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
Thanks guys,
My intention of getting the 10" driver was to have enough bass to not need subs. Unfortunately, my wife is not into sound systems and her ears are extremely sensitive to bass, she has an "allergic reaction" to the word "sub-woofer" and the only time I can actually watch movies the way I like is when she is not home :).  I found a thread on audioshark about the Hypex N500 based amps (class D amps) that I am reading. it's a mere 100 pages long so I have my work cutout for me.
Mapman,
Do you have the bel canto black series amps? If you are satisfied with the performance of the bel canto and the ohm 5000s that should be an indicator that the new hypex class Ds are up for the task.
I have felt no real need for subs with either of my OHMs running off 500 w/ch Bel Canto ref1000m amps in matched volume rooms:

100 series 3 driver (8") in smaller rooms
5 series 3 driver (12") in any size room

Subs are a good way to max out sound of smaller OHMs in larger rooms. Otherwise I would go no sub with high power high current amp. Class D makes that more practical for most and good ones sound top notch/hard to fault.

In larger rooms if 20 hz response for organ or electronic music is desired, then perhaps in order to take things to the absolute nth degree possible.   Or check out 5015 models with powered subs built in maybe.  

I like castors on my larger OHMs especially when floor type is conducive.  They help immensely to move those potentially large heavy things around easily as needed.
Thanks for your input mapman.
I think for music playback I definitely don't need a sub in my room and when it comes to movies, I think, I can "live" with not having the couch and the entire surroundings shake. I am however, seriously considering the Class D amp. should be getting the speakers by next Tuesday. it's been a loooong wait. 
Another way to look at it:

With Ohm Walsh if you have 8" drivers or larger in your speakers already being driven by a high power high current amp that will never come close to breaking a sweat (Class D or otherwise) you already have the equipment needed to do deep bass well with music. Its essentially the same driver and amp combo you get in a similar sized powered sub. No adjustments or eq needed if speakers set up well in the right sized matching room. The key is to match the right size OHMs to your room. Thats the OHM/JS model that nobody else offers, ie the same essential sound from all speakers in the line large to small when integrated into the room properly. Its hard to find quality speaker makers with affordable products that use 8" or larger bass drivers these days. Used to be common. Size and power  matters most when it comes to doing bass well. Multiple drivers help but add their own issues and I am not a fan. The fewer drivers needed to do the job right the better.  Good quality modern small bass drivers do a decent job though of getting more bass out of a smaller package by providing drivers capable of greater excursion than most common larger drivers of the past.   MicroWalsh does an impressive job with the bass I am told.  Totem and others always surprise me pleasantly with bigger sound than expected out of a small package.
it'll be very interesting to audition a set of Ohm speaker for the first time.
From what I have been told by John S, I would not be disappointed by selecting the cylinder shape if I can live with the aesthetics. Growing up, my dad had a pair of Bose 901 series 2s and I really liked the sound presentation from those speakers. just like Ohm speakers, the placement and distance from the wall and room orientation was very important. Despite of not being very detailed in the highs, I found the base and the mids to be more than adequate and they could handle as much power as you could throw at them. Immediately after learning about the Ohm speakers it reminded me of my dad and how he spent hours fiddling with the placement of the speakers and somehow I knew, I got to give these speakers a shot. it reminded me of my childhood memories and put a fat smile in my face.