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

Bond,

I never heard the Silverlines but I know they have a great reputation and a good following on this site.

If there is a lower cost design that can challenge them, it may well be the OHM Walshes.

Most tend to think of the OHMs as extremely neutral though.

I would agree but have found that they will reveal the flavor of the electronics behind them quite well, so there are ways to tweak the sound there if desired.

For example, I have used the mhdt Paradisea tube DAC with the OHMS and that provides a healthy dose of tube "euphonics", particulary a lovely and enticing but somewhat artificial amount of presence in the midrange. It can be clearly heard say in comparison to the phono, which also runs through a tubed phono stage in my ARC pre-amp.

Currently, I'm using the SS mhdt Constantine DAC, which is essentially the Paradisea sans tube output stage. The sound with this is much more like my phono stage, ie more neutral I would say.

Rolling other tubes in the Paradisea can also deliver a more "neutral" sound like the Constantine as well, I have found.

I like that the OHMs let you hear what you feed them. It opens up many possibilities regrading the nature of the resultant sound.

FWIW,

In a more apples to apples vein, I use Silverline Sonatinas (great looking, original pre-Avalon lawsuit cabinetry) in my family room. IIRC, they were priced similarly to my Ohm 100s - presumably they're more expensive today. I like the Sonatinas, but it's easy an easy call for the Ohms, running away.

Marty

Bond,

FWIW, you mentioned the Silverlines use Dynaudio drivers.

I have Dynaudio Contour monitors in addition to OHMs. The OHM sound is not unlike the Dyns, albeit the presentation of the soundstage is naturally different. The OHMs are also full range and deliver more "meat on the bones" without strain, as I like to say, at realistic listening levels which to me makes things sound more real and lifelike as they should. Typically, only larger and certainly more expensive speakers are capable of that.

Hey, Guys,

I spoke to John Strohbeen a couple of days ago. Here's what I learned about the new Ohm lineup.

The new 1000 is indeed a new point in the line that sits between the old MWT and the old 100 -- the cabinet and driver are of an intermediate size between those two older models.

If you have an Ohm Walsh model that was built within the past year, more or less, it has the same, new supertweeter as the new X000 line, so the top end should be identical. (Presumably, my 100's fit into this category.)

Unfortunately, the 100's cannot be upgraded with the 2000 driver. The diameter of the 2000's driver is just slightly too large to fit on top of the 100's cabinet.

Ohm continues to stick with its goal of having each speaker in the line possess the same sonic character, just generating different volume levels for different size rooms. John told me that the 2000 will play somewhat louder than the 100, and that its low end may have a bit more authority, but other than that, it should be very close. He told me that if I'm satisfied with the 100's, there's no need to upgrade to the 2000's, especially since my 100's put out more than enough volume for my current room.

You have to admire the kind of honesty that would lead someone to discourage an "up sell" to an existing customer!

You have to admire the kind of honesty that would lead someone to discourage an "up sell" to an existing customer!

Yeh, John S. is a down to earth person, and in my experience is not in the business just to make money on the next sale. I dealt with John by phone and email more than any other manufacturer and I like him. He treated me well, and more than fair.