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Ohm Walsh Microtall or Vandersteen 1C

So having gone to my local audio store yesterday and auditioning the Vandersteen 1C and the PSB Image T6, the PSB model is out. I was leaning heavily towards going back next week to buy the 1C, but I started down a path of reading about the Microtalls, and I think I have to call them tomorrow and order a pair.

I'll be running with just a Peachtree Nova, using a Macbook Pro (optical out), Ps3/Xbox 360, and turntable as sources. They'll be used to play music as well as for 2 channel HT.

I really enjoyed the 1C sound, which had warmth and clarity. The PSBs felt a little too neutral and cold to me. I think while I imagine that I want a real analytic, detailed sound to let me hear every little note and drum hit, in reality I want a speaker that lets me get lost in the music and just "live" while I have music on. I can use headphones for the analytic listening :)

Will the Microtalls work for watching video, in the sense that dialogue will still sound as if it's coming from the center? I know I could always add the center channel and a sub later to help out with HT, but that's not in the budget now.

What will I lose with the Microtalls vs. the Vandersteens? I was also wondering if I wouldn't be better off waiting until I could afford the 2ce Sig II (or finding some new) and going with the Ohm for now while I'm at a $1000 budget.

Finally, do I pay return shipping on the Ohms if I don't like them? What is that cost? Thanks!
rbf1138
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,172 posts
 
The thing with prog rock is that there is often a lot going on in the recording to hear at any particular time, like large ensemble classical or big band. A large deep soundstage enables one too discern more details, like a big screen 3-d hd tv or movie screen in that things are less cluttered. Of course all the other stuff matters as well. The ohms can do it all very well.
heywaj10
17 posts
 
Mapman and Bondmanp,

I appreciate your insight on the prog rock/metal genres and the MWTs. Can either of you possibly expand on particular experiences with a few tracks? I'm curious how the genre really portrays itself with the MWTs (in possibly some more exact terms :)).

I only have experience hearing Vandersteen 1Cs and Magnepan 1.7s with Opeth/PT/Dream Theater. The Vandersteens were nice, but sounded a little anemic at times. The 1.7s the same (even less bass performance than the 1C), although the Akerfeldt vocal effect he does about 2 minutes in on the track Blackwater Park was mindblowing.

Both speakers felt as though I lost the details in the attempt to reach moderate-loud (not loud-loud) volumes. How do the MWTs fare in that department?

Thanks!
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,172 posts
 
Hey,

I had similar issues with older Magnepan's from the 80's that were my mains for many years alongside a pair of older OHMS.

The newer OHMs I have now replaced both.

The older OHMs did not have as refined a presentation as most more modern speakers.

The Maggies were fine with a variety of music at low to moderate volume, but became compressed and congested at higher volumes especially with prog rock and similar pop/rock genres.

The modern OHMs handle whatever you throw at them with ease at any volume, especially with a decent to good source and the right amplification.

One caveat is I hve never heard MWTs but the consensus is that all modern OHMs have a similar sound the main difference being bass levels obtainable in various sized rooms. Larger OHMs tend to do that better in larger rooms though I have not heard many complaints about MWT bass levels in general. In some cases, like more lively rooms, less can often be more in terms of overall performance.
bondmanp
1,808 posts
 
I have a used pair of MWTs for surrounds. Before instaslling them, I hooked them up in place of my 2000s briefly. I must say I was surprised by how close the MWTs sounded to the 2000s. A little less bass extension and slam, but otherwise, really close. And remember, the MWT that I have is one generation older than my 2000s. On PT's Darkest Eyes track, the Vandys would get really congested at the chorus, when the guitars kicked in, obscuring other details in the music. The Ohms allowed the track to breath, giving plenty of dynamic punch, but never losing the other musicians in the mix. Balanced with grace under pressure would be a good descriptor.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,172 posts
 
"Grace Under Pressure"

That might most simply describe the thing I like best about the OHMs. Nothing seems to phase them ie they are seemingly NEVER the bottleneck, however they will easily reveal shortcomings upstream, in recordings etc.
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