Ownership and Review of a pair of Ohm Super Sound Cylinder

I hadn't heard the OHM speakers for at least 25 years.  I recently picked up some old Pro-200's.

I'm pretty enamored with what they can do.  Particularly for a 1k speaker 25 years ago, and for their age.  I'm contemplating picking up a full 5 channel system myself.  I've been e-mailing and dialoging with John also.  Ironically, I'm also in Michigan.  

Now, I'm driving them with a pretty nice system, in a pretty good room.  But the signature sound I really like (big, big soundstage, good dynamics yet not bright).

I've kicked around the 4900's, but I may do the 5000's if I pull the trigger.  

I will say the cylinders are nice as they don't take up much floor space, yet sound huge.

Checked out that thread.  Would love some close ups of the finish, they use real veneer now I believe? The old cylinders used vinyl wrap.

looks like you have the tweeters firing straight ahead in the pictures, do you have them crossed as John suggests now?  

Any chance you took pictures of the drivers before installing?

I know John typically suggests running them about 12-15 inches off the back wall, then adjusting for bass response, thoughts?  I have to imagine those put out prodigious bass.

looking forward to more posts.  

Any updated pictures posted anywhere?  Would love to see them close up, veneer etc!

@craigsub - it's funny you mentioned that moving the subwoofers helped.  I did the same in my room recently and moved my sub from next to my left speaker to the rear of the room. I noticed a clear different in my speakers response (for the better).  I don't use a subwoofer with 2 channel with my current speakers, and really was amazed at the difference of getting the subwoofer away from them when it wasn't running. (side benefit, it helped my theater also, rear seems to be a better location in my room).

Thanks for that picture, would love close ups of the seams on the veneer etc.  

It's tough to gauge the size.  In the first picture, it looks pretty substantial, the second looks a bit smaller.  Not a huge deal... but if you are bored or want to show them off.

Here is a question - how much of a change do you feel the room size adjustment has?  Does it just reduce bass output?  Tighten things up?  I assume it's a resistor in the circuit.  But, with that woofer running almost full range... would be interested if you feel it also accenuates the treble simply by reducing everything below the crossover?

Have you played with the room size adjustment switch (bass I believe).  Thoughts?

So I have some OLD SSC's from back in the day.  Always fun to listen to, but not as refined as some other speakers I have.  

But, I've been on the fence for a while on getting trying some of the new OHM's.

Trigger has been pulled...

Map... hoping to have a pair here within weeks.

Nothing yet, the hope is today or tomorrow before they go on break.

@craigsub, currently pass labs 250.8 and xp12.  But will also try some older harman kardons and other equipment.  Primary source is a Sony HAPZ1es.  

Thanks Craig,

Nice comments and review.

Are you planning on setting up a center and surrounds from OHM?

Will the sub be as a .1 for theater use only, or are you thinking of setting it up line-level and crossing it at the sub?

Always interested as to how people integrate their 2 channel and surround systems.

Fortunate enough to have a pair of the 5000’s that I bought used. Sent the cans into John and the team at OHM for new cans and a once-over.  I have some old OHM Pro-200's that are beaten up pretty badly and not perfect but they did so much right I decided to go all-in on some OHM's.

Pricing was very fair, turnout was very reasonable.

Waited a bit to order a center and rears. They have been ordered from John.

I can’t say enough about how happy I am with the 5000’s. Eventually I will post a review of sorts. Huge soundstage, coherent from top to bottom, plenty of bass, not harsh but all the detail I need. When I want to push them - they do not lose any composure.

I’ve had my 5000’s for about 5 months now. They were purchased used, and the cans needed a little work, as did a few other things. Some additional thoughts.

1. John and Evan are very reasonable on repairs. I’ve been talking to them about updating/re-doing my old Pro-200’s and other than shipping (which isn’t their fault) it also sounds reasonable.

2. The speakers really are good. Mine are older 5000’s and I’m guessing an incremental change has been done here or there but while not perfect, they just do so much right.

3. I’m trying to decide if I think they sound better with the grills off. There is a slight difference in sound. I wish there was a really clean way to have just a black grill, that was a sock that might use a small snap ring around the top and bottom of the can. I think it could look cool, and work really well . (try to imagine a small ring that went around the top, just a sock below, and a slightly bigger snap ring that covered the bottom of the can and the bolts. Ah, how I wish I was a machinist!

4. I’m also using them in my surround sound system, still working on Audyssey XT 32 with them. I tend to like it better with it turned off for my mains, but in use for the center (ohm 3000) and rears (the micro walsh). I do have a dedicated 2 channel pre-amp and amp. I’m playing around with amps, and pre-amps just to listen for differences. I hear them for sure. BUT with the 5000’s the EQ on the back really makes differences.

I think the biggest bargain (if buying new) is probably the SC4900’s. In fact, in the right room I think using 5 of them would make for an awesome surround system.

As for John and OHM’s room suggestions... I’m torn. No question the mids and highs are all voiced the same. Bass is such a personal preference/room/floor/null’s thing. I like bass (not an absurd amount but a little hot). I’m in a finished basement so it’s carpet over concrete. My room is only 13x17x9. I run the bass/mid bass in the "middle" of the 5000’s adjustments. I have the two upper ranges on the high position. But, I have pass labs gear and my room is pretty neutral.

Oh, the live-end/dead end thing that john talks about. 100% true. Other than dispersion I have nothing in the front half of my room anymore. I have GIK panels at what would be the 2nd reflection points, which are on the side walls right in front of my listening position. I do have bass traps in the rear corners and more dispersion.

Overall, still really, really happy with them. Oh, and if you want them to play loud... they can and they just don’t compress.

There are some downsides... Fit and finish is solid, but not the absolute best out there in their price range (that is salk all day long), Wait times can be a bit sporatic and you have to get over the do they use the best drivers, capacitors etc)? I’m completely convinced on the capacitor thing now that spending a ton doesn’t make sense. I do have this twinge... wondering what John could do with a "top notch, sort of based on cost of course" woofer and tweeter.

That said, very few speakers I would rather have for under 10k. The new Salk SS 9.5 interests me, I’ve always like the JBL m2’s... other than that probably something at least like the Vandersteen Quattro CT.

I’m in Michigan, and if anyone wants a demo you can drop me a PM, happy to demo them.

Also willing to give my opinions vs a lot of other speakers I’ve owned...

Klipsch Palladium P37
Golden Ear Triton 2
Klipsch epic CF4
Salk SS8
NHT 3.3
JBL 3900
Spatial M3 S Turbo (fun, fun speaker for the money)
DynAudio Contour 60
and some older ones over the years... Klipsch Quartets, KG4, the Ohm Pro 200’s

@osteopic 

I think most people like bass and tend to like it a little bumped up.  No shame in that, it's part of the fun, and the fletcher munson curve effect is well documented.

If you have a bigger room, it's nice that the DSP is helping, but you owe it to yourself to keep an eye out for some used 4000's or 5000's (4900's used would be very tough to find).

Your 2000's would sell rather quickly if history is any indicator.

I've got the 5000's in a 13 x 17 x 9 room, I run the bass and mid-bass "in the middle" as far as the adjustments go.  They thump and I have no need for a subwoofer, I could adjust the EQ if necessary.  Also nice for home theater as I now have my subwoofer in the back of the room, and with the mains crossed at 40 for HT I am getting a more even bass response in the room since the OHM's put out such great bass.

But, you would love the 5000's I suspect.  Essentially a 4 band EQ built into the speaker.

That said, new - the 4900's are the bargain!