WHY PERFECTION DOESN'T MATTER! La Scala Review! Klipsch La Scala AL5

► SHOP THE LA SCALA REVIEW (KLIPSCH AL5)


► TESTING THE LA SCALAS

POWER
Pioneer SX-780 vintage

SUBWOOFER

TURNTABLES

OTHER SOURCES

MUSIC

► COMPARABLE SPEAKERS


► OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

► MORE FROM KLIPSCH


► KLIPSCH LA SCALA AL5 SPEAKERS REVIEW

WHY PERFECTION DOESN'T MATTER - La Scala Review!! Klipsch La Scala AL5

What began as a way to mark a major milestone on the channel (reaching 100,000 subscribers),
has evolved into an emotional journey. Our La Scala review has me asking what makes a speaker or anything in HiFi "good." Going beyond specs and measurements, what does a product make you FEEL? The Klipsch La Scalas have surprised me more than I could have imagined. Have I found the perfect speaker for me?

00:00 KLIPSCH LA SCALA REVIEW
03:04 DRAWBACKS
04:24 HIFI SOUL
05:54 KLIPSCH SOUND
07:10 LA SCALA SOUNDSTAGE
08:47 BEST AMPLIFIERS FOR KLIPSCH LA SCALA
11:24 KLIPSCH vs OTHER SPEAKERS
13:35 MY FINAL THOUGHTS
17:06 MY CONVERSATION WITH KRISTI

★ MORE ANDREW ROBINSON REVIEWS


► MY REFERENCE AUDIO AND HOME THEATER SYSTEM

POWER

LOUDSPEAKERS

SPEAKER STANDS

TURNTABLES & ACCESSORIES

TVs

HOME THEATER

DESKTOP SPEAKERS

HEADPHONES

► SHOP OUR LIVING ROOM

► STAY CONNECTED


FTC: This video is not sponsored.
Product: The La Scalas were sent on load and returned to Klipsch.
Affiliate: Some links above are affiliates. We may make a small percentage if you buy through the link but it won't change the price for you! Thank you for helping to support the channel.

#klipsch #hifi #audio

[andrewrobinsonreviews]

★ *QOTD: What product (HiFi or not) has made the biggest emotional impact in your life & what lengths have you gone to keep it?*
★ *Check out our post review conversation at the end!*
★ *COMMENT RULES: Please be respectful. No outside links, URLs, email addresses, etc. Violations are automatically deleted.*

[johnslaughter]

In 1980 I was 20 years old when I walked into Jerry's audio in Tucson Arizona. My best friend and I were just killing time waiting for a movie to start and a Salesman walked up to me and asked me the fateful question " do you want to hear the best?" At the time I was living at home and didn't own a car and was depending on a 1974 Honda CB125 as my only transportation. I had just gotten a job at one of the local mines so I was beginning to come into some money. I needed to buy a car and move out of my parents house and all sorts of other adult things but 30 minutes later I owned a set of Klipsch La Scala's! In 40 Years of ownership they have brought me to tears thousands of times. My life has been an absolute nightmare of ups and downs but the one constant, the one thing I could never let go of has been the Klipsch's. I watched your face when you were talking about letting them go and I thought "this guy gets it". Son, you're young and at a pivotal point in your life, don't make a bad decision. Keep them and her and you will never regret it.

[WhiteBubblySoup]

"The La Scala is very much an instrument, and not an audio Xerox machine."

Well done sir!

[Gnawcx]

When I was a kid my dad and I were driving in his 1986 Plymouth Horizon. We were listening to AM Radio and "Whole Lotta Love" came on. My dad rolled up the windows, cranked it up, and looked at me and said, "Get ready for this." We listened to the whole song. It was perfect. It was also on arguably the worst system that has ever been. I've never heard the song sound that way ever again. Perfection is an emotional experience that goes way beyond technical specs. Excellent review.

[marcmccord]

When I was in college in 1981, my roommate’s father had a pair of La Scala’s powered by an inexpensive Pioneer SX-450 with a B&O turntable. I didn’t think there was any way that little receiver could power those speakers, but it did. I don’t remember much about the rest of his system, but I remember how spellbinding those speakers were. He later upgrade to McIntosh equipment with the LaScala’s, and listening to David Sanborn was like an orgasmic experience. I’m only 62, but when I grow up I hope to own a pair of my own.

[Youthman]

Thanks for the great review Andrew. I have owned many Klipsch speakers over the years but have not had the opportunity to hear the new LaScalas. I have enjoying my (3) 1980 LaScalas behind a 150" acoustic transparent screen in my dedicated theater room for many years. The detail and dynamics during movies is quite exceptional. The midrange is definitely where they excel the most. Be blessed.

[rogerlorenmulligan]

Welp, after viewing this I went down to a local dealer to check the La Scala's out. My wife and I spent more than a couple of hours listening to them. At times I had to fight back my tears. I bought a pair. Delivery sometime in October. We are now in the process of rearranging the house to fit the in. This is my first step into quality stereo systems. I'm so looking forward to this journey. Thank you for coming from a space of emotion. If you hadn't I probably wouldn't have jumped.

[bahamabrz]

Andrew is spot on. I shopped for a pair of speakers for 15 years before I pulled the trigger. I finally purchased a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls.
The attribute that distinguishes Klipsch Heritage speakers is "JOY". After many years, I still look forward to each listening session with the same enthusiasm as an 8 year old child waiting for the popsicle truck to come down the street. When it arrives it is always great, always special.

[robofguelph]

I can still remember...from MANY years ago, as a child, lying on my bed at night, long after all of my family were in their beds, with my Teac receiver driving my small Realistic bookshelves, which I laid down on the pillow on each side of my head next to each of my ears, playing music at low volume for hours on end (could not afford headphones). Certainly the sound quality was probably quite poor, but I don’t think I could ever spend enough now on high tech, modern equipment to replicate the joy I lived in those moments. They were the BEST!

Andrew, thanks for a fantastic review and a reminder of what can be the ultimate outcome from our hobby and what the music can bring - joy.

[johnnyreagan]

Andrew and Kristi, both of your responses in this video strikes such a cord with so many of us subscribers, the honesty and genuineness that is shown is just so moving!!

I have owned so much sound gear over the years both consumer grade and professional sound gear from Yamaha, Pioneer, Polk Audio, Biamp, JBL etc. as I ran my own mobile dj/sound production company for 20 plus years. The description of how you both feel not just about these speakers but everything that comes into your house to be reviewed and enjoyed is so refreshing and helps me enjoy (now a hobby rather than a job).

You ask us to describe what we viewers use for gear that moves us, well currently I have 2 different setups in use that do that for me. First I have set of Polk Monitor series 4 bookshelf speakers that belonged to my sister, she purchased them new in 1990 and I inherited them from her in 1994. I hate to say that they sat unused until this year but I could not bring myself to use them until last year when I found a Pioneer SX 750 that was in very rough shape. I restored it and hooked up those Series 4 to it when I completed the restoration. Following your motto of "remember the only person who has to like the sound of your system is you". When I powered that Pioneer up and heard the first sounds coming through those speakers I was brought to tears (now also as I am typing this) thinking of my sister and how much she loved music and helped shape my taste also. I have always wanted that receiver since I seen and heard one in the late 70's at a hifi store here in Atlanta, the opportunity never came along until last spring. I was always chasing the latest and greatest sound gear. The second setup is a Pioneer SA6500II amplifier and another set of Polk Audio monitor 4's that I also found last summer. I use a bluetooth receiver so I can stream music from spotify with this setup and use it daily in my office/store. I run a locksmith business and makes my day when customers make comments on how much they like the music and how good it sounds. Watching the past couple of videos has been refreshing and uplifting! Please keep up the great work. Looking forward to many more like this.

[RichiSweden]

Hands down, the most engaging and entertaining review from you guys. And probably the best hifi review I watched in a long time 🙌🏻

[SK-orbo]

I have to admit, your presentation on this, and other things, is phenomenal. The way you speak, tone, cadence, etc is just pleasant and refreshing. I feel your emotions. You absolutely did the speaker justice.

[billjundt]

I was sold on these just from hearing this and other reviews. I finally took time yesterday to listen to them at a dealership... I promise you, if you close your eyes, you'll find yourself sitting in the front row of a live performance. I've been in this crazy "audiophile" world since 1983, and have never heard anything close to what I heard yesterday. Great job Klipsch !

[dougg]

Having both of you in the reviews is the better format. Love the end section with her

[steveottavaino]

I purchased Klipschorns in the late eighties, have been threatened with divorce ever since; if I hear “walnut refrigerators” many more times she’ll go and they’ll stay. Auditioned many, many speakers and still have never heard anything that appeals to me more, just superlative sound that I never tire of. Admittedly not the best for rock and roll but they nail everything else, an immersive listening experience that’s absolutely intoxicating. I’ve gone through many speakers, all moving on in a few years for various reasons, but these will remain till death do us part. They do, as you stated, touch an emotional chord which can only be experienced by extended listening. It’s difficult to get the music lovers and audiophiles out of the house once they’ve experienced them, even after the wine and or beer has run out. Thanks for sharing. Ciao.

[pmizz]

I could see Andrew’s heart break right when Kristie says they are too big for their living space. The nostalgia is real.

[xki]

Tears. Yes. It happens with these. I've owned LaScalas since 1973. I will have these forever. Why? I can't tell you. Andrew, your review is the best explanation of what the LaScala is that I have heard. I've tried to explain the connection to many and they just can't understand until they experience them. Over the years I've introduced many people to the LaScalas in person. Both indoor and outdoor. Their reactions are the best part. Everything from "Oh my god.", to "Holy Shit!", to "Lock your doors, bro!". Thank you so much for sharing the 'connection' aspect of what you experienced. Once you feel it, you want/need it often. I've just subscribed and will share this review with anyone who wonders why I will never part with the LaScalas. Then I will invite them over for a demo.

One of my favorite introduction tactics was to seat the victim in the sweet spot and put on anything they wanted to listen to. I would start the demo at about 65 db. I had my pre-amp in a spot where the listener could not see it or me. I would very slowly (over 5 minutes) raise the output to about 100 db. They never noticed until I would tap them on the shoulder, they tried to talk, and couldn't hear themselves. And that's the point. LaScalas can be dainty or raucous. But, the quality is always the same. Thanks again.

[annnonymous]

Hands down, your best review that I have watched. You did something so few reviewers do, which is to discuss your experience with a piece of equipment in a very personal way and discuss how it makes you feel on an emotional, human level. The intangibles are so rarely addressed. You conveyed a sense that this review was special and personal. Great job. Thank you.

[knowledgeseeker]

I just got my new LaScala AL5's last week and all the comments you said are so true. I have never heard the presence, soundstage....vocals, strings, horns all come to life with the LaScala's. You need good amps to really bring this out, I am using a PrimaLuna 300 amp and preamp and this is truly a match made in heaven

[LOLAAUM]

I'm not crying, you're crying. Emotion is awesome. Great job! Thank you!