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Ownership and Review of a pair of Ohm Super Sound Cylinder

Greetings all - I recently ordered a pair of Ohm Super Sound Cylinder speakers, or SSC-4900's. They are in the middle of the Ohm Walsh lineup, and are about 38 inches tall and the cylinder cabinets about 12.5 inches in diameter.

Specs are listed at 88 dB for a 2.8 V input, and a response curve of +/- 3 dB from 25 to 20,000 Hz. 

This whole process is part of a "high end, high value, USA made two channel system" thread I started a couple of months ago on another forum. The electronics are the PS Audio Stellar Gain Pre-amp/DAC and a pair of PS Audio M700 mono amps.

The PS Audio equipment has already elevated the Axiom M100's and Martin Logan Electro Motion ESL speakers in terms of performance. The Axioms have a "twin" available in Brick and Mortar outlets from Bryston called the A1's. 

For reference, other speakers which we have or still have in house include: Klipsch LaScala II's, Legacy Signature SE's, Infinity IRS Sigmas, Ascend Sierras, PSB Strata Goldi, VMPS Super Towers and a host of other speakers. 

The Ohm Walsh speakers have been something about which I have read since 1977 (the year I got the audio bug), but have never had the chance to experience. The SSC-4900's sell for $4900 per pair, though the name and pricing are coincidental. The "4900" is due to the idea that the speakers are "almost a 5000", but with less controls - one switch vs. 4 for the 5000, but also a lower price.

John Strohbeen, who is he president at Ohm and who has been with them for almost 40 years, was gracious enough to spend an hour talking on the phone about our room, the associated gear, and also that there would be a review thread. It was after this discussion that we decided on the SSC-4900's. 

I am purchasing the speakers, not getting a review pair. They are under the 120 day return policy. John is well aware that my daughter sings opera, my son is adept at classical guitar, and that live music is the reference. He was actually quite pleased about this. 

This will be fun (at least for me), and hopefully informative. Comments are welcome. 

I honestly have no idea what to expect from the Walsh sound. They are so different from other speaker designs that the only thing to do is set them up properly and hear what happens! 
craigsub

Showing 5 responses by michiganbuckeye

michiganbuckeye
9 posts
 
Craigsub,

I am having email dialogue with Ohm and was thinking about the Super Sound Cylinders or the 3.310's that have an integral powered subwoofer in each speaker.  My guess is that you were debating between these as well (since both fit your room volume) and you mention movies in one of your earlier posts where the sub would come into play.  Would like to know what led you to pick the speakers you ordered as I am trying to make that decision now.  (I did read somewhere that a 2 channel amp could still be used with the integral sub speakers by hooking both the sub and the other speakers in each tower up to the same output line.) Also what veneer did you pick and what acoustical treatment / carpet does your basement have?
michiganbuckeye
9 posts
 
Once you have had enough listening experience, perhaps with and without one or more of your subs in the system, can you please comment on what value the added sub contributes for a) music and b) movies.  Curious if a good sounding sub placement was difficult achieve since it is separate from the speakers.   

Also, can you post a picture showing how the upper grills interface with the top of the cylinder.  It looks like there could be an exposed fastener on the grill ring above the Ohm symbol on the left speaker in the image you posted on the HTF. 

Finally, how have you set the room size switch on the speaker - does the setting make an appreciable difference?

Thanks in advance.  Your guidance will help with my selection process.
michiganbuckeye
9 posts
 
I was told by Evan of Ohm that paper divers are used along with cloth covered dome tweeters.  He stated that they had tried different tweeter configurations without success.  That is all he volunteered. 

He also stated to me that the outer shell tubes were made of paper on the Super Sound Cylinder model that Craig ordered.  I presume that a fairly dense paper based tube was used.  The cost to move up to a multi-ply plywood tube isn't much more than a paper tube considering the overall speaker price.  If Ohm did this, they would likely have a more robust product that could survive in shipping without multiple layers of boxes that would probably be near the same consumer price point considering the shipping packaging savings and their desired pricing margin.
michiganbuckeye
9 posts
 
You can find it at hometheaterforum.com under the speaker forum section.
michiganbuckeye
9 posts
 
Craigsub, thanks for the detailed 6 month ownership summary.  Curious to find out more about your conversation with John on subwoofers.  I have a pair of old Fs and am trying to decide between just updating the drivers or getting the F-5015s with the intergral subs.  The large size of my center console would place subs outside of the main speakers instead of between them if I purchased one or more separate, non-integral sub(s).  Also debating going without subs to save the $$$.
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