In this review, we will be comparing Heresy III and La Scala AL5, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Klipsch Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch Heresy III and Klipsch La Scala AL5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Heresy III and La Scala AL5 are members of Klipsch's Heritage series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Klipsch Heritage Series History
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Klipsch Heresy III and Klipsch La Scala AL5 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Heresy III and La Scala AL5 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Klipsch Heresy III |
Klipsch La Scala AL5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 1.75-inch |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 12-inch
|
1 x 15-inch
|
Heresy III features a 1" titanium-diaphragm compression Tractrix horn Tweeter , a 1.75" Midrange and 1 x 12" Fiber-composite Woofer . 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
Heresy III has a frequency range of 58-20k Hz whereas La Scala AL5 has a frequency range of 51-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 51Hz, the La Scala AL5 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Heresy III's min frequency of 58Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Heresy III and La Scala AL5 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Heresy III sensitivity is rated at 99 dB and the La Scala AL5's is at 105 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch La Scala AL5 a more sensitive speaker compared to Klipsch Heresy III, 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. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Heresy III and La Scala AL5 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Klipsch Heresy III's and Klipsch La Scala AL5's external dimensions. Klipsch Heresy III has external dimensions of 607.0 x 394.0 x 342.0mm ( 23-7/8 x 15-1/2 x 13-7/16inch) 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) .
Klipsch La Scala AL5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 222mm wider, 409mm taller and 301mm deeper than Klipsch Heresy III.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch Heresy III and Klipsch La Scala AL5 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch Heresy III 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 Klipsch Heresy III is approximately 1347.5cm2 / 208.9inch2 and base area of the Klipsch La Scala AL5 is approximately 3960.9cm2 / 613.9inch2. The Heresy III requires 66% 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 Klipsch Heresy III weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs and the Klipsch La Scala AL5 weighs 91.36kg / 201lbs. This makes the La Scala AL5 357% heavier than the Heresy III.
Here is a comparison of how Heresy III 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 Heresy III?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Heresy III:
Floor-standing loudspeakerDetachable grille (installed)Base riser (installed)4 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualCongratulations letterKlipsch brochure
What's in the Box of Klipsch La Scala AL5?
Here are the items that come with the La Scala AL5:
2 Loudspeaker cabinets2 Subwoofer cabinets2 Grilles4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)Owners ManualCongratulations letterKlipsch brochure
 Height |
607mm
vs
1016mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1347cm2 (394x342mm)
vs
3960cm2 (616x643mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2346USD
vs
12274USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
105 dB
vs
99 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
51 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Klipsch Capitol Heresy III |
Klipsch Heritage La Scala AL5 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
100 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
99 dB |
105 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
58-20k Hz |
51-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber-composite |
fiber-composite cone with folded horn |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Treated cloth |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix horn |
horn-loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
1.75" |
2" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
607.0mm (23.9") |
1016.0mm (40") |
| Width |
394.0mm (15.5") |
616.0mm (24.3") |
| Depth |
342.0mm (13.5") |
643.0mm (25.3") |
| Weight |
20.00kg (44lbs) |
91.36kg (201lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Woof veneer |
| Available Colors |
Blonde Cherry |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |