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


Hi,

I'd love to hear the impressions of people who've actually spent some time with these speakers to share their sense of their plusses and minuses. Mapman here on Audiogon is a big fan, and has shared lots on them, but I'm wondering who else might be familiar with them.
rebbi
No worries. In the past 6 years, I've listened to many high end headphones. I've got the MWT short lately and these sounded extremely good. The vocal, soundstage and imaging is better than any pair of headphones I've heard.
Rbf,

Here's the good news:

You're about to experience omnidirectional loudpeakers - and very fine examples of the breed, as it happens. I think almost all listeners are initially struck by the unique spatial presentation characteristic of this design approach. IME, many people immediately fall in love with it, but a few do not. Since the Ohms are sold with an in-home/money back trial period, you'll quickly ascertain which side of the fence you fall on, with limited economic risk.

As to some people bailing after enjoying the speakers for a period of time, well....welcome to the world of audio hobbyists. There are many different ways that manufacturers "skin the cat" and no single approach covers every base. After some period of time, it's not uncommon to want to try something a bit different than what you've been living with...even if you've still got a good thing going.

There's always a certain excitement inherent in something new.

In your case, at the moment, your new relationship will be with the Ohms. If it's a fling, send 'em back. If it feels like a keeper, keep 'em. As to whether or not that lovin' feeling fades over time, I suspect that you'll just have to wait and see.

Congrats on the purchase!

Marty

(Now going on year 5 with Ohm 100s and not looking around, except for the ocassional glance at MBLs).
I bought my first Walsh 2s in 1982.

Circa 1986 or so, when I got a real job and some money, I started a fling with Magnepans and kept both until about 3 years ago. I also added a pair of B&W P6s and Triangle Titus along the way in that my house is wired for audio in multiple rooms.

The Maggies were kings until about three years ago when I got upgrade fever again. The Maggies and Walsh 2s were both 20 years old + by then.

I sampled everything at all price points. Read some reviews of the latest OHMs and decided to try them. The rest is history. Others sound nice but the OHMs sound like music and rule.

If that makes you feel any better.

Hey even Christy Brinkley's husband was not satisfied. Go figure! There are always plenty of fish in the sea.
One of the things about this speaker that just calls to me is summed up when John Potis writes that "...these Walsh speakers are designed for those who want to enjoy their music while they live their life." That really appeals to me. I don't generally listen to music just sitting in one spot and concentrating (analytical?). For that I use headphones. The purpose of these speakers will be to have music playing in our livingroom while we have dinner, when we come home from work, when we have friends over, etc. While we LIVE! The idea that they'll sound pretty great just filling a room is so appealing, and when I go audition other speakers and the salesmen have me sit in a specific seat and insist that I not get up and move around the room to make an assessment defeats my purpose for buying speakers in the first place.
The OHM is a unique design due largely to its use of the wave bending wide range Walsh driver.

The omni presentation combined with ability to be placed relatively close to walls if needed is probably the most unique feature.

Second is the wide range omni Walsh driver covers most of the audio range where music occurs with one driver. That results in a highly coherent room filling sound that is distinctive.

It will not sound like any other speaker exactly. Few speakers sound exactly alike so a choice based on preference must be made. More so with the OHM because it is so unique. Audio is all about making choices that best suit your needs. The thing with the OHMs is that if you like what it does, there is really not much else out there like it to choose from. Decware has a speaker at a good price point that appears somewhat similar. THat is about it. There are other omnis and other speakers that use Walsh driver technology but those cost a lot more.