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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
oblgny's avatar
oblgny
848 posts
 
I bought a pair of Walsh 2’s a few years back in order to revisit my first encounter with a like pair when I was...well, younger. Much. 

While they were in acceptable cosmetic and sonic condition, I nonetheless contacted John, in the process discovering the Ohm factory is located in Brooklyn NY, the place of my birth, a mere 45 miles from my current home.  I drove there after accepting John’s offer of an upgrade/update. 

Think of Ohms as the Mona Lisa of loudspeakers. While there IS the typical/expected sweet spot similar to conventional designs, the two channel effect follows you as or if you move about the room. It takes a little getting accustomed to, but not long after this attribute becomes ingrained in the mind, giving one pause to ponder why all other speaker manufacturers don’t...do the same. 

What I recall most is how well highs were articulated through those cans, how the sound filled the room naturally free of low end bloat or boominess - very organic for lack of a better term.  
craigsub OP
63 posts
 
1extreme - Excellent question. Our room is 44 feet long, 14.5 feet wide, and a little over 7 feet tall. It's a basement room with the classic live end (where the speakers are) and dead end in the back of the room. 

John confirmed that this is ideal for the Omni sound of the Walsh drivers, and this room is my favorite place for music. 

obigny - John described your experience as the norm for the Walsh Drivers. In his own words - the 120 day break in is to get one's self acclimated to the "you are experiencing live" sound that is promised, rather than the speakers needing break in.
cal3713's avatar
cal3713
1,421 posts
 
Looking forward to reading the review...
michiganbuckeye
17 posts
 
Craigsub,

I am having email dialogue with Ohm and was thinking about the Super Sound Cylinders or the 3.310's that have an integral powered subwoofer in each speaker.  My guess is that you were debating between these as well (since both fit your room volume) and you mention movies in one of your earlier posts where the sub would come into play.  Would like to know what led you to pick the speakers you ordered as I am trying to make that decision now.  (I did read somewhere that a 2 channel amp could still be used with the integral sub speakers by hooking both the sub and the other speakers in each tower up to the same output line.) Also what veneer did you pick and what acoustical treatment / carpet does your basement have?
craigsub OP
63 posts
 
michiganbuckeye (Thanksgivings must be fun a your place :) ) ..

The 4900 will have more output in the all important 50-5000 Hz range, which is the primary reason for my decision. The M700 mono amps will deliver about 500 WPC into the nominal 6 ohm load, and based on the specs, should provide close to subwoofer level bass in this compact package.

The finish is Rosewood.

Here is the room:

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v171/craigsub/dad1_zpsofm3sgw9.jpg[/IMG]

The floors have a thick pad underneath the also thick carpet, the walls are all 2x6 over block with insulation and the ceilings are acoustic tile. 

Behind the listener is a stairwell that is perpendicular to the length of the room, and it sets up the "dead" side quite well. 

For full disclosure, as we get into next winter (which I hate bringing up as we get close to spring), should the SSC-4900's deliver, we may move up to the 5015's.

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