Very small room systems and synergy

Audio Note speakers always sound wonderful set up in the corners when I hear them.

Worth pointing out that pretty much any speaker can be set up similarly with corner placement. Corner placement merely boosts bass levels. So trying any otherwise bass shy speakers in the corners is always a worthwhile proposition. 

I mentioned small rooms only for ls50 but should also add amp matters a lot.

They sounded weak and totally dreadful in my larger room off a highly regarded 180 w/ch zero feedback Class A ss amp when another agoner brought his pair over a couple of years back.

Then we tried them in my wife’s 12x12 sunroom off highly damped 500 w/ch Bel Canto Class D and viola.

So results can run the full gamut with these easily for sure.

I'd say the pro reviews of these I’ve read are mostly on-target so recommend anyone considering read up.

Hmmm well you may have jumped the shark a bit comparing the sound of ls50s to early cheap boom boxes.

I’ve heard ls50s sound both very good and very bad in my home. They are not at all suited for larger rooms. In smaller rooms they can shine. For serious listening I agree a sub is needed but in fact for bass extension not to fix the parts the ls50s do. 

It’s all in the setup.

Having said that there is no single speaker design that appeals to everyone. No two people or pair of ears are the same. Some are successful because they do have large appeal.

Also I replaced a Class A amp with Class D and never looked back.

Different strokes.....

Personally as much as I like what they can do I would probably not be satisfied with ls50 without a sub for serious listening.   They are small. 

With Ohm Walsh you just need the right size with a good high current Class D amp for your room and listening needs.  Some folks use a sub with them but I have never felt the need if set up right. 

I have ls50s ( with sub) in one smaller room and larger (12") Ohm Walsh in the adjacent larger room running off same setup including Bel Canto ref1000m Class D amps and Audio Research tube pre-amp.

Love them both but big difference in sound. The tweets are no doubt quite different. Ohms are soft dome warmer and more laid back. Ls50s have very Crisp yet clean dynamic attack . Both are very coherent which matters a lot for me and sound of each is dimensional in their own way. Room layouts are way different.

Upstairs I have smaller 8" Walsh speakers with Bel Canto c5i digital integrated in family room open to adjacent kitchen, another good sized room. This system is the most easy on the ears of all.

I have a pair of powered Vanatoo Transparent 1 encores coming this week for my wife’s sunroom. Heard these at shows and was very impressed. Looking forward to hearing them on my turf.

Like Totem Arrow, micro Walsh does bass very well for its size. They are smaller than either of my Walsh speakers with drivers about the size of a CD . Prices have gone up in recent years but the one thing Ohms will do that most others cannot is the huge sweet spot, pretty much anywhere in the room.

Sound is like ice cream....many tasty flavors.