Open minded consideration of different speaker types as main daily drivers
Ok, I am looking at a rebuild of my main listening room. For this space I am considering the following choices, that fall within what is a reasonable budget. Legacy Audio Focus SE, Klipsch Klipschorn and La Scala (both the AK7 and AK6 as well as the AL5 and AL6 in the La Scala), Cornwall and Volti Audio. I have serious questions about the sonic differences between the AL5 and AL6 La Scala and the Klipschorn AK6 and AK7. Are the new models worth the price premium? Or are the previous models so close that paying roughly a 1/3 more for the new models is not worth it? Or are the improvements so dramatic that its a no-brainer to move up. Money is always an object so consideration of whether the price increase delivers on value is a consideration. Then moving out of the horn speaker arena into the direct drivers offered by Legacy. Clearly these will not deliver the live nature that the horn based systems will but do they deliver a better daily driver experience on a wider variety of program material? I want to elevate my average experience, not have a peak experience once a month and be drowning in mediocrity until the next peak experience. None of these speakers come cheap. Given the money invested I want the best ROI I can get. Please if you have heard these 3 or 4 speakers please weigh in and help me make a choice I can live with and be happy with long term.
You can have a elevated experience with the Lascala AL6....IF you go with the active crossover package klipsch's Delgado is offering with it. I wouldn’t waste my time with the rest.
|
the AL6 with the active crossover and its requirement for 3 stereo amplifiers to support is beyond affordable. That adds at least another 5k to the cost of the system. Not to mention complexity. I'm gonna pass on that because of the cost and complexity. I have never had a bi-wired system and certainly not a tri-wired system. Never could wrap my head around why I would want that. Technically I see why they do it and can see there might be sonic improvements by doing so, but can hardly justify the additional cost over what is already a pretty darned expensive speaker to begin with. The Volti speakers below the top of the line Vittoria are a consideration, though they seem pricey for what they are. The Legacy Focus SE seems to me the best choice overall, though I have not heard them. They have all the 'right stuff' to be good. @deep_333 - I am leaning hard in the direction of the AL6 but I cannot swallow the idea that their active crossover and the financial hit that it imposes is a great value. Maybe I am selling it short. Since it will be used with a receiver with the latest and greatest version of Audessey built in I would think I would get the equalization required via that receiver. Further if I need more than Audessey provides, Dirac is available for the Cinema 40 I will be using. |
The active crossover is the only way to mitigate some flaws and elevate the klipsch heritage...It can blow your socks off, if done correctly. But, if cost is the barrier, we could attempt to simplify things then and bring the cost down drastically... Get a pair of Tekton Encore monitors $3000 /pair and put them on stands. It is not one of the gigantic backbreaking tektons like a moab or symphony, but shall provide the essence of it, especially if you can bass manage it with some subwoofers ( shouldn’t be a problem since you seem to be already in the Marantz/Audyssey eco system, which comes with all the tools) https://tektondesign.com/product/full-range-speakers/monitors-loudspeakers/encore-monitor/#color If expanding into multichannel at a later time, you could possibly get a matching center and surrounds from the Tekton guy, i suppose... I could attempt to classify it as a hifi horn & concentric driver hybrid type of sound with detail and harmonics you never heard before in recordings you may have heard a thousand times.... But, the genius of the Tekton guy’s sound at the charity price can’t quite be explained too well. It needs to be heard/lived with.
P.S. For high fidelity purposes, you really should not be getting a AVR. Packing all the power amp sections into that chassis with the upstream electronics is never a good idea. Get the Marantz PrePro like the AV10 sometime instead....or even an older prepro such as the AV7705, at the least. You could match the prepro with separate hifi power amps. Repurpose the AVR for hometheater duties in some other room.
|
Focusing on the horn speakers, any of the Voltis will retain their value better than any of the Klipsch. If these speakers are endgame, then residual value doesn't matter, but if you get another itch that needs scratching, you'll take a comparative beating on the Klipsch. Regarding the Klipsch Active Crossover, give me a miniDSP SHD with DIRAC at a third of the price with 10x the functionality, six days a week, and twice on Sunday. Enjoy! |
I have tested dozens of speakers in my home with a relatively excellent but modest setup. I had the Klipsch Heresy speakers for several months. My wife and I both thought they were pretty good, but the horns were quite fatiguing. Soon after, I discovered leaf tweeters and highly recommend trying them. The air, sparkle, musicality make my speakers something I can listen to and enjoy all day long with no fatigue. That’s what makes a good daily driver in my case. |
