Ohm Model I (eye) Amplification Recomendations

blondiebass

blondiebass

Member
First thanks to the community for all the good info! It's been fun reading and learning.

I'm looking for some advice on an amplifier for my new Ohm Model I speakers. I've had Walsh 2's for a while and have been using my Marantz 170dc and love them.

The Model I seems to need a bit more power. I've hooked them up the the 170dc and they sound good. But I have a feeling they are not being given the opportunity to really shine.

I like vintage audio, but am open to more modern options.

Thanks in advance!
 
Register to hide this ad
This speaker can withstand a lot of power. IIRC, it's rated to 1000W. Check with Ohm website. Get a powerful amp of several hundred watts per channel to drive these.
 
Big ones...

Bryston 4b st-series
Adcom GFA 565 (two of them)
Parasound JC1 (two of them)
Parasound JC5
Parasound A21+

Many more options out there.
 
I think all of the above are great examples of powerhouse type amplifiers you'd want, to get the most out of these speakers.

There are many options so what sound you're after should be considered. And compared against amplifier topology, peak output vs RMS, dynamic head room (displayed in dB) etc.

Since these can take so much power, getting very loud with low distortion (relatively from a speaker), when you begin to raise to volume higher and higher the amp will give before the speakers do.

An amp which doesn't make the grade for these will surely be driven into distortion, and worse case be brought to it's knees on impedance swings in the bass frequencies. (Protect mode if it has one)

@Ross6860 hit the proverbial nail on the head. I power my "aye's" with a Parasound A21+. I like the voicing of the amp, and while that plays an important role. It also has lots of current / channel, and digs down at full bandwidth to 5Hz. I never heard bass quite like this until I got the A21+. And that transfers between what speakers I'm using. (i's H's C2's)

The other amps by Parasound (JC5 and mono block JC1's) have even more power and current/channel. So your room size and listening needs should be evaluated there. All of them use JFETs on the inputs, MOSFETS on the driver stage and BJTs on the output stage. I watched a great interview with John Curl from 2019? and he stated all the Halo amp line ups have the same internal components and layout. Its just the bigger amps have more of them.

Lastly since the speakers are bi amp capable. It may benefit you to experiment with that. If you're able to externally low pass the subwoofers then you're all good. A classic example would be to use tube amplification for the mids/highs and use SS for the subwoofer.

Good luck & let us know what you come up with!

Don't forget in home trials for speakers/amps are a must, to truly evaluate a set up in your room.
 
Thanks for all the input, I haven't bit the bullet on anything yet. We are moving shortly so I want to see what my new room will be like.

Side note: yesterday I got my new replacement low tweeters from Ohm. (Surprise surprise, one of the originals was out) They just developed a new design. I got the first pair from from the factory. I'm hesitant to play them until I get the appropriate amplification. The design looks nice, plug and play, machining is perfect for existing opening. Now just need to see how they perform.

This hobby keeps us running huh.
 
blondiebass said:
Thanks for all the input, I haven't bit the bullet on anything yet. We are moving shortly so I want to see what my new room will be like.

Side note: yesterday I got my new replacement low tweeters from Ohm. (Surprise surprise, one of the originals was out) They just developed a new design. I got the first pair from from the factory. I'm hesitant to play them until I get the appropriate amplification. The design looks nice, plug and play, machining is perfect for existing opening. Now just need to see how they perform.

This hobby keeps us running huh.
Click to expand...

Can you post pictures of the new low tweeter? I'm curious how it compares to the crappy looking kluge that they sold me for my I's, which is a fraction of the weight of the originals.

To answer the original question, I'm happy how they pair with my Bryston 4B ST.
 
Hey Satellite,

Yes, please see the attached pics of old and new for reference. (The pictures aren't in any real order so for those who don't know the replacement has the flat honeycomb grill, the original is domed.)

I will say these weigh significantly less than the originals as well. See pics. New = 13.35 oz Original = 5 lbs +/- It maxed out my 4lb baking scale. Honestly, my first thought after pulling them out of the packaging was "they forgot the magnet". I'm not even joking. That being said, I know weight isn't everything and I trust those fellas over there, so until I give them a good listen I won't make any judgments. I prefer the look of the original as well. But sound trumps ascetics for me.

Thanks for the amp recommendation as well!

IMG_3134.jpg IMG_3133.jpg IMG_3132.jpg IMG_3131.jpg IMG_3130.jpg IMG_3129.jpg IMG_3128.jpg
 

Attachments

What the f is that thing??? I’m happy that you trust those fellas over there. Luckily they don’t work on my ohm F’s. My I’s are original other than recapping the crossovers. No driver upgrades for me please. :eek:
 
I wonder if they still use the Wavecor units inside those news housings. Those "new" designs looks like one of my low 'i' tweeters I had replaced. Both were blown, but one was original like yours in the picture. And the other was a early 2000's "update". What's old is new again.

At least they are attempting to make them look decent. Both @satellite65 and I (& probably others) paid for the same update as you and received a tweeter hot glued into a piece of plywood which was then sat on top of the cabinet where the old one fit.

I didn't get my screens back for the tweeter which I sent in (and never saw again) and they tried to argue with me about including the metal tweeter rings which was their excuse for not properly attaching the "new tweeter update" to the cabinet. Even though they had my speakers in Brooklyn. I brought them in complete, and I fully expected to get them back that way.

I wish my updates looked like this out of the box. I had to do it myself.
 
Any update?
Just saw this thread.
I am the original owner of a Carver TFM 35x. 350 wpc into 4 ohms.

Powered my Model F speakers easily.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom