In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers. Wharfedale Dovedale is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the La Scala AL5 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Dovedale and Klipsch La Scala AL5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Dovedale | Klipsch La Scala AL5 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft dome | 1" horn-loaded |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 2" |
|---|
| Woofer | 10" black woven Kevlar cone | 15" fiber-composite cone with folded horn |
|---|
| Frequency response | 36-20k Hz | 51-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 DB | 105 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6.5 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-250 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 26.20kg / 57.6lbs | 91.36kg / 201lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 26.0" x 14.6" x 16.4"
660 x 370 x 417mm | 40" x 24-1/4" x 25-5/16"
1016.0 x 616.0 x 643.0mm |
|---|
Dovedale and La Scala AL5 are members of Klipsch's Heritage series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Wharfedale Heritage Series
History
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 Dovedale and La Scala AL5 are 3-way speakers.
Wharfedale DovedaleKlipsch 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 |
Wharfedale Dovedale |
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
|
1 x 10-inch
|
1 x 15-inch
|
Dovedale features a 1" soft dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 10" black woven Kevlar cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 560Hz and 2900Hz. 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
Dovedale has a frequency range of 36-20k Hz whereas La Scala AL5 has a frequency range of 51-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the Dovedale 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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Dovedale is a 6.5 ohms speaker compared to the La Scala AL5 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Dovedale sensitivity is rated at 89 DB and the La Scala AL5's is rated at 105 dB. This 16 dB difference makes the Klipsch La Scala AL5 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Dovedale, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
Dovedale can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas La Scala AL5 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the Dovedale.
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 Dovedale and La Scala AL5 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Dovedale's Post 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 Wharfedale Dovedale's and Klipsch La Scala AL5's external dimensions. Wharfedale Dovedale has external dimensions of 660 x 370 x 417mm (23.6 x 14.6 x 16.4 inch) 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 246mm wider, 356mm taller and 226mm deeper than Wharfedale Dovedale.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Dovedale and Klipsch La Scala AL5 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Dovedale 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 Wharfedale Dovedale is approximately 1542.9cm2 / 239.1inch2 and base area of the Klipsch La Scala AL5 is approximately 3960.9cm2 / 613.9inch2. The Dovedale requires 61% less surface area than the La Scala AL5 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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