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

Foster_9,

Yes, not uncommon with integrateds. More juice and bigger transformers produces more EMF that can create noise in nearby low level pre-amp sections, especially phono pre-amp sections.

Though I don't think integrated amps are optimal for the OHMs, there are some very well built and good sounding integrateds nonetheless. I suspect the Blue Circle is one of those though I am not intimately familiar with it.

John Potis raved in a review about a pair of Blue Circle monoblocks taking his Walsh 4 mkIIs to an entirely new level and Blue Circle is using OHM drivers in their new speaker line as well, so I think Blue Circle/OHM in general is a good match.

Mapman,

I'd love to have the chance to try my Ohm 100's with another amp. I'm running mine with a Unison Unico 80 w/ch integrated, hybrid (tubes in the preamp section). It's sounding increasingly sweet to me, but I have nothing to compare the Unico to, really, so it's hard to know.

REb,

I did consider a hybrid integrated recently when upgrading and looking for a taste of tubes.

The Unisons were high on my list. I suspect the Unico does quite well with 100s.

BTW, I think current is a bigger factor with the larger Walsh drivers for larger rooms. I notice the difference much more with my 5's than my 100s.

Mapman, Thanks for the defintion on the whole current thing...I was just about to write looking for that when you explained how to look at it. All this discussion is making me think I need to come up with an interim solution on the power side. I already know I want to go for something higher end in the $2-4k range down the line but that is probably a year away. SO, I am going to have to look at what I can get in the $400-500 range used probably not new for the interim. I saw some stuff from NAD and Cambridge Audio on A'gon but I am guessing this wont pass the "current test". I will have to post and see what ideas people have....this is turning into an obsession.

Joe,

Underwood HiiFi is in your zip code. They do a fairly brisk trade in used goods, so you might give 'em a ring. They also handle Bel Canto - an integrated I (briefly) used successfully with my 100s. If they have/can get a used one, it would likely be <$1K, though how much "<", I couldn't say.

Good Luck,

Marty

PS My comment re: 45wpc likely being a problem. It's always possible that a 45wpc has a wildly overspeced power supply and CAN supply adequate current. However, IME, that's pretty unlikely, which is why I said 45WPC is "almost" certainly a problem. Just clarifying.