WLM La Scalas followed me home....

[Frazeur1]

I didn’t need anything else hifi, but sometimes we don’t chose, it chooses us. I had listened to a pair of the floorstanders quite a number of years ago, and loved what they did. I kind of kept them in mind throughout the years thought if I could grab a used pair at some point, I would. So rare in my parts though!

Low and behold, last week by chance, I came across a barely used, brand new looking pair of monitors. I grabbed hold of them as I didn’t figure they would hang around long-or maybe they would, as they certainly aren’t the fad of the day by any stretch! Paper cones, especially for the tweeters? Oh yeah! Most would run screaming! Berilium, ahh no. Ceramic bass drivers? Nope. Tweeter controls?!! OMG! Yep, kind of like me, old school, non techie.

The fit and finish on these are just superb, yes, it is a plain and simple box, but damn, they sure do make great music and look good doing it! Will be putting them on the end of my Croft’s real soon, should be fun!

[ReggieB]

Very nice.

[Spectral Morn]

Very good speakers

[Weeman1973]

I have the floor standers and absolutely love them.

I didn’t realise they did monitors as well.

Pair mine with my Almarro A318B which is a match made in heaven if you read all the reviews.

Currently out my system and trying some Tannoy Chesters which are a lovely listen but don’t go as deep as the WLM’s

[Lawrence001]

I was after a pair of the floorstanders for ages but nothing came up so I gave up. Happy playing with my new Amphions for the time being [emoji2]

[Frazeur1]

Thanks all, yes, really enjoying them so far. Certainly a different perspective to my Duevel Venus, extremely enjoyable though. I like their ease of drive, and how well they play at low volumes, something I require now living in an apartment.

Russel, I had read and heard how well they work with the Almarro amps. Don’t see many of them around here, seemed to be all the rage(well, sort of...)awhile back ago. I like the looks too of yours. The two tone wood on it looks great, nice and simple too.

I always thought it sort of odd how WLM had both floor stander and monitor, and just called them both La Scala. I guess using same components etc., it made it easy, who knows? Fun stuff.

[Frazeur1]

Lawrence, I too had kind of given up/forgotten about them more or less, by accident I ran into this pair, and that was that. The Amphions are nice! I kind of lust over the big floorstander Kryptons, but then I would need bigger room, and, and, not to mention, a much bigger wallet stuffed with the cabbage.:)

[Weeman1973]

Thanks all, yes, really enjoying them so far. Certainly a different perspective to my Duevel Venus, extremely enjoyable though. I like their ease of drive, and how well they play at low volumes, something I require now living in an apartment.

Russel, I had read and heard how well they work with the Almarro amps. Don’t see many of them around here, seemed to be all the rage(well, sort of...)awhile back ago. I like the looks too of yours. The two tone wood on it looks great, nice and simple too.

I always thought it sort of odd how WLM had both floor stander and monitor, and just called them both La Scala. I guess using same components etc., it made it easy, who knows? Fun stuff.

Yes the Almarro is lovely in both looks and sound. Perfect with the La Scala’s as they’re so easy to drive.

I’ve never experimented with the treble control or the different bass ports on the bottom but now I have a bit more time on my hands I guess that could be something.

If I could only get the LP12 Plinth to match I’d be a hero at home.....

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200328/0190ce23c4ba7c9235ae9bab5066da0b.jpg

[Frazeur1]

I have played a bit with the tweeter control a bit, I find it a very nice, yet subtle range of adjustability. I doubt you could get things too far out of whack with it, and think it is a nice, useful feature.

The bass port on yours too, is a nice feature as well, adjustability of the gap from port to floor, and also with the port sleeve I believe. Nice to have some adjustability available, whether one uses it or not. Yours look very nice!

As to the LP12, guess you could redo it, or look for another plinth that matches things better. Guess it all depends on what being a hero gets you!:eyebrows:

[VanDerGraaf]

Hey, great find! Always wanted to hear these. Llke Lawrence, I always fancied a pair of the floorstanders and similarly, could never find any!

Makes me think generally about trying some more sensitive speakers, rather than my ongoing tide of lovely but inefficient BBC-style stuff (Jean Maurers excepted).

[Frazeur1]

Rohan, was happy to find these for sure. It is nice not having speakers that require huge amounts of power to get going, and do not play well at lower volumes. Both my Duevel and these, just really make me happy.

I love your JM’s too though, really nice!

[Lawrence001]

Lawrence, I too had kind of given up/forgotten about them more or less, by accident I ran into this pair, and that was that. The Amphions are nice! I kind of lust over the big floorstander Kryptons, but then I would need bigger room, and, and, not to mention, a much bigger wallet stuffed with the cabbage.:)You'd be surprised, they work well in my average sized double reception firing across the narrow width but then I don't play them loudly [emoji1]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200328/c7e2ef6493f824957bd57674e8707cc4.jpg

[Frazeur1]

Oh well damn! Those look fantastic! I have always liked them! Are those an older model, Lawrence? Was curious as the mid bass drivers look different to me, but has been awhile. I am sure they do the business, thanks for sharing the photo, I like!

[Lawrence001]

These are the first versions with Seas Excel mid bass drivers. They also have a 12" bass driver (maybe Nomex) in a sealed chamber rather than the 10" ported metal drivers of the later ones.

[Frazeur1]

Okay. Regardless, they look, and I am sure, sound quite nice! Another speaker I do not see over here often.

[Lawrence001]

I forgot to mention, on these ones there is a granite slab opposite the driver to reduce resonance. The later ones apparently had a woofer hole cut in both sides which was then covered up by another piece of wood on one side, this allowed them to cut costs by using the same cabinet for L and R speakers but I'm not sure that would be as good.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200328/3b5c694f8a4f726663fe9b5a32990fc1.jpg

[Frazeur1]

Lordy, I bet that adds a good deal of weight on that too, and probably is a much better solution on the resonance end I would think!

[Lawrence001]

Yeah I think their 85kg each as opposed to 65 or 70 for the new ones. I also prefer the shaped wooden horn rather than the plastic one in the newer ones (unless it's Corian like I read some of the studio ones used). In summary I'm pleased I've got the first versions and wouldn't want to "upgrade" to the later ones. These are harder to come by too as far as I can see.

The only variable I'm unsure about is the new lighter and creased mid bass cones which look more like my sort of thing. If only they were drop in replacements for the Excels in these, but I imagine they are more sensitive and would need a crossover rebuild.

Anyway sorry this thread is about your WLMs which I'm sure are equally good in different ways

[Frazeur1]

No big thing Lawrence, nice to discuss your Amphions! Beautiful things they are! As for my WLM’s, the monitors suit my smaller room I have very nicely, and a fun alternative to my Venus omni’s. Have enjoyed listening to them the last 24 hours or so, getting to know them a bit.

Will be trying my different amp combos over the next few weeks once I get more of a grip on them.

[Bourney]

Loved the scala floorstanders. Nice natural tone

[Frazeur1]

Thanks Steve, I remember when you got yours and I was hoping then that I could find a pair. I was really happy to come across these! Definitely a very natural tone, yet not without that nice snap that really makes percussion sound very lifelike. Not a boring sonic landscape, yet I don’t feel it is off kilter in any way either. Shame that WLM, at least in this generation, aren’t around any longer. Never really did hear/read what happened to them, but seems a parting of ways, maybe design or philosophy in the group?

[Bourney]

Think I prefer the scalas overall to the Divas

[Frazeur1]

Interesting comment, Steve! Please do tell your thoughts, as I never got to hear the Diva, yet they too intrigued me, especially with the bass control component that WLM made. I also never got to hear any of their models with the curved on top PAC tweeters, which again, intrigued me.

I must be entirely weird with things like this in audio, most are kind of unique or not mainstream types of products, yet sound great, they just never stick around long it seems! Hmmmm.

[VanDerGraaf]

Rohan, was happy to find these for sure. It is nice not having speakers that require huge amounts of power to get going, and do not play well at lower volumes. Both my Duevel and these, just really make me happy.

I love your JM’s too though, really nice!


Thanks Timothy- it's just wonderful that we are lucky enough to get to try all of these sonic flavours contained within all these different designs! :)

[VanDerGraaf]

You'd be surprised, they work well in my average sized double reception firing across the narrow width but then I don't play them loudly [emoji1]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200328/c7e2ef6493f824957bd57674e8707cc4.jpg

Sorry not wanting to thread hijack but....a big "yes" to those! Sealed 12" bass- fantastic.
Do you have a separate thread for these Lawrence? As the man who has had more speakers then hot meals, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts...

[Frazeur1]

So agree! I have been extremely fortunate to be able to listen, try, and buy a few of these things over the course of time. So much pleasure and enjoyment out of the music some of this gear brings to my ears! Take care! :)

[Lawrence001]

Sorry not wanting to thread hijack but....a big "yes" to those! Sealed 12" bass- fantastic.
Do you have a separate thread for these Lawrence? As the man who has had more speakers then hot meals, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts...I haven't started a thread just yet, the issue being that with the neighbours in lockdown with kids at home, and the dad's an NHS consultant, I haven't had the chance to turn them up to anything like what they can do. And that's such a shame as I have wired up my 1000wpc Ice power amp!!

What I can say is that a review of the Mk3 versions that said that are like studio monitors with bass is not a million miles away. But that isn't to say that they are clinical, they are transparent to the source so I've warmed them up with my Sabre Dac (if warm/Sabre sounds odd then have a play with op amps!) and also showed them to be really clean with my new Zhaolu DAC I bought off Brook.

The other point is they do reduce room interaction, with the cardioid mid/bass and sealed bass they are the least "interactive" large speakers I've had, in this house at least.

[Frazeur1]

They do have some interesting design work going on, maybe nothing new exactly, as Gradient-and probably some others, also do some things in similar ways, or has over the course of some of its models. If I had the right room, and of course the cash, these would certainly be one speaker I would be looking at. They do seem to have a nice look about them too, which is always a good thing!

[Frazeur1]

I have really been enjoying the heck out of the WLM La Scala, been running them on my Croft Micro 25/Series 7 amps, and my Naim streamer, really a lot to like here. I need to get off my ass and get my Holbo linear tracking table set back up after my move, that will be fun. I am still working at my work site, so no real “lockdown” for me as such, so no long play days to get it done. On the other hand, once the off weekends hit, I am enjoying music so much as is, that I can hardly be arsed to mess with anything!

I am sure it will happen soon though, as I also want to try my LinnenberG monobloc amps and Dac-pre on the La Scala as well. Need a swift kick in my ass I guess!

Hope everyone else doing okay during these weird times! Be well all!

[Weeman1973]

My La Scala’s have been enjoying some time back in the main system now I’ve changed amps over to the Gato DIA 250 NPM.

Have to say I forgot how easy they are to listen to, very laid back and smooth presentation without any harshness at the top end due to paper tweeters.

I’m still going to demo the Davone Rays when I can as think they look amazing but if they don’t live up to the sound of the WLM’s, I’ll have no hesitation in keeping them where they are.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Frazeur1]

Russell, yes there is just that something about the Scala’s that work, I really enjoy them a ton. Which is a tough sell for myself as I really do enjoy my omni speakers, the Duevel so very much. Just a bit different presentation, yet both just incredibly nice to listen to.

The Croft amplifiers work really nicely with both speakers. Strangely(?)even my Naim Nait XS3 seems to sound really good on both speakers as well, maybe not a combo one would normally put together. I have yet to work in my German LinnenberG amplifiers with the WLM yet, something I do plan on getting to do soon.

Keep us posted on the Davone Rays, I really like their looks, probably one that is a bit polarizing, but I find it a nice and different sort of look. Which model are you looking to try, as they changed early on from a Volt coaxial unit I believe, to the separate mid, tweet and bass driver on current design. Have fun!

[Weeman1973]

Keep us posted on the Davone Rays, I really like their looks, probably one that is a bit polarizing, but I find it a nice and different sort of look. Which model are you looking to try, as they changed early on from a Volt coaxial unit I believe, to the separate mid, tweet and bass driver on current design. Have fun!

I’ve got an option on some ex demo Ray VSA’s which are the three way ones with updated mid range driver. This was the one just before the new HR (which is out my price bracket at over £5k now).

Just have to wait until we’re out of lockdown before I can arrange home demo etc.

Yes the looks are polarising, a bit like Heco Direkts (Which I also own a pair of the Einklang version) but I absolutely love them. Think they’ll make a real statement alongside my Gato and LP12 also in Walnut finish

[Frazeur1]

Very good, yes will be interested in what you find once things get back to some sort of “normal”!