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

Parasound63,

I think you have the right mindset for how to best locate the OHMs.

You have to play around with different locations, listen and decide what works best for you.

Just avoid location within a foot or two of walls. Some locations will sound great and some just OK, though perhaps few flat out bad.

Also remember to play with toe-out. Toeing the speaks out for more direct effect from the super-tweet can be used to sharpen things up and even compensate for left/right balance issues in some rooms like my L shaped demon. Direct exposure to teh super-tweet will also effectively collapse the sound stage width as well, which may be a positive or negative again depending on room acoustics and personal preference.

I like "Season of the Witch" and other Donovan cuts like "Jennifer Juniper" for example as a reference track for setting up OHMs because it is a spatially sparse and simple yet tonally diverse production where the mix provides just a few sparse yet fairly detailed recording element locations across the soundstage that are easy to focus in on and access discretely.

If things are going well with the overall system setup, this cut sounds spectacularly detailed, spacious and lush on OHMS or any good system for that matter. If not, it will sound quite mediocre and bland.

Guys,

Thanks a lot for the last couple of posts. I've been thinking that because these speakers are so easy to relocate due to lack of floor spikes, that I'm going to try moving them much further out into the room than is practical on a day-to-day basis. If I find a good spot, I'll just mark it with tape and then move the speakers when I want to sit down for some serious listening.

Mapman, I also have "sort of" an L. shaped room... although it's really pretty hard to describe unless I were able to actually sketch you the floor plan! ;-)

In any case, because my seating position is pretty much restricted to a particular piece of furniture (a day bed) in a kind of niche opposite the speakers, I'm a little restricted as to seating position. Actually, the 100s, being semi-omnidirectional, with their wide sweet spot, are great for a setup like this, because you get a nice sound pretty much wherever you sit.

On the other hand, the right-hand speaker is a mere 18 inches off the side wall, and I'm wondering if that isn't compromising the way the system currently sounds. It's NOT that it sounds "bad," but I keep thinking that I'm not getting the most out of the system. I'm going to try moving them WAY out into the room, and I'll see what happens... I will report back... ;-)

thaks everyone for all the help, input and advice. My wonderful experience with the Ohm's is making me want to learn a bit more before I spend more money on future upgrades.

I just ordered Jim Smith's 'Get Better Sound' after reading a lot of positive reviews.

Hopefully, that and time will further enhance the experience.

-P

I had a great experience last night, and it's making me re-think my belief that there is no such thing as a break-in period.

I was listening to Porcupine Tree "The Start of Something Beautiful" off the 'Deadwing' cd. I actually had too much bass, and had to attenuate a little. This is a first, even though I've listened to it at least 3 times previously. The soundstage and detail also seemed greatly enhanced. I think I have about 60 hours on them now, and must admit that the sound is improving- and not just a little bit.

Later that night, I convinced my wife to listen to the same track, and she was greatly impressed. She told me that she kept expecting the speakers to distort during the synth breaks, and was impressed with how clear and pleasant the sound was.

After we were done with the PT, she actually requested to listen to The Catherine Wheel 'Wishville'

So- even if the speaker improvements are more psychological than physical, the elusive WAF is increasing measurably!

-P

Para,

Believe me, there is a break-in period, both for the speaker mechanism, and the first time listener, with these.

BTW PT Deadwing is a very challenging album for most systems. When the system overall is clicking though, IT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD (kinda like Pink Floyd on Metallica's steroids)!!