Ohm FRS-15 v. Ohm Walsh 2

Texas42,

I have F5 S3s (5S3 drivers in F cabinets) and Walsh 2S3. I owned original Walsh 2's prior for about 25 years.

In smaller rooms, I have found there is little or no advantage of larger OHMs over smaller. In larger rooms, larger OHMs have benefit without doubt but mostly all in the low end. Mids/highs are near identical. Of course, 5 drivers have many adjustments possible for fine tuning the sound.

I owned the original Walsh 2s and newer S3s concurrently for a while and had a chance to compare. They are much different sounding. I did not know what to make of the s3 drivers at first, but ended up preferring them once my ears adjusted.

Original Walsh 2s are very good also and big time overachievers for the cost, particularly when opened up to realistic SPLs in larger rooms and especially outdoors where they will really fool you into thinking its live and not Memorex!

Thanks! Very informative. Appreciated. (1) PLEASE someone with Ohm FRS speakers provide some listener feedback, esp. in comparison to 2s. AG has some FRS-15s for $350 pickup only near me. Nice seller, responded to my Qs, speakers seem premium. Still thinking. Unable to get much info at all on FRS line. Unable to listen before purchase. I've been tracking 2s on ebay with $250-$450 (inc. s/h) prices. No $200 ones. Myth! From descriptions unsure why the price range. (2) With much weight to mapman thinking, it seems my sound forward (main space) and backward (secondary space) will work sans some high end. Great! Anyone else have thoughts on this? Obviously no "back" wall reflections. Want Ohms that sound good/great now... if/when love reigns then I consider upgrade... and lottery tickets.

Well, if they are in good operating order, you won't find anything else I can think of for $350 that can even come close to doing what those will even with older Walsh CLS drivers out of the gate.

ALso, local pickup is good insurance because the larger Walsh speaks can be difficult to ship reliably in one piece without detaching the drivers and shipping each speak in 3 boxes (1 each for cabinet, driver and grill).

The FRs 15s upgrade to 200 drivers,which are larger than the 100 drivers used in 2's. For your room, and configuration, that could be beneficial.

SOunds like the stars are aligning pretty well for these with you!

The FRS line used vinyl wrapped cabinets and we were able to give more sound for the money. The FRS 15 was the top of that line with a driver most similar to the Walsh 3XO in a much bigger cabinet (allowing deeper bass).

$350 is a great price although we have had to do our $250/pair maintenance on few pairs in recent years -- listen for noise on bass transients.

They should sound good in both rooms. You may angle them to have the super-tweeters fire at each other and boost the treble slightly.

Good Listening!

John Strohbeen
President
Ohm Acoustics.

Thanks again, guys. Maybe last questions before... plunge? Priceless help! (1) I have a new 80w NAD 317 amplifier (from AG; nice but made my Poks bright; other NADs in system). Enough to drive FRS-15s happily? Saw some comments that under 100w had some struggles and 200+W really opened things up. The NAD can be power-amped and used a pre-amp, but that seems like wasted $s. (2) If one needed to choose b/n a good, used 2 or an FRS-15, which to choose? For my room, any room? Why choose one over other? That is, putting vinyl/wood and size views aside as personal/cost preferences. 54"! WAF to be dealt with... Vinyl wood clad might be issue. [Man-oh-man, more and more Qs keep popping up... like why this one so tall and difference it makes? That doesn't count as one of my real Qs... lol.] (3) Lots of information on 2s, basically NONE on FRS-15. And I've researched online very hard. Why? Frustrating. Can you cite an FRS-15 review? Lull in Ohm/coverage at that time? Sold too few of these? Odd. (4) Feedback...? With 2s selling for $250-$400, $350 for FRS-15 seems high. This one listed awhile now and previously. Maybe wait for 2s... Some concern over value, resale, etc. esp. since I've never even heard an Ohm. (5) Re informatin on FRS-15s, as far as I can tell, this thread is now foremost info on topic! (6) As always, THANKS! Invaluable.