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

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

"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 have the remaster. I think I read somewhere that the remaster was the first time in the digital age that this monument recording has been done well. It sounds very good for the first time ever to me on any of my speakers, but best on the OHMs. Even the ambient section of "Moonchild", which had never drawn my attention before, sucks me way in despite the fact that so little (yet still so much) is going on.

Joefish said:

" I got the Beatles 2009 remasters recently, and for better or worse, they show you what's there, warts and all. "

YEs, I have the monos and a few stereo remasters. Overall, they are the best digital versions I have heard and the OHMs reveal everything from the best to worst. Everything is on my music server, which makes it easy to a/b different versions of songs or compare any two recordings back to back as desired, so I think I have some good experience here.

Joe,

Which model OHMs do you have specifically and which Yamaha receiver?

100 watts will do a good job on most all OHMs, but lareger ones can take and benefit from more. Also, receivers are generally not great at delivering lots of current which all OHM Walshes love. I suspect 100 watts out of a good high current power amp will do much better.

And yes, it is possible that distortion is in certain piano recordings. Piano can have a large range of dynamics and transients compared to most instruments and recording this well is no easier than playing it back. The OHMs should not break a sweat playing back piano recordings if the recordings are done well and everything is clicking as it should.