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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
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.
craigsub OP
53 posts
 
MB - Eric Clapton's "Unplugged" is playing now, and it is really good stuff. One can easily hear/feel the tapping on the guitar - that weight that an acoustic guitar delivers is coming through with authenticity.

The actual grills are not in place yet. What you are seeing now is the protective grill for the Walsh Driver. The cosmetic grills are still in their boxes. When we get the room reorganized, the grills will be added and more close up pics taken.

This review process will probably go into fall, with all the aspects to discuss. Yes, a subwoofer will eventually be added. It will likely be the Axiom EP800. The EP800 is flat anechoically to 13 Hz and the DSP crossover can be set to a lowpass at 40 Hz without interfering with the full range response of the Ohm's. 
dep14
139 posts
 
Checked out that thread.  Would love some close ups of the finish, they use real veneer now I believe? The old cylinders used vinyl wrap.

looks like you have the tweeters firing straight ahead in the pictures, do you have them crossed as John suggests now?  

Any chance you took pictures of the drivers before installing?

I know John typically suggests running them about 12-15 inches off the back wall, then adjusting for bass response, thoughts?  I have to imagine those put out prodigious bass.

looking forward to more posts.  

rlb61
362 posts
 
Not to be a spoiler here, but you should not be required to assemble speakers at that price point. They might sound great, but the assembly process would ruin the entire experience for me.
craigsub OP
53 posts
 
Rlb - All that is required is placing the driver "cage" onto the cabinet and putting in 7 screws per speaker. That part of assembly was less than 15 minutes. AND ... this is the only speaker in the Ohm line that requires this. The rest, with  more traditional "rectangle box", ship fully put together. Ohm is also working on the shipping issue with the drivers already installed in the cylinder speakers. They likely will have this resolved soon.
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