Anybody listen to Ohm Walsh speaker w/digital amp?

I am these days. An extremely good match I would say.

I heard this system last weekend featuring a custom horn design at the capital Audiofest in Rockville, MD

http://picasaweb.google.com/ctbarker32/CapitalAudiofest2010June1113?feat=embedwebsite#5481902138095060482

It set one of the highest benchmarks for overall dynamics and clarity I have heard to date, at least with the vintage classical and jazz material sourced from vinyl that I heard.

It was SOTA all around and cost a small fortune (6 figures easily I would guess).

My preliminary assessment is my OHM Walsh/Class D amp combo is at least in the same league as this setup. Kind of like the Yankees and the Orioles are as well. Well, I think I rig would fair better against this setup that the Orioles do against the Yankees lately on any given day, but you get the drift. I'd have to hear the two side by side, so at least its close.

To give an idea of teh differences, the Audio Note tube amp used in this system was said to put out perhaps 20 watts and cost over $60000.

My Bel Canto Ref100m2 lists for 1/10th of that (still not cheap by any stretch) and puts out 500w/ch or 20X the power, which is needed for a 87db or so efficient design like the OHM 5s, whereas the Audio Note amp did not have to break a sweat it seemed driving those 109db efficient horns.

Makes me think of the old Victrolas....

Mapman, did you visit either the Salk Sound or Selah rooms? Impressions?

Selah, yes. I did not stay long and really had no impression to relate.

I recall seeing Salk also but same deal, sorry. I only had a few hours and a lot of ground to cover.

The systems that caught my ear that I spent time listening to were the one pictured above, the Cathedfral speakers, the room demoing Magico V3 and comparable YG aCOUSTICS, AND United Audio with their mbl and RTR setup (which was good but not set up as well as their showroom), and the little Jolida integrated running the Nola monitors, which was the best sound value of the show that I could see.

The Polk audio room was the only one that did not sound good to me in some way. They were going for the overpowering bass deal which turned me right off.

I'll be getting an Ohm Walsh 2000 pair in late December, to be powered by the new Red Dragon MkII 500 monoblocks (Class D amplifiers based on the B&O ICEpower ASX2 module). Will spend Jan & Feb burning in, then will post a review.

Signal Chain:
- high resolution digital files from USB drive
- Logitech Squeezebox (optical out)
- Benchmark DAC1 (XLR out)
- Red Dragon 500W monoblocks
- Ohm Walsh 2000's

Cables:
Each monoblock will be wired to the speaker with 18 inches of Belden 10-gauge 5T00UP speaker cable, bare wire on each end. Canare L-4E6S "star quad" balanced XLR cables will go from DAC to monoblocks.

Room:
- 2,268 cubic feet (21 x 13.5 x 8)
- wood floor
- speakers in the corners of the 13 foot wall
- 8x8 opening on the end opposite the speakers

Stay tuned for a review in Feb 2012 (I hope)!