I pulled the trigger, I bought OHM Walsh Micro Tall Speakers...

eag a watt is a watt. The difference is most likely in how much current is delivered in that OHM Walsh speakers (especially the larger models) tend to love current and good SS usually does that better. Also tube amps tend to soft clip which avoids harshness if clipping sets in but some solid state amps and many Class D amps in particular also do soft clipping.

See this for more info.

http://www.atma-sphere.com/Resources/Paradigms_in_Amplifier_Design.php

Bottom line is in general different amps of different design will sound different with the OHMs, especially with the larger models in larger rooms. As is the case with most speakers out there. My personal opinion from my experience is as the models get bigger, the more power and current the better in that the right size OHMs for a room can deliver pretty much anything you throw at them cleanly without ever breaking a sweat. Then again I have never tried a tube amp with them ( I go Class D only these days with the OHMs) but others have and reported great success.

In my main system I use Bel Canto ref1000m  (500w/ch 8ohm) to drive my large OHM 5s  and that combo is off the charts.   I use Bel Canto C5i (60 w/ch 8 ohm)digital integrated with my smaller 100s (albeit in a similar large room area) in my second system and the only constraint with the sound there is I can't go to concert levels with that like I can in my main system.

Eag,congrats and enjoy!

Klipshfan I had original Walsh 2s with 8" driver bought ~ 1982 and owned until ~ 2008.. A step up from Walsh Ones which are less common I believe. Not the most refined sound like most modern speakers (including newer versions of OHM Walsh) back then but plenty of bass for small to moderate sized rooms.

With the Walsh line, a most unique feature is all models big to small are essentially the same design and sound, just a matter of how big is needed to do the job for bass in one’s own room.  So you get no less quality sound with smaller cheaper OHMs in a smaller room than larger OHMs in a larger room.    The basic design and sound scales as needed from smaller to larger.   You need not pay more for better sound in teh line once you have teh right OHMs for your room.