker diaphragms in one speaker, and went ahead and did the Sonicap change out on both "AA" crossovers. Also, on the other speaker, both the woofer and midrange were "out of phase", even though the wire color coding was hooked up correctly!?! I have a good ear, and caught that pretty quickly. Other than all that, I have them singing pretty nicely now. I am driving them with a 1964 Marantz 7c preamp and 8b power amp. Mostly vinyl here with a 1971 Thorens TD125 AB MKII turntable, with a Denon DL160 high output moving coil cartridge. I can't say for certain that the logo badge was there when I bought them, and I was pretty carefull loading and unloading them in my Dakota pick up truck. Bob Crites tells me that Klipsch no longer sells them, and that an Ebay would be the place to watch/buy them. Just thought that maybe someone here might have one. Thanks, and best to you, Bruce

I got my first pair of klipsch speakers last weekend. They are a 1980 pair of La Scala's. While transporting them, one of the Klipsch LOGO plates, on the front of the speaker, dissapeared and I can't find it. Anyone out there have one I might purchase? It drives me crazy seeing the glue where the plate used to be. Thanks, Bruce in South Carolina

THIS IS WHAT MY SWEET GAL DID. THANKS ALL FOR SHARING!!! MAY THIS BE YOUR BEST CHRISTMAS, AND HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL!!!! BRUCE [8-|]

STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Being a "capacitor roller" I have a large drawer full of many brands/types of interstage coupling capacitors for my dynaco's and Marantz 8b. My favorites used to be the Jensen copper/paper in oil, but after a bunch of them failed I found the Panasonic EF series, and really liked them. I have tried many polyprops, both metalized and foil and just don't like them. I find them dark, and slow. Good in some areas, and bad in others. With all I have been reading about the somewhat new crop of capacitors, especially the Russian millitary teflons and foil in oil, I decided to take a chance on some Russian K40y's in 0.1 @630 volts. Not being a rich man, the pricing of some of the capacitors I might like to hear is out of the question- $135 per cap is not realistic for me. The K40Y caps, foil/paper in oil cost me $2.70 each and $4.00 shipping from a guy here in the US and were bought on Ebay. I received them two days ago, and ran them with 450 volts DC for 24 hours. I paralled the the four of them for this initial break in. I installed them this morning in my Marantz 8b, and want to tell you- THESE ARE SOME FABULOUS CAPACITORS !!!!!! I have read that many people like these foil/paper in oil capacitors better than the Russian teflons. These capacitors are the best sounding capacitors I personally have ever heard in my many tube amplifiers!!! IMAGING- 10+ MIDRANGE SIZE 10+ THE BIGGEST I HAVE EVER HEARD IN MY SYSTEM ! MIDRANGE SMOOTHNESS 10+ BASS SPEED- VERY FAST- MY 8 " AUDAX AEROGEL'S IN A TRANSMISSION LINE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SPEED IN THE BASS AND THE BASS IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE IMAGING!!! LOW LEVEL RESOLUTION- 10+ EXCELLENT !!!! HIGH FREQUENDY AREA- 10+ CYMBALS ARE SO VIVID AND CLEAN! BEST I HAVE HEARD IN MY SYSTEM UPPER BASS/LOW MIDRANGE- 10+ ITS HUGH, FAST, WARM AND CLEAN. CELLOS= GOOSEBUMPS ( MY FAV INSTRUMENT ) All you guys running those wonderful Klipsch heritage speakers with tube amplifiers, I can't tell you enough to give these K40Y's a try in your amplifiers. These are the most musical capacitors I have heard. PERIOID! I guess you can tell I am excited. I have several audiophile friends that call me "THE EAR". These capacitors deliver "!! These capacitors A R E T H E B O M B !!!!! Merry Christmas, Happy Honukka, Happy Holidays to all you audiophiles, and yours. Bruce in South Carolina Christmas has come early here !!!!!!

I am running my 8b in triode mode, and it is rated at 20 wpc. My speakers are 94 db sensitivity, and I never felt I needed more umph. I don't listen real loud. B.

Thanks Tony. I know an audio component designer that knew Sid Smith (lucky guy), and we have discussed the subject fairly recently. You know, I have tried several of the mods to the 8b, and to be honest with you, I keep going back to the stock design. The "timing" on this amplifier is just perfection (to me) and any of the mods I have tried change this charactoristics dramatically. My Audax Aerogel speakers are so fast (only thing faster might be an electrostatic) and amplifier pace or timing being right is essential. It's not an 8B any more with the mods (even ones suggested by Sid himself). Now I will say I did replace the four coupling capacitors that feed the output tubes with the same value. Sid had reccomended going from a 0.1 to a 0.22 mfd, but I did not like that, so back to the 0.1's. Frank Van Alstine, a truely revolutionary audio designer of today, reccomended a Panasonic coupling capacitor to me after I complained about Angela/Jensen foil and paper in oil capacitors were failing on me (my favorites at the time) in my Dynaco power amps. He spoke of very low "inductive reactance" on these capacitors. They are cheap, and they are fast, warm, and sound so un-colored. Can't say that about all those expensive polyprop's that one can waste ones money on.They start with and EF in the digikey catalog. That's a digikey prefex,not a Panasonic prefex. Those capacitors, plus the use of the Mullard E90F tube (two) in the first stage of the 8b, and man, it's the BOMB!! I can "steer" the sound of the 8B with different output tubes. I have a pretty big collection of EL34's. I really want to bring my friends LaScala's over to run on my equip. He is running them on a Sansui receiver and turntable. Please save up, sell some stuff, and treat yourself to an 8B! Bruce

Good morning to you. Looks like you have quite a sound system. My speakers I call the "Looking Glass" speakers when I talk to my friend Ralph, the designer. They are very fast and image to beat the band. They have a hugh midrange portrayal. I did go to a friends and heard his LaScala's last week. He has a store and they were in a large area. I liked them very much. Especially in the upper bass, lower midrange synergy. My speakers are 7 feet apart, and I sit 9 feet in front of them. LaScala's would be too big for my listening area I believe. I am considering a pair of Chorus II's that will come available at the end of the month to give them a try. If I don't want them I have a contact that does. After hearing the LaScala's, I have started playing with the packing in the line of my TL's. They are now in the middle of a long wall, and need a little help in the low bass. I have found another octive since my tuning started, and now have that upper bass, lower midrange area improved. If you send me your email address I will send you some pics of the Looking Glass speakers. Thanks, Bruce n4jhy@yahoo.com

Hi ambrose, Here is my "A" system, Music Hall 25.2 cd player with Ralph Hellmer power cord and interconnect. Thorens TD 125 AB Mk II with either Shure V15 type III or Denon DL160 Marantz 7c preamp, stock, with Telefunken smooth plate tubes (original) Marantz 8b power amp, upgraded with E909f first stage tubes and Panasonic EF (digikey part number prefex) output tube coupling capacitors. Luminous Audio Technology Synchestra Signature speaker cables Speakers are home made (by me), designed by Ralph Hellmer. They are three way "transmission line" with 8 inch Audax Aerogel woofer, 4 inch Audax Aerogel midrange, and Dynaudio dome tweeters. These speakers are 94-95 db sensativity. Thanks for your interest, Bruce

One thing I forgot to mention in my first post about the Marantz 8b is the speaker cable I use. A close audiophile buddy of mine, Ralph Hellmer in Richmond, Va came down for a visit and brought with him an 8 foot pair of "Luminous Audio Technology" "Synchestra Signature" speaker cables. These cables are made out of cast, "single crystal", pure copper, made by ONO in Japan. It was about half a song before I wrote him a check for these cables (he is a dealer for them). They are expensive ($690 for the pair), but are worth every penny. I have tried them on every amplifier I own, and in my book, they are a winner. Thanks, Bruce

Hello to all, I am new to this forum. I must confess, I do not own, or have any experience with Klipsch speakers, but will soon be "borrowing" a friends pair of La Scalla's. Reason for writing is my experience with the fabulous Marantz 8b power amplifier. At, now 60 years young, I have had and built may power amplifiers. As a paid musician, bassplayer, I have a good ear, and also enjoy repairing/modding friends guitar amps (tube, of course). About 5 years ago, I purchased a 7c, 8b, 10b combination from a customers wife after he passed away. Each output tube in this amplifier (8b) has a coupling capacitor (4 total). The originals are made by Goodman. If you remove these four capacitors and replace them with four Panasonic EF series of the same value, the difference is astounding. The EF designation is not a Panasonic number, but is a prefex in the Digikey datalog, where they can be purchased. I have had the privalidge to have many conversations with Frank Van Alstine. The subject of coupling capacitors came up one day, and I told him of my dismay in failing Jensen copper foil/paper/in oil capacitors. I asked him what he likes, and was told about the Panasonic caps. He told me he tested many different types/brands of capacitors, and found these Panasonic caps had the lowest "inductive reactance" of all tested. I then tried a set of these capacitors in both my Dynaco Mark 3's and Stereo 70. The Mark III's have the Posiedon boards in them. Well, this capacitor (very inexpensive also) sounds really excellent! I have put this cap in the 8b. Of all the amplifiers I have owned, both tube and solid state, the Marantz 8b sounds the best. The timming, speed, warmth, accuracy with this amplifier just wins in my book. Musician friends of mine come over and listen and say "I have never heard sound like that!" Goose bumps are the word of the moment. Before I forget, take that pair of 6BH6's out of your 8b and put in a pair of E90F Mullard/Phillips tubes. ($18 each on ebay). They, along with the cap changeout, will really make your 8b sing!!!!! Thorens TDD125 AB Mark II with Denon DL 160, set up with the Baerwald Arc Protractor Marantz 7c preamp, stock w/ Telefunken smooth plate tubes Marantz 8b modded as above Speakers- Ralph Hellmer disigned, home made (by me) 3 way transmission line using Audax Aerogel 8" woofer, Audax Aerogel 4" midrange and Dynaudio Dome tweeters Thanks for reading! I look very much forward to hearing the La Scallas on my system.