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

Crunch Time!

One month remains of my 4 month trial. In all honesty, I like most of what the 2000s do, and want to keep them. One by one, all of my issues with these speakers have been resolved, except one: The problems with piano reproduction just below the middle midrange. I cannot determine if this is source-dependent or not. On several piano-solo recordings, the emphasis and distortion in this frequency range is serious enough to be a deal breaker. However, if I can determine that this is due to some factor other than the Walsh 2000s themselves, I will probably keep them.

Can anyone suggest some solo piano recordings that sound smooth, clean and neutral on their Ohm Walsh speakers? I will get them and try them out pronto. TIA.

Michael - If I decide to keep the 2000s, I will first be ordering some spiked bases for them. Then, as finances allow, I will order the Ohm Walsh center channel speaker, and then look for some used Ohm Walsh floorstanders for surrounds. I will, of course, keep everyone posted here of my progress.

Bondman,

No experience with the newer 1000 series drivers or their tonality. I would certainly not expect any audible distortion though. What does John Strohbeen say about it?

Fin,

Look at my system pic titles "thebigohms". I usually listen from the blue swivel chair, anywhere from about where it is in the pic or further back, usually at least 8' or more in front of the speaks or for casual listening sometimes from the couch along the left hand wall.

Bondman,

Piano dynamics can be among the most challenging to reproduce accurately, so I think that is one good test for most any system.

Something is not right somewhere in the system, if you are hearing audible distortion as opposed to some tonal balance related issue. Its certainly possible the issue is in the speaks in which case there is something not right there.

The 1000 series drivers are still quite new. Its possible that there could still be kinks there compared to older models. Only John S. could probably say for sure.

Bond, it would maybe be a good thing to contact John and see what his thoughts may be. My 2000 drivers in the OW2 cabinets eventually smoothed out pretty nicely. Unfortunately, I had to get the OW2's back to their owner, but I feel like I got a very good feel for them. I am hoping yours will smooth out as well.

I never really got the same midrange issue as you, and surely not anything I would call "distortion". I think there were times that I could overdrive them a bit in my room which would muddy things up a bit. But once I got past the slight mid-bass bloat, things settled in very nicely!

Bond, I have a Narada sampler that has I believe David Lantz/Christofore's Dream, good piano, it makes for a nice demo. Some folks don't care for the Narada stuff, but I like it.

My main reason for going to the 3000's is that they will mesh better with my room volume and I will not have a tendency to overdrive them. Not that I listen to music at ungodly levels, but there are those times when you just feel like you want some concert-hall levels!

Also, not trying to take sales away from John at all, but have you watched any film with the Walsh's set up, center in Phantom mode, in my setting I am very pleased with how things sound without a center channel, but rooms and placement will have a big influence on that. I am thinking about getting a pair of Microwalsh's at some point for my surrounds.

I hope you can get squared away with your 2000's Bond, I do think you will enjoy them a lot. Sometimes too, I think it is all too easy to get in the "critical listening mode" instead of just letting the music speak for itself. Especially when you are in the dem mode and making sure these are what you want to purchase. Enjoy! Tim