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

Frazeur1, thanks for your response. I really can't praise these speakers enough. Recently, I put on an album by Bill Nelson called Atom Shop. I've listened to this album on my bose tri-port headphones, on friends systems, and in my car. I thought that I knew this album really well until I put it through the Ohms. On the Ohms, the soundstage is huge, floor to ceiling and just disolved the back and side walls. There is also a lot of low end energy that I never heard which contributes to the feeling that everything is larger than life. It's funny when you listen and with your eyes closed the speaklers sound 10 feet tall, and you open your eyes and look at the "toothpicks" providing the sound.

I think that John Strohbeen should say something on their website like "re-discover your music collection with Ohm speakers" because that's exactly what I've been doing with these speakers. I put on the Stones Sticky Fingers, and Let It Bleed, and I'm hearing things I've never heard before. Now, every time I put on an album, I'm excited because I wonder how it's going to sound. I couldn't be happier. As far as I'm concerned, John has secured a customer for life, and I'll continue to sing the praises of Ohm speakers to friends and anyone else who will listen. I will also audition them for anyone looking for speakers. My son-in law thought I spent too much money until I sat him down and made hin listen to the new Black Eye Peas album The E.N.D. It has enough jaw dropping effects to show people what these speakers can do. My son-in-law no longer thinks I spent too much. I'll have to have a listen to Neil Young's Harvest Moon, and could use more suggestions on music that shows off the Ohms best qualities. Suggestions anyone??? Thanks, Joe

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Joe, if you like some jazz, I love the Yellowjackets and their LiveWires disc. Maybe not the best of their collection, but just a good live album. Another album that I like but gets a bit twangy for me, is Allison Krause Live, with this one cooking it is just pretty amazing, very dynamic and just plain good. I also like Lyle Lovett's Joshua Judges Ruth, it is a very good mix to listen to. KD Lang's Ingenue, vocals to die for. Basically, most anything I have listened to gets portrayed in a wonderfully realistic way on the Ohm's.

I think the Ohm does extremely well, regardless if the album is live or a studio recording, it just sounds right. I have heard some people complain about the Ohm's sounding unrealistic on some studio albums, but so far, I can't say that it has happened to me.

I am glad you are enjoying them Joe. It does make me want to get out and buy more music. So much for my budget. Thanks for that John! Enjoy, Tim

Frazeur1, thanks for the suggestions. I don't have any yellowjackets yet, but I do have alison Krauss and Lyle Lovett, and will check them out. If you're into Beck, check out the Midnight Vultures and Odelay discs. Both of these are a fun listen that surprised me with effects that aren't apparent through headphones or conventional speakers. As for Jazz, anything by Sade or Steely Dan makes the Ohms sound spectacular. Like I said, I'm re-discovering my music collection and having the time of my life doing it. Joe

Another suggestion is any album by Aimee Man (Mann?). I have listened to several, including "Lost In Space" last night. Note that this was the standard Redbook CD, not the remastered CD that is out there. Really exiting and emotionally involving. One thing I've noticed lately, is that I have to retract what I've said about the soundstage being laid back, at the plane of the speakers or behind them. On some CDs, like the Aimee Man recordings, the sound is absolutely projected fore and aft of the speakers, as well as side-to-side and top-to-bottom. The soundstage is absolutely huge, and extends above and outside the walls of my room. A real treat! Maybe they are continuing to break in even now. All of this is very dependent on the source material. The Ohm Walsh speakers are really a window on the source.

As for surround experiences, I do want to stress that my Vandersteen center is an okay match for the Ohms, but clearly is less than perfect. It has a bit of the roughness in the upper-mids/lower-treble that was characterisitc of the 1Cs. It's not terrible, but I will definitley be ordering an Ohm center when I have the wood. I watched The DaVinci Code for the first time over the weekend. Unlike with music, the film itself distracts one from evaluating the sound, but it seemed excellent to me. The sound of a car that entered from the left, behind the camera, and drove towards the center-left front of the screen tracked beautifully and seemlessly. I am very confident in recommending Ohm Walsh speakers for surround use. An ideal combo of diffuse ambience and pinpoint localized sounds.

And, John S., you are most welcome. Best of luck to you and your fantastic company!

I have a 9 CD Time/Life 50s CD collection. This includes many popular tracks from that decade and sound like it must be remastered. Most of it is mono recordings. I've found remastered mono recordings from this era sound quite spectacular on my system! Solid imaging, big soundstage (more between speakers only though in comparison to stereo) and detail abounds, even with massed strings. Top notch audio candy!

Other mono 50's remasters sound top notch as well. One that comes to mind is a 2-cd Chuck Berry collection I have. I never realized this stuff could sound so good when I used to hear it on the radio as a kid.