How do Walsh Ohm Speakers compare to Thiels?

Hey, thanks for the advice and ideas!

I have played a lot with the toe in and have a good wide sound stage with pretty good imaging. Not real deep which I expect is due to the speakers not being further from the front wall.

One thing that I have not tried to address is side wall reflections. Maybe  I can achieve an improvement by working on that.

Dsper

Some not necessarily expensive acoustic panels at primary wall reflection points to your main listening position may help. If so these would help similarly with the OHMs as well. With the OHMs, if you listen from more than one position, you might place panels at each primary reflection point for each location you listen from. I do this on side walls in my main listening room with one pair of Ohms and they do make a difference. In my other rooms I do not even bother and things are still fine if not quite so perfect. I may also try similar panels on ceiling primary reflection points some day but have not felt a great need to-date.

$55 for any properly operating OHm Walshes is a steal of the century! Lucky you! I’ve passed on some similar very good speaker deals at Goodwill because I have so many already but would not on that one! Also remember, last time I checked, any old OHMs with cabinets that can be refurbished and re-used have trade-in value with OHM. The condition of the drivers does not matter for trade-in. Last I checked (and took advantage of) OHM offered up to 40% off new speakers with trade in of two pair of older refurbishable OHMs. Need not be Walsh models even.

Lastly I would add that I’ve had OHM Walshes in my house since 1982 or so and A/B tested older versions versus new and the newer versions are more refined and detailed than the older ones, but the older versions are still great bargains for the prices commonly found.

acoustic panels will reduce the treble energy, but not the bass...resulting in a darker presentation with less life. could be worth experimenting as it will change the sound. 

One thing that I have not tried to address is side wall reflections.

I would start with a couple of simple throw rugs mounted to each side wall. No need to get crazy - yet.

Hi dsper,

I have CS5i’s in my 14.5’ X 24’ X 9’ dedicated room and they completely disappear. Your room should be great with the 5i’s. Use the Cardas room node calculator for distance of the speakers from the front wall (front baffle ~80" out from the wall) and then space them 10 feet apart center-to-center with your listening chair 10 feet from the front baffle of the speakers (equilateral triangle). Toe the speakers in such the projected centerlines from each speaker intersect 5 feet behind your head when seated in your listening position.

Large floor-to-ceiling sealed bass traps were needed in the front corners of my room to tame the midbass hump. No other room treatments were needed.

Over the 23 years I have owned the 5i’s i have flirted with other speakers several times but, after extended listening sessions, always decided none equaled the 5i’s in soundstaging, dynamics, and transparency. I think you will find the same. The Ohms aren’t even close.

Dave