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Ohm Walsh Microtall or Vandersteen 1C

So having gone to my local audio store yesterday and auditioning the Vandersteen 1C and the PSB Image T6, the PSB model is out. I was leaning heavily towards going back next week to buy the 1C, but I started down a path of reading about the Microtalls, and I think I have to call them tomorrow and order a pair.

I'll be running with just a Peachtree Nova, using a Macbook Pro (optical out), Ps3/Xbox 360, and turntable as sources. They'll be used to play music as well as for 2 channel HT.

I really enjoyed the 1C sound, which had warmth and clarity. The PSBs felt a little too neutral and cold to me. I think while I imagine that I want a real analytic, detailed sound to let me hear every little note and drum hit, in reality I want a speaker that lets me get lost in the music and just "live" while I have music on. I can use headphones for the analytic listening :)

Will the Microtalls work for watching video, in the sense that dialogue will still sound as if it's coming from the center? I know I could always add the center channel and a sub later to help out with HT, but that's not in the budget now.

What will I lose with the Microtalls vs. the Vandersteens? I was also wondering if I wouldn't be better off waiting until I could afford the 2ce Sig II (or finding some new) and going with the Ohm for now while I'm at a $1000 budget.

Finally, do I pay return shipping on the Ohms if I don't like them? What is that cost? Thanks!
rbf1138
joefish's avatar
joefish
66 posts
 
I had a pair of the Micro Talls, and loved them, but came into extra cash, so decided to upgrade to the 1000's, Shipping the Micros back cost around $95.00 I'd have a pair of the 5000's if I could afford them. I love what the Ohms do; My speaker search has ended. If I upgrade again, It'll be with Ohms
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,823 posts
 
"I'd have a pair of the 5000's if I could afford them."

ME too. Maybe next time I have a good excuse to upgrade.

My OHM 5 series 3 ended up costing me a fraction of list price due to taking advantage of several incentives that OHM offered at the time concurrently:

1) refurbed (OHM F) cabinets instead of new.

2) "Summer sale" pricing that John seems to run usually about this time of year prior to his 1 month summer shutdown in July usually I recall. HAven't heard about such this year so far though. Maybe business is really good.

3) trade-in of two pair of used OHM speakers to reach the maximum 40% discount for two pair that was offered. I traded in my old Walsh 2s + bought a pair of cheap C3s with refurbishable cabinets for cheap on ebay and had those shipped by the seller directly to OHM as part of the trade-in.
bondmanp
1,781 posts
 
I went from Vandersteen 1Cs to Ohm Walsh 2000s. I also eventually bought a used pair of MWTs for the surround channels. Short answer, IMO: The MWTs have it all over the Vandy 1Cs. More accurate timbre, much better when pushed hard, smoother in the brightness range (~4-8kHz), and much more low level detail. The Vandy's did tend to project sound toward the listening seat a little more than the Ohms, but if the recording uses phase trickery to make sound seem to come from the listening area, the Ohms will do that. You get what's on the recording, with nothing extra or omitted. As for the center image thing, no problem. The Ohms have a solid center image but not too narrow, so that mono material still has some dimensionality. The Vandys became frustrating at moderately loud levels, when they tended to congeal and become pinched and unpleasant, and induced fatigue. They were also not kind to poor recordings. The Ohms let you know when a recording is good or bad, but they are all quite listenable, and listening fatigue is non-existent. I didn't have the space for the 2Ce Signature IIs, so I looked for another brand, and found Ohm. The Ohm audition period is 120 days, and you do pay for shipping, both ways. I kept mine and couldn't be happier. I have since added the Ohm center, and the consistancy of sonics throughout the various Walsh models is among the best I've heard from any brand of speaker.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,823 posts
 
I do not know Vandys well, but I read a 1c review that indicated some breakup noticeable at higher volumes with more challenging kinds of music. OHM 100s were also referred to as well indicating a similar situation. SOme other third speaker type as well.

I was thinking that the author might have been confusing an amplifier clipping issue with the capability of the speakers. I have heard this with my 100s where they deliver whatever I throw at them with my 500 w/ch amps but my 180 w/ch amps will give up way before the OHMs do.

Can't speak for Vandys or others in this regard but I will say that I think the OHM Walsh design is exceptional in its ability to go loud without stress, compression or breakup. Part of this is due to the high crossover frequency which puts most of the burden on the wave bending Walsh driver and asks very little of the soft dome tweeter. It also provides outstanding coherency through the midrange which is a unique aspect of the OHMs I would say. Vandy 1Cs cross over much lower I believe.
rbf1138 OP
64 posts
 
Well, I went ahead and ordered the Micro Talls today! Very excited to try them out (and hopefully like them enough to keep them). When I mentioned using them with a Peachtree Nova, John immediately said, yes, many of our customers pair the Micro Tall with that piece of kit.

I'm also heading over to a local dealers place tonight to hear some Rega speakers (RS3 and RS5) and some KEFs, Quads and Wharfedales just to have the peace of mind that I auditioned several brands of speaker before making a final decision.
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