In this review, we will be comparing Reference 5 Meta and La Scala AL5, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KEF and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Reference 5 Meta and Klipsch La Scala AL5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF Reference 5 Meta | Klipsch La Scala AL5 |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | — |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" aluminium dome with MAT | 1" horn-loaded |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 2" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 6.5" aluminium cone | 15" fiber-composite cone with folded horn |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-35k Hz | 51-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 105 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-400 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 60.20kg / 132.4lbs | 91.36kg / 201lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 55.2" x 12.7" x 18.4"
1402 x 323 x 467 mm | 40" x 24-1/4" x 25-5/16"
1016.0 x 616.0 x 643.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both Reference 5 Meta and La Scala AL5 are 3-way speakers.
KEF Reference 5 MetaKlipsch La Scala AL5
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
KEF Reference 5 Meta |
Klipsch La Scala AL5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 15-inch
|
Reference 5 Meta features a 1" aluminium dome with MAT Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 4 x 6.5" aluminium cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 2100Hz. On the other hand, the La Scala AL5 features a 1" polyimide diaphragm compression horn-loaded Tweeter, a 2" Midrange and 1 x 15" fiber-composite cone with folded horn Woofer.
Frequency Response
Reference 5 Meta has a frequency range of 40-35k Hz whereas La Scala AL5 has a frequency range of 51-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Reference 5 Meta can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the La Scala AL5's min frequency of 51Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Reference 5 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the La Scala AL5 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Reference 5 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Reference 5 Meta sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the La Scala AL5's is rated at 105 dB. This 17 dB difference makes the Klipsch La Scala AL5 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Reference 5 Meta, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Reference 5 Meta can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS, whereas La Scala AL5 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 300 watts less than the Reference 5 Meta.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Reference 5 Meta and La Scala AL5 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KEF Reference 5 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare KEF Reference 5 Meta's and Klipsch La Scala AL5's external dimensions. KEF Reference 5 Meta has external dimensions of 1402 x 323 x 467 mm (55.2 x 12.7 x 18.4 in.) whereas Klipsch La Scala AL5 has external dimensions of 1016.0 x 616.0 x 643.0mm (40 x 24-1/4 x 25-5/16inch).
KEF Reference 5 Meta is 293mm narrower and 176mm less deeper than Klipsch La Scala AL5 but it is also 386mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF Reference 5 Meta and Klipsch La Scala AL5 in scale.
Comparison image of KEF Reference 5 Meta and Klipsch La Scala AL5 Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the KEF Reference 5 Meta is approximately 1508.4cm2 / 233.8inch2 and base area of the Klipsch La Scala AL5 is approximately 3960.9cm2 / 613.9inch2. The Reference 5 Meta requires 62% less surface area than the La Scala AL5 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The KEF Reference 5 Meta weighs 60.20kg / 132.4lbs and the Klipsch La Scala AL5 weighs 91.36kg / 201lbs. This makes the La Scala AL5 52% heavier than the Reference 5 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how Reference 5 Meta and La Scala AL5's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch La Scala AL5?
Here are the items that come with the La Scala AL5:
- 2 Loudspeaker cabinets
- 2 Subwoofer cabinets
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- Congratulations letter
- Klipsch brochure
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
51 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1508cm2
vs
3960cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
105 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
1016mm
vs
1402mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
12998USD
vs
22000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF Reference 5 Meta |
Klipsch Heritage La Scala AL5 |
| Brand |
KEF |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-400 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
105 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
40-35k Hz |
51-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminium cone |
fiber-composite cone with folded horn |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
aluminium dome with MAT |
horn-loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
2" |
| Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 2100Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1402.0mm (55.2") |
1016.0mm (40") |
| Width |
323.0mm (12.7") |
616.0mm (24.3") |
| Depth |
467.0mm (18.4") |
643.0mm (25.3") |
| Weight |
60.20kg (132.4lbs) |
91.36kg (201lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Woof veneer |
| Available Colors |
High-Gloss White/Blue, High-Gloss White/Champagne, High-Gloss Black/Grey, High-Gloss Black/Copper, Satin Walnut/Silver |
American Walnut, Black Ash, Natural Cherry |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
10 Years |
These sit in different price classes - KEF Reference 5 Meta costs roughly 1.7x what Klipsch La Scala AL5 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | KEF Reference 5 Meta digs deeper - 40Hz against 51Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch La Scala AL5 is more sensitive (105dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Klipsch La Scala AL5 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | KEF Reference 5 Meta takes more power (400W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KEF Reference 5 Meta is easier to place; Klipsch La Scala AL5 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Sealed. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | depends | KEF Reference 5 Meta: bi-amping; Klipsch La Scala AL5: bi-amping. Klipsch La Scala AL5 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Klipsch La Scala AL5 is cheaper - $12,998 against $22,000, about 41% less; arguably a different class. |
A KEF Reference 5 Meta B Klipsch La Scala AL5
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 51Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch La Scala AL5 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch La Scala AL5 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF Reference 5 Meta is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.