I owned Cornwalls for 10 years and recently became a Lascala Dad and the horn loaded woofer sounds much tighter. Do I miss the deeper bass yes but the huge midrange of the LS makes up for it. I’m officially hooked on horn loaded bass!
As announced i got my pair of Cornwalls last tuesday. Combined with my new Denon PMA-A110 and a Bluesound Node 2i it is a dream that has come true and they instant blew me away. I couldn't be happier :)
I can understand why some may want to level balance the speakers, so you don't equate "louder" with "better" but not balancing like you're doing also lets you experience the benefit of that additional sensitivity. That shouldn't be discounted, especially for people considering low power valve amps. I didn't realize they were so close in physical size. I knew the Cornwall was big, but I didn't realize it was so close in size to the LaScala.
Thanks for watching! We for sure understand both sides and, its possible we will balance in other videos, but for our current purposes we are going with head to head/as is. Yes! there is a difference in width and height but they are certainly close. The Cornwall comes in at 38" tall and the LaScala is 40" so, only 2"! They are also only 1" different in width. The depth with that folded horn is significant though. The LaScalas will need and additional 10" over the Cornwalls.
great job guys! thanks! lol Jason, the LS have been used in theaters for many years. IMHO when ppl think of live sound, they think of what they heard (unknowingly) through LS! I have both. When I want to be in the room with the musicians I listen to the LS. When I want to be int the studio with the engineer, I listen to the CW.
I love the presence of the La Scala but really dig that bass extension on the Cornwall. If I'm paying the premium for the La Scala, I think I'd have to go that extra step and get Klipschorns (if I had proper corners for them, which I don't).
What we see a lot of people do is go with a pair of LaScalas paired with a nice subwoofer. You get the punchiness of the horn loaded woofer in addition to the deep extension of the sub. It also pulls you away from needing the corner for the K-horn. A lot of happy Klipsch fans (including Trey) go this route.
While the new Klipshorns have changed, they do still need a corner for top tier performance. The new LF cabinet will allow you to tow these in a bit and angle them to better suit the room, but this isn't to say you can place them in the center of the room. They do still function significantly better placed tightly in a corner and we wouldn't recommend purchasing if the room you plan to put them in doesn't fit. If you don't have the corners, you'll likely be happier with the LaScalas.
@@mdr4670 if youre wanting to stick to Klipsch, the SPL-150 dips down to 18. Outside of Klipsch, we see a lot of Klipsch/SVS combos that will get you where you need to go. :)
Great video! I have heard both is these in the same room same system (McIntosh MA7200). Not switched back and forth like this. But for me the added deep bass of the Cornwall can not be over looked. I much preferred the Cornwall IV. Now if I were to add subs (and would as ALL systems need highpassed subs!) I would choose the La scala. But honesty both were a pass for me. At the same prices you can get a revel 226be and 228be which are on another level for me (more natural) Totally different but that is what this hobby is all about.
Thanks for watching! There are a million things that can be said and a million opinions across the board but, all that really matters for your home is what you like to hear and what sounds great to you. There is no one "right" way. Enjoy those Revels :)
Thanks for the comparison. It is amazing to see how the tiers stack up. The Cornwall stomped the Fortes and here it sounded ”weaker”. Good bass though.
Thanks for watching! There is for sure a difference in tiers. Some differences are subtle, others are pretty in your face. Be sure to check em out in person if you have the option, and let us know what you think!
Well, I’m not there obviously and I’m listening through my iPhone......I think Klipsch should make a LaCornwall !! Take the top of the LaScalla and the bottom of the Cornwall 😬 For the record, I just hauled a pair of Cornwall iv into my living room!!!😬 Thanks for what you do. Still want Heresy iv and subs vs Cornwall please!
Thanks for watching! With the LaScalas vs the Cornwalls, a lot comes down to the low frequency extension, but a lot is also in the type of bass that you like. Digging a bit deeper vs the punch. How are the Cornwalls sounding in your living room? Loving em? We still plan to do speaker + sub vs other speaker comparisons but, not sure exactly when those will roll as we have quite a long list of items to cover right now. I'm excited to hear that compare myself when we can though!
@@TopShelfAudio the Cornwall iv’s are in place but I haven’t moved the rest of the furniture around as needed yet. They’re BIG and I love it !!! I played them at low volume just to make sure the connections were solid but the couch is blocking the bottom half of the right speaker. I’ll get it squared away n let you know.
Thanks for the video. It's six of one and a half dozen of the other for me. They both have their strong points. And they're both impressive either way. Need to hear both with some Mötorhead and Slayer now.
Thanks for watching! Couldn't agree more. It was a tough battle and they both killed it. All we can walk away from this saying with certainty though is; whichever route you end up going, you won't be at all disappointed. :) When you're ready to listen side by side, hit up Cory on and schedule a time to go to the new showroom. There you can listen to every speaker in the heritage line in a home style environment as opposed to in a cold store setting.
I sold my La Scala twenty years ago (space constraints) . I wish I never did. Their price has gone through the roof, and I've yet to find a speaker I enjoyed more than those speakers.
They're expensive but I mean, it's pretty on-par with inflation. Back in 1972 you could buy a brand new Mustang for like $2,800 or something. If you run the speakers available during that time period through an inflation calculator, they pretty much cost the same. This last iteration bumped it up a little but before that it was nearly identical.
Thanks for the video. Awaiting delivery of my Cornwall IV, but now having LaScala envy.. pairing the CW with some Mac gear so I’m still confident they will sound amazing.
It would be nice when you start your videos to let us know what speaker we are hearing. I’ve watched several and about 1/2 way thru seems like you do post what speaker is playing but at the onset it’s a guessing game to me and probably every one else. Thanks for all your effort
Thanks for watching! These are primarily for the commentary as, with all of the compression of TH-cam, not having the ability to control the listeners system (typically phone), and so forth, it's impossible to get a real idea of what they sound like in the room and stating which is which creates a potentially unfair bias. We always recommend auditioning in person before purchasing. We initially didn't include which is which at all and listed time frames of the changes in the description. That said, we took a pole on the Klipsch owners Facebook group and this seemed to be the top requested option; to introduce part way through. For sure not perfect option and wont please everyone but, we do what we can to please the majority of the audience! -Jason
@@sebastianschiefner1428Cornwalls are fenomenal for electronic music..l adore how the electronic music sounds on my Cornwalls..that tight soucy bass kills it and dynamic of everything..juicy really juicy..try it :)
Good head-to-head. It sounded to me (deep base notes aside) that the Cornwall was missing some key information in the music. I preferred the more raw/real? sounding La Scala.
Thanks for watching! There are so many differences between these two models, it makes for a pretty intense battle. A lot of it comes down to the content you listen to as well.
As they were originally designed as PA speakers, they are designed in a way that they will sound awesome in every environment. Check out The LaScala History video if you haven't yet seen it. Trey discusses this a bit more in depth and goes over his first experiences with the LaScala and some of the places in history it has been used.
That's a night and day difference. I really adore my Cornwall IV but the La Scalas sound so much more open and clear. The CWIV sound compressed in comparison (though I know the absolutely do not). I will definitely own some La Scala in the future. It's a shame that Klipsch does not offer a matching sub.
Hey guys ! I’ve been a Klipsch soldier for nearly 45 years my first pair were Heresy’s in 1977 I was 15 years old , the next set were industrial Lascala’s a few years later my junior year high school and then I got married and had family and let them go for diapers and a station wagon… but I found a set of Cornwallis that I still have and a few stimulus checks back I picked up another set of industrial Lascala’s except they came with added Base bins with no drivers in them , the full set are original in great condition and I’ve been looking for matching drivers but they are hard to find , however I did find a set of Jensen 4 ohm that someone recommended I’m currently bi amping using my old crown xls602 for the main and a set of D150’s bridge mono with the bins and I use the a crown DC300 on the Cornwalls . My question is does Klipsch use the same ohm drivers in the base bins and could there be daisy chained on there own channel right left channel and would you wire the bin off of the low feq main crossover ? As of now I use a beringer ultra graph that has a build in low sub input/out to 25hz . They sound good but … I would like to get a trusted option on the best practices and optimize the sound . Also this is just my personal listening system I’m lucky we are in the middle of 160 acre vineyard and I have a old barn renovated for AV and this year we would like to add projection outside of barn with a mini amphitheater for entertainment with friends and family ? Thank for all the great content Allen S Yakima Valley Wa
Hey Allen, I’m in Walla Walla. You and I same age. When you had Klipsch I had Dahlquist DQ10s. I just bought my first pair of Klipsch “the fives” and loving them. Enjoy!
Thanks for watching! I understand that the originals are hard to come by. Not impossible but for sure hard. (you can look as second hand shops like ebay or places that make replacements like Simply Speakers). Honestly, I can't in good conscience recommend anything I haven't personally worked on/with. Trust your ears though. If they sound good, isn't that the ultimate end game anyways? -Jason
Thanks for watching! The device you're listening on has a lot to do with playback. For sure not the best recording on that track though. With the Heritage line, you get exactly what you put into it. Faults and all. :)
Thanks for watching. There are links to all of the artists (except for Distill) in the notes section. While there is not one specific place you can find them, they are all online to a degree. We are considering sponsoring a conglomerate Spotify album to include all of these artists together in one place. We will keep you guys updated if we move forward with it. :)
Back around 1980 I auditioned Heresy, Cornwall, La Scala and K-horn. I loved the K-horn but my house would not accommodate them. The Heresy was out of the question. I found the La Scala too harsh so I took home the Cornwalls. I currently own Forte 1 and Forte 2. I bought and sold Forte 3. My favorite speaker is my Forte I.
@@TopShelfAudio I have not heard the Forte IV. Since I prefer the I over the II and the II over the III, I am not all that excited about even hearing the IV. I have had over 200 components in my life and easily 25 or more speakers. I sold my first Cornwalls to get the superior Rogers Studio 1. I had Cornwall III too, but could not stand their cabinet resonance which is much less of a problem with any of the Fortes I have had. But the Klipsch I owned with the MOST cabinet resonance was my Belles.
I spent 2 years and 12 thousand dollars designing and building my own speakers. I use a Bob Carver Sunfire I had refurbished by Sunfire Bill. The woofer is a Scanspeak 13" Revelator, the midrange is a Morel 6" TSCM Titanium, and the tweeters are the Raal Originals. I got all silver, gold, and oil caps, copper foil coils, really went all out. They're pretty mindblowing. But I just have to have that dream set, the corner horns, so these will probably just end up being a center channel speaker and a spare.
Would love to hear your system! Description sounds intense. I'm sure you won't be disappointed going with the CW or the LS as a center. They are pretty amazing as well. -Jason
Using a pair of AL-3s as my L&R in a 5.1.2 isn't easy when the other speakers are all reference series, but it's not absolutely horrible. Some level balancing had to be done of course. I might try and go with 5 Heresy II's as my C, SL, SR, and atmos. 🤔 Prop two Heresy's up on the La Scalas like atmos modules... 🤣 No no.
The Heresys as surrounds would work great with your LaScalas! That said, you may want something beefier as the center. I would lean more toward a third LaScala if at all possible. If going in one at a time, I would always upgrade my front stage first, and surrounds later if not possible to upgrade all at once.
You logic does not compute reference not balancing output. Once you get a speaker home, you are going to play it at the volume you prefer. If you prefer the LOUDER AL5 you will prefer the AL5. If you prefer the CW IV slightly less loud sound, you will prefer the CW IV. To compare speakers the output level must be balanced. Otherwise the louder speaker will almost always win out, especially if they are very similar in sound to begin with. Imagine comparing a Celestion SL6 to a Klipsch horn without balancing the levels between a 82 dB speaker and a 106 dB speaker, the Celestion would not stand a chance in hell. And yet if you matched the levels some might greatly prefer the Celestion SL6. One needs a 200 watt amp for the Celestion and a 5 watt amp for the K-horns.
While both sides are understandable, the idea is here is to compare speaker vs speaker, not just to find the tonal differences. To introduce no variables other than the speakers themselves. Down to the wires used, everything is the same going into both units. Yes, it is true that this may create an advantage toward one speaker or the other, but that advantage is deserved. The advantage is a real life advantage that will be re-created with any system you plug these units into. This advantage may very well be the reason one would select one over the other.
The folded horn makes all the difference on the bass IMO. The best bass guitar amp cabinet was the, sadly no longer produced Acoustic 301 cabinet back in the 1960s-1970s in California. 18" folded horn cabinet. LS Folded horn all the way. However, always subjective... Thanks Guys
Wish I could be more help but honestly haven't touched either of these specific models. that said, I typically would lean more towards Macs in most scenarios. -Jason
Thanks for watching! At this time, his music is only available for streaming on his website. I did reach out and let him know of your interest though and, If this changes in the future, we will update with purchase links. :)
Question. Like a few here I actually prefer the bass extension on the CW but I plan on using a sub. Just a bass guy! Wonder if that changes the game with a sub & then which one?
Adding a sub to any of these is a game changer. When we compare speaker vs speaker, it's just that, with no ad-ons...Raw and straight across. It has been requested
@@TopShelfAudio most of my listening has been with a single subwoofer in systems as bass is non directional. Until I heard a friends system using 2 subs Velodyne 15 inch subs and Forte ll's. The best combination I have heard, then again never had the opportunity to hear the flagship offerings from Klipsch.....
To be honest we thought the whole exercise was rubbish and was hoping people would only pay attention to the comments afterwards. That's not how it went down, people are trying to study this stuff. Later videos we did a better job at identifying which one was which. But we can't justify reshooting anything.
It looks like you have each pair of speakers spaced 4 feet apart. I recall the LS manual recommended a longer minimum distance? have a 22’ x 14’ room, but doorways on either of the shorter sides gives me 10’ wall space. Would the 10’ wall be too narrow for La Scala?
The manual will recommend an optimal distance but, that's not to say they won't sound awesome if these "rules" aren't followed to a T. There are tons of other factors that will come into play in your room, as well as any other...but they for sure sounded awesome here. I'm sure they would perform great in your environment with some tinkering in the setup to get it just right. :) -Jason
Hmm hard to say, they are different for sure. Although through this audio the Cornwall sounds like the sound is coming from a box and the La Scala just sounds much more open and effortless.
We've actually gone back and forth about this a few times. The idea is that, we want a real life compare with the only variable being the speaker itself. Same source, amp, wires, everything. Balancing would give an unfair advantage to one or the other. We may go back in the future and balance to check for tonal differences, but just starting out, we feel this way gives the best speaker vs speaker comparison.
@@TopShelfAudio Even small difference of +2dB will favor that particular component. You can test it. Have someone give Cornwalls 2-3dB advantage and see what you think. Easy. Matching SPL levels mandatory in such a test. Same goes for any other transducer or electronics.
Shouldn’t the computer volume either up all the way, or even completely out of the picture if you’re (hopefully) bypassing the computer’s gain or signal?
Gain structure and what volume should be set where with amps/preamps/sources/etc has been a big question we have received and, actually one we will be covering in our upcoming Q&A session set to release this upcoming Saturday (4/17). Tune in there and we will cover it more in depth than we could in text/in the comments section. :)
When I came to pick up my heresys at PHT as I was leaving I was offered to demo anything. I decided to check out the Cornwall IVs, after loving the sound and all then me and my gf were scared these small Heresys weren’t gonna do it anymore. Were we wrong… Honestly comparing the demo area to our small living room also probably did it because to us, the heresys just sounded as amazing. We are no audiophiles so we can’t speak what small details were better or not, but we are loving our heresys so much on our small home. Thanks PHT!
Thanks for watching! If you were purchasing new subs, wouldn't recommend those as, you're not going to dig too much deeper than the CWs are already capable of. That said, if you already own them, it's not going to hurt throwing them in and experimenting. will take some of the heavy lifting off of the CWs and let them focus more on the higher frequencies. -Jason
Thanks for the experiment! I'm contemplating getting Cornwall IV. Can you give me some advice on room placement, here is my situation. The only place I can put them is in the middle of my basement, there would not be any walls or corners within 8-10 feet of the speakers in all directions. Additionally the widest I can space them is 8 feet. Additionally the listening couch must be 9 feet in front of the speakers. Am I to tight? Behind the couch the nearest wall is 8 feet away. Behind the speakers the nearest wall is 8 feet away. To the left/right nearest walls are 10 feet away. Basically the basement has other things going on with all the walls so the Cornwalls must occupy the room middle. Is this ok?
Without seeing the room its a bit hard to tell but, you've painted a pretty good picture. While it's not an ideal space, the Cornwalls should still perform pretty nicely here. 9ft is a bit tight so, you will want to tinker with the placement to see what sounds best for your environment, as well as still provides decent stereo separation. Room prep and alignment will be interesting, but I think it'll still be a great fit for you. -Jason
@@TopShelfAudio Thanks! I'm retiring this year so want to splurge on big speakers. And I'm into vacuum tubes so need a speaker thats efficient. And of course I learned going to Axpona for years that I really like horns, that I had to learn, every horn demo room I'd go into I just liked. The expensive low-efficiency dome driver systems all started to sound the same to me and needed hundreds of watts to get low level details in the music to excite the air enough. My wife and I will be at Axpona in a few weeks heading straight to the Klipsch room.
When we shot this we were still tinkering with our format. We held the reveal of which was which til the middle to avoid distraction and bias and focus on commentary. We do have the popup, but it starts later in the video at about the 11 minute mark. Hope this helps :) -Jason
I really like your videos comparing speakers, no blushit, just honest information from serious professionals that really know what they talk about. Maybe it would be interesting to use some classical music in future videos. After all, we know that Paul Klipsch originally designed his speakers to enjoy his classical music and jazz music. A personal favorite of mine is “The Battle” from Hans Zimmer. This is not only an awesome song but also very well recorded.
Thanks for watching! We unfortunately cannot use any music we do not have licensing for on screen in these videos. That said, we do listen to a ton off screen before giving our final opinions and these are just the final cuts. In episode 33, we added some bonus content of Cory jumping into the playlist we use to test speakers and giving more info on each track and why it's used. These are the ones we listen to off screen. We also shared a link in the description to the spotify playlist we created for this as well if you'd like to take a listen. :) -Jason
Sitting at home I know we hear things way different. Which speakers are playing when you hit the remote on the left? It sounds more open and blended from my seat.
Thank you for watching! We do not list which speaker is which during the first few tracks. This allows you to listen without bias. About halfway through, we add a note on screen with every switch. For this particular video, this comes in on the third track around the 11 minute mark.
I heard both of these in the showrooms and the La Scala is cleaner mid to high. Missing some bottom end but not by much to the Cornwalls. The Cornwalls are good but the La Scalas seem much better in complex music. I'd buy the La Scalas with a good sub and never look back.
That is a great option. Thats actually what Trey uses in his main listening environment. 3 LaScalas as mains, Heresys as rears, and I believe a pair of THX Ultra Subs. -Jason
Great comparison. BUt as athers pointed out, you should really equalize the level to better appreciate the differences in tonal presentation. Your argument that sort of "you get what you get", doesn't hold. If one is used to 85 dB speakers, when he buys a new pair with 105dB, he won't listen with the volume in the same position be assured, unless he wants his ears to bleed... same goes for 3 dB difference, or less.
Thanks for watching! It's possible that we do a level balanced compare in the future but, this is the route we went with this as, we wanted the only variable to be the speakers themselves. everything else is identical throughout the setup. -Jason
We love Cyrus and Parasound. There isn't really a one size fits all suggestion though. It will depend a lot on your personal connectivity requirements as well as listening habits. Feel free to give us a call to help select the best amp for your needs. -Jason
"You need to get something labeled home theater." Ha ha That was good, and it points out how silly some ideas are. If you want the best sound, get the best speakers.
Is there added distortion when you use the computer volume? I've always kept it at max(dac as well-or fixed) and use the volume level at preamp only. I'm honestly asking because there are a lot of sweet vintage preamps i want to try that have no remotes and i have always needed my remote even if it's only volume up and down on the remote(like a vtl tube integrated). If i can use the windows volume without adding distortion, it opens up a lot of my options for preamps without remote controls.
Inherently any device added to the system has the potential to add distortion. Bypassing certain items in the chain or limiting potential distortion is always ideal, but not always possible. Gain structure and what volume should be set where with amps/preamps/sources/etc has been a big question we have received and, actually one we will be covering in our upcoming Q&A session set to release this upcoming Saturday (4/17). Make sure you are subscribed and tune in there and we will cover it more in depth than we could in text/in the comments section. :)
Would love to. Subscribe and stay tuned, now that we are through this line, we will likely be jumping more into the home theater aspects in the future.
I own Cornwall iii and it would help if you guys played all types of music because the songs you are playing do not work those speakers and truly bring them out.
Thanks for watching! We unfortunately cannot use any music we do not have licensing for on screen in these videos. That said, we do listen to a ton off screen before giving our final opinions and these are just the final cuts. In episode 33, we added some bonus content of Cory jumping into the playlist we use to test speakers and giving more info on each track and why it's used. These are the ones we listen to off screen. We also shared a link in the description to the spotify playlist we created for this as well if you'd like to take a listen. :) -Jason
Thanks for watching! Unfortunately I can't answer this. While I would be doubtful of a subwoofer that would come out and actually be sold as "Heritage," due to there being no PWK affiliation, perhaps they will do something Heritage inspired in the future. Maybe veneer matching to sit next to Heritage speakers? Maybe a horn loaded subwoofer? Time will tell. :)
I listened to the AL5s live with a Copland 408. a lot of stuff, a record realism. for me a step above Cornwall .. you are told by someone who has had Cornwall for 5 years
Thanks for watching! They are for sure different beasts. I believe the LS is Treys favorite speaker. Check out his history video on it if you haven't already. :) -Jason
In the majority of these videos, the audio for both the listening, as well as the talking, is coming from the lavs with the commentary being the primary purpose of the videos.
I think the Cornwall sounds better all the way 🤷♂️ But hey, I am a bass head 🤪 Both sound great, and if one could get the bottomend from the Cornwall in the LaScalas, that would be perfect 😊
Honestly think you would be happy with either. The difference is interesting to say the least. In one hand you have the ability to dig a bit deeper and lower...but in the other, the elegance and the ultra smooth capabilities of the LF give you a more natural presence that you really -feel- in a completely different way. If you have the chance, listen to both in person. It's a gamechanger. :) -Jason
Bearer of bad news: recording a speaker and playing back on another speaker unfortunately doesn't sound the same as listening to the initial speaker in person. These videos are made to provide our opinions as we listen as opposed to giving an idea of what the speaker *really* sounds like. We've toyed with the idea of micing the room but, the gain is minimal as, 90% of the end users would still be listening to the audio through a 1" full range driver playing through their phones. These need to be listened to in person to fully appreciate. We aren't trying to fake that kind of experience...but we are trying to help shed some light on the differences.
Thank you for the feedback! We didn't initially include an overlay on our videos saying which is which, as this creates a bias while listening and it's often times difficult to tell the difference when not listening to the units in person. That said, due to feedback like yours, we've started adding in the overlay to say what is playing. If you watch through, the first couple of song will not include the overlay so the viewer can listen without bias. After that, we drop in an overlay to say what is playing. If you'd like to skip to the tracks where we say which speaker is playing, this starts about half way through at around 11 minutes.
You finally redeemed yourself with the Trey Johnson tune, and the guitar sounded thinner and wimpier on that track on the Cornwall. The La Scala is the only speaker on earth that can compare to the King Klipschorn
Bear in mind that I’m here on an iPad, but it’s a win for the Lascalas once again. If the difference is that big on an iPad, it must really be something in person. Lascalas are always gonna win in this matchup!
Great video! The La Scala is more spaced out more airy a little bit more forward but more detailed better detail retrieval better separation but you lose a little bit of the bottom end sickness and depth as Cornwall but they are very expensive speakers to La Scala but if I had to choose which one sounded better obviously I would go with La Scala coming from a guy that already owns cornwall Iv damn but that price though $$$$ fuck that I’ll keep cornwall or if I want even better detail retrieval better clarity and details I mean I do use a pair of focal Aria 948 pretty different sounding speakers because they’re not horns but more smooth top and more clarity more detail more separation wow that one has the best details of all of them. That’s my opinion! Would be so bad ass if you guys did a review of the Aria 948 versus cornwall for but I mean two different speakers but it would be fun. 🙏🤘🥇
Thanks for watching and thanks for your opinion! The Cornwalls are awesome! While the LaScala has it's advantages, can't go wrong with the Cornwall either.
It would be GREAT if you would choose REAL ROCK like Boston..Zeppelin...Greta Van Fleet...Van halen...Aldo Nova....Journey etc....rather than that primitive "metal"
I’m not sure but I think they get dinged by TH-cam for copyright issues if they do that. I believe they have “permission “ from the bands they do use. I believe they are local and welcome the added exposure.
We would love to show more classic music and more items that everyone would know and be able to sing along to. Please know, we do listen to these things off camera. Our judgment and the things we say are not solely based on what you see on screen. Unfortunately, due to copyright restrictions though, we can't put these tracks on screen or the video will be pulled and we would possibly be fined. In the future, we hope to widen our collection, but we have to get permissions from the artists on anything we play.
Yeah, that first cut might as well have been a WHITE NOISE generator ! Those two speakers could not sound more different. Differences in the top frequencies heard in an instant, the midrange horn area are simply TWO different colors all together!
There are issues with licensing. as soon as we can figure that out we'll do better. as it stands, I don't want to get sued or have our channel dropped due to trying to make random people on TH-cam happy by playing music that we don't have a license for. Just not worth it. We tried to highlight some lesser known local bands who were gracious enough to provide free licenses to get their name out. That's the best I can legally provide at the moment without risking things that I don't want to risk. Hopefully some people enjoys it. -- Cory
Too many variables to say yeah you're right. Cornwall 4's definitely don't sound nasally in person. I'd never audition a speaker using a random playback device to play a video taken in a random room and random recording with a random microphone, but people like it so here we are. ;) -- Cory
Great idea comparing those two speakers, BUT you definitely should have played some famous songs that everyone knows. Also, you never mentioned which speakers you were playing. Lastly, whatever you’re recording on for your listeners sounds like complete crap.
Thanks for the input. Would love to utilize other recordings but unfortunately, due to copyright restrictions, those recordings will be pulled if aired. We use tracks that we have permission to use as to avoid legal ramifications. If you personally know the artists of some "famous songs" you'd like to hear, and they are willing to allow us to utilize them, please let us know. As for not knowing which was playing, we do this purposefully in the beginning. It allows the listener to listen without bias or distraction. About halfway through though, (around the 11 minute mark) we introduce the labels on which is playing. -Jason
Actually, we do. The first couple of tracks we leave it off to prevent bias while listening. On the 3rd or 4th track, we bring in titles with every switch to show which unit is playing. -Jason
Thanks for watching! Some people in general equate higher volumes to be better. "Better" is a relative term. Our goal is plain and simple - to have an environment where the only variable is the speakers.
I've had Klipschorn and Belle Klipsch. They burned in one of California's forest fires. LaScala's were hauled to MX and are in my bedroom. Thought about trying Cornwals untilninsaw this video. Any bass deficit can be overcome with a...for me Stereo Integrity 24" sub with four 12" passive radiators and mono amp. I'll be looking for another set of Belle's, laScala or boarded backend Khorns. So wonderful to be able to run 5hem off a receiver and not separate amps (old Yamaha z9 or 11 for the win)
Thanks for watching! We are somewhat limited on music selection as, we can only share the parts where we listen to music we have the rights to play. Just as a note though, these are primarily created for the commentary which is based on a long list of tracks played off camera. Unfortunately we can't play those parts due to copyright restrictions. -Jason
Hope you're enjoying that high horse you're riding on there bud. The idea is you, listen without bias for the first half. We give our thoughts on what we are actually hearing in the room because...lets face it...translation/compression thorough the mic and over TH-cam is fairly useless. These videos are primarily designed to discuss the differences we are hearing in person/in the room for those that can't get to a listening room to hear in person. That said, we actually do show which is playing for fun. It just comes later in the video. Click to halfway in/the 11 minute mark and we start showing which is which on screen for the remainder. Enjoy! -Jason
Thanks for watching! These are primarily for the commentary as, with all of the compression of TH-cam, not having the ability to control the listeners system (typically phone), and so forth, it's impossible to get a real idea of what they sound like in the room and stating which is which creates a potentially unfair bias. We always recommend auditioning in person before purchasing. We initially didn't include which is which at all and listed time frames of the changes in the description. That said, we took a pole on the Klipsch owners Facebook group and this seemed to be the top requested option; to introduce part way through. For sure not perfect option and wont please everyone but, we do what we can to please the majority of the audience! Click about halfway through and we tell which is which with every switch. -Jason
I owned Cornwalls for 10 years and recently became a Lascala Dad and the horn loaded woofer sounds much tighter. Do I miss the deeper bass yes but the huge midrange of the LS makes up for it.
I’m officially hooked on horn loaded bass!
there are some matching horn loaded designs coming out this spring
@@TopShelfAudioWhich one Bro?
As announced i got my pair of Cornwalls last tuesday. Combined with my new Denon PMA-A110 and a Bluesound Node 2i it is a dream that has come true and they instant blew me away. I couldn't be happier :)
Thanks for watching! Happy to hear it and I'm sure you'll enjoy them for years to come. :)
You guys have gone above and beyond! Love’n that La Scala! So cool of you guys doing all this work for us!
Thank you for watching! We are happy to help and glad to hear you are enjoying the content!
Cornwall sounds more balanced to me. La Scala sounds like the treble is boosted. Would need to listen in person but that’s what I got from the video.
I can understand why some may want to level balance the speakers, so you don't equate "louder" with "better" but not balancing like you're doing also lets you experience the benefit of that additional sensitivity. That shouldn't be discounted, especially for people considering low power valve amps.
I didn't realize they were so close in physical size. I knew the Cornwall was big, but I didn't realize it was so close in size to the LaScala.
Me too
Thanks for watching! We for sure understand both sides and, its possible we will balance in other videos, but for our current purposes we are going with head to head/as is.
Yes! there is a difference in width and height but they are certainly close. The Cornwall comes in at 38" tall and the LaScala is 40" so, only 2"! They are also only 1" different in width. The depth with that folded horn is significant though. The LaScalas will need and additional 10" over the Cornwalls.
great job guys! thanks!
lol Jason, the LS have been used in theaters for many years. IMHO when ppl think of live sound, they think of what they heard (unknowingly) through LS!
I have both. When I want to be in the room with the musicians I listen to the LS. When I want to be int the studio with the engineer, I listen to the CW.
La Scala's in pro cinema's? Interesting, never heard of that. -- Cory
I love the presence of the La Scala but really dig that bass extension on the Cornwall. If I'm paying the premium for the La Scala, I think I'd have to go that extra step and get Klipschorns (if I had proper corners for them, which I don't).
The new Klipschorns have sealed bass bins and no longer require corner placement.
What we see a lot of people do is go with a pair of LaScalas paired with a nice subwoofer. You get the punchiness of the horn loaded woofer in addition to the deep extension of the sub. It also pulls you away from needing the corner for the K-horn. A lot of happy Klipsch fans (including Trey) go this route.
While the new Klipshorns have changed, they do still need a corner for top tier performance. The new LF cabinet will allow you to tow these in a bit and angle them to better suit the room, but this isn't to say you can place them in the center of the room. They do still function significantly better placed tightly in a corner and we wouldn't recommend purchasing if the room you plan to put them in doesn't fit. If you don't have the corners, you'll likely be happier with the LaScalas.
@@TopShelfAudio Exactly which subs can keep up with LaScalas and still reach down to 20hz?
@@mdr4670 if youre wanting to stick to Klipsch, the SPL-150 dips down to 18. Outside of Klipsch, we see a lot of Klipsch/SVS combos that will get you where you need to go. :)
Thanks for doing these, fun to hear the difference even if on my end it's on my iPhone. 😀
Thanks for watching! You can certainly hear a difference on any device :)
you can really hear the difference if you Bluetooth to your streamer/AVR and play it on your home system
Another great video comparison! I love my Cornwall IV's, but darn I may need a pair of La Scala's next!
Thanks for watching! The LaScalas certainly would not disappoint!
Great video! I have heard both is these in the same room same system (McIntosh MA7200). Not switched back and forth like this. But for me the added deep bass of the Cornwall can not be over looked. I much preferred the Cornwall IV. Now if I were to add subs (and would as ALL systems need highpassed subs!) I would choose the La scala. But honesty both were a pass for me. At the same prices you can get a revel 226be and 228be which are on another level for me (more natural) Totally different but that is what this hobby is all about.
Thanks for watching! There are a million things that can be said and a million opinions across the board but, all that really matters for your home is what you like to hear and what sounds great to you. There is no one "right" way. Enjoy those Revels :)
Thanks for the comparison. It is amazing to see how the tiers stack up. The Cornwall stomped the Fortes and here it sounded ”weaker”. Good bass though.
Thanks for watching! There is for sure a difference in tiers. Some differences are subtle, others are pretty in your face. Be sure to check em out in person if you have the option, and let us know what you think!
Well, I’m not there obviously and I’m listening through my iPhone......I think Klipsch should make a LaCornwall !! Take the top of the LaScalla and the bottom of the Cornwall 😬
For the record, I just hauled a pair of Cornwall iv into my living room!!!😬
Thanks for what you do.
Still want Heresy iv and subs vs Cornwall please!
They’re called “Cornscalas” and I got a pair last spring. They’re different, but wow they rock.
Thanks for watching! With the LaScalas vs the Cornwalls, a lot comes down to the low frequency extension, but a lot is also in the type of bass that you like. Digging a bit deeper vs the punch.
How are the Cornwalls sounding in your living room? Loving em?
We still plan to do speaker + sub vs other speaker comparisons but, not sure exactly when those will roll as we have quite a long list of items to cover right now. I'm excited to hear that compare myself when we can though!
@@TopShelfAudio the Cornwall iv’s are in place but I haven’t moved the rest of the furniture around as needed yet. They’re BIG and I love it !!! I played them at low volume just to make sure the connections were solid but the couch is blocking the bottom half of the right speaker.
I’ll get it squared away n let you know.
Sounds awesome. Looks forward to hearing what you think once you get them squared away!
Thanks for the video. It's six of one and a half dozen of the other for me. They both have their strong points. And they're both impressive either way. Need to hear both with some Mötorhead and Slayer now.
Thanks for watching! Couldn't agree more. It was a tough battle and they both killed it. All we can walk away from this saying with certainty though is; whichever route you end up going, you won't be at all disappointed. :)
When you're ready to listen side by side, hit up Cory on and schedule a time to go to the new showroom. There you can listen to every speaker in the heritage line in a home style environment as opposed to in a cold store setting.
They sound very different from each other, but where does it tell me which set is playing?
I sold my La Scala twenty years ago (space constraints) . I wish I never did. Their price has gone through the roof, and I've yet to find a speaker I enjoyed more than those speakers.
They're expensive but I mean, it's pretty on-par with inflation. Back in 1972 you could buy a brand new Mustang for like $2,800 or something. If you run the speakers available during that time period through an inflation calculator, they pretty much cost the same. This last iteration bumped it up a little but before that it was nearly identical.
I remember looking at them when they were $3000
Thanks for the video. Awaiting delivery of my Cornwall IV, but now having LaScala envy.. pairing the CW with some Mac gear so I’m still confident they will sound amazing.
Trust me, LaScala envy or not, you will not be disappointed in the CW. Let us know how the setup goes and what you think when you get em playing!
@@TopShelfAudio will check back in when complete. Waiting on a C22 and MC275 to complete the setup.
@@csmking1 Will look forward to it. Good luck and have fun!
@@csmking1 Where can one purchase that Mac tube amp? I live in the woods far away from a major city?
It would be nice when you start your videos to let us know what speaker we are hearing. I’ve watched several and about 1/2 way thru seems like you do post what speaker is playing but at the onset it’s a guessing game to me and probably every one else. Thanks for all your effort
Thanks for watching! These are primarily for the commentary as, with all of the compression of TH-cam, not having the ability to control the listeners system (typically phone), and so forth, it's impossible to get a real idea of what they sound like in the room and stating which is which creates a potentially unfair bias. We always recommend auditioning in person before purchasing. We initially didn't include which is which at all and listed time frames of the changes in the description. That said, we took a pole on the Klipsch owners Facebook group and this seemed to be the top requested option; to introduce part way through. For sure not perfect option and wont please everyone but, we do what we can to please the majority of the audience!
-Jason
Great speakers, I’ll take the Cornwall’s because bass is the most important thing to me.
Thanks for watching! Cornwalls are a very popular choice. They sound awesome!
Are the Cornwalls good at fast dynamics to listen to electronic music?!
@@sebastianschiefner1428Cornwalls are fenomenal for electronic music..l adore how the electronic music sounds on my Cornwalls..that tight soucy bass kills it and dynamic of everything..juicy really juicy..try it :)
Good head-to-head. It sounded to me (deep base notes aside) that the Cornwall was missing some key information in the music. I preferred the more raw/real? sounding La Scala.
Thanks for watching! There are so many differences between these two models, it makes for a pretty intense battle. A lot of it comes down to the content you listen to as well.
You have to listen to the La Scala s out doors to appreciate them.
As they were originally designed as PA speakers, they are designed in a way that they will sound awesome in every environment. Check out The LaScala History video if you haven't yet seen it. Trey discusses this a bit more in depth and goes over his first experiences with the LaScala and some of the places in history it has been used.
Really excellent comparison. Ty.
Thanks for watching!
That's a night and day difference. I really adore my Cornwall IV but the La Scalas sound so much more open and clear. The CWIV sound compressed in comparison (though I know the absolutely do not). I will definitely own some La Scala in the future. It's a shame that Klipsch does not offer a matching sub.
they're coming out with some horn loaded designs hopefully this spring. They're just big and probably expensive.
Even on TH-cam you can hear a substantial difference!
Thanks for watching! There are definitely some big differences in this one!
There's a clear sound difference, however you don't specify which one is playing so I don't know which speaker is my favorite now of the two 🤷
Hey guys ! I’ve been a Klipsch soldier for nearly 45 years my first pair were Heresy’s in 1977 I was 15 years old , the next set were industrial Lascala’s a few years later my junior year high school and then I got married and had family and let them go for diapers and a station wagon… but I found a set of Cornwallis that I still have and a few stimulus checks back I picked up another set of industrial Lascala’s except they came with added Base bins with no drivers in them , the full set are original in great condition and I’ve been looking for matching drivers but they are hard to find , however I did find a set of Jensen 4 ohm that someone recommended I’m currently bi amping using my old crown xls602 for the main and a set of D150’s bridge mono with the bins and I use the a crown DC300 on the Cornwalls . My question is does Klipsch use the same ohm drivers in the base bins and could there be daisy chained on there own channel right left channel and would you wire the bin off of the low feq main crossover ? As of now I use a beringer ultra graph that has a build in low sub input/out to 25hz . They sound good but … I would like to get a trusted option on the best practices and optimize the sound . Also this is just my personal listening system I’m lucky we are in the middle of 160 acre vineyard and I have a old barn renovated for AV and this year we would like to add projection outside of barn with a mini amphitheater for entertainment with friends and family ?
Thank for all the great content
Allen S
Yakima Valley Wa
Hey Allen, I’m in Walla Walla. You and I same age. When you had Klipsch I had Dahlquist DQ10s. I just bought my first pair of Klipsch “the fives” and loving them. Enjoy!
Thanks for watching! I understand that the originals are hard to come by. Not impossible but for sure hard. (you can look as second hand shops like ebay or places that make replacements like Simply Speakers). Honestly, I can't in good conscience recommend anything I haven't personally worked on/with. Trust your ears though. If they sound good, isn't that the ultimate end game anyways?
-Jason
LOL, opening guitar in the THIRD track sounded like it was playing through a LESLIE speaker in full stop mode !!
Thanks for watching! The device you're listening on has a lot to do with playback. For sure not the best recording on that track though. With the Heritage line, you get exactly what you put into it. Faults and all. :)
Plase talk with the artist to give streaming a GO. I can't seem to find them anywhere!
Thanks for watching. There are links to all of the artists (except for Distill) in the notes section. While there is not one specific place you can find them, they are all online to a degree. We are considering sponsoring a conglomerate Spotify album to include all of these artists together in one place. We will keep you guys updated if we move forward with it. :)
Will you guys ever review Klipsch speakers with classical music?
Probably not.
@@TopShelfAudio awwwww...That's mostly what I listen to.
Back around 1980 I auditioned Heresy, Cornwall, La Scala and K-horn. I loved the K-horn but my house would not accommodate them. The Heresy was out of the question. I found the La Scala too harsh so I took home the Cornwalls. I currently own Forte 1 and Forte 2. I bought and sold Forte 3. My favorite speaker is my Forte I.
Great choice! What ever happened to the Cornwalls? Have you heard the Forte IV yet? It's really a huge difference from the III to the IV.
@@TopShelfAudio I have not heard the Forte IV. Since I prefer the I over the II and the II over the III, I am not all that excited about even hearing the IV. I have had over 200 components in my life and easily 25 or more speakers. I sold my first Cornwalls to get the superior Rogers Studio 1. I had Cornwall III too, but could not stand their cabinet resonance which is much less of a problem with any of the Fortes I have had. But the Klipsch I owned with the MOST cabinet resonance was my Belles.
I spent 2 years and 12 thousand dollars designing and building my own speakers. I use a Bob Carver Sunfire I had refurbished by Sunfire Bill. The woofer is a Scanspeak 13" Revelator, the midrange is a Morel 6" TSCM Titanium, and the tweeters are the Raal Originals. I got all silver, gold, and oil caps, copper foil coils, really went all out. They're pretty mindblowing. But I just have to have that dream set, the corner horns, so these will probably just end up being a center channel speaker and a spare.
Would love to hear your system! Description sounds intense. I'm sure you won't be disappointed going with the CW or the LS as a center. They are pretty amazing as well.
-Jason
Using a pair of AL-3s as my L&R in a 5.1.2 isn't easy when the other speakers are all reference series, but it's not absolutely horrible. Some level balancing had to be done of course. I might try and go with 5 Heresy II's as my C, SL, SR, and atmos. 🤔 Prop two Heresy's up on the La Scalas like atmos modules... 🤣 No no.
The Heresys as surrounds would work great with your LaScalas! That said, you may want something beefier as the center. I would lean more toward a third LaScala if at all possible. If going in one at a time, I would always upgrade my front stage first, and surrounds later if not possible to upgrade all at once.
You logic does not compute reference not balancing output. Once you get a speaker home, you are going to play it at the volume you prefer. If you prefer the LOUDER AL5 you will prefer the AL5. If you prefer the CW IV slightly less loud sound, you will prefer the CW IV. To compare speakers the output level must be balanced. Otherwise the louder speaker will almost always win out, especially if they are very similar in sound to begin with. Imagine comparing a Celestion SL6 to a Klipsch horn without balancing the levels between a 82 dB speaker and a 106 dB speaker, the Celestion would not stand a chance in hell. And yet if you matched the levels some might greatly prefer the Celestion SL6. One needs a 200 watt amp for the Celestion and a 5 watt amp for the K-horns.
While both sides are understandable, the idea is here is to compare speaker vs speaker, not just to find the tonal differences. To introduce no variables other than the speakers themselves. Down to the wires used, everything is the same going into both units. Yes, it is true that this may create an advantage toward one speaker or the other, but that advantage is deserved. The advantage is a real life advantage that will be re-created with any system you plug these units into. This advantage may very well be the reason one would select one over the other.
The folded horn makes all the difference on the bass IMO. The best bass guitar amp cabinet was the, sadly no longer produced Acoustic 301 cabinet back in the 1960s-1970s in California. 18" folded horn cabinet. LS Folded horn all the way. However, always subjective... Thanks Guys
Do any of you stay and watch the bloopers at the end?
I skip to the end!
Considering making a short with all of the Bloopers compiled. What do you guys think?
Convinced to go with the LaScalas but here’s my question. Macintosh MA 9500 or Hegel 590 for the amplifier?
Wish I could be more help but honestly haven't touched either of these specific models. that said, I typically would lean more towards Macs in most scenarios.
-Jason
Is Matt Sommers available anywhere? Can’t find it on Apple Music only on his site for streaming.
Thanks for watching! At this time, his music is only available for streaming on his website. I did reach out and let him know of your interest though and, If this changes in the future, we will update with purchase links. :)
Question. Like a few here I actually prefer the bass extension on the CW but I plan on using a sub. Just a bass guy! Wonder if that changes the game with a sub & then which one?
Adding a sub to any of these is a game changer. When we compare speaker vs speaker, it's just that, with no ad-ons...Raw and straight across. It has been requested
@@TopShelfAudio most of my listening has been with a single subwoofer in systems as bass is non directional. Until I heard a friends system using 2 subs Velodyne 15 inch subs and Forte ll's. The best combination I have heard, then again never had the opportunity to hear the flagship offerings from Klipsch.....
I like my Cornwall IVs but the Lascala with subs would be nuts!
LaScalas with subs is a great experience. Trey's LCR is 3LS paired with 2 THX subs. Sounds amazing.
-Jason
hmm...didn't know which was which when you guys were switching...?
To be honest we thought the whole exercise was rubbish and was hoping people would only pay attention to the comments afterwards. That's not how it went down, people are trying to study this stuff. Later videos we did a better job at identifying which one was which. But we can't justify reshooting anything.
It looks like you have each pair of speakers spaced 4 feet apart. I recall the LS manual recommended a longer minimum distance? have a 22’ x 14’ room, but doorways on either of the shorter sides gives me 10’ wall space. Would the 10’ wall be too narrow for La Scala?
The manual will recommend an optimal distance but, that's not to say they won't sound awesome if these "rules" aren't followed to a T. There are tons of other factors that will come into play in your room, as well as any other...but they for sure sounded awesome here. I'm sure they would perform great in your environment with some tinkering in the setup to get it just right. :)
-Jason
Hmm hard to say, they are different for sure. Although through this audio the Cornwall sounds like the sound is coming from a box and the La Scala just sounds much more open and effortless.
Everything sounds different on TH-cam. :) Check them out for yourself and go listen in person if at all possible!
-Jason
The La Scalas sound so much clearer!
So much love for both but both are completely different beasts.
-Jason
Sorry if this has been answered before, but are they level matched?
No volume level balance? Interesting approach.
We've actually gone back and forth about this a few times. The idea is that, we want a real life compare with the only variable being the speaker itself. Same source, amp, wires, everything. Balancing would give an unfair advantage to one or the other. We may go back in the future and balance to check for tonal differences, but just starting out, we feel this way gives the best speaker vs speaker comparison.
@@TopShelfAudio Even small difference of +2dB will favor that particular component. You can test it. Have someone give Cornwalls 2-3dB advantage and see what you think. Easy.
Matching SPL levels mandatory in such a test. Same goes for any other transducer or electronics.
Shouldn’t the computer volume either up all the way, or even completely out of the picture if you’re (hopefully) bypassing the computer’s gain or signal?
Gain structure and what volume should be set where with amps/preamps/sources/etc has been a big question we have received and, actually one we will be covering in our upcoming Q&A session set to release this upcoming Saturday (4/17). Tune in there and we will cover it more in depth than we could in text/in the comments section. :)
When I came to pick up my heresys at PHT as I was leaving I was offered to demo anything. I decided to check out the Cornwall IVs, after loving the sound and all then me and my gf were scared these small Heresys weren’t gonna do it anymore. Were we wrong…
Honestly comparing the demo area to our small living room also probably did it because to us, the heresys just sounded as amazing. We are no audiophiles so we can’t speak what small details were better or not, but we are loving our heresys so much on our small home. Thanks PHT!
awesome, enjoy. -- Cory
I have a couple of Rel T/7x Subs lying around, any comments on using these as high pass subs for the Cornwalls?
Thanks for watching! If you were purchasing new subs, wouldn't recommend those as, you're not going to dig too much deeper than the CWs are already capable of. That said, if you already own them, it's not going to hurt throwing them in and experimenting. will take some of the heavy lifting off of the CWs and let them focus more on the higher frequencies.
-Jason
Thanks for the experiment! I'm contemplating getting Cornwall IV. Can you give me some advice on room placement, here is my situation. The only place I can put them is in the middle of my basement, there would not be any walls or corners within 8-10 feet of the speakers in all directions. Additionally the widest I can space them is 8 feet. Additionally the listening couch must be 9 feet in front of the speakers. Am I to tight? Behind the couch the nearest wall is 8 feet away. Behind the speakers the nearest wall is 8 feet away. To the left/right nearest walls are 10 feet away. Basically the basement has other things going on with all the walls so the Cornwalls must occupy the room middle. Is this ok?
Without seeing the room its a bit hard to tell but, you've painted a pretty good picture. While it's not an ideal space, the Cornwalls should still perform pretty nicely here. 9ft is a bit tight so, you will want to tinker with the placement to see what sounds best for your environment, as well as still provides decent stereo separation. Room prep and alignment will be interesting, but I think it'll still be a great fit for you.
-Jason
@@TopShelfAudio Thanks! I'm retiring this year so want to splurge on big speakers. And I'm into vacuum tubes so need a speaker thats efficient. And of course I learned going to Axpona for years that I really like horns, that I had to learn, every horn demo room I'd go into I just liked. The expensive low-efficiency dome driver systems all started to sound the same to me and needed hundreds of watts to get low level details in the music to excite the air enough. My wife and I will be at Axpona in a few weeks heading straight to the Klipsch room.
I miss the pop up on the screen where it says which speaker is playing
When we shot this we were still tinkering with our format. We held the reveal of which was which til the middle to avoid distraction and bias and focus on commentary. We do have the popup, but it starts later in the video at about the 11 minute mark. Hope this helps :)
-Jason
I really like your videos comparing speakers, no blushit, just honest information from serious professionals that really know what they talk about.
Maybe it would be interesting to use some classical music in future videos. After all, we know that Paul Klipsch originally designed his speakers to enjoy his classical music and jazz music.
A personal favorite of mine is “The Battle” from Hans Zimmer. This is not only an awesome song but also very well recorded.
Thanks for watching! We unfortunately cannot use any music we do not have licensing for on screen in these videos. That said, we do listen to a ton off screen before giving our final opinions and these are just the final cuts.
In episode 33, we added some bonus content of Cory jumping into the playlist we use to test speakers and giving more info on each track and why it's used. These are the ones we listen to off screen. We also shared a link in the description to the spotify playlist we created for this as well if you'd like to take a listen. :)
-Jason
@@TopShelfAudio
I will sure check it out, thanks.
Sitting at home I know we hear things way different. Which speakers are playing when you hit the remote on the left? It sounds more open and blended from my seat.
Thank you for watching! We do not list which speaker is which during the first few tracks. This allows you to listen without bias. About halfway through, we add a note on screen with every switch. For this particular video, this comes in on the third track around the 11 minute mark.
I heard both of these in the showrooms and the La Scala is cleaner mid to high. Missing some bottom end but not by much to the Cornwalls. The Cornwalls are good but the La Scalas seem much better in complex music. I'd buy the La Scalas with a good sub and never look back.
That is a great option. Thats actually what Trey uses in his main listening environment. 3 LaScalas as mains, Heresys as rears, and I believe a pair of THX Ultra Subs.
-Jason
Great comparison. BUt as athers pointed out, you should really equalize the level to better appreciate the differences in tonal presentation. Your argument that sort of "you get what you get", doesn't hold. If one is used to 85 dB speakers, when he buys a new pair with 105dB, he won't listen with the volume in the same position be assured, unless he wants his ears to bleed... same goes for 3 dB difference, or less.
Thanks for watching! It's possible that we do a level balanced compare in the future but, this is the route we went with this as, we wanted the only variable to be the speakers themselves. everything else is identical throughout the setup.
-Jason
What are the amp preferences that you think work well with each?
We love Cyrus and Parasound. There isn't really a one size fits all suggestion though. It will depend a lot on your personal connectivity requirements as well as listening habits. Feel free to give us a call to help select the best amp for your needs.
-Jason
Where can I hear "Distill - Everything"?
come to Paducah KY and we will play whatever you want.
I'm halfway through and so far you are switching back and forth and NOT telling me which speaker is being played.
"You need to get something labeled home theater." Ha ha
That was good, and it points out how silly some ideas are. If you want the best sound, get the best speakers.
thanks for watching!
Is there added distortion when you use the computer volume? I've always kept it at max(dac as well-or fixed) and use the volume level at preamp only. I'm honestly asking because there are a lot of sweet vintage preamps i want to try that have no remotes and i have always needed my remote even if it's only volume up and down on the remote(like a vtl tube integrated). If i can use the windows volume without adding distortion, it opens up a lot of my options for preamps without remote controls.
Inherently any device added to the system has the potential to add distortion. Bypassing certain items in the chain or limiting potential distortion is always ideal, but not always possible. Gain structure and what volume should be set where with amps/preamps/sources/etc has been a big question we have received and, actually one we will be covering in our upcoming Q&A session set to release this upcoming Saturday (4/17). Make sure you are subscribed and tune in there and we will cover it more in depth than we could in text/in the comments section. :)
Please do comparison in hometheater/movies nextime.... thanks in advance !
Would love to. Subscribe and stay tuned, now that we are through this line, we will likely be jumping more into the home theater aspects in the future.
I own Cornwall iii and it would help if you guys played all types of music because the songs you are playing do not work those speakers and truly bring them out.
Thanks for watching! We unfortunately cannot use any music we do not have licensing for on screen in these videos. That said, we do listen to a ton off screen before giving our final opinions and these are just the final cuts.
In episode 33, we added some bonus content of Cory jumping into the playlist we use to test speakers and giving more info on each track and why it's used. These are the ones we listen to off screen. We also shared a link in the description to the spotify playlist we created for this as well if you'd like to take a listen. :)
-Jason
When is Klipsch going to come out with a true Heritage subwoofer?
Thanks for watching! Unfortunately I can't answer this. While I would be doubtful of a subwoofer that would come out and actually be sold as "Heritage," due to there being no PWK affiliation, perhaps they will do something Heritage inspired in the future. Maybe veneer matching to sit next to Heritage speakers? Maybe a horn loaded subwoofer? Time will tell. :)
I listened to the AL5s live with a Copland 408. a lot of stuff, a record realism. for me a step above Cornwall .. you are told by someone who has had Cornwall for 5 years
Thanks for watching! They are for sure different beasts. I believe the LS is Treys favorite speaker. Check out his history video on it if you haven't already. :)
-Jason
what are you using to record the sound on your vids?
In the majority of these videos, the audio for both the listening, as well as the talking, is coming from the lavs with the commentary being the primary purpose of the videos.
LS 'S ARE LIKE A CLEAR SUNNY DAY!!!!!!!
👊👊👊
I think the Cornwall sounds better all the way 🤷♂️ But hey, I am a bass head 🤪
Both sound great, and if one could get the bottomend from the Cornwall in the LaScalas, that would be perfect 😊
Thanks for watching. We see a lottt of people going LaScala + Sub. It's a great combo. :)
I love deep bass so I wonder how I would react to the two designs.
Honestly think you would be happy with either. The difference is interesting to say the least. In one hand you have the ability to dig a bit deeper and lower...but in the other, the elegance and the ultra smooth capabilities of the LF give you a more natural presence that you really -feel- in a completely different way. If you have the chance, listen to both in person. It's a gamechanger. :)
-Jason
Can the La Scala deliver deep Bass. I like hip hop and R&B. It’s tough me to understand the experience with R&B and Hip Hop on the La Scala
Well it sounded pretty cool on my 4 cerwin vega speakers anyways
Thanks for watching!
How do you record the sound? Everything sounds like crap!
Bearer of bad news: recording a speaker and playing back on another speaker unfortunately doesn't sound the same as listening to the initial speaker in person. These videos are made to provide our opinions as we listen as opposed to giving an idea of what the speaker *really* sounds like. We've toyed with the idea of micing the room but, the gain is minimal as, 90% of the end users would still be listening to the audio through a 1" full range driver playing through their phones. These need to be listened to in person to fully appreciate. We aren't trying to fake that kind of experience...but we are trying to help shed some light on the differences.
No captions when you switch on that remote...how should we know what speaker you are playing on..holy crap.
Thank you for the feedback! We didn't initially include an overlay on our videos saying which is which, as this creates a bias while listening and it's often times difficult to tell the difference when not listening to the units in person. That said, due to feedback like yours, we've started adding in the overlay to say what is playing. If you watch through, the first couple of song will not include the overlay so the viewer can listen without bias. After that, we drop in an overlay to say what is playing. If you'd like to skip to the tracks where we say which speaker is playing, this starts about half way through at around 11 minutes.
@@TopShelfAudio Many many thanks❤️
@@patrikbjorling4391 Thanks for watching :)
La Scala sounds hornier
Cornwalls will sound like more bass inside a room but
Not as much bass out doors. The opposite is also true.
Both are awesome but they for sure each have their own uses and their own sound.
You finally redeemed yourself with the Trey Johnson tune, and the guitar sounded thinner and wimpier on that track on the Cornwall. The La Scala is the only speaker on earth that can compare to the King Klipschorn
We will find out about that KHorn comparison soon. The LaScala vs KHorn episode is scheduled to launch on 4/24. :)
Cymbals is not through the tweeter.
depends on the Cymbal. The HF Crossover point is 4500. Some will be in HF and some in MF.
-Jason
The reason the Heresy is called that is because any speaker without a folded horn isn't a true Klipsch, in Paul's mind, lol
Not entirely true but it got its name as a result of something like that. Trey tells this story in the Heresy History video (Episode 3). Check it out!
LaScala takes it, is more alive.
Thanks for watching! A lot of back and forth on this one :)
Bear in mind that I’m here on an iPad, but it’s a win for the Lascalas once again. If the difference is that big on an iPad, it must really be something in person. Lascalas are always gonna win in this matchup!
Thanks for watching! Hearing these in person is like no other. It's like the artist is in the room with you. :)
The Cornwalls sound like a cereal box by comparison 😂
May seem like it on the video but, was much harder of a compare in person. Love both of these setups!
-Jason
C.O.R.N.W.A.L.L.S.!!!!!!
Was for sure a tough call on these two. Both amazing units.
-Jason
Great video! The La Scala is more spaced out more airy a little bit more forward but more detailed better detail retrieval better separation but you lose a little bit of the bottom end sickness and depth as Cornwall but they are very expensive speakers to La Scala but if I had to choose which one sounded better obviously I would go with La Scala coming from a guy that already owns cornwall Iv damn but that price though $$$$ fuck that I’ll keep cornwall or if I want even better detail retrieval better clarity and details I mean I do use a pair of focal Aria 948 pretty different sounding speakers because they’re not horns but more smooth top and more clarity more detail more separation wow that one has the best details of all of them. That’s my opinion!
Would be so bad ass if you guys did a review of the Aria 948 versus cornwall for but I mean two different speakers but it would be fun. 🙏🤘🥇
Thanks for watching and thanks for your opinion! The Cornwalls are awesome! While the LaScala has it's advantages, can't go wrong with the Cornwall either.
It would be GREAT if you would choose REAL ROCK like Boston..Zeppelin...Greta Van Fleet...Van halen...Aldo Nova....Journey etc....rather than that primitive "metal"
I’m not sure but I think they get dinged by TH-cam for copyright issues if they do that. I believe they have “permission “ from the bands they do use. I believe they are local and welcome the added exposure.
We would love to show more classic music and more items that everyone would know and be able to sing along to. Please know, we do listen to these things off camera. Our judgment and the things we say are not solely based on what you see on screen. Unfortunately, due to copyright restrictions though, we can't put these tracks on screen or the video will be pulled and we would possibly be fined. In the future, we hope to widen our collection, but we have to get permissions from the artists on anything we play.
Great speakers playing trash music.
Yeah, that first cut might as well have been a WHITE NOISE generator ! Those two speakers could not sound more different. Differences in the top frequencies heard in an instant, the midrange horn area are simply TWO different colors all together!
There are issues with licensing. as soon as we can figure that out we'll do better. as it stands, I don't want to get sued or have our channel dropped due to trying to make random people on TH-cam happy by playing music that we don't have a license for. Just not worth it. We tried to highlight some lesser known local bands who were gracious enough to provide free licenses to get their name out. That's the best I can legally provide at the moment without risking things that I don't want to risk. Hopefully some people enjoys it. -- Cory
La scala sounds like half a speaker
it kind of is lol
the difference is more apparent than I expected... one of these, my guess the C-IV, sounds nasally and scooped.
Too many variables to say yeah you're right. Cornwall 4's definitely don't sound nasally in person. I'd never audition a speaker using a random playback device to play a video taken in a random room and random recording with a random microphone, but people like it so here we are. ;) -- Cory
is that Trevor from GTA5?
I mean... probably. I we dont all know his full life story.
-Jason
Great idea comparing those two speakers, BUT you definitely should have played some famous songs that everyone knows. Also, you never mentioned which speakers you were playing. Lastly, whatever you’re recording on for your listeners sounds like complete crap.
Thanks for the input. Would love to utilize other recordings but unfortunately, due to copyright restrictions, those recordings will be pulled if aired. We use tracks that we have permission to use as to avoid legal ramifications. If you personally know the artists of some "famous songs" you'd like to hear, and they are willing to allow us to utilize them, please let us know.
As for not knowing which was playing, we do this purposefully in the beginning. It allows the listener to listen without bias or distraction. About halfway through though, (around the 11 minute mark) we introduce the labels on which is playing.
-Jason
Few dollars more lol, more like twice the price
Yeah there is a bit of a gap there. The next logical step in the line though.
-Jason
Why don't you say WHICH SPEAKER IS PLAYING? What a waste of time.
Actually, we do. The first couple of tracks we leave it off to prevent bias while listening. On the 3rd or 4th track, we bring in titles with every switch to show which unit is playing.
-Jason
I own both speakers, you have to match the db to review. Full stop. Most of your viewers are equating volume with better. Bummer.
Thanks for watching! Some people in general equate higher volumes to be better. "Better" is a relative term. Our goal is plain and simple - to have an environment where the only variable is the speakers.
La Scala all the way! There's no comparison! The Cornwall has that small midrange horn like a Heresy
A lot of it is dependent on the type of music you listen to. That said, you can tell Treys preference. His front stage in his house is 3x LS.
I've had Klipschorn and Belle Klipsch. They burned in one of California's forest fires. LaScala's were hauled to MX and are in my bedroom. Thought about trying Cornwals untilninsaw this video. Any bass deficit can be overcome with a...for me Stereo Integrity 24" sub with four 12" passive radiators and mono amp. I'll be looking for another set of Belle's, laScala or boarded backend Khorns. So wonderful to be able to run 5hem off a receiver and not separate amps (old Yamaha z9 or 11 for the win)
You guys listen to really uninspiring music.
Thanks for watching! We are somewhat limited on music selection as, we can only share the parts where we listen to music we have the rights to play. Just as a note though, these are primarily created for the commentary which is based on a long list of tracks played off camera. Unfortunately we can't play those parts due to copyright restrictions.
-Jason
It is absolutely galactically MORONIC to switch the speakers, and not show us which is which!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, what could you be thinking????????
Hope you're enjoying that high horse you're riding on there bud.
The idea is you, listen without bias for the first half. We give our thoughts on what we are actually hearing in the room because...lets face it...translation/compression thorough the mic and over TH-cam is fairly useless. These videos are primarily designed to discuss the differences we are hearing in person/in the room for those that can't get to a listening room to hear in person.
That said, we actually do show which is playing for fun. It just comes later in the video. Click to halfway in/the 11 minute mark and we start showing which is which on screen for the remainder.
Enjoy!
-Jason
Terrible video, which speaker is which?
Thanks for watching! These are primarily for the commentary as, with all of the compression of TH-cam, not having the ability to control the listeners system (typically phone), and so forth, it's impossible to get a real idea of what they sound like in the room and stating which is which creates a potentially unfair bias. We always recommend auditioning in person before purchasing. We initially didn't include which is which at all and listed time frames of the changes in the description. That said, we took a pole on the Klipsch owners Facebook group and this seemed to be the top requested option; to introduce part way through. For sure not perfect option and wont please everyone but, we do what we can to please the majority of the audience! Click about halfway through and we tell which is which with every switch.
-Jason