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

Rebbi,

While a good SS preamp will probably sound quite good with the Bel Canto, I agree that tubes in your line stage might lend some welcome "body" to the overall Ohm/Bel Canto picture. If you can find an old Dynaco preamp (try for a PAS-4) that's not too noisy, it could be a cost effective solution for you. They sound very good, trade at reasonable prices (I've seen them offered below $500), and the simple circuitry/construction bodes well for the long haul.

Good Luck

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.

Now HERE'S an interesting possibility. Peachtree is selling refurbished Deccos for $499. My Music Hall CD 25.2 has a digital (TOSLINK) output and the Decco has a digital input, plus 2 analog inputs... that would make one for my outboard phono stage and one for my tuner. And yes, the Decco has stereo preamp outputs... in fact, I believe the Decco is being used by lots of "audiophile" types as a preamp, ignoring the power amp section altogether.

Thoughts?

I think it has a lot to offer for that price and fits your needs well.

I heard one at a local dealer a while back. Did not get to listen long, but it sounded very good. I almost bought one for my second system to replace my Yamaha receiver, but decided to just add a tube dac there instead.

THe only hit against it generally is the power amp is not very beefy, but that is a non -issue for you with separate power amp.

If it didn't work out, you could resell easily without much loss also.

BTW, there is a Musical Fidelity A308CR amp up for sale here currently from a local seller for $1500 that I am strongly considering as a step up from my current A3CR. Wyred 4 Sound has a B stock st--1000 demo unit available also for about $1800 ($2000 list).

I'm open for thoughts on that if anybody has an opinion?

Another high current/poweramp option I have considered for quite a while to open up dynamics further with my OHM 5s in particular is the Musical Fidelity 550K SuperCharger. The price of these has come down quite a bit over the last year or so, as expected, and these are now an option I could try.

I like what I have read about these, but have not heard many testimonials from owners that have used them as "superchargers".

I like that these have their own separate power supplies in addition to the source amp they supercharge that might result in being able to draw more current than any other option I have looked at, which is good. I might be able to place these on a separate circuit in my basement for use with the OHM 5s only, which are really the only speaks I have that I think worth beefing up with more power at this point. The flip side is that these apparently provide a lot of current (100+ amps) but do not double well into 4 ohms compared to most other amps I have looked at.

Problems, problems. I guess I'll just stand pat for now.

In terms of utility, I think the Wyred Class D and MF 550K supercharger options are the ones I am most comfortable with at this point. I really do not want to have to deal with any humongous 100 lb monster sized amplifiers, which is one of the reasons I still am hesitant to change in that the A3CR is not too big and does sound really good as is. I am craving to hear what the big boy amps might do for dynamics overall though!