I have a 12 year old pair of Ohm 1000 speakers and would like to consider upgrading the crossovers. I would be most grateful for any tips/pointers members may wish to add. I am aware that two crossovers exist, one attached to the inside of the speaker cable connectors at the bottom of the speaker which also enables a base boost facility. The second, high-frequency crossover is encapsulated within the sealed unit above the base/mid driver unit above, which incidentally looks as though it may be a so and so to access?
I am a novice DIYer living in the South of England UK. Fortunately, I have a friend who has offered to help who is a very experienced retired electronics engineer with oodles of experience and equal amounts of patience in explaining things to me?
Grateful for any tips you may have with this project.
I have owned these speakers for 3 years and do like them as they are relatively WAF and easily placed around my mid-sized room but would very much like to try and improve the SQ. I am driving them with a Hagel H190 sourced with streaming Tidal through a Magna HiFi Mano Ultra MK1 streamer soon to be traded in for a MK2.
I am a novice DIYer living in the South of England UK. Fortunately, I have a friend who has offered to help who is a very experienced retired electronics engineer with oodles of experience and equal amounts of patience in explaining things to me?
Grateful for any tips you may have with this project.
I have owned these speakers for 3 years and do like them as they are relatively WAF and easily placed around my mid-sized room but would very much like to try and improve the SQ. I am driving them with a Hagel H190 sourced with streaming Tidal through a Magna HiFi Mano Ultra MK1 streamer soon to be traded in for a MK2.
Welcome to the forum!
Ohm Walsh 1000? https://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/entry/ohm-walsh-1000-speakers
Do you have the crossover schematic?
What aspect of the SQ do you think is lacking and in need of improvement?
Ohm Walsh 1000? https://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/entry/ohm-walsh-1000-speakers
Do you have the crossover schematic?
What aspect of the SQ do you think is lacking and in need of improvement?
Thank you for your response Galu, I have read the ilounge review previously and would agree with the overall findings. Regarding your question of which aspect am I looking to improve in the SQ. Further clarity in the mid to higher frequencies would be good to achieve if possible.
I think it would be useful to learn the way this speaker works and interoperates with the room. I'd think equalisation after some acoustic modifications might be a better first move than looking at the crossover.
I agree.
Upgrading a crossover doesn't simply involve replacing a few of its components - it's more about creating a whole new crossover design.
Judging by the few internal views I've seen of Ohm speakers, it would appear that the manufacturer has already paid a lot of attention to the crossover design.
Upgrading a crossover doesn't simply involve replacing a few of its components - it's more about creating a whole new crossover design.
Judging by the few internal views I've seen of Ohm speakers, it would appear that the manufacturer has already paid a lot of attention to the crossover design.
There's a lot going on acoustically with a speaker like this. There are some areas that could do with some explaining.
Thank you to both Galu and Allen B, you both raise good points. I am somewhat limited with room layout given WAF limits. Forgive my ignorance but on watching YouTube media and reading various posts on numerous chat sites, my supposition of replacing like for like specs on components but replacing with better quality components would maintain the electronic architectural design with the aim of improved sound. You are both telling me this is not the case, I think. In which case as you both say perhaps need to take a different approach, thank you.
What constitutes "quality" can be a contentious issue when it comes to choosing crossover components - one man's meat is another man's poison! You must have come across such discussions/arguments in your media travels.
For example, I would regard polypropylene film capacitors to be high quality crossover components. However, replacing a bipolar electrolytic with one would not necessarily result in a sound quality upgrade - it could even result in a downgrade!
That said, discussion on component upgrades would first require access to the crossover schematics and photos of the existing crossover components.
For example, I would regard polypropylene film capacitors to be high quality crossover components. However, replacing a bipolar electrolytic with one would not necessarily result in a sound quality upgrade - it could even result in a downgrade!
That said, discussion on component upgrades would first require access to the crossover schematics and photos of the existing crossover components.
The very best upgrade you can do is to quit watching Y-Tube video's. Most are totally full of processed pasture grass by male bovines.
I basically agree with all the above, but might add if it does have electrolytic caps in it, they may be drying out and not performing as Marty intended. So direct swap to a Dayton PP may be a reasonable choice. If potted, maybe very hard to do.
The room is absolutely critical to a Walsh. Even more than a traditional box. Understand how far away reflective surfaces need to be is a bit of an art. You may get some help from the OB or IB fans.
Have you contacted Ohm?
I basically agree with all the above, but might add if it does have electrolytic caps in it, they may be drying out and not performing as Marty intended. So direct swap to a Dayton PP may be a reasonable choice. If potted, maybe very hard to do.
The room is absolutely critical to a Walsh. Even more than a traditional box. Understand how far away reflective surfaces need to be is a bit of an art. You may get some help from the OB or IB fans.
Have you contacted Ohm?
Current OHM practice for their smaller speakers is to add a bass unit with a proper crossover to each channel.
Smaller cone travel allows cleaner and louder play.
Yes, drop the good folks at OHM a line, even call if it's not too dear. They have always been very helpful. There are articles on their website that you should read first, to help you organise your questions.
Re: cap aging- 12 years is but a moment in time for modern materials, I have two pairs of 40 year old OHMs, checked part values in one pair that got a bit of water damage in a flooded basement, they are fine. You are not in a hot desert, don't sweat it.
Smaller cone travel allows cleaner and louder play.
Yes, drop the good folks at OHM a line, even call if it's not too dear. They have always been very helpful. There are articles on their website that you should read first, to help you organise your questions.
Re: cap aging- 12 years is but a moment in time for modern materials, I have two pairs of 40 year old OHMs, checked part values in one pair that got a bit of water damage in a flooded basement, they are fine. You are not in a hot desert, don't sweat it.
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