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
Regarding using tube amps, yes, many report good results with tube amps. In many cases, I think people with tube amps also use separate powered subwoofers to offload the heavy power requirements for the low end from the tube amp so it is better able to work its magic elsewhere. Its surely a personal preference/taste type thing also to some extent, but personally I believe one would need a fairly heft tube amp indeed to power at least the larger OHMs to their maximum potential solo.
I can also recommend the TAD 125 Hibachi monoblocks to make the OHMs sing more along the lines of a tube amp. These can come in used on Agon for well under $1000 a pair and are a fantastic bargain. The only caveat is that TAD shut down operations recently and the owner who had a sterling reputation for his designs and customer service unfortunately passed away recently as well, so any servicing down the road would have to be done elsewhere. But that should help assure very favorable used prices for those interested.
Regarding using tube amps, yes, many report good results with tube amps.
Mapman

What is the impedance curve (generally speaking) on the Ohms like? Is it farily smooth or do these speakers have any sigificant dips? Has anyone tried using the Speltz autoformers with a tube amp and an Ohm speaker?
Batch - As usual, I fully agree with Mapman. I have a pair of 2000s, in a basement that is about 20' X 18' X 6' (yes, a low ceiling), so it is in the upper range of the cubic footage for the 2000. I power them with an Odyssey Stratos HT3 w/cap upgrade (150 watts/channel). I do cross them over, first order, to a pair of Vandersteen 2Wq subs, so the power demands are reduced somewhat. Although I believe I have enough juice, one day I would like to try some really high powered amps with them, based on what Mapman and others have said.

Arion Audio makes some very sweet sounding Class D and tube hybrid class D monoblock amps with either 250 or 500 watts each. I'd love to hear my Ohms on those, but due to financial considerations, I'll have to wait. They are not crazy expensive, and based on hearing them on several occassions, I think they are a terrific value.

All that said, I did briefly hook up the 2000s, full range, to a vintage 1993 Onkyo surround receiver. I was knocked over by how good they sounded driven by the Onkyo, which is rated at about 80 watts/channel. The bass was full and deep. The bass was so good that if I didn't love my Vandy subs, I might consider running the Ohms full range and selling the subs. But I do love my Vandy subs!

I am hardly unhappy with the sound I have now, even if every now and then I wonder if more power would improve on the already stellar Ohms. I may upgrade the amps someday, but the Ohms stay!