In this review, we will be comparing XR100 and La Scala AL5, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from McIntosh and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of McIntosh XR100 and Klipsch La Scala AL5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the McIntosh XR100 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that XR100 is a 4-way design whereas the La Scala AL5 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
McIntosh XR100 |
Klipsch La Scala AL5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
4-way
|
3-way
|
|
Super Tweeter
|
0.75-inch |
- |
|
Tweeter
|
2-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
8 x 2.0-inch |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.0-inch
|
1 x 15-inch
|
XR100 features a 2" titanium tweeter with neodymium-iron-boron alloy magnet dome (x2) Tweeter , a 0.75" Supertweeter , a 2.0" Midrange and 4 x 6.0" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 300Hz, 2000kHZ and 8000kHZ. 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
XR100 has a frequency range of 30-45k Hz whereas La Scala AL5 has a frequency range of 51-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the XR100 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the La Scala AL5's min frequency of 51Hz.
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
XR100 and La Scala AL5 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. XR100 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the La Scala AL5's is at 105 dB. This 18 dB difference makes the Klipsch La Scala AL5 a more sensitive speaker compared to McIntosh XR100, 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.
XR100 can handle a max power of 600 watts RMS from the amp the whereas La Scala AL5 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 500 watts less than the XR100.
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 XR100 and La Scala AL5 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
McIntosh XR100's Binding post terminals allows 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 McIntosh XR100's and Klipsch La Scala AL5's external dimensions. McIntosh XR100 has external dimensions of 1266.0 x 296.0 x 432.0mm ( 49-13/16 x 11-5/8 x 17inch) 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) .
McIntosh XR100 is 320mm narrower and 211mm less deeper than Klipsch La Scala AL5 but it is also 250mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of McIntosh XR100 and Klipsch La Scala AL5 in scale.
Comparison image of McIntosh XR100 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 McIntosh XR100 is approximately 1278.7cm2 / 198.2inch2 and base area of the Klipsch La Scala AL5 is approximately 3960.9cm2 / 613.9inch2. The XR100 requires 68% 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 McIntosh XR100 weighs 31.14kg / 68.5lbs and the Klipsch La Scala AL5 weighs 91.36kg / 201lbs. This makes the La Scala AL5 193% heavier than the XR100.
Here is a comparison of how XR100 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 McIntosh XR100?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of XR100:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Feet4 Glides4 Tiptoes4 ScrewsOwners Manual
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
 Max Input Power |
600 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
4-way
vs
3-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
51 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
45k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1278cm2 (296x432mm)
vs
3960cm2 (616x643mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
11000USD
vs
12274USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
105 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
6.0 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
1016mm
vs
1266mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
McIntosh XR100 |
Klipsch Heritage La Scala AL5 |
| Brand |
McIntosh |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
75-600 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
105 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
30-45k Hz |
51-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.0" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
fiber-composite cone with folded horn |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
2" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome (x2) |
horn-loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
2.0" |
2" |
| Crossover Frequency |
300Hz, 2000kHZ and 8000kHZ |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1266.0mm (49.8") |
1016.0mm (40") |
| Width |
296.0mm (11.7") |
616.0mm (24.3") |
| Depth |
432.0mm (17") |
643.0mm (25.3") |
| Weight |
31.14kg (68.5lbs) |
91.36kg (201lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
Real wood veneer |
MDF/Woof veneer |
| Available Colors |
Red Walnut, Black, Pear Maple |
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 |