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

thanks again for this thread....

I had a pair of 100's and didn't like the lack of image focus. I also felt like the center stage was pushed back when it should have been....well....more front-center to my taste. I talked to John at Ohm about this and he made a VERY convincing argument to let him send me another set of more 'forward' drivers with an extension of the normal 120 day audition. He gave me a lesson about speaker voicing and 'west coast' vs "east coast' sound. I was simply stunned by his professionalism and dedication. I decided, however, that I would refuse John's efforts as I knew I had mentally moved away from the omni directional sound and didn't want to waste any more of this guys time. I do recommend his speaks VERY highly and recognize that he is fighting for and earning every customer. Once I construct a second system, I'll be back to the Ohms if for no other reason than to keep a guy like him in business. For me, the truth is...I didn't really find the sound I was looking for until I got a tube amp. now I wonder what that Ohm would sound like with some KT88s pushing them!.

Marcus001,

I recently have introduced some tubes in my DAC and pre-amp to the Ohms and have been 100% rewarded so far.

The Ohms have a difficult load to drive and are not ideal for tube power amps on paper, but I would love to hear about the results where someone has actually done this.

I've found the image focus is very good to outstanding when set up properly but the presentation is not the same as other designs that naturally image well, like good monitors. I can't say that it is better or worse...just different. To me , the imaging of the Ohms is more realistic if not as pinpoint which I like, but that is a matter of taste.

I concurrently own and run a pair of Dynaudio Contour 1.3 mkII and Triangle Titus 202 monitors and have noted the similarities and differences from the more omni Ohms in great detail over the last couple of years.

Also the Ohms sound stage does tend to be naturally laid back. I have also found though that they seem to let the character of the electronics feeding them through more so than my Dyns or Triangles mainly because they are more full range and deliver a sound more in line with much larger and more costly designs, so the electronics used will have a big impact on how they sound.

I drive my 100s with ss TAD mono amps, but I also own a pair of Prima Luna tube mono amps. I'll roll some KT88s into the PL and report back in a few days. All in the interest of science!

Marty

BTW, since I'm using subs, the Ohms should be a somewhat easier load and the chances of success may be better.

Marcus,

Thanks very much for your post. I think you've done a good job of articulating the issues here.
I got to listen to the Ohm's a little more yesterday and I must say that the tonal character and image focus change quite dramatically when you adjust the distance between the MWT's. By pulling them farther apart and thus aiming the supertweeters to converge closer to your listening position, the high's are emphasized and the image focus becomes sharper. Now, I think I may currently have them a little too far apart, because yesterday it sounded as if too much of the sound was "stuck to" the speakers, which is definitely NOT the way Ohm's should sound... so I'll try moving them a little closer. But as I said, imaging definitely tightened up and the sound brightened when I moved them farther apart.

I, too, had mixed feelings about accepting John's offer, but I was so taken with his determination to please and make a sale that I agreed to give the modified drivers a try.

For what it's worth, my amp is a ss/tube hybrid, and I'm wondering how that affects my current results...

Martykl,

Cool!

Thanks for stepping up to the plate.

I anxiously await your report!

Rebbe, though I've never heard the Unico, based on my experience so far with the tube DAC, pre-amp and SS amp, I think the hybrid integrated is a very good place to be with the Ohms.