"this is the product Ohm puts out"

I used to get a ton of grief as it was common for them to arrive damaged or have the top fall off in the first week.

Every dealer in Chicagoland bailed.

That Said, I would myself take a chance on them IF they were priced better.I don't buy speakers on looks but for 3-4 K I still think they look shabby.

"That Said, I would myself take a chance on them IF they were priced better.I don't buy speakers on looks but for 3-4 K I still think they look shabby."

Well, they are what they are and like most everything else in home audio, the looks will not appeal to everyone.

Take a look at the german OHM distributors web site. Pretty stylish! Have you ever seen the pics of John Strohbeen and the OHM Brookly facility? I recall some in a six moons review somewhere. Pretty shabby and blue collar! Not your typical high end audio type imagery. I suppose it helps keep overhead down being located in NYC. Its a different kind of appeal, based almost purely on the sound. As was pointed out above, that seems to be the focus along with customer service and satisfaction. John S. does do a lot of customizations. I would be willing to bet JS would do up a custom pair of Walshes to meet almost anyones appearance specs if possible. Of course, the cost might go up further as well for a really fine absolute top notch type finish. OR maybe it could be done as a refurb to get teh cost down. Those options usually seem to always exist with JS. Part of the customer service thing. You don't stay in the audio business for all those years without taking care of your customers along the way. OHM depends on customers to promote and build the business, not traditional advertising, so customer service and satisfaction is even more paramount than ever.

I hear you Mapman and you are obviously very informed.

All I can say is what you see as keeping overhead down, I see as squeezing every last penny possible off the patent.

"All I can say is what you see as keeping overhead down, I see as squeezing every last penny possible off the patent."

Maybe. But companies do not stay in business if they do not make a profit. I respect companies that deliver good products yet keep overhead down as much as possible. I am a blue collar kind of guy at heart.

OHM prices have gone up in recent years. The current line is supposedly refined in accordance to help justify that. I have not heard the current X000 line yet, including the latest microwalshes, so I cannot say how the value proposition has changed in fact. I believe they are probably improved or refined to some degree but the difference is described as evolutionary not revolutionary. Dunno. Trying the speakers out and taking advantage of the 120 day in home audition period is the way to find out.

Its a tough business these days. Not sure I would want to be in it.

Yes, as usual you're right,what you say is sensible.

I knew I did not want to be in it when the first PC's came out and the what shall I spend my disposable income on american public cut the midfi, entry hiend market in half in 6 months time.
Those who were not around from say 65-75 have no idea how HUGE the stereo market was.
Nor ,IMHO ,have they any idea how good a lot of that Jap stuff was.