Ohm Acoustics Walsh F-5015 speakers

Spacer and Mapman thank you so much for your enlightened responses and photos.

Since my following of Ohm speaker development has been spotty over recent years I have a couple of fundamental questions.

I believe (don't know for sure) the W5000/W4000 series are 2 way designs with the Walsh driver supplemented with a tweeter that kicks in at around 12,000 Hz. I suspect that the crossover is of a first order design although perhaps you can offer some clarification on that.

The W5015, I believe is a 3 way design with tweeter, Walsh driver, and 15 inch built in amplified sub woofer that crosses over at 80 Hz. Is the cabinet sealed, ported, or some other design?

Also, the inference seems to be that the 5015 is audibly smoother in the upper frequencies than the 5000/4000 series. This suggests that there have been improvements/changes over the 5000 driver which go beyond just the addition of that awesome subwoofer. Is it known what these changes may be? Or could it be that that the Walsh drive does not have to carry as heavy a workload (because of the subwoofer) in the 5015 that it peforms better.

Thanks.

Robert C. Lang

"I believe (don't know for sure) the W5000/W4000 series are 2 way designs with the Walsh driver supplemented with a tweeter that kicks in at around 12,000 Hz. I suspect that the crossover is of a first order design although perhaps you can offer some clarification on that."

Tweeter kicks in at ~ 7khz as I understand it. Not sure about crossover type.

"The W5015, I believe is a 3 way design with tweeter, Walsh driver, and 15 inch built in amplified sub woofer that crosses over at 80 Hz. Is the cabinet sealed, ported, or some other design? "

Yes, 3 way as described. Not sure about crossover point or controls ie similarly adjustable or not to an outboard sub or more fixed. Spacer might know or I would have to study the pics of teh controls he provided further to venture a guess.

I suspect the cabinet is sealed and not ported like other Walsh CLS designs, in that sub would relinquish benefits of a portm but not certain. Spacer would know. If not ported, that would be a first in the Walsh CLS line I believe and more like original OHM F.

"Also, the inference seems to be that the 5015 is audibly smoother in the upper frequencies than the 5000/4000 series. This suggests that there have been improvements/changes over the 5000 driver which go beyond just the addition of that awesome subwoofer. Is it known what these changes may be? Or could it be that that the Walsh drive does not have to carry as heavy a workload (because of the subwoofer) in the 5015 that it peforms better."

My understanding is it is a standard configuration 5000 driver used based on the descriptions I have read, but John Strohbeen might be the only one to know for sure. Also, I believe he has indicated it is currently a prototype, so details could change.

One of the benefits IMHO of the standard 2-way Walsh CLS driver (all generations) is that the Walsh driver does most of the work and CLS design seems to minimize demand on the tweeter. This helps account for the Walsh CLSs ability to go very loud seemingly with little or no compression (with enough power behind them), breakup or distortion, that I have observed both with originals from the 80's and the newer descendants.

Adding powered subs to any speaker otherwise pretty much always translates to further lowering the demand on the rest. German Physiks uses this approach with their DDD Walsh driver. I know other OHM Walsh owners (MartyKL for one)have expressed considerable success using external subs with other OHM Walsh speakers, especially to help enable the OHMs to perform well off of tube amplification.

I use an external powered M&K sub with my Walsh 2 series 3 OHMs running of 180w/ch SS Tube Audio Design 125 Hibachi monoblocks in my large open family room/kitchen area. The sub crossover frequency and level setting is minimal with the OHMS, compared to how set with my other monitor speakers I have used the sub with from time to time.

The sub definitely adds something, but I could probably live without it. THat room is fairly big but not huge and is my second system where I do not do as much critical listening.

Hi reclang

It is a scealed design. For the rest of your questions, I suggest you contact John via the Ohm site. I'm sure he will be able to answer them.

Spacer,

I know this is an old post, but, if you have time I would still love to hear your thoughts on the F-5015's. I had a pair of Walsh 4's I purchased in 84'. Upgraded them to the 4.5000's around 2012. Had John and co build a custom center channel for me, then lost everything in the 2018 #campfire.

Now, I'm in contact with John to build me a couple of F-5015's, plus some additional speakers. So, any more insight you can provide would be helpful. Are you sending full range frequencies to the 15"sub, as well as the cls driver? How has the sub amp performed through the years? Do you find it not necessary to breed an additional sub for movie listening?

Thanks, buttecreeker

I had a chance to get one in 2012 that was being beta tested. I regret I didn't take John up on his offer but I had just spent my money on a bigger amp. Oh well maybe I will have the funds one day to get one. He said it goes down to 16 Hz for some scary bass.