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

Map,

I've used 150 wpc Bel Canto and 200+ wpc TAD ss amps with similar results from my Ohm 100s - in a large room with dual Velodyne subs. To address your curiosity from a previous post, I'm now experimenting with KT88 (and KT66) based Prima Luna amps. So far it's plusses and (more) minuses, but I'll post further on this tube experiment when I've got 'em dialed in a little better.

Marty

Mapman,
Thanks a lot for your placement advice. I think I'm awfully close to having the optimized positioning for my MWT's. Imaging is precise now and yet the sound "blooms" out into the room. Listened to Diana Krall singing "Let's Face The Music And Dance" tonight and it was mesmerizing. Donald Fagen's "Nightfly" sounded great, too. Very smooth and dimensional.

Marty,

Which Bel Canto specifically? Is it a Class D? Does it double or near double power into 4 ohm?

Also it appears you've had the 100s for about a month. Very possibly they are not fully broken in yet? Dynamics on my Ohm 5's improved dramatically over time in comparison to when they arrived.

My 100s were acquired 2nd hand and were fully broken in when I got them prior to the 5's, so I had these for reference as the 5's broke in.

Map,

The Bel Canto amp is class D. You may be right about break-in or amp matching as the tube experiment is proving most interesting re: dynamics. Could be the switch to tubes or could be time passing, but dynamics are improving - at this point, I suspect it's the tubes. Before too long I'ff switch back to the TAD ss monos to get a better handle on causality. When I do feel confident about the results I'll start a new thread on Ohm & Tubes.

Marty

PS - Regarding imaging, your point about the MBLs going omni full range vs. the Ohm's crossing to directional high frequency drivers (aimed off axis) is well taken. However, the Ohm's directional tweeter only crosses in over 8K (it's really more a supertweeter in that regard) so I'm not sure that vocal images are really being affected significantly. In any event, imaging via my 100s has been great in every respect other than front to back layering.

Marty,

Interesting results with the tubes and Class D.

I'd be willing to bet break in is a factor still at this point.

Imaging and dynamics improved significantly in my system with intro of the Audio Research sp16 tube pre, so I suspect some of what you hear is due to the tubes as well.

I'm curious specifically about the low end with tube power amplification versus the Class D, if it is full, extended, controlled, and balanced as well as dynamic with the tube power amp.