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

We do share a lot of information here, and especially with this thread in general discussing many other types of omni, or omni-like speakers. This review is of another speaker, of which I have owned it's baby brother, the Model 4, for a year or so, along with a pair of Shahinian Obelisk 2's about 2 months ago. Check out the review here:

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue69/larsen8.htm

After taking a big break for about a year or so, selling my gear-my Ohm 3000's and MWT's etc., I came back looking at other alternatives, and the Larsen and Shahinian's ended up doing rotation in my system. While both Larsen and Shahinian-as well as Ohm's share many similarities, they all seem to still manage to do their own thing, and do it well. I still do miss the Ohm's at times, and may someday end up with another pair.

Nice to see this thread still alive! Tim

My lack of recent posts should not be misunderstood. I am still loving my Walsh 2000s, and do not anticipate changing out my speakers in the forseeable future. Unfortunately, any and all upgrades are on indefinite hold. While still marginally employed, the wheels have come off the cart at work. The good news is that I am in a good place, audio-wise, with hundreds and hundreds of CDs to load on my server, and even more vinyl to digitize and place on the server. Just hoping nothing breaks!

Hi Bondman.

Sorry to hear about the work issues. Hopefully that can be put behind you sometime soon. Its a dog eat dog world out there these days for sure!

Meanwhile, hopefully take pleasure whenever/wherever you can. Enjoy the music!

Hoping for the best there Bond! At least you have great music, and while that may seem like a very hollow thing right now, I know music goes a long way to help get through those down-turns, it certainly did with me over the course of the last couple of years! Hang in there! Tim

Hi guys .. not much happening on the thread lately so I thought I'd share.

A while ago I decided to stop the madness and jump off the merry-go-round. Fortunately I have enough gear in storage to swap in/out when the mood strikes for something different, which is inevitable. I moved to computer audio completely in the past couple of years and have managed to put together a very satisfying system, which is currently:

Mac mini (late 2012, i7, 256GB SSD, 16GB RAM)
SOtM dX-USB HD converter
Chord QuteHD DAC
Odyssey Cyclops Integrated (SE+ w/ps upgrade)

While I’ve been using my Magnepan MMGs almost exclusively, I occasionally swap them out with my Mark & Daniel Rubys, or the MicroWalsh Talls for a different presentation, but always seem to miss the Maggies and put them back in the system. Far from perfect, the little Maggies have a rightness to them that appeals to me.

Well, I’m antsy and the mood for change is yet again upon me. It was 10 years ago this coming February that the MicroWalsh Talls arrived in my home, so I thought it was fitting to give them another extensive listen. Of the changes I’ve made recently, the most significant has been the addition of room correction software via Amarra Symphony w/iRC. The integration with Dirac’s room correction wizardry has been game-changing for me and while on the expensive side (for software), it was well worth the price paid. I recently put the Talls back into the system, hooked up the microphone, and ran the IRC Measurement program to create a correction filter.

One of the niceties of the iRC function within Amarra Symphony is the ability to turn the filter on/off easily while playing music, instantly hearing the difference, and a difference there is. First and foremost I must say the 10 year old Talls are still a pleasure to listen to without room correction. With the room correction filter applied, there is more focus and clarity (somewhat like dipoles) and yet the omni presentation and wide sweet spot is fully intact. Bass is more controlled and nuanced. Timbre is gorgeous as usual. The Talls are simply better behaved from top to bottom. Needless to say, I’m pleased with this improvement.

Room correction has intrigued and intimidated me for years. With this latest Amarra Symphony build the intimidation factor is obliterated with its ease of use. Treating the room in this way allows me to have a living-room/listening-room without bass traps and/or acoustic panels, or hiring a pro for advice. It’s been said many times that Ohm’s loudspeakers shine with better electronics and I couldn’t agree more with that sentiment. I would now include room correction in addition to better gear. After 10 years of ownership these loudspeakers remain beguiling and seductive, a joy to listen to and live with. One day I hope to move up to the 2000’s, perhaps when I find myself hopping back on that inevitable carousel ride.