wuzzzer Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 I'm completely satisfied with my Forte IIs, especially with the upgrades that I've made to them. There is a pair of LaScalas for sale locally and I'm toying with the idea of replacing my Fortes with them. With a strictly 2 channel setup, what are the odds that I'm not going to like the LaScalas? I sent the seller an email asking how old they are and what crossovers they have. Also, what kind of price could I get for my Fortes? They are in excellent condition with a small clip on the side of one of the risers and a few minor bumps here and there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davis419b Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 I am thinking maybe you should buy them and listen to them before selling your Forte II,s ! Thats a great deal on the LaScala,s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyler8 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 My first Klipsch speakers were Forte II's. I have since bought Cornwalls and Belles.The Belles are in my main room for listening. They are not LaScalas but close. In the end they are your ears however. Hope that helps. By the way, I still have all three pairs. I always managed to find a place in the home for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 good advice davis. The LaScala sound is really different from the forte II. Whether you will like it better or not is purely subjective. Having heard both many years ago in a good environment I preferred the fortes, give it a try. You might keep both for different applications if you have the space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbsl Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 I had La Scalas(LS) and then got a pair of Fortes(FT) and I found I liked the midrange of the LS and the bass of the FT. The int amp had a sub out so ran cables to another amp and hooked the FT up to it. I then unhooked the midrange and tweeter frotm the crossover so just the FT woofer was working. Put the LS in the corners and the FT next to the LS. Worked out great the FT worked like a sub that blended perfect with the LS. LS bass goes down to 50 but with the FT subs added in my system went down to 32 and made a big difference in sound. Now of course I am not married so I could have two sets of big speakers in the living room. I lost my job about 3 years ago so had to sell the LS but kept the FT and I found more of my music sounds better on the FT than the LS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted November 6, 2011 Moderators Share Posted November 6, 2011 Were you planing to use a sub with the LaScala's ? If you were I would say LaScala, there is such a big difference in the midrange over the forte. The LaScala has good bass but to me it takes a good bit of volume to really bring it out, overall the forte is a more balanced sound without a sub as a stand alone set. As much as I like the forte the LaScala + sub is hard to beat. Just another opinion. [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarman Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 I think I am uniquely qualified to answer this question. I bought my Forte IIs new in about ’91 or ’92. They have been my pride and joy. About 3 or 4 years ago I updated them with Bob’s crossovers and tweeter diaphragms. Major improvement. I am currently building a home theater and was looking for something that would really let the 11.2 speaker setup rock. I already have SS.5 and SS1 surround speakers but needed something for the wides and heights for an Audyessy DSX config. About a month ago I found these La Scalas on Craigslist and decided I could use the Fortes as wides and the La Scalas as mains. Easy score. Listened for a few days and ordered Bob’s crossovers (4500) and C125s. Major improvement again. (At first I was like, where did the highs go….then my ears adjusted to the new fffffff instead of sssssss as ALK noted). Now to the OP…they really are different speakers. While the Forte’s are like my first child, the La Scalas take that to a whole new level. And really, for me, it is the midrange that is so revealing. The photos are me testing everything in the living room for the theater room. Primarily I’m trying to get the config with the rack squared away and making sure everything is doing what I want. Then (when the room is finished in a month or so) I’ll just roll the rack into the equipment closet in the theater and turn her on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarman Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Another one....didn't even realize they were the same height until I put the original stands on the Fortes and put them side by side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarman Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Trying to post a few more pics but having difficulty. Maybe pics are too large. That setup is temporary, so I am exempted from the WAF at the moment. She wants the theater done as much as I do! I think what I wanted to say to the OP is why choose? Keep them both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarman Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Sorry about the same pic twice..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Beautiful looking set of LaScalas. I found the best thing to do on the LS is change taps and pull the mids down just a bit. Balances out the mids to the bass a lot. And I also agree. Have both if you can Forte IIs and LaScalas. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornfedksboy Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 To your question about price; there have been many pairs of "like new" Forte IIs come up for sale within 250 miles of me and I would have purchased had the wife agreed. The asking price has ranged from $400.00-700.00 with the upper asking price always dropping below $600.00 prior to the listing coming down (presumabely sold for $450-550). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ski Bum Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 I agree with the others who suggest finding a way to have both. Forte's are just so versatile. They can be used in smaller rooms where 'Scalas would never fit. They still have a huge dollop of Heritage sound and can fill big rooms. And they have bass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuzzzer Posted November 6, 2011 Author Share Posted November 6, 2011 Thanks for all the input. For now I decided to pass on them. I'd have to sell my Fortes to help pay for the LaScalas but I don't think I can give up the bass output of the Fortes. In case anyone's wondering, they're on the Minneapolis craigslist for $750. The owner said they are from 92 or 93, unfinished birch and he has the original boxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tromprof Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Fortes are great speakers, but I sold mine when I got my La Scalas. Fortes are more versatile as far as placement, have a better WAF, and will play lower, but the sound for me wasn't close. The bass issue with the La Scala can be fixed with a good sub, and the WAF can be improved with grill covers and a nice glasstop to put stuff on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t-man Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Thanks for all the input. For now I decided to pass on them. I'd have to sell my Fortes to help pay for the LaScalas but I don't think I can give up the bass output of the Fortes.In case anyone's wondering, they're on the Minneapolis craigslist for $750. The owner said they are from 92 or 93, unfinished birch and he has the original boxes. Saw that - seemed like a good deal to me, too. Since you now have sold off your SVS sub, you are right to keep your Forte' IIs. Those pics make it seem like the Lascalas take up the footprint of 2 Forte' speakers. Yikes! It would be cool to have a set of Lascalas......The WTF look on people's face when they visit and notice those things must be fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrod Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 I enjoy both. LS w/ a sub is just a tough combo to beat. The Fortes are certainly no slouch, and probably the best "bang-for-buck" speaker I have ever owned. The midrange is where it's at for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BE36 Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 I enjoy both. LS w/ a sub is just a tough combo to beat. The Fortes are certainly no slouch, and probably the best "bang-for-buck" speaker I have ever owned. The midrange is where it's at for me! +1 With good amplification it is surprising how good Forte IIs can sound. I had upgraded my system after buying La Scalas and moving the Forte IIs to my office. Then the day I sold my Forte IIs, I plugged them back into my system and was surprised how good they sounded. To my ears about 95% as good as the La Scalas. The low bass was stronger so I turned down my sub, but then since the Forte II mid bass was not as stong as the La Scala, that area was just tad on the lean side. Not by much we are talking a decible or two around 120 - 160 hertz only noticible on a few of the dozen songs I listened to that day. I did not mod my Forte IIs. It would be interesting to hear moded Forte IIs compared to my moded La Scalas. I know the moded La Scalas would sound better to most but not all that compared them to Forte IIs. But if someone would intall a Tractrix Midrange into a Forte II with a good tweeter, that would be a tough combo to beat. I was going to go the route of moded Forte IIs or Forte / La Scala combo but when my wife liked the way La Scalas looked over the Forte IIs who was I to argue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juniper8 Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Wuzzer I tried to buy these, I was hoping a forum member picked them up. They were what appeared to be in mint condition. Not often do you see untouched ( not stained), Birch klipsch speakers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Chi-town Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 The forte II does have a tractrix midrange. I installed Bob Crites New Crossovers, K 53 TI "Titanium" Mids and Bob Crites titanium tweeter diaphragms in my 1992 forte II and I can agree with you in that they are very hard to beat when you factor footprint, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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