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Ohm Walsh Microtall or Vandersteen 1C

So having gone to my local audio store yesterday and auditioning the Vandersteen 1C and the PSB Image T6, the PSB model is out. I was leaning heavily towards going back next week to buy the 1C, but I started down a path of reading about the Microtalls, and I think I have to call them tomorrow and order a pair.

I'll be running with just a Peachtree Nova, using a Macbook Pro (optical out), Ps3/Xbox 360, and turntable as sources. They'll be used to play music as well as for 2 channel HT.

I really enjoyed the 1C sound, which had warmth and clarity. The PSBs felt a little too neutral and cold to me. I think while I imagine that I want a real analytic, detailed sound to let me hear every little note and drum hit, in reality I want a speaker that lets me get lost in the music and just "live" while I have music on. I can use headphones for the analytic listening :)

Will the Microtalls work for watching video, in the sense that dialogue will still sound as if it's coming from the center? I know I could always add the center channel and a sub later to help out with HT, but that's not in the budget now.

What will I lose with the Microtalls vs. the Vandersteens? I was also wondering if I wouldn't be better off waiting until I could afford the 2ce Sig II (or finding some new) and going with the Ohm for now while I'm at a $1000 budget.

Finally, do I pay return shipping on the Ohms if I don't like them? What is that cost? Thanks!
rbf1138

Showing 2 responses by heywaj10

heywaj10
17 posts
 
Not to hijack the thread, but regarding the same two speaker options, which speakers would work best for the following circumstances:

Music: Prog rock/metal (85%), female vocals/jazz (10%), other (5%)

Room dimensions: apartment 2nd floor - 12'x13.5' room

Setup: Windows 7 on Dell PC, JRmedia jukebox, FLAC/Hi-Res, Schiit Bifrost, (amp will most likely be an Emotiva XPA-3 due to lots of headroom, future expansion into HT)

Thanks!
heywaj10
17 posts
 
Mapman and Bondmanp,

I appreciate your insight on the prog rock/metal genres and the MWTs. Can either of you possibly expand on particular experiences with a few tracks? I'm curious how the genre really portrays itself with the MWTs (in possibly some more exact terms :)).

I only have experience hearing Vandersteen 1Cs and Magnepan 1.7s with Opeth/PT/Dream Theater. The Vandersteens were nice, but sounded a little anemic at times. The 1.7s the same (even less bass performance than the 1C), although the Akerfeldt vocal effect he does about 2 minutes in on the track Blackwater Park was mindblowing.

Both speakers felt as though I lost the details in the attempt to reach moderate-loud (not loud-loud) volumes. How do the MWTs fare in that department?

Thanks!
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