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

A couple of years ago I acquired a mint and beautiful pair of mahogany NHT 2.5's that I was very stoked about, even the wife thought they at least looked better than my beloved NLA's. However, I was very disapointed that I could not get them to sound cohesive at all, with the side firing woofers the bass always sounded detached and rubbery to me.

I was really bummed, I had owned Super Zero's and One's in the past and really loved the "house" sound of those NHT's but the 2.5's were an entirely different beast, one that I was unable to tame.

I realize I probably wasn't driving them with a big enough amp (only 100 watts) but I just couldn't get them to sound acceptable and I wasn't in a position to start upgrading my amp and such so I grudgingly sold em' here on A'gon.

I lived with the NLA's until about 4 months ago when I grabbed a pristine pair of Ohm Walsh 3's and all I can say is WOW. This is what a music lovers speaker sounds like, full rich sound everywhere in the room. Perhaps the best compliment I can give them is they have made me completely forget about my audio equipment and simply enjoy the music (or movie soundtrack) that so beautifully flows from these simple towers. I can't imagine how much better the newer versions of these must sound and I know at some point I will probably upgrade but these 25 year old speakers still sound so good it'll have to wait. Welcome to the club Ultimatezap!!!

"As to the NHT's, they are a bit bright"

Well, gotta say that is one thing I have never attributed to anything designed by John Strohbeen.

I run Dynaudio Contour 1.3 mkII monitors off the same system as my OHMs. Only difference other than speakers is the room and I am able to utilize better speaker wires there in that my gear including amp also resides in that room.

I would not call the Dynaudios bright, but the sound is night and day way more forward and hotter than either OHM Walshes in my other rooms. The OHMs connect via in-wall speaker wires I had put in when the house was built to enable speakers off my system in multiple rooms.

A lot (a whole lot) is really amp (and room acoustics) dependent. With my prior amps, I noticed little tonal difference between Dynaudio and OHM, other than low end extension perhaps. With the Bel Canto ref1000ms pushing both to their max, I think more of the individual unique character of each speaker design comes out.

With prior amps, I would have said my Triangles were the "brightest or hottest" sounding. Now, I run those on different system better geared towards those, and the Dyns are clearly teh most unique tonally.

They. Are. Here. Black 300-5000's.

First bit. I do not possess the degree advanced enough that would allow me to repack these puppies, so I hope they work out. Nice UPS guy, but I'm very glad these things come packed as they do. It really is Russian nesting dolls.

Second, HUGE sound stage, but can't get the middle locked right now. I know I have some work to do. I know the sound will change as they break in, but I don't think the presentation will change very much. I could be wrong there.

Speakers are in a fairly dead room, with 3/16 felt, in undulating waves, to 25 feet from the front wall, room is 31 feet deep total. Right speak is 3 feet from right wall and 7 from front. Left is 2 feet from left wall and 4 from front, due to equipment rack behind it. Speaks are 7 feet apart and ten feet to where my head is when I listen. All measurements are within a couple of inches either way of stated, to speaker center. Oh, there is a 65' DLP between them, flush with the rear of the speakers.
Tough room, eh?

So... Get rid of waves in the felt for some more reflectivity? Speakers wider? Me further? More of an equilateral triangle? Speakers more in front of TV to bounce sound? Maybe some more time to acclimate?

Wow, listening to Conan the Barbarian soundtrack, original movie, new recording by the Prague Philharmonic. If you guys don't know this, you must try it.

I think I'm going to like these!

Well now. Discovered one little trouble that, when remedied, has helped tremendously. Setting up the HT, Audyssey shows, "Front L out of phase". Huh. Wired em up just like my old ones. Double checked. Swapped red and black on FL, and BAM Baby. There's my center. And my bass!

If red is right on each speaker connection, then they wired the left out-of- phase. No biggie. I can definitely wrap my head around this! Four hours and counting.

Ult,

In general, the ohms might be worth a try a tad closer to the rear and side walls than otherwise if the walls are more acoustically damped. Sounds like you are on the right track though.

My 5s sit about 4 to 5 feet out from the rear wall which has a doublesliding glass door with vertical blinds behind them. Walls are standard drywall with 2 foot square acoustic panels at prime side wall reflection points, speakers also 3 feet or so from sidewalls. They fire down the length of my L shaped room, about 34 feet long. I often prefer opening the verticals and exposing the glass doors. No bad effects as many might fear in general.

I'd let john know if you think the speakers are not wired as they should beand see what he says.