LaScala matching, upgrades, positioning

[M@C]

Hello - I've spent a few days reading through the forums and looking at some of the theater systems - Wow!! I guess I'm in the right place - if not a little intimidated.

I've been trying to decide on a theater speaker system and what I could use that would be a good match to my La Scala's. I was happy to see a lot of systems with LaScala mains and I see LaScala center is a popular option. My current pair is a stock split pair that I've used in my workshop and hauled out doors on occasion. After reading here I'm considering using one of these for my center, split with the base bin under the screen and getting another pair for the front.

I found a pair with "upgrade tweeters" from Bob Crites. Will these match my stock ones or will I want to upgrade mine to match? Is this a desirable upgrade?

The room I'm set up in now is not ideal, in a couple years I might have an addition finished with a better space. Current room is 11'-3" wide by 23'-6" long and I'm sitting about 11' - 14" back from the screen. I've never had the LaScala's in here, is this room to small?

What is the best position, can they go in the corner with a little toe-in or do they need to be off the wall a few feet.

Before I saw the possibility to use one of these as a center I was considering raising the horns about 6-8" off the base bins, again they are split, do you think the LaScala's need to be on a raised base?

I saw the Tuba HT and like the idea of building something like that, I'm a woodworker. I also have a KP with a 16" driver I was considering playing around with. Either of these would hide nicely under the stair landing which protrudes into the back corner of this room.

What is a good option for rears or surrounds considering my limited space. I see some of you are using the SS-1, is this a good match? How about an older speaker.

What are some options I should look at?

Thanks!

[Stolenrs]

First off, welcome to the Forum, those are some good questions for sure I'll try to help with what I can.

The Bob Crites upgrades from what I understand are a very desirable upgrade and you would most likely want to upgrade yours to match.

Most will tell you that a third LaScala would be your Ideal center for Timber matching purposes, I have not had the pleasure of owning these speakers yet, but there are some other options out there that would work well to, such as a Belle Klipsch they are almost identical on paper in terms of sensativity, and they are using the same mids and woofer, I have heard a pair a Belles and they were awsome. I even ran a heresy as a center with my chorus mains and it sounded very good but eventualy went with the academy center.

For surrounds I think I would look to stay in the Heratige line, such as Fortes, Quartets or even Heresy's. There have quite a few that have mixed though and really liked the way it sounded, which is a big factor, how it sounds to you.

well I am sure that there will be others that can help you along with your questions.

good luck!!

~ross

[RockOn4Klipsch]

Hello - I've spent a few days reading through the forums and looking at some of the theater systems - Wow!! I guess I'm in the right place - if not a little intimidated.

I've been trying to decide on a theater speaker system and what I could use that would be a good match to my La Scala's. I was happy to see a lot of systems with LaScala mains and I see LaScala center is a popular option. My current pair is a stock split pair that I've used in my workshop and hauled out doors on occasion. After reading here I'm considering using one of these for my center, split with the base bin under the screen and getting another pair for the front.

I found a pair with "upgrade tweeters" from Bob Crites. Will these match my stock ones or will I want to upgrade mine to match? Is this a desirable upgrade?

The room I'm set up in now is not ideal, in a couple years I might have an addition finished with a better space. Current room is 11'-3" wide by 23'-6" long and I'm sitting about 11' - 14" back from the screen. I've never had the LaScala's in here, is this room to small?

What is the best position, can they go in the corner with a little toe-in or do they need to be off the wall a few feet.

Before I saw the possibility to use one of these as a center I was considering raising the horns about 6-8" off the base bins, again they are split, do you think the LaScala's need to be on a raised base?

I saw the Tuba HT and like the idea of building something like that, I'm a woodworker. I also have a KP with a 16" driver I was considering playing around with. Either of these would hide nicely under the stair landing which protrudes into the back corner of this room.

What is a good option for rears or surrounds considering my limited space. I see some of you are using the SS-1, is this a good match? How about an older speaker.

What are some options I should look at?

Thanks!

Placing your La Scalas on the long wall about 12 ft apart, you sitting equidistant away would be great spacing. As for surrounds sides and rears, most will say the heritage line is the way to go. Heresy's are popular due to size.

[psg]

Hi and welcome!

You are right that another La Scala would be a perfect match, and using your split LS above and below a screen or display would work.

The Crites tweeters are nice, but there is no rush to change those out. Updating caps in the old crossovers (if they are old) is the right priority.

The LS tweeter is close to ear level when you are seated, so I don't feel the need to raise it.

The Tuba is said to be an awesome sub and I plan to build one some day. It's great that you are a woodworker!

The only issue is the room size. The LS really shine for music when they are spread out and toed in like Klipschorns (for example at the corners of an 18-feet wall). 11 feet is quite narrow and they won't image properly with stereo music. But they should rock the house for home theater use if they don't pull double duty!

[Olorin]

You've gotten good advice up to this point so I won't re-answer most of your questions. All I'll add is that Heresys do indeed make excellent surrounds for your La Scalas, and I will dogpile on the capacitor refresh. It helps.

[M@C]

Thanks Guys!

This is great, I really appreciate all the advice and it's been fun to get these messages rolling in on my phone while at work.

I like the idea of using Heresy for the surrounds and rears, there is a pair of Heresy II listed near me for $350. Because of my limited space I'm currently running in 5.1 with no sub. I guess thats really 5.0.

To go 7.1 I'd have to go ceiling for the surrounds, I don't think I could even do in wall on the case that one wall is drywall on block and can't be built out due to the stairs.

Any opinions on ceiling surrounds for 7.1 vs 5.1?

I saw some where in the fourms that amp. matching was important. I probably won't be changing my amp. anytime soon but I'm curious what you guys think or if its a good match to the LS.

Lexicon DC-2 w/dts processor/preamp.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_6_3/lexicondc2.html

Parasound Z-12 amp.

http://www.parasound.com/vintage/zonemasterz12.php

[billybobg]

My room is a little wider than yours. Some pics can be seen at http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1259060

I built the center Lascala and since you do wood work you could do the same. My rears are Academys. One heritage and one built from components I picked up over several months of patient looking and bidding/buying.

bob