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

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

Thanks, all. Please keep the piano recommendations coming. Meanwhile, I will revisit some of the offending recordings to see if the issue is dissapating at all.

I resent my email to John Strohbeen. Still waiting for a reply. I assume he is still in catch-up mode after being closed for the holidays.

I have invited several members of the local audiophile club in to hear and critique the 2000s (only one or two at a time - my listening room has space for two seats only). Hopefully, these more experienced ears will help me figure things out.

Frazeur1: This last issue, the roughness in the mids on piano, is severe enough that it forces me into the critique mode; if I were listening for pleasure, I would turn it off or at least switch to a different CD. Very frustrating since I really like these speakers in every other respect.

Bond- just to be clear. Are you getting the distortion on ALL piano recordings within the mid-midrange? Anything similar with acoustic guitar? Cello? Viola?

My gut tells me it's source-related: distortion in the recording. Two recordings I recommend are:

1. "Van Cliburn in Moscow" RCA Red Seal,1972, ISBN# 1779-45653-2

2. "Rachmaninov Piano Concertos 2&3"- Vladimir Ashkenazy- 1963
Decca Legends series ISBN# 289-466-375-2

These are older recordings, presumably with one mic. I hear a bit of distortion in the audience and other background noise, but the piano seems pretty good. Obviously analog recordings, with the Rachmaninov being a 24 bit/96Hz transfer.

I myself have some recordings that are unbearable on my MWT's, foremost being 'In the Court of the Crimson King" 80's CD pressing by King Crimson. Unlistenable since I got the Ohm's (I have not gotten the remaster yet). The speakers are just too damn revealing sometimes, I guess.

I'm still enthralled with my micro talls. What Parasound63 says about Ohm speakers being too revealing is quite accurate. I got the Beatles 2009 remasters recently, and for better or worse, they show you what's there, warts and all. I'm still getting to know these speakers, and the more I listen, the more appealing, addicting, and utterly enjoyable they become. I have never been this happy with a pair of speakers before, and this is comming from a jaded 57 yr. old man who is not easily impressed and has listened to many speakers over the years.
I do have one question. How much power will these babies take? My Yamaha reciever goes from -80db to +16db I usually run the reciever anywhere from -10db to +7db depending on the loudness of the recording, and I don't want to blow my speakers up, but I'm not sure how much power they'll take, or how much power the reciever is putting out at these settings. I have never pushed the speakers into strain or distorsion as far as I can tell. My reciever is rated at 100wpc. Can anyone out there re-educate me on the basics so I can enjoy my speakers without melting them down? I've been out of the audiophile loop for quite a few years, and much has been forgotten. Any help will be greatly appreciated, Thanks