A legendary speaker used everywhere from political campaigns to festival dance parties.

Background:

A Klipsch classic, the La Scala was originally designed in 1963 to be used as a P.A. system for Winthrop Rockefeller’s Arkansas gubernatorial campaign. The three-way speaker was actually not intended for home use, but soon became considered a “portable” and more affordable version of the revolutionary Klipschorn. The La Scala is the smallest of Klipsch’s fully horn-loaded models, which means it’s actually more closely related to the Belle Klipsch and Jubilee than the Cornwall.

Early promotional materials for the The La Scala advertised it as a versatile speaker for all kinds of situations: “Quality sound for theaters, monitor for recording and broadcast studio, night club, and any professional or serious amateur use where faithful reproduction is demanded.”

“The Klipsch Model K-447 theater-auditorium loudspeaker is a high efficiency low-distortion system covering a wide range of frequencies with an unusually smooth response. Bass range extends solidly to 50 cps, usable to 40. In spite of the quality, size has been brought to such a minimum as to classify this speaker system as a “miniature” among speakers of this type. Although the woofer unit occupies only 8 cubic feet, the response, range, and efficiency equal or exceed systems considerably larger size. This loudspeakers affords the same efficiency, smoothness of response, and freedom from distortion as KLIPSCHORN, but the bass cutoff is approximately 20 cps higher.

It is so shaped as to adapt it for over-proscenium-arch location where space to ceiling is limited to only 3 feet (2 feet if high frequency system is moved to side). It may also be so used as a center-stereo unit, in combination with like flanking units or with KLIPSCHORNS on flanks. When used as flanking units, 30 to 45 degrees toe-in is suggested depending on proportions of listening area.

Horn loaded throughout its operating spectrum, it maintains the low diaphragm amplitudes and velocities necessary for low modulation distortion. The resulting clarity, a feature of all our horn speakers, especially at the volume levels required for auditorium use, is typical of this highest level of quality.”

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 38.5 x 24.25 x 25.25″
• Net Weight: 80k each speaker
• Nominal Impedance: 8Ω
• Frequency Response: 51 – 17,000Hz (+/- 4dB)
• Maximum Power Handling: 100W
• Crossover Frequencies: 400Hz & 4,500Hz

Price:

A new pair of La Scala will run you around $14,000, which is quite a hefty amount for the typical amateur listener. Luckily, because of their popularity over the years in both public and private settings, La Scalas are still possible to find on the used market for reasonable prices. They’ve become a bit more rare over the years as demand for Klipsch speakers has continued to go up with the rising global interest in hi-fi, but we’ve still heard of friends finding vintage pairs for under $5k with a bit of patience.

Sound Testimonials:

Personally, I’ve heard these speakers in many different settings from living rooms to warehouse parties to even outdoor festival events. I find they especially excel at mid-range frequencies including vocals and and live drums. There’s nothing quite like listening to a solo percussion record on a pair of La Scalas… For electronic and dance music, the bass response is definitely lacking a bit, so the La Scalas are highly recommend to be paired with a sub. The La Scalas also excel as part of a stack, as evidenced by Brilliant Corners’ amazing Giant Steps traveling festival sound system which prominently features two pairs of La Scalas alongside various configurations including Japanese TAD bass speakers and Altec Lansing multicell horns.

“Their ability to (re)produce lifelike dynamic contrasts and scale is unmatched by any speaker I’ve had in my home, and matched by few speakers I’ve heard anywhere (all of which were larger). Once most speakers reach a satisfying volume, they allow a fairly limited range of additional loudness before they begin to compress, sound grainy, or distort. With the La Scalas, that range was practically limitless: I could set the volume anywhere from Mozart-trio moderate to Mastodon-concert loud with no audible penalty. In part that’s because horn loading allows not only for increased sensitivity and efficiency but also for drive units to operate at lower levels of distortion.” – Stereophile

“The La Scala is not a neutral speaker, it definitely has color, a tone all its own. It’s timbre feels familiar, and it’s somewhat born out of the materials Klipsch has used to construct the speaker itself. The La Scala while being mildly thin or light in the bass department still manages to sound warm-ish. More surprising is the fact that the LaScala is somewhat laid back at most volumes. Very little projects forward of the speaker’s front baffles, so despite its horn design, it is not a speaker that shouts at you -at least it tries not too. Your choice in recording or listening preferences will likely play a larger role in getting the LaScala to “misbehave” than it will on its own.” – Andrew Robinson

“Hitting peaks over 105 dB reveal the Nagra’s power output meter is hanging around .2 watts per channel, occasionally bouncing up to 2 watts per channel. That’s not a typo. These speakers will pin you to the wall with ten watts per channel if you can even stand it that loud. The LaScalas deliver mega dynamic swings, even at low volume. The Ella Fitzgerald classic, “Miss Otis Regrets” pulls you in at the soft beginning of the track, but just might have you reaching for the volume control near the end, as does Shelby Lynne’s “Just a Little Loving.” The LaScalas kind of sneak up on you.” – Tone Publications