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So, anybody ever get physical with an Ohm Walsh?

cmk59 said:
Folks, I've been considering buying a set of Ohm Walsh's ("seen but not heard," as they're on eBay...) as an adjunct to my Carver Amazing Silver MklV's...but I need your sage advice.

They'd be the 'rear channel,' sitting either side of my couch...replacing a set of Maggie SMG's I hope to sell, and taking up MUCH less space. Having said that, what do the Ohms sound like compared to my Carvers? Would they indeed make an ideal 'rear channel' set, or should I stick with something along the lines of a smaller hybrid speaker, like an Eminent Technologies LFT16 on stands?

If I get the Ohms, what would I need to check on them, and how without tearing them up? Finally, since some of you have mentioned sending them to Ohm for refurb, how much would I then be looking at?

I'm a-gunning for a price of under $900 for the purchase and refurb, but I can take one step at a time...I've got other gear I could sell to make up the difference, if indeed it's worth it. (The Carvers, well, they kicked my beloved Pioneer HPM 1100's to the garage....)

Thanks in advance,
Chuck
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I lived with the Walsh 4s for many years, and many speakers later, bought the 5000s. What you get with the Ohms, is a spaciousness that just isn't there with conventional speakers, or planars. Whether or not that is better is a matter of taste. They also sound incredibly smooth and coherent.
That said, there are some caveats:
1) Onmi-directional speakers image much differently than direct radiators. OTOH, the soundstage is HUGE.
2) They aren't 100% omni-directional. The 4s radiated about 270 degrees, and the 5000s are closer to 180. Then there is the tweeter...
3) I always considered the tweeter to be the weakest link with the 4s. Its much better (smoother) in the newer versions, but still slightly shelved down.
4) they thrive on power.
5) Ohm services almost all of their previous models.

Jack

PS. Having downward firing bass, Ohms seem to excite the room differently (and in my case) smooth out bass nodes a little bit.
 
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i've had these a long time and doubt i'd ever part with them.after curiousity,and a little research got the best of me, i had to dig into one my Walsh 2's cans and see
what's going on inside-
for your viewing pleasure:
IMG_0261_zpsa1a42b58.jpg

IMG_0263_zps0784cfe4.jpg

IMG_0264_zpsc4fb3b32.jpg

IMG_0265_zpsa5f56304.jpg
 
In spite of their warts and all the complaints I hear and read about them, I still love how the Ohms sound! Tim
 
I've never heard a pair, nobody around here has any...We need some adventurous builders to do a Thread on DIY Walsh speakers...
 
Had them apart and back together, swapped tweeters, replaced with originals and moved on. I see what so many ppl seem to adore in these speakers. For me and only me it was their loss of detail and the fraudulent ad campaigns that sent them on their way. Even in the ads for the 2's they use drawing instead of actual pictures of the drivers. In which they do their best to make the conventional driver appear to be Walsh's. Just put a distaste in my mouth for them and their service polices I have read about.

To each their own I just choose to not support what I perceived as hokum. Their lack of detail and missing portions of recordings made it easy for me. That being said there is a warmth and sophistication to their sound I see what so many appreciate. The footprint to soundstage ratio was another +.
 
Donkey Karma said:
Had them apart and back together, swapped tweeters, replaced with originals and moved on. I see what so many ppl seem to adore in these speakers. For me and only me it was their loss of detail and the fraudulent ad campaigns that sent them on their way. Even in the ads for the 2's they use drawing instead of actual pictures of the drivers. In which they do their best to make the conventional driver appear to be Walsh's. Just put a distaste in my mouth for them and their service polices I have read about.

To each their own I just choose to not support what I perceived as hokum. Their lack of detail and missing portions of recordings made it easy for me. That being said there is a warmth and sophistication to their sound I see what so many appreciate. The footprint to soundstage ratio was another +.
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I would bet anything that you would love the Wharfedale W3, W4, and Airedale models, which all have the Super 3 tweeter facing upwards. These are true "around the room" speakers with perfect timbre and a sonic authenticity to the sound (I can vouch for the timbre and authenticity because my W90's use the same tweeters and the same type of alnico woofer). They're not easy to find, but they should have what you're looking for. There's a guy who posted a couple videos of his Airedales and W4's, and even with the low-quality audio, you can still hear what I mean.
 
onwardjames said:
Never heard an Ohm speaker, don't really care about this thread, BUT.....

I LOVE WHITMAN MAYO!!!

Great freakin' avatar, GT!!!!:D
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Thanks... I know it has nothing to do with Xmas OR audio, but whatever... :D

How can you look at a picture of Grady and NOT smile?
 
Donkey Karma said:
Had them apart and back together, swapped tweeters, replaced with originals and moved on. I see what so many ppl seem to adore in these speakers. For me and only me it was their loss of detail and the fraudulent ad campaigns that sent them on their way. Even in the ads for the 2's they use drawing instead of actual pictures of the drivers. In which they do their best to make the conventional driver appear to be Walsh's. Just put a distaste in my mouth for them and their service polices I have read about.

To each their own I just choose to not support what I perceived as hokum. Their lack of detail and missing portions of recordings made it easy for me. That being said there is a warmth and sophistication to their sound I see what so many appreciate. The footprint to soundstage ratio was another +.
Click to expand...

ah man...
your busting my Ohm bubble!:D
edit- my Walsh 2 bubble!
 
I must admit I too was a bit put off by what is actually inside of my Ohm Walsh 3's, but when I put my other speakers in place of them it's like "where did all the sound go"? Now, I just sit back and enjoy the big and spacious sound the 3's give me and conclude, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts...
 
I feel compelled to refer folks to wualta's comments earlier in the thread. I hope it was this thread at least.

The later walshes are not as ambitious as the original lincoln walsh designs but the drivers have features that are abnormal, despite being packaged in standard baskets.

. :Sent by pneumatic tubes
 
Just a question...Do you know what makes a conventional multi driver speaker "honky"? (and YES,it is relevant to the discussion here)

Nick
 
Rebelcuz said:
Just a question...Do you know what makes a conventional multi driver speaker "honky"? (and YES,it is relevant to the discussion here)

Nick
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LOL, no bubble busting here! For rears their brilliant I'm sure.

Once again I see what ppl enjoy about the Ohm Walsh line. I also had no dog in the fight besides be excited to ears on pair. Also not trying to troll the thread. There is A lot to like in that small footprint.

As far as the "hokum" its based on their farcical/misleading marketing. Salespeople of the time we're also advertising "walsh" drivers. All well documented. Their service policies alone have turned many away.

But hey, free world.
 
Years ago, I used to sell Ohm. Not bad at all. However, I always had an interest in the original very inefficient Ohm F which I never heard.
 
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I've never manhandled an Ohm Walsh but I've cajoled a couple of Infinity Walsh tweeters into working.
Crossed over at around 8kHZ these supertweeters sing with the best of the true ribbons I've ever heard, 360 degrees dispersion to boot.
 
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Let's Get Physical... again

So I'm going to contribute here.... hopefully not just to cause more bickering about build quality vs. price vs. aesthetics vs. whatever....

I've opened up one of my Ohm Walsh cans because the tweeter seems to be non-functioning. See the pictures of what I encountered, it seems every can has different qualities to it. Now I have to figure out how to determine if it's the tweeter itself that died, or something else. I'm open to suggestions for how to go about this :scratch2: as I'm an amateur here. If it is the tweeter, then I'd like to keep the cardboard, I like seeing what I assume are the initials of the infamous John S, along with the date these were updated (cabinets say these were model "F," someone clearly thought paying for the upgrade was worth it!).
 

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you'll get a few suggestion but if it were me the first thing
i'd do would be with a low volume and bass turned down is
to connect the tweeter to the speaker wire from the source(receiver...or)
if it has output work backwards.
one of those fuses is the first place ,no SECOND place i'd check.
 
Personally, i'd start with a direct approach by carefully desoldering one side of the tweeter so as to take it out of the circuit and check ohms across the tweeter coil.

If infinite, pull tweeter and begin trying to identify it.

If not, solder it back in and check the other stuff

The 'fuses', i am pretty sure, are automotive light bulbs. 10w maybe.

. :Sent by pneumatic tubes
 
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