Ohm Walsh Micro Talls: who's actually heard 'em?


Hi,

I'd love to hear the impressions of people who've actually spent some time with these speakers to share their sense of their plusses and minuses. Mapman here on Audiogon is a big fan, and has shared lots on them, but I'm wondering who else might be familiar with them.
rebbi
Well, Ny, this entire thread started with questions about the Walsh Micro tall speaker. They have been almost universally applauded by owners and reviewers alike. They were about $1000 at the time that this thread started. This thread just sort of morphed into a thread that covers many of the various Ohm speakers

The least expensive new speaker currently listed on Ohm's site is the Microwalsh SE. It's at $1400. I'd call and talk to them, that's what I did, and how I saved $1500 over the new 5000s by getting all of the new electronics in an older, but perfect looking cabinet. Mine are a black semi-gloss oak-grained finish.
This is for Jim and nyaudio98: As I've posted here previously, one of the best aspects of Ohm Acoustics is that John Strohbeen achieves nearly identical voicing throughout the Walsh series. IME, most speaker manufacturers start each line with one model, then build up and down from that point. Since each of the successive models are compromised designs to meet a price or size point, the best of the series is usually that initial design, upon which most of the R&D was lavished. Of course, there are exceptions (Silverline Audio is one exception I can think of). But, as an owner of a pair of 2000s as well as a used, older pair of MWTs (for the surround channels), and a Walsh Center, I have to say that in terms of timbre and soundstage presentation, the consistency through the line is near ideal. But the MWTs did not do as well filling my rather large basement listening/viewing room as the 2000s, which are appropriate for my room based on the cubic footage.

As for the lack of reviews, there are several possibilities: The product has not changed significantly in many years, evolving instead of reinventing. I know for sure that John Strohbeen dislikes shows because he is fussy about setup, and turned my audio club down for that reason, too. Perhaps he does not trust many reviewers to set them up properly. Ohm's direct sales business model is not always viewed favorably by the audio journalist community, since it bypasses the struggling b&m dealers.

I have heard the MBLs many times and if I'd won that Powerball, that's what I'd buy. Sort of Ohms on steroids. But for the money, I have yet to hear anything I'd rather own than my Ohms.

As always, if anyone is in or passing by my Union County, NJ, home, let me know and perhaps we set up an audition. Just be warned that, as noted above, my amp is holding my Ohms back. Maybe the IRS will send me some money this summer for a new amp? (That's a joke.)
Hey Nyaudio98, there is a pair of Ohm made Blue Circle BM2 speakers on us audio mart dot com... I think you might be able to work a deal for those into your budget - they are like Ohm's version of a Watt/Puppy with sub/sat together... Worth an audition (assuming you are in the NY area, they are located in the finger lakes area)... No affiliation - just a happy owner of Ohms here :)
Just curious, has anyone inserted the DSPeaker Anti-Mode 2.0 DualCore Digital Signal Processor into their system?

I am guessing that most Ohm users do not have overly-damped/treated rooms however, bass correction could still be very useful with the Ohms.
Finally the Omni Harmonizer super tweeter arrived yesterday. First order of business was to make sure they were in good working order. Hooking them up to the amp output and slowly turning up the volume, they began to sing but I heard nothing special or magical. Next, I added the Ohm 3000 with the O.H. super tweeter running in parallel. First impression was different than what I had expected. Having lived with the ribbon on my Dali Helicon 300 for many years, those Dali ribbons infuse dazzle and sparkle. The O.H. on the other hand are every bit as extended at the top end but are more polite and reserved than your traditional ribbon tweeters. I assume this has to do with the O.H. AMT tweeter's lower distortion figues. In any case, subjectively I chose to set the O.H. attenuation at 0 db. The O.H. are a definite improvement over the Ohm 3000 own built in dome super tweeters, which in comparison, I would describe as slow and dull.

I saved the best for last, because the biggest improvement was down in the midrange as others who have experimented with super tweeters have mentioned. The Ohm 3000 on their own do have a vagueness or slight diffuse center image. The O.H. adds midrange bloom and body which stabilizes vocals and helps to create that believable phantom center image. It's startling at times when the vocalist seemingly materializes in your listening room. The improved midrange also make it impossible to hear where the O.H. AMT's 7 KHz crossover kicks in. Both Ohm and AMT drivers are fast and worked together as one.

All listening was done using only CDs as a source. I'll try to get my daughter to help me put up a You Tube of the Ohm 3000 and Omni Harmonizer playing together soon.