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

@snapsc: First, your tweeter question. Where the resister on the tweeter (there is no crossover in the literal sense) kicks in is not divulged by Ohm, and is a matter of some debate. On the old Ohm web site, there was a page that indicated the tweeter only handled 7kHz and up, but others have tried measuring the main drivers and found them rolling off above about 2-3kHz.

As for the quality of the tweeters, Guttenberg has a point. I would say they are adequate. They are not harsh, peak-y or otherwise flawed. Do they have that hard to describe sense of fine detail and filigree one hears on the best speakers? Generally not, although with some really god recordings, they can have that treble magic. I have noticed that the treble on 96/24 needle drops I make do sound subtly but clearly better - cleaner, more refined - than Red Book standard needle drops I make.

Do I wish the tweeter was more refined? Perhaps, although the level of treble refinement did improve when I recently switched my amp. I doubt this could be done without raising prices, though.

Second: If you go with a model not suggested for your room size, you may overdrive them, and possibly damage them. My room size meant I could go with either the 2000s or 3000s. I went with the 2000s, as I already had a good pair of subs (Vandersteen 2Wq), and wished to continue using them. In my room, this combo has worked exceedingly well. I get the huge, tight bass I crave, with the wonderful soundstage and timbre of the Ohms. If you can manage it, and if you’re as much of a bass freak as I am, consider both the appropriate-sized model and a pair of decent subwoofers. I doubt you will be disappointed. 10 years this fall since I got them, and I have no interest in upgrading, at all.

Steve's review is very fair and accurate.  They are a really fun speaker.

I have the 5000's.  I do wonder sometimes what an even "Better" tweeter would sound like. (could be upgraditis).  I also find they do sound even more focused and detailed when I have the "hat's/grills" off.  

I've asked Even at Ohm if they have ever looked at a snapring type system to clean up the look when the "hat's" are off.  He said yes, but not seriously.  I really would like to have a clean upper snap ring around the top of the can, and the base where they screw in.  Just for a cleaner look... with some cloth only in between would be awesome to clean them up more.

Had someone here recently to demo an amp I was selling, he ended up loving the Walsh speakers (had been kicking around Golden Ears or B+W) and said he will be demoing the Walsh speakers for sure when the time comes.  But he also asked to hear them with my Pass 250.8... he was floored.  Something about the combo works great.

Fun speakers, and very fair and accurate review by Steve.

Overdriving is possible if speakers are way too small to do what’s desired, but I suspect you would have to go to very uncomfortable volumes in most rooms to cause damage from having them go too loud, assuming the amp is up to the task. Clipping is probably a greater risk with a lower powered amp trying to go too loud.

Having said that, I’ve played all my Ohms very loud off 500w/ch amp and they never sound strained. The amp always gives up before the Ohms. Note that my current Ohms are one generation older, not current XX00 line, but hopefully those would be as robust or better.

In the recent online youtube interview with Steve Guttenburg, John S. says he does not use third party drivers, rather Ohm assembles the drivers custom using purchased parts, something I was not sure about. Also I know he likes soft dome tweeters due to their dispersion pattern for use with the omnis. Conventional folded ribbon tweeters and their ilk probably would not cut it in an omni design.

I’ve heard people on this thread and elsewhere say they undertook projects to upgrade and customize their Ohms Walshes with better drivers, etc. themselves but no reports of ever finishing or sharing any results.

Maybe I’ll pick up a pair used on the cheap someday and give it a shot, if/when I retire. another thing to add to the bucket list....

I have done some custom upgrades to my late 70’s vintage Ohm Ls (pretty conventional box designs not Walsh) that needed some work. I put a pair of $350 used Morel woofers in those and added John’s sub bass activator circuit but I still have a way to go with those if I ever feel inclined: crossover, tweets, etc. They sound just fine in very limited use in my unfinished basement area for use during table tennis matches, etc. The bass is very good! :-)   I did those upgrades prior to getting my big Ohm 5s.   I almost didn't pull the trigger but glad I did.

As for playing loud.

They can do that, and do it in spades. They simply do not lose composure. They can be a little dangerous as they don’t get real bright when pushing them like that, so you don’t realize how loud they are.

A story however... A couple years back picked up some used Pro-200’s, probably damn near 30 years old. Wanted just to check them out. Had some DynAudio contour 60’s at the time which I liked a lot, but I knew they weren’t my last speakers.

Plugged these fairly beat up Pro-200’s into my Pass Lab’s 250.8. I was floored. Not better than the Dyn’s at all, but they did something the Dyn’s didn’t and I really liked it. I also knew right then, I knew what the Dyn’s were missing for me. Big soundstage.

Huge freaking soundstage, and shockingly good bass out of these little cylinders.

So, for kicks and grins I decided to see what they could do and for how long (like I was 15 again, in fact Motley Crue was the selection).

After about 15 minutes of blisteringly loud playing one of them started to smoke. My kids walked in "cool" was the response. Yet, it was still playing. So, unplugged them had a good laugh and figured I would open them up and start farting around.

Called John for kicks... said play it and see if it works... I’ll be damned. Things still played and sounded good.  This was a 30 year old, beat up speaker, that was playing at crazy levels through a powerhouse of an amp and survived!

Now, not normal listening and The Pass 250.8 is a beast of an amp for those speakers. But pretty amazed.

I picked up some used 5000’s for a great price shortly thereafter. I’ve heard other speakers I like better, but it’s a lot more money. (In fact I had something else on order, but family budget considerations and surprises likely have killed that dream for a long time)

Side note - if you are doing a home theater they do a nice job, and you really probably won’t need a center channel.

The one thing you learn over time is that all loudspeakers have pluses, minuses and trade offs.  It seems that John has designed a speaker that meets what his ear tells him sounds "right"....and it would seem that tens of thousands of people agree because you rarely see his speakers on the resale market.


Assuming that the crossover is really 3k or higher...meaning that the Walsh drive is really carrying most of the load...then it is the Walsh driver that is really determining the overall sound...but it might be really interesting to see what a high end (maybe Be, maybe diamond, maybe RAAL, etc. would do for the top end ambience).


To really move "up" the Walsh driver category requires buying something super expensive from German Physiks...and there is no guarantee that when you get it home...it will really sound better in your room with your equipment.  Granted, they probably don't sell a ton of these in the U.S., but again, you almost never see these in the resale market....but they do look really cool!


My current loudspeaker is the Salk Veracity ST...with dual 6" seas midwoofers connected to a transmission line and crossed over around 1700 hz to a RAAL 70-20....massive soundstage, beautiful detail from the low end all the way up to the cymbals...a loudspeaker that transports you to the front table in a small club...and there is Billy Joel right in front of you.


I've wanted to try a pair of Ohms for quite a while...and sooner or later I'm going to fly to NY or find someone that has a pair and see how they compare...although I would probably never get rid of the Salks because the wood finish is just so darn beautiful. 


Each time I've upgraded my system, I've just hung on to the replaced component so that I could fire up a second system with a little more certainty of the sound.  I'm also lusting after the new but not quite ready to be released Digital Amplifier Cherry Preamp...which if its like their amps will also be a shocker.