Ownership and Review of a pair of Ohm Super Sound Cylinder


Greetings all - I recently ordered a pair of Ohm Super Sound Cylinder speakers, or SSC-4900's. They are in the middle of the Ohm Walsh lineup, and are about 38 inches tall and the cylinder cabinets about 12.5 inches in diameter.

Specs are listed at 88 dB for a 2.8 V input, and a response curve of +/- 3 dB from 25 to 20,000 Hz. 

This whole process is part of a "high end, high value, USA made two channel system" thread I started a couple of months ago on another forum. The electronics are the PS Audio Stellar Gain Pre-amp/DAC and a pair of PS Audio M700 mono amps.

The PS Audio equipment has already elevated the Axiom M100's and Martin Logan Electro Motion ESL speakers in terms of performance. The Axioms have a "twin" available in Brick and Mortar outlets from Bryston called the A1's. 

For reference, other speakers which we have or still have in house include: Klipsch LaScala II's, Legacy Signature SE's, Infinity IRS Sigmas, Ascend Sierras, PSB Strata Goldi, VMPS Super Towers and a host of other speakers. 

The Ohm Walsh speakers have been something about which I have read since 1977 (the year I got the audio bug), but have never had the chance to experience. The SSC-4900's sell for $4900 per pair, though the name and pricing are coincidental. The "4900" is due to the idea that the speakers are "almost a 5000", but with less controls - one switch vs. 4 for the 5000, but also a lower price.

John Strohbeen, who is he president at Ohm and who has been with them for almost 40 years, was gracious enough to spend an hour talking on the phone about our room, the associated gear, and also that there would be a review thread. It was after this discussion that we decided on the SSC-4900's. 

I am purchasing the speakers, not getting a review pair. They are under the 120 day return policy. John is well aware that my daughter sings opera, my son is adept at classical guitar, and that live music is the reference. He was actually quite pleased about this. 

This will be fun (at least for me), and hopefully informative. Comments are welcome. 

I honestly have no idea what to expect from the Walsh sound. They are so different from other speaker designs that the only thing to do is set them up properly and hear what happens! 
craigsub
@snapsc - That is what most omnis excel at.  Depth is a little more elusive, which I think, comes more with better electronics, room acoustics, speaker positioning and source material.  But height and width?  Both fantastic in my room.  The speakers dissappear into the soundstage on any decent recording.
omnis excel at depth as well but often limited by the room. EQuipment upstream matters a lot in all cases not just omnis in determining final results, but the only way to know which is best is to listen and compare. I use two different DACs in my setup with OHM 5s. Chord Mojo delivers a deeper soundstage. mhdt Constantine a wider one. The OHMs are just the messenger.

The best demo I ever heard for image depth was mbl 111’s at United Home Audio showroom in Annapolis junction (no longer there). The speakers were a good 2/3 or more into the room and the area behind them was tapered and narrowed gradually and was highly treated. The orchestra literally occupied that area and you could point to the player location. But who has a room like that? Same speakers at audio shows? Still good but more back to the pack and sometimes not even all that impressive .
@mapman - the spookiest depth experience I ever had was on a computer in my attic, which is located at one end of a long narrow attic with slanted cielings.  There was about 5' of space behind my seat, and about 20' behind the desk.  With just an old Sherwood stereo receiver and some old Altec Lansing bookshelf speakers sitting on the desk, I got huge depth, to the point it was startling.  So, there you go.  maybe I will try pulling my Ohms further into the room someday.
Bondman,

Another demo I heard that was up there was many years ago with Magnepans set up 1/3rd of teh way or so into teh room at Jim Smith’s old Audition shop in Birmingham Alabama.  I and the friend I was with both bought a pair on the spot!

Thing is Magnepans put out as much sound to the rear as front like mbl and other fully omni-directional designs. OHMs are not fully omnidirectional nor do they put out as much sound to the rear or sides as the front. I’ve experimented with mine pulled out farther out from the rear wall and not achieved the same kind of results. Of course the details of the room acoustics matter greatly. You have to get just the right setup to maximize imaging depth with any speaker. I’m willing to bet your attic was pretty lively acoustically? I’ve read where John Strohbeen talks about having relatively "lively" space behind one’s listening position versus in front and how that can affect the listening experience.
@mapman - actually, the attic was pretty dead.  Drywall cieling, but wall-to-wall carpet, and lots of bookshelves packed with books, papers and other bric-a-brac.  Although there was a window at each end of the attic, one behind me and one in front of me.  I would like to have that kind of depth, but I am realistic about what is possible with my modest gear and difficult room.