NAD Multi Channel Amplifier 916 + Klipsch La Scala

[audiophile.1963]

Hi, I purchased a cheap couple of Klipsch La Scala, my second love after JBL. I’d like to use the La Scala in a second room with NAD 916 (multi channel amplifier because in the future It will be an audio video system) that is on sale in a Italian shop for interesting price. The NAD 916 is a 30w power amp, 6 channels with regulation of output, enough for La Scala, but is It a good product?
What do you think?
Giuseppe

[10 Watt Street]

The Klipsch LaScala was designed using tube amps and will perform best with a tube amp. Avoid the NAD.

[Riley Casey]

So was every speaker designed before the early 1960s. Why does that mean avoid the NAD?

The Klipsch LaScala was designed using tube amps and will perform best with a tube amp. Avoid the NAD.

[10 Watt Street]

The LaScala woofer and horn loaded cabinet were designed for the low damping factor of a tube amp. The bass will be wrong with the NAD solid state amp. Also, the compression driver midrange and tweeter need an amp with an output transformer.

Those speakers with a solid state amp sound disjointed and unblended. Like three random drivers in a box.

So was every speaker designed before the early 1960s. Why does that mean avoid the NAD?

[Mr. Widget]

The LaScala woofer and horn loaded cabinet were designed for the low damping factor of a tube amp. The bass will be wrong with the NAD solid state amp. Also, the compression driver midrange and tweeter need an amp with an output transformer.

Those speakers with a solid state amp sound disjointed and unblended. Like three random drivers in a box.

I agree that using an amplifier with a lack of woofer control will help fatten up the anemic bottom end of the LaScalas, but you lose me with your comment about requiring an autoformer to better integrate the high frequency drivers.

I agree that an amp like the McIntosh MC240 is a great match for these speakers, but there are likely plenty of modern amps that will work equally well.

Like “1963”, I too like vintage Klipsch and have owned LaScalas in the past. For me no amp will fill in the bottom end enough though. I would definitely pair them with a sub.


Widget

[Riley Casey]

Well that goes a long way toward explaining why I never thought much of the La Scalas in the demo room at the hifi store I worked at in the late 70s. You've lost me on the output transformer for the mid and highs though. The La Scalas I was familiar with had fairly generic thread on voice horn drivers, University or Atlas sort of things and the tweeters appeared to be stock EV T35. Nothing great about those motors and the networks appeared to be pretty generic 2nd order affairs with iron core chokes and oil can caps. What about those required an output transformer as I was never aware of any instructions from Klipsch to drive the speakers with only tube amps?

The LaScala woofer and horn loaded cabinet were designed for the low damping factor of a tube amp. The bass will be wrong with the NAD solid state amp. Also, the compression driver midrange and tweeter need an amp with an output transformer.

Those speakers with a solid state amp sound disjointed and unblended. Like three random drivers in a box.

[Cyclotronguy]

A series 0.47 ohm 10w non-inductive resistor in the speaker + lead will do wonders at emulaiting a low damping factor amp.
As mentioned earlier the vintage la Scala's love output iron.. but if you've got a low output impeance solid state amp then the resistor hack might be what you're seeking.