Klipsch La Scala (1963–1999)
The La Scala is one of the longest-lived speaker designs in audio history, introduced at the 1963 Consumer Electronics Show in New York and built in Hope, Arkansas, until 1999. Paul W. Klipsch developed it as a larger, high-powered alternative to cinema and monitor speakers, and it quickly found a home in churches, civic auditoriums, and PA use — Paul Klipsch himself noted that over 40% of all La Scalas went to churches. At $645 per pair in 1963, it offered a fully horn-loaded, three-way design at a fraction of the cost of the flagship Klipschorn.
Conceptually, the La Scala is a Klipschorn without the corner. Where the Klipschorn uses room corners to complete its bass horn, the La Scala folds its bass horn entirely within the cabinet, so it can sit flush against a wall or on a stage without needing corner placement. The result is a speaker that shares its larger sibling's heritage but works in far more locations. The high-frequency K-77 phenolic dome compression driver and K-55 midrange driver sit on a 2-inch horn, while a K-33-E 15″ woofer handles the low end through the folded exponential bass horn. The crossover is set at 4500Hz.
The specs tell the story of a design built for efficiency above all: 104dB sensitivity at 1W/1m, 8-ohm nominal impedance, and 100 watts maximum continuous power handling. Frequency response is rated at 51Hz–20kHz (±4dB) — the bass roll-off at 51Hz is the speaker's most commonly cited limitation. Each cabinet measures 36″ high by 24.25″ wide by 20.75″ deep and weighs 124 lbs, built from birch plywood with zero-defect, military-grade construction. The La Scala also holds a footnote in history as the first speaker designed with computer-synthesized circuit design, using the MUMATH computer algebra system.
Used pairs typically sell in the $2,500–$5,000 range depending on condition and age, with crossover capacitor replacement being the most common maintenance item. The La Scala remains part of Klipsch's Heritage Series, positioned below the Klipschorn and above the Heresy — which was originally designed to serve as a center channel between a pair of La Scalas.
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