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

Hi,

I'd love to hear the impressions of people who've actually spent some time with these speakers to share their sense of their plusses and minuses. Mapman here on Audiogon is a big fan, and has shared lots on them, but I'm wondering who else might be familiar with them.
rebbi
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,483 posts
 
Oh, and Rebbi, I vote tube pre for you for certain. VTL, DHavilland, ARC or Juicy would be the ones I would look for .

You might want to pay special attention to pre-amp output impedance specs relative to the Bel Cant input impedance as a potential indicator of general compatibility for best sound. You want the pre output impedance to be a good bit lower than the amp input impedance in general.
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
Mapman,

Thanks for the advice. From what I've seen so far, those preamp brands will bust my budget, but I'll keep an eye out.

The S300 was kind of a steal (by the crazy standards of high-end audio): 1/2 off retail, new in box!
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,483 posts
 
"those preamp brands will bust my budget"

Juicy should come in well under $1000 especially since you already have the phono pre-amp. Juicy is a stylistic challenge for some, but the best bargain in a tube pre-amp that I know of.

The others will likely come in on the flip side of $1000 somewhere I would guess.

In your price range, I'd be careful about SS pre-amps given that you are used to the Unico hybrid integrated. The Classe pre-amps or the Musical FIdelity A3CR pre-amp were my two leading contenders, but I decided to try the tube pre-amp plunge and have not regretted it.
foster_9
1,638 posts
 
Rebbi, I concur with Mapman that you would do well to consider a tube preamp. VTL is one to look at. If one becomes available, a VTL 2.5 will be under $1k. Tubes have added a naturalness and "realness" to instruments in the jazz I listen to.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,483 posts
 
Rebbe, another "pre-amp" that popped into my mind that might be worth considering is the PeachTree Decco. These can be had for under $500. It is a well reviewed (low power) hybrid integrated with tube DAC actually, but I'm thinking (not sure though) it might be used as a pre-amp only if desired. You would use digital out from your CD player (assuming that exists also) into the Decco. Phono would connect same as any other pre-amp. IF my assumptions are true, themn this would be the least expensive "high end" pre-amp solution I can think of.
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