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

If anybody has recently upgraded from series 3 to the latest 1000 series models, I'd be interested in hearing some about what you do or do not hear different or better with the newer designs?

I owned the Walsh 5 S3 and upgraded to the 5000s and have extensive listening hours logged with both. Here is a point by point comparison:

1. 5000 greatest improvement is in the midrange - it is much more open and transparent - superb inner detail and quiet background - much more dimensional.

2. 5000 has lower SPL, ~2 dB, needs more power and a good 200W per channel amp - and has a superior bass with better slam, tightness and extension - quite amazing actually. All the Walshs had excellent bass but the 5000 has hit the sweet spot with just perfect box tuning.

3. The 5000 treble is very airy and sweet and never ever will you hear grain or grit - hours and hours of listening pleasure and zilch fatigue.

4. The soundstage of the 5000 goes deeper with much better fleshing out of the back rows of the ensemble and much more hall acoustic and you-are-there presence.

The 5000 upgrade from the Walsh 5 Series 3 is well worth the dollar investment and heartily recommended.

I haven't posted to this thread for a while as I've been changing components over (and over again) the past year. I have Ohm Walsh 5000 prototypes in 5-S3 cabinets. It has been months of changing out electronics, cables etc. and listening to get to this point. More than once, I thought I knew what the Ohms were capable of; The Ohms proved me wrong. In my experience, they have more to offer as you match your gear and move up the electronics food chain. They are very neutral speakers. My Ohms have been much like the proverbial "chameleon." The quality of their sound has changed and improved as the system of electronics in front of them has been optimized. Others, (Mapman) have noted that Ohms have the ability to be better with better gear. As I have matched and upgraded electronics, cables, and even my ac outlet, the sound of the Ohms improved in quality too. I spoke to a very high end dealer once who bluntly stated "you need different speakers." That's been a recurring theme I've read and heard. I don't know about older Ohm models, but the modern Ohms are quality.

There is a lesson I have learned. System building takes more patience than I like. Seems that sometimes it takes more time, trial and error than I wanted to deal with. I didn't know these speakers could be this good but I continued to experiment with different electronics, power cords etc. As I went through component changes, I thought the sound of the Ohms was improving but realized it was still unsatisfying. I practically gave up. But, I learned that you have to stick with speakers sometimes and continue to experiment upstream. One find along the way was Auricle Audio interconnects. They are great and a bargain! The other find was the Maestro ac outlet some of you have read about. Each of these has contributed to the enhanced performance of the Ohm speakers in my system. The sound quality of the Ohms can go where you take them.

Foster - I couldn't agree more! I was gradually upgrading my electronics and cables, and eventually realized that I had taken my old speakers as far as they could go. In the year that I've had the Walsh 2000s, I have made some upgrades - a new DAC, moddified my turntable, a new cartridge, and a new preamp. In each case, the 2000s revealed the differences. Although I am really enjoying my system right now, I agree with you that I can only benefit from further system improvements.

Don't worry about that dealer; I bet he'd say that about any speaker he didn't carry. People who discredit Ohm products either haven't heard them or haven't heard them in a good system that is well set up. Even people who have had Ohms in the past and moved on generally speak highly of Ohm's speakers.

Interestingly, John Strohbeen told me that he does not do trade shows for that very reason - too little time to do it right and show his products properly.

John S. really has a talent for voicing loudspeakers. All we consumers have to do is add the right electronics, cables and a proper set up to benefit more fully from this talent!

YEs, I find with the OHMs, it is much like making really good soup. All the ingredients matter and attention to detail 9and some patience) is the key to getting really good results.

Foster, I know all teh gyrations you have gone through so I am very happy that your patience and attention to detail appears to be paying off.