[LaScala - Name That Mid & Are They Worth It?]

On 8/9/2021 at 11:07 AM, KT88 said:

E.A.R. I would like to tell you briefly about my experience and congratulations on your "purchase".
I have had LaScala from 1977 since 1999 but they have been dormant for about 15 years. I came back to them for various reasons. I made a few mistakes with the Lascalas 15 to 20 years ago, that's how I would describe it today. One is seduced all too quickly to go along with all kinds of "improvements" and "increases". Since I reactivated my LS, I've been going down the path of being as faithful to the original as possible, and later, when I've reached that point, I can think about careful improvements, but so far the steps I've taken in the direction of originality have meant an increase in sound.

However, my 1977LS are equipped with the Alnico K55V driver, the K77 Alnico and the Type AA crossover.

I can't judge your LS and I would certainly do as you do so that they run first.
I am a big fan of the Alnico K55V and installed new Michael Crites diaphragms two months ago...what a wishful difference!
Capacitors...what Klipsch also recommends are these yellow polyester typer. I was surprised how good they sound. The argument is that with them the impedance of the whole network is maintained and I can say that they do indeed give an overall coherent sound impression unlike some of the more "modern" or "better" types I have had in my AA network before.

 

 

 

The ne t step I will do is that I have found a company here in Germany which is able to remagnetize the K77 Alnico and the K55V. I do not know if it is necessary for the K55V but the K77 will probably benefit from this measure.

 

 

KT88 thank you for the feedback and I think you can probably see that I have been a bit seduced by what I will call the need to modify but am trying to stick to a plan.  When I found these LS I knew that one had an incorrect mid driver and that they have the AL-3 networks.  Decision one, which was a big one, was to determine whether to hunt for another K55M and hope that I find one so I can keep the AL3 network OR replace both mids with K55V or the PD-5VH and know that my networks are not meant to work with these drivers.  While I have heard LS before, I have not had a pair to live with in my room so I definitely want to get them working as close as possible to original and determine my own path forward.  From what I have read, the K55M/AL-3 combination is a generally considered to be a good combination so I consider it to be a good starting point.  I have been talking with Crites and JEM regarding the recap of the AL3 and it is interesting how many different opinions exist for network modifications.  This is a great site and there are clearly a number of people out there that have been living with these for years and have great advice (such as yourself).. I fully intend to post my thoughts and ask questions as this moves forward.. 

 

BTW.. Cologne is a beautiful city.  I spent 2 weeks there on a project and loved it..

[LaScala - Name That Mid & Are They Worth It?]

4 hours ago, RandyH said:

 reach out to  @JEM Performance   for replacing the caps with klipsch OEM Capacitors , the caps are affordable , these klipsch parts will restore the specs of the network without altering any other parts  -if you can solder , you can do the work yourself -

I will definitely check them out.. I can certainly solder as I have been doing some old Pioneer SX restorations.  I think the electronics will be by far the easiest part of this restore.   I am stoked about finding a K55M and I am looking forward to getting them as is into my listening room for a while.  I would like to get a baseline and then do the networks and hopefully hear the difference.  My mind has been spinning on this as there are so many options and so much information out there for these.  I plan to blog the upgrade process on my website and once I get it started I will share the link.  Thanks again.

[Wanted: K-55-M Midrange Driver For LaScala]

4 hours ago, RandyH said:

Lascala 1 cabs are only 3/4 inch , while newer series are 1 inch MDF , eliminating any resonance of the side walls ,  the extra 1/4 inch even is sad to tighten the bass  a tad  ---

 

 bonding 1/4 inch panels of your favorite wood finish , can avoid veneering  , or you can add 1/4 to 1/2 inch flat MDF panels with textured  paint or veneer -

the addition of a riser base of 2-3 inches would compliment the Lascala 1 as it literally sits on the ground , all new Lascala split cabs incorporate a riser base fo a cleaner look -

 

-You can also chop the tops off with a track saw which splits the cab  , for a klipsch  LS II split cab look -

Thanks for the suggestions.. I was talking with my neighbor today about some options and we are considering making 1/4 inch panels instead of super thin veneer since he has the tooling to do this.  I was also thinking about adding a riser to the bottom as you mentioned.  At this point I do not think we will split the cabinet - though I do like that look..

[Wanted: K-55-M Midrange Driver For LaScala]

Thank you to all for the feedback and PMs.  I did ohm out the Peavey driver and it is shorted, but the good news is that today I found a working replacement K-55-M for a reasonable sum.  I want to get these working as step 1 and then I will be replacing the caps on the AL-3 crossovers.  My neighbor makes furniture and he cannot wait to get started on the cabinets..  At this point not sure whether to patch up the damage, fill the holes and try to go low cost restore or go full in on some sexy veneer.  I think my decision will be made after I listen for a while..

[LaScala - Name That Mid & Are They Worth It?]

Thank you to all for the feedback and PMs.  I did ohm out the Peavey driver and it is shorted, but the good news is that today I found a working replacement K-55-M for a reasonable sum.  I want to get these working as step 1 and then I will be replacing the caps on the AL-3 crossovers.  My neighbor makes furniture and he cannot wait to get started on the cabinets..  At this point not sure whether to patch up the damage, fill the holes and try to go low cost restore or go full in on some sexy veneer.  I think my decision will be made after I listen for a while..

[Wanted: K-55-M Midrange Driver For LaScala]

bump

[LaScala - Name That Mid & Are They Worth It?]

9 hours ago, avguytx said:

 

Sorry....I meant had a pair of the Peavey RX-22's in boxes which is why I knew what they were. 

 

No worries and thanks for the offer .. and the info..

 

I did take the ohm meter to the drivers and found tweeters to be 6.3, woofers 3.6 and the good K55M to be 10.4.  The non functional Peavey is zero..  I have put out the "K55M Wanted" in the Garage Sale forum and on some FB groups; Vintage Klipsch Fans and Klipsch Heritage Only..  I also have been trying to reach Crites.  Hoping something shows up soon as I would like to hear them with 2 working mids.  Thanks to all.

[FS Pioneer SX-650 Stereo Receiver]

Nice units. I restored one a while back and it sounded pretty sweet..

[LaScala - Name That Mid & Are They Worth It?]

2 minutes ago, RandyH said:

First off all k-55M or K55V  wont require replacing the crossovers at all , both drivers will work just fine -

 

k55M  is 16 Ohms-K77M square magnet is 8 Ohms -Woofer k33 is 4 Ohms

 

Thank you very much! 

[LaScala - Name That Mid & Are They Worth It?]

43 minutes ago, avguytx said:

 

I have a pair in boxes. 

 

You have a pair of K-55-M?  If so, please message with details and price..  Thx.

 

Great Forum by the way..

[Wanted: K-55-M Midrange Driver For LaScala]

Restoring some 1992 LaScala and need a K-55-M midrange driver.  If you have a working driver, please message me with price.  Thank you.

 

Chris

[LaScala - Name That Mid & Are They Worth It?]

So I was able to pick up the LaScalas for a monetary price of zero and after vacuuming out 30 years of dust bunnies and wiping them down they look much better.  I did put a ohm meter on them before attempting to listen to ensure they are not dead short and both show 4 ohms.  I powered them with a old Pioneer sx-750 as a start and I found that the odd mid driver in the pics above is not working.  Needless to say I am now on the search for a K-55-M as I would like to keep the electronics as original as possible (unless you all convince me otherwise).  Based on my research if I was to change out to the more common (and rebuild-able) K-55-V I would need to change the crossovers completely.   Do any of you know what the tweeter, mid and woofer should measure individually in ohms?  I would like to check each individually and ensure that they are all within spec before I get too crazy..  Hard to hold back, I admit..  

[LaScala - Name That Mid & Are They Worth It?]

2 hours ago, babadono said:

LaScalas are always worth restoring IMHO unless of course they are just totally thrashed. The ones in your pics don't look all that bad. Are you sure that mid is not the stock driver but with the label gone?

I have to say I am sure I will do a restore if I can get them for extremely reasonable amount and thanks to you both for the feedback.

 

This mid driver is definitely different than the other (shown below).  Based on my reading this vintage lascala should have a K-55-M and the one shown earlier in the thread is completely different. 

 

This is the correct mid..

 

This is not the correct mid.  As you can see the back is completely different and the connections are different too.  I assume I can probably find a K-55-M at a reasonable cost.  Hopefully the horn is original..

[LaScala - Name That Mid & Are They Worth It?]

I am looking at rescuing some LaScalas from a school to restore and I am wondering if someone can help me identify this midrange driver.  This is a 1992 version using the AL3 network so it should have a K-55-M like its sibling.  These speakers are pretty rough but I hate to seem them thrown into a dumpster.  Do you think it is worth the cost of a K-55-M and the cost of the recap kit?  I typically do classic receiver restores and am not threatened by the electronics but the cabinet restores will be a time consuming task.  I am a perfectionist so I expect to sink a lot of time and $ into this so just wondering if this version of the LaScala is worth that effort and cost..  Thank you!