Meet John, he makes Ohm’s omni-directional speakers in Brooklyn
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- Опубликовано: 8 июн 2019
- Ohm Acoustics is one of those perpetually under the radar speaker companies. Founded 1971 in Brooklyn, N.Y., the company specializes in hand-crafted omni-directional speakers. Chances are you've never heard an omni, so some explanation is in order: Most "normal" box speakers only project sound forward, but Ohm's omnidirectional Walsh speakers have 360-degree radiation, so they produce a bigger soundfield. Ohm speakers sound great over a much wider area than most audiophile products. You're not locked down to one "sweet spot."
Ohm Speakers website, ohmspeaker.com
My complete CNET article about the speakers, www.cnet.com/news/ohm-acousti...
I interviewed John a few months ago about Tech Hi-Fi, • Buying and selling aud...
The grille on top of the speaker is a little crooked because I had taken it off and didn't reseat it properly. My bad!
Follow me on Twitter: / audiophiliacman
I found a pair of Ohm 4 speakers at a flea market for $300, probably mid 80's - still sounded good and cabinets were in really nice shape. They were musty smelling, though, so I opened them up, had to re-glue all the bracing and painted the interiors to seal out the smell. Even the drivers smelled musty. Called John and got the upgrade to Ohm 4.5 's- 5000 drivers, new binding posts, bass ports and grills. Now they sound great and are the best looking things ever. They take all the parts back to refurbish them.
They fill the room with sound and I now notice that I am perfectly happy listening to things at a more modest level vs having to crank things up. Not that these won't handle high levels. I replaced Zu Omen DWs (no slouch) for these in my main system. Different type of sound, but all my buddies and even my wife prefer these. Feeding them with PS Stellar preamp and PS Stellar 700 watt mono blocks.
John and Evan provide great service and answer any question.
Charlie (the guy from Kentucky)
The reason they were musty is they were down in someone's basement rotting before they decided to dump them at a flea market.
Charlie, make sure you use each and every watt of those monster amps.
@steal threaded she sou ds just like my wife ,same story .
@@raffiequler7510 LOL
I would enjoy just talking to this guy. He seems like a wealth of knowledge. These guys live and breath audio. He's forgotten more than most of us will ever know.
I always wondered why there is almost no reviews about these speakers. Thanks Steve! I got a pair of Elac Uni‑Fi UB5, late 2018 2 weeks later, I found a pair of Ohms Walsh II from 1989 for $150, in excellent conditions the previous owner even had the original instructions, at the time I didn't know anything about them so I called the manufacturer to ask what will they recommend me to upgrade and to my surprise they told me "those are one of the best speakers we ever made if there is nothing wrong with them, there is nothing to upgrade just enjoy them" let me tell you he was right I preferred the sound of the Ohms over the Elac every time. they just disappear they are just perfect in my leaving room. Ever person who visit and listen to them for the first time they have to say something positive about their look and they way they sound. I couldn't be happier!! I definitely recommend them!
I exchanged email with John about a month ago and was considering a drive to Brooklyn to hopefully meet him and pick up 1000s or 2000s. I just learned that sadly John recently passed. RIP to an industry legend.
Thanks, Steve. I love these speakers! I’ve owned scores of brands over the years, but THESE speakers put out sound that “erases” the speaker box. Music is alive and the sweet spot is everywhere in the room. No more monkey coffins for me. Why more people don’t praise Ohm is beyond me. John is great. Many of us helped him with the introduction of his new web site a few years back, finding any technical errors in the copy. If you found x number of errors, John gave you a discount - which I took and I am so satisfied and happy with my Ohms, as a result of that. Good company, great product, good man running the place.
Amazing man - we will miss you and the amazing service you provided - I am blessed to have talked to you over the phone
I don't know about the product, but John is a guy I would hand my money too, sight unseen, based on personal integrity alone.
This is excellent! I grew up with Ohm Speakers and always thought it was crazy how unknown they are. Glad to see them get more light here.
I remember Ohm speakers when I was a kid. I saw them in some audiophile magazine, no idea which one, but it featured drool-worthy pictures of several of the Ohm Walsh including the 2 and I think maybe the 4. I lusted after those speakers after hearing them in some adult friend of my parent's apartment. I just spent a bundle on Maggies, but maybe one day I'll fulfill the childhood dream and own a pair of Walsh speakers. Also, mad props to any manufacturer who services their old products. That alone earns this brand a lot of respect in my book.
I've had the privilege of listening to my Ohm Walsh 3's since 1985. They sound just as good as the day I brought them home but it's still so great to know that Ohm will make them sound even better if/when they finally need repair. What a great little american company.
In 1978 (9-22-1978) I purchased a pair of Ohm model L systems from tech hifi (12 west 45th street, NYC) for $356. I lived in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn then and loved the Ohm L's sound in my small studio apartment. I wished that I could afford a $700+ pair model H systems but they were waaaaay outta my budget. I still use the L's as my living room speakers. Two months ago, while at my local audio restoration shop I spied a pair of the coveted H's. Fully restored sonically and visually. I own a home in upstate NY now and the H's are in my 1,750-ish cu/ft dining room and sound marvelous. I only had to wait forty one years to get them and just in time for christmas. Thanks John for the great speakers, ain't no doubt about it, some fine things come from Brooklyn. Fuhgeddaboudit!
Very cool clip. Always great to see people like this trying completely different things and evolving the hobby.
It's great to see John and Ohm are still making their fantastic, Zen-like speakers today. Thanks!
This is great!
I just talked to John the other day.
I found a great deal on some CAM 16s.
They need some tlc and they still have all the components.
Very cool!!!
This guy looks like a mad scientist, so you know his stuff HAS to be good!
Seriously tho, love all this glimpses behind the scenes.
He reminds me of Yoda! May the Ohm be with you!
Scott Smith He does, doesn’t he?!
yet another great interview Steve these guys sharing the way they do is not only brilliant but its recording audio history thanks so much for all you do Steve, Mr Z reviews loves his Ohm speakers too.
Used to work at Tech Hi-F on 8 th street nyc in the 70,s sold a ton of Ohm speakers . Ohm Fs and phase linear 700 power amps 👍
Glad you did this. I own the Ohm L. Is what I wanted in High School, but could not get due to price in 1978, around $400 a pair. In 2010, I bought a used pair for less than $200!!! I sent the bass drivers to Ohm to be improved; great service. I always wanted to audition the Walsh models. Thank you.
That was awesome...I looked at Ohm speakers after I Zeos Pantera posted a video, and now after watching your video, I'm really disappointed that I didn't pull the trigger on them. Can't wait to see your review. Great video. Thanks.
I own OHM and Mirage Omnipolar. I am disabled so am forced to be in bed a lot and I H
have OHM and Elac running together, It gives me the room filling sound and direct sound, really love the setup. I do switch both off and on, to experiment, but together it is amazing. PROBLEM,,, Once you experience this room filling sound you can never be satisfied with regular direct firing speakers. Also OHM has the best service of any company I ever dealt with too.
Once you experience this room filling sound you can never be satisfied with regular direct firing speakers....I aggree with this statement 1000%
Wow. Ohm is still around. My first speakers were Ohms. Loved them. And got them at Tech Hifi, which I also loved.
Man the more I hear about them the more I want to get a pair of Ohm's.
Great interview and Ohm speakers sound really good too.
Great interview. I learned a lot. Thanks Steve
Wow an interview with our own legend here in Brooklyn too....cool z reviewed these speakers spoke volumes of them.
Wonderful video, thank you for making it, very interesting indeed
Heard a pair years ago , sounded great but this was a very interesting video ,I didn’t realize they were still in business
Finally, John is such a cool dude.
Have a pair of Walsh 2s thinking about doing the factory upgrade Ohm offers. I love them. Great speakers to live with.
I'm in! After more research and some other videos on the OHM's and a nice conversation with Evan at OHM, I am going to place an order for some 1000's tomorrow!
What amp are you using? Impressions?
i had a pair of frs-11 in the 90s. loved them speakers!
im in Newark Ny! Ima buy these to support a semi local company les go
Great interview and cnet review, Steve! Finally some Omni, thanks :) If you like the Ohm's you really have to check out Larsen Hifi, they have so much in common. Just the story behind the Larsen range is worth a vid in itself.
Thanks Steve!
Wow, I didn't know they were still in business. Gonna have to check 'em out!
So much respect for this.
Had Sonabs from 76 to 2007, both the small cubes the OD 11 they didn’t fire vertically but at roughly a 30:degree angle. Had a set of bigger ones the OA14 but my favourite is the OD11. Have new versions of the bass/ midrange driver & a better tweeter suggested by a small company that has descended from Sonabs . I loved them still do.
Awesome and unique speakers.
From the looks of the boss Ohm's are made in Middle Earth......
HAHA that just made me LOL. Good stuff 😄
too funny...
Judging a speaker by its cabinet, eh?
Let me quess they are overpriced?11🤑
You have my Ohms!
I just bought the ohm 1000’s loved them. I bought a pair of KEF Q950 from amazon first and they were delivered dented so I sent them back and I thought if a company like KEF can’t ship a speaker well enough to protect it than maybe there not for me. So I ordered the ohm walsh 1000 and the wait was excruciating. Once I received them i saw the boxes were mangled and thought not again. To my suprise they doubled boxed them the outside box looked bad the second box looked great when i slid them out they had super hard corner guards and the speakers looked incredible. So I looked at them and spun them around looking at these speakers up and down running my hands all over and i was over the moon. I connected them to my new NAD C 388 and let me say they sound incredible. Later I went to AXPONA 2019 and saw the Q950’s and they did not sound like the Ohm sprakers, in my opinion the ohm speakers were far and away better.
You have the speakers I crave with the Amp that I have PLUS you answered my concerns about shipping..!!
Cheers, Mate that was as good as any review..!!
Owned Ohm Fs in the '70s - great speakers!
I was friends with someone who owned a pair of Ohm F's. I recall two things at the time I saw and listened to them; they were huge, and they required a fair amount of power. He was using the Sony TA-1130 to drive it and a Revox tape deck as source. As good as that amplifier was, I believe it was under powered for the speakers.
Listening impression was that it was neutral, but nothing caught my ear to the point of saying, this is the best, or smoothest, quickest, or anything other than it was coherent. Up to that point in time (1970's), I believe there were two speakers that had impressed me. Magnepan's and JBL's. Both quite different in sound, but each for their own reasons.
It's too bad that I can't go in and listen to their speakers now. I'm sure they've only gotten better over the years?
cool guy, really interesting company, terrific interview
I find it so cool he was involved in Tech HiFi. I used to ride my bicycle about 10 miles from my house to the nearest Tech hi Fi in Stoneham Ma. when I was about 12 years old. I would go there and get a catalog and look at that thing for hours! Even back then I had a Sansui Receiver and a pair of JBL speakers. I've been an audiophile for about 45 years now.
He’s like the mad scientist of speakers.
I have Ohm C + speakers from the 70's. I am very positively surprised by the quality of the sound. After replacing the crossover elements and lightly refreshing the outside, they really give a lot of pleasure.
These are on my "eventually own" list.
Tech-HiFi on 46th St NYC! Wow. I've heard the Ohm F and Phase Linear or Nikko amp set-ups there. Aural delights! Thorens turntables too. Great times. Never knew the Ohm/Tech-HiFi relationship? I did know they're made right in Bklyn USA and so are Grado products. Two Bklyn, NY audio landmarks.
Bought a system at Tech HiFi on 46th in 1977
Definitely gonna grab some Walsh’s one day when I get my first hifi setup! Hope I can find them either here in New Zealand or get them shipped here.
Have 1975 era Ohm G's only thing I have done is find and replace the driver, then later, the passive radiator surrounds. Factory service wasn't available back then for the Gs. They are still the best sounding speakers I have found other than the Ohm F's.
I'm a big fan. Have most of the classics from 2x0 through F
I have some old Ohm Walsh Fs which I bought for $250 several years ago from a professor in college, the ones with the single tall full-range driver. Even in their somewhat dilapidated state, they are quite enchanting. Unfortunately, restoring them as I'd like is a very expensive proposition (Ohm will sell you a newer driver design for a reasonable price, which may even sound better, but I want the original drivers), so I've put them in storage. Several months ago I bought some brand new Walsh Tall 2000s, which I'm driving with my McIntosh MC202 and C220. Placing them took some trial and error, and I was initially a bit dismayed, but with good placement found they are seriously impressive. I don't listen to music as much as I'd like, but I use them all of the time when watching TV. I often find myself fooled by sound effects, looking around to see if a glass broke or a door is creaking or what have you. The price is an insane bargain too.
HHR Exotic Speakers can completely rebuild Ohm A & F's they also make much improved new ones called the TLS 1 and TLS 2 they look exactly the same but can't use the copyrighted names, look them up online .
@@leekumiega6576 I've actually talked to Dale on the phone before about just this. He is a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic guy. I don't remember the specifics, but I believe the rebuild was in neighborhood of $10k, give or take a couple $k. I'm sure it'd be worth every penny, but it's hard to justify to myself. Maybe in a few years I'll look into it again.
As seen in Prime Original series Bosch! Always listening to great music.
Good catch. Great show! 😆🎹✨
Love love love my Ohms
John from Ohm speakers is Straight Up Kool Dude. Im buying a set of tall 1000's
I still have the Ohm C2! Great speakers
Had pair also and right great speaker
ohm is also my mantra
Would love to listen to the Ohm speakers (my wallet probably only allows listening :) - great interview. Got a pair Grundig Audiorama 7000 from 1974. 360° speakers with 8 tweeters and 4 woofers in each speaker (really clear sounding - sometimes in need of a subwoofer). I'm from Sweden so back in the day in the 60's and 70' s Stig Carlsson produced som great speakers (SONAB) in tje same spirit.
I have two pairs, love them. Actually three.
John is AWESOME !!!
I bought the Walsh 2's from Tech H-Fi in 1986 and back then they got rave reviews and one reviewer said they sounded as good as $2,000 speakers .To this day they still sound great and I have not heard anything better although the new ones have had 5 generations of improvements and people who did the upgrade said it's worth it but money is now tight.
Very interesting thanks
Got a pair of e2's at Goodwill. Beautiful shape, great sound. Forty bucks
This interview was long overdue, Ohm has been around for years!!
The Ohm I (pronounced eye) is on my bucket list of speakers.
I had pair in 80-86 great speaker wish I kept them
Does the walsh driver eliminate distortion from the cone being out of position? My understanding is the cone does not move pistonically but instead ripples moving down the cone create the sound.
Ohm speakers rock and do home theatre with scary realism.
if only it would be easier to see and listen to them in Europe .... such a company with an enthusiastic soul, far away from marketing hypes, that is willing to repare all produced units, starting from the first one ever produced (instead of selling you a new unit) ... OMG ... they deserve a much better visibility, what a pity
The old F s are very sought after I understand... As a kid ..my parents had Ohm directionals..box with offset woof etc 3 way.. wow I wish I still had those...Steve where do we find the new review?
I have the Ohm Walsh Micro towers. They are recommended for small rooms or with subs. Have a 2.2 system with dual SVS SB3000 s subs. I use the Outlaw RR2160 receiver crossed over at 100hz. Higher than generally recommended but the SB3000S are so fast, it is seamless. I got the Ohms through the outlet store for $1100 for the pair. I use the system for music and video with a 65 inch LG OLED. Great sound for everything. Very wide sweet spot. Very stable fanthom center. Great Imaging. Realistic sound with no real coloration. I listen to a very wide range of music and all sounds great. IMHO John was very helpful on the phone a number of times. Evan also. 120 day free in home trial audition.
I owned Ohm F's for many years. I had sort of a love/hate relationship with them - mostly love!
I now own a pair of Walsh 2's. I just bought the Super 2.2000 upgrade from John, and will be installing it in the next week. Can't wait!
I had a pair of F's in the late'70's but I didn't have the power that they needed. I'd love to have them now.
OHM seems like a great company I've never heard these speakers before now I'm curious !!
Check out Z Reviews video of the Ohm Walsh Tall ( I believe it's the 2000)
brydon10 I did awhile back
I once owned a used pair of ohm 3's. Back in 1987 they were my first high end speakers and I firmly believe I could live with them today. Very highly recommended.
Interesting interview. How do these compare to Shahinian Obelisks? I have a pair of Obelisks and they work on the same principle of omnidirectional speakers and they sound amazing.
Have got any answers from somewhere else to this question? I have just listened to Shahinian Hawk that i liked but can't find any Walsh Ohm 2000 to compare the two. Thank you
Very nice
Did you every find videos to link with more about these?
For the f-5015, since it has the powered subwoofer, what is the recommended power?
Are these speakers very detailed in sound where you can tell where the location of instruments are?
Newfound respect.
I like their willingness to refurbish all of their older models. Checking out Craigslist ;-)
Put the cover on that speaker straight! 😱
Likable man that don't come off as the run of the mill stiff high-end suit. I love omnidiretional speakers from the time i had Duevel so there are in my radar now.
Own both and love both had F's as a 13 year kid, yes i was a hi-fi legend, and now have Walsh 4 XO's and Duevel Bella Lunar Dimanmtes. OHMs and Duevels are incredible thank you John and Marcus!
Thus far, i've owned Polk Monitor 10, Magnepan MMG, Magnepan MG12/QR, and JBL Studio 530... love them all, but i'm dying to hear Ohm speakers! Where can I hear them in NE Ohio? Thanks.
I have and still use my 1980s Ohm I 's (letter eye). Four way, five transducers, bi-ampable. They are in near perfect condition and seemingly have no driver or crossover issues. They to have a large sweet spot for stereo listening. I thought they were great in the 80s (when my hearing was much better). Still fine for me.
I wish he'd bring back the original A and F. I owned an original Fs for 20 years. I realize that they were labour intensive to build, but they put to shame the newer Walsh series. Good news however, as HHR Exotic Speakers has been manufacturing exact copies of both the F and the A. They are very expensive, but are apparently well worth the price.
Steve have you come across /auditioned Shahinian omni-directional speakers?
I have the dreaded L shaped living room/dining room designed home. I'm curious as to whether omnidirectional speakers might compensate for that missing wall.
American high end audio companies are the best in the world. These guys could make America great again if they were to run it.
I bought a pair of Ohm F's back in the mid 80's for $400 from a guy in the coast guard who couldn't take them to Alaska. Toasted a voicecoil five years later. I traded them in for a pair of rosewood limited edition Walsh 5's with a 50% discount for trading in the F's - even though one was toast! The 5's were more dynamic, but to my ears as long as you weren't going for concert hall live levels, the F's were better. They were more coherent top to bottom and they imaged better. The only speaker contemporary to them at the time I had heard that topped them was the Martin Logan The Monolith IIIx. It did not have as big a sweet spot though. It was like an electron microscope for music. The retro rocker in me wishes John would resurrect/update the Ohm I. It was impressive then, and with the advances made since then they would be even better today. Plus, they can go against the wall. Larsen is late to that game. If the L-100 can come back, so should the Ohm I ! John, since it's just too good to not go for it, maybe you can let me have a pair at cost for my marketing genius ;-)
5:15 did you link to the videos that show what he is describing? I do not see them in the description box.
So with these speakers does it mean you do not need to place them directly in front of your listening position, forming the traditional perfect triangle?
THESE!!!
I want these speakers😁
The new F5015, makes "Impossible dreams come true" at $1200. I'm taking a look see soon.
I have a pair of Ohm model A speakers, with an extra driver.... all sold to me by a former employee of Ohm. I'll be upgrading as soon as I can.
How do they compare to the LXmini has anybody done a comparison
Are Ohm T-shirts available?
I used to own a pair of Ohm Model A several pairs of F's
Haha! First time I heard “turn of the century” referencing 2000! 😆🤦♀️😂
I kept looking at his uneven beard, devising ways to trim it.
My first experience with Ohm was there walsh 2's. The demo room had a Carver C 4000 preamp and a Bedini amp not sure of the model. Even with the sonic holography off the speakers vanished and instruments had space. The only other speakers that I had heard with this kind of coherency are the Magnepan speakers. Some day I would like to own a pair even though it's been 35 years ago since I last heard a pair.