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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
mapman's avatar
mapman
15,679 posts
 
Have larger Ohm 5s with 12" driver and smaller 100s with 8" driver.

Positioning considerations are similar to most modern speakers that image well. You always want drivers a couple feet away from wall to avoid early reflections for best results. Optimal location from there will vary room by room, case by case.

I’ve used my 100’s with as little as 1 foot from walls to good effect, though perhaps not optimal in regards to detail and imaging.

I’ve had amps as little as 20 w/ch deliver very good results but the OHMs love power and current and will generally reward that if ultimate dynamics and very high SPLs matter to the user.

They are also very transparent. Most any change in the system might be heard. That may include power cords, interconnect wires, source device, pre-amp and amp.

If bass obscuring the midrange is an issue, that is often due to floor interactions. Set the OHMs on an isolation pad or stand of some sort, much like one would do with a subwoofer.


polarin
69 posts
 
The omni sound is SOOO addicting that I will never go back to direct firing speakers. That said I've moved on from Ohm's as the WAF in our new modern condo was untenable. I purchased a pair of Duevel Planets about a year ago and they and the Ohm's are darn close in sound with the Ohm's having just a little more oomph. Other than that they are indistinguishable from the Ohm's, the room filling, sit where you please sound is magical.
snapsc
148 posts
 
Does the description “Omni sound” also mean that from the prime listening position the ohms can throw a big image with height, width and depth or is this not in their wheelhouse?
bondmanp
1,465 posts
 
@snapsc - That is what most omnis excel at.  Depth is a little more elusive, which I think, comes more with better electronics, room acoustics, speaker positioning and source material.  But height and width?  Both fantastic in my room.  The speakers dissappear into the soundstage on any decent recording.
mapman's avatar
mapman
15,679 posts
 
omnis excel at depth as well but often limited by the room. EQuipment upstream matters a lot in all cases not just omnis in determining final results, but the only way to know which is best is to listen and compare. I use two different DACs in my setup with OHM 5s. Chord Mojo delivers a deeper soundstage. mhdt Constantine a wider one. The OHMs are just the messenger.

The best demo I ever heard for image depth was mbl 111’s at United Home Audio showroom in Annapolis junction (no longer there). The speakers were a good 2/3 or more into the room and the area behind them was tapered and narrowed gradually and was highly treated. The orchestra literally occupied that area and you could point to the player location. But who has a room like that? Same speakers at audio shows? Still good but more back to the pack and sometimes not even all that impressive .
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