Shameless Poll: Pearl vs Ohm vs Zu


Santa Claus drops a pair of speakers under your tree in the middle of the night, what do you choose:

  • Pearl Acoustics Sibelius
  • Ohm Walsh 2000
  • Zu Union Supreme 6
  • Bonus Option: Something from Decware with a Lii Song Driver

Extra credit if you add an amp < $5k to the wishlist.

Danke

 

 

ahillenb

@ahillenb FWIW, here is my .02. When I got into this hobby 10 years ago, the first two speakers I heard were the Vandersteen 1ci’s and the Ohm Walsh Tall 1000’s. I chose to go with the Vandy’s at that time, and I still have them. But I always had this romanticized memory of what the Ohm’s sounded like and have wanted a pair ever since.

Forward in time to last September. I was in talks with Evan at Ohm. The 1000’s were on backorder - they still are - but Evan said for my room the Ohm Walsh Tall Micro would give me the same flavor. And if and when the 1000’s became available he would give me full trade in value on an upgrade.

Long story short, I did not care for the Ohm sound. They didn’t play loud. They didn’t produce hardly any bass and on tracks that possessed a decent amount of low end, I felt like I was breaking the speakers. The top end was way recessed, like they had blankets over them.

On a positive note, they were absolutely gorgeous to look at and perfectly fit with the aesthetic of my home. Also, in some respect, the bass that they did produce had this kinda cool tactile response to it. Bass strings being plucked could be felt as well as heard.

In the end, I gave them back well within their 120 trial period and was given a full refund. Perhaps the 1000’s would’ve given me more of what I wanted, but I feel like I heard enough to satisfy my Ohm curiosity.

Any way...that’s my Ohm experience. YMMV.

@ahillenb Sad to hear you had to sell everything!  I think you are on the tight track with a high efficiency speaker paired with a First Watt (or Pass XA-25?).  I find the U6S to be fairly linear sounding below and above my preferred listening volume which is typically peaking in the mid 80 dBs. I'm sure the room plays a role here too. I would consider talking to Zu about your experience and they might help you decide on which speaker would work best. 

If you go the Lii route, I think you will want a subwoofer or two. 

I will sincerely decline these offers but hand in my wish list to Santa for next Xmas.

In the past 3 months I gifted myself a set of Zu Omen Def Supremes and a Pass Labs XA25 amp. I think I am done, will likely leave these 2 in my will.