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some quick Ohm Walsh 2 info ?

D

donberry

Super Member
I am headed out this afternoon to check out a pair of Ohm Walsh 2 speakers. I am looking for some info about checking them out, I tried reading as much as I could about them on here so believe I have it, but just checking.
If I am not mistaken, the 2 does not use foam for the surround, so that should be ok ? Seems the biggest concern is the tweeter ? I am taking for granted the only way to really check that out is to listen to the speakers, maybe cranking the treble all the way up ? As I can not physically check them out, just hate to get them home and find out I missed something...
thanks for any info....

(amp they will be used on is a TFM-35, preamp will be on it's way here this week and is a Mitsubishi DA-P10, which with it's supposed imaging with the dual mono design and the imaging of the Ohm's, am hoping will be a good 2nd system so I can move the HPM-150 in with the Magnepans)
 
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These speakers are very frustrating to position properly -- at least I thought so when I tried a pair about 10 years ago. Mine sounded best when they were 4-6 feet from any walls and up on short stands. They are also very inefficient, so I hope you have a high current ss amp on hand. If you have the right room and plenty of power and patience, you should be good to go.

They are directional on the top end and the speakers are mirror imaged, but I can't remember how to tell L from R -- something involving the Ohm name plates, IIRC -- maybe the factory website can help.
 
the TFM-35 is 350wpc into 4 ohms so i am guessing that will be able to drive them adequately. From what I have read, seems one does not listen to the Ohm Walsh for total music accuracy, but for the "musicality" - which, to be honest, is more my style anyway .
I will also give them a spin on a Pioneer Spec 2 but guessing they will sound about the same as the TFM-35. Power should not be a problem, which is one reason i now always recommend higher power amps so one can experiment with different speakers (I understand the carver is not really high current, but it should handle these fine at a 4 ohm load) They are rated at 88db at 2.83 volts, so efficiency is not their strong suit, but my magnepans are only 84db at 2v, so i understand the need for as much clean power as I can get. i understand they will not be Klipsch 100db at 1v efficient
I just wish you could see the drivers so i knew they were ok
 
I think this is a picture of the inside of the Walsh 2 'can'.

http://media.photobucket.com/image/ohm walsh 2/heildriver/ohm-3-a.jpg

Not really true walsh driver i guess but very open sounding and as you said very musical. It would seem to me that it would be pretty easy to tell if something is amiss given that it looks to be a two way speaker. I listened to a pair for a long time at a local audio store driven by a big McIntosh integrated tube amp, and it was a very addictive, open, sound.
 
I find the 2s and 4s to be the nicer of the 1/2/3/4s, XO models getting the edge.

Rarely do I find them with issues other than chipped veneer or missing top grills.

Take a toilet paper roll to isolate the tweeter to check (hold it to your ear and tweeter). Use a strong flashlight to peek into the cans and orientate them.

Good luck- these are something special.
 
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Take a toilet paper roll to isolate the tweeter to check
perfect - thank you.
After researching them, they seem to be the kind of speaker right up my alley. I am guessing, but sort of a magnepan in a box as far as imaging.
I have read they like power, which is obvious due to their efficiency rating, and I am guessing they will be tested on a smaller amp, so I just want to make sure all the drivers work as they should and withhold judgement on them until they get home. Is a trade deal, so if all goes well, will be picking them up at 4:30.


And again, I have not heard it yet either, but I have a Mitsubishi DA-P10 coming as I needed another pre and I have read wonderful things about the imaging of that due to the dual mono design, so I am planning on using that pre when it gets here along with the TFM-35 and put the Spec 1/2 on the magnepans, tho will have to see how things go synergy wise.....although, the magnepans are a steady 4 ohm load, so they may actually be easier to drive then the Ohm Walsh, so may use the TFM-35 on the maggies as I prefer to use the Spec 2 on the harder load, just something about 54 pounds of heft that gives me more confidence in it, plus it has been restored so I know all is well internally
 
Hi Don,
I picked up a pair of Ohm Walsh 2s recently and use them in lieu of HT. Regrettably, I don't have the watts to make them open up yet . . . but I haven't find placement to be much of a problem. New grills are $45 each at the Ohm site and replacement units are available if you are willing to exchange or send the entire basket or speaker to them. The owner is nice enough, but doesn't sell parts per se. He will gladly upgrade them for a hefty price.

BTW, for placement he made two suggestions. First place the left speaker (facing the units) with the Ohm logo facing out. Then place the right speaker with the Walsh logo facing out. He also stated perfect placement is an equilateral triangle between speakers and listener.

HTH,
Roger
 
I need to correct my statement- a paper towel roll is superior to a toilet paper roll. The extra lenght to help isolate the tweeter.
 
I believe the Ohm website suggested 6'-10' apart and apprx. 1' from the wall?
I don't believe they need to be on stands.
Mine get powered with a Sansui G-8700DB and sound wonderfull.

Yes ,Ohm logo facing you on the left and Walsh II on the right one.
Enjoy
 
Scary,

I think "stands" was a poor word choice on my part. I should have said short risers -- I found that they sounded best when they were elevated about 4" - 6" to get the super-tweeters at my seated ear height.
 
I have a pair someone gave me because 1 side is fried. Someday I will pry that metal cage off and have a look. They are on ebay occasionally. I just don't care for 4 ohm speakers.
The cabinents might make a wierd sub which is why they are still in my basement.
From my memory when they came out they did have a nice open sound to them.
I went with 901's.
 
That photograph in the link above may or may not be a Walsh 2, but it's close enough to give you an idea of how these things are constructed. The cardboard acts to shape the tweeter's directional response so there's no floor bounce, with a sharp cutoff at the sides and back. Underneath the tweeter (it really isn't a supertweeter, since it's obvious when the tweeter is blown that the highs are gone) is something that looks like an inverted woofer, but it really is a Walsh-type driver-- the middle section, the part that's aluminum foil on an Ohm F cone.

The Walsh 2 (and the 3) has a heavy doped-fabric surround, the better to absorb surface waves coming down the paper cone, and of course there's no fear of foam rot. As has already been pointed out, the 2 is nominally 4 ohms, so make sure your amp is rated for low impedance loads.

I've got 3s, FRS-11s, and a couple of Sound Cylinders. They're great speakers, although if you could see what's under the can you'd probably gasp WTF? under your breath. I suspect each one was tuned by hand. Point-to-point wiring, dabs of acoustic material stuck here and there... a real craft speaker that doesn't get the respect it deserves, imho.
 
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