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Request to hear Zu speakers
Hello.
For the past year or so, I have stayed out of the discussions regarding Zu speakers.
In 2004, I attended their demo in Easton, PA. The Zu guys were some of the nicest, most fun and real people I have ever encountered in audio. I had my issues with the sonics, which I greatly attributed to room acoustics. And, they were most amenable to my suggestions, such as firing the speakers out of a corner of the large room. Still, it was a new speaker, so I allowed a lot of leeway. I put my faith into Zu being a young, energetic, and dynamic company who would find their way.
In 2005, I heard the speakers again. This time at Audiogon dealer Quest For Sound. Again, I feel the need to compliment the folks at Zu for being such good people. But, again, I had some major issues with the sound of the speakers. It could have been the room, it could have been break - in, it could have been the weather...
I would like to request someone who is an owner, and, obviously a believer, of these speakers, be they Druid or Definition, to allow me a thorough listen. Not that my opinion means any more than any other, but I normally take a definite stand on equipment. I don't want to say much more until I have given the speaker a totally fair shake, given the regard I hold the ownership of the company in.
Is there anyone who lives in within a two hour radius of Philadelphia who is willing to take me up on my request?
Thank you,
Joe
For the past year or so, I have stayed out of the discussions regarding Zu speakers.
In 2004, I attended their demo in Easton, PA. The Zu guys were some of the nicest, most fun and real people I have ever encountered in audio. I had my issues with the sonics, which I greatly attributed to room acoustics. And, they were most amenable to my suggestions, such as firing the speakers out of a corner of the large room. Still, it was a new speaker, so I allowed a lot of leeway. I put my faith into Zu being a young, energetic, and dynamic company who would find their way.
In 2005, I heard the speakers again. This time at Audiogon dealer Quest For Sound. Again, I feel the need to compliment the folks at Zu for being such good people. But, again, I had some major issues with the sound of the speakers. It could have been the room, it could have been break - in, it could have been the weather...
I would like to request someone who is an owner, and, obviously a believer, of these speakers, be they Druid or Definition, to allow me a thorough listen. Not that my opinion means any more than any other, but I normally take a definite stand on equipment. I don't want to say much more until I have given the speaker a totally fair shake, given the regard I hold the ownership of the company in.
Is there anyone who lives in within a two hour radius of Philadelphia who is willing to take me up on my request?
Thank you,
Joe
35 responses Add your response
Dark and Tvad, Send emails to me via Audiogon with email addresses where I can contact you directly, and we'll set up a time for you to hear Zu speakers in the next few weeks. Darkm, the Almarro amp and the AA PX25 would be interesting. I have heard the PX25 on my system but it's been awhile. I use non-exotic sources so you're also welcome to bring an audiophile-approved disc player if that's important to you. I'm in L.A., in the west Valley. Phil |
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Hey 213Cobra/Phil, I'll take you up on your offer!! I'm in San Pedro(end of Harbor Fwy) and have a couple of nice amps to bring along if you want to try something new. Check out my system here and see if there's anything of interest. Just about any day, any time, is good for me. I'm a consultant and work from home, so my schedule is ultra-flexible. Thanks for the offer. |
Hey Trelja - I just moved to the Easton area. I'd certainly love to join in if possible. We can go over to my place afterward for a totally different listening perspective (large Kinetic Audio Labyrinth t-lines passively biamped by two ARC D400mkII SS amps). Although I will be out of town weekend of March 17-19... Shoot me an email. |
Many thanks to all who contributed in this thread! There is no thread jacking going on. Opinions are always welcome. To me, that's what the threads are for; sharing information, experience, perspective, opinion. Perhaps others will be able to host these demos in the requested areas around the country. Audiogoner Ton1313 has graciously extended an invitation to hear his speakers, Zu Druids and Definitions He lives in the Easton, PA area, which is about 1 hour north of me. We're shooting for a Saturday in March (hey, if the weather is nice enough, I'll be able to put the top down! Maybe I should have asked for April?). Both pairs are more than fully broken - in, and I'll be able to get a full picture of the speakers, outside of show conditions. Restock, the decision lies entirely with Ton1313, as it is his home. Marty, should I bring my aluminum foil helmet? |
This is Mechans the Zu poohbah from the other thread, although I too admire the Zu guys for their bringing youth and enthusiasm to the audio community yes they are Great Guys. I would like to join my friend Trelja (Joe) in the Philly or South Jersey area. I really have to hear them played in a system that someone thinks is fabulous. then I will gladly say they are great or at least good decent speakers. In return I will invite you over for a a listening session. I have a variety of moderately priced stuff but some truly rare old stuff if that's a curiosity to you. I have 3 good CDPs, a decent Vinyl source 1959 JBL 1962 JBL 1979 La Scalas 1977 Heresys newer VR2s pre China, most expensive JM lab 936s tube new or 1962 or solid state monobloc power, ultra modded ARC SP6B or several integrateds. An added incentive is a glass or 2 or 3 or... of fine wine of your choice that I have a collection of. Some are reserved but there's quite a bit to choose from. |
Sean and Adam visited last October and demonstrated the Druids and Definitions at the meeting of the Chicago Audio Society. I'll be happy to answer any questions, since I provided much of the associated equipment. Perhaps they would consider coming back if there's enough interest. Brian |
Sean and Adam are setting up a pair of Definitions this Thursday night in my listening room in Scottsdale, AZ. I am looking forward to listening to them in my environment. I truly enjoyed my time with them at the factory a week ago and when I heard they are delivering to Scottsdale, AZ asked if I could buy a pair to listen to. I will post impressions later. If you live in the area, email me. |
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Trelja, I agree wholeheartedly with your impressions of Adam and Sean and the crew of Zu. I really wish I had the unreservedly enthusiastic impression of their speakers that so many do, as I'd very much enjoy being a dealer for those guys. You might want to take along a recording of fairly complex vocal arrangements, perhaps a well-recorded choral work. Best of luck to you, Duke |
Well, I'd love to toss my hat in for a Los Angeles/Southern California listening session if someone would be generous enough to offer. I heard the Druids at the VTV Show a few months ago, but the room colorations were making it close to impossible to truly hear the great components used in their system - Audiopax 88 amps, Melody preamp, Consonance Droplet cdp. |
Joe, I don't have the Druids or Definitions, but have the Tones, which incidentally I purchased through Quest for Sound. I've had major tonality issues with the speakers (which I've discussed here and on Audio Asylum), which I've corrected through digital EQ (I can A/B between corrected/uncorrected). By the way I've spent MANY hours trying to figure out and correct the problems through measurements and listening. Once the tonality issues are corrected, you can really see (um, I mean hear!) the very positive attributes of the speaker. I believe that all Zu's speakers are similar tonally. I live in Danbury, CT, which I believe is slightly further than two hours from Philly. - Stew |
Trelja, can I join in the listening session? I guess I would have to come down from Toronto to NY or Philly...which is a bit exceeding a 2 hour radius for me. I listened to the Zu Druids at a Zu dealer driven by RA Opus, Melody Pre, Cary 300B monos and was quite underwhelmed with the sound of the system (surprising considering the praise all components have gained). I know from own experience with my Abbys that single driver speakers require much amp-speaker synergy, so that I have so far attributed the sound to a poor match. Maybe I will be able to listen to the Zu sometime again, this time in a well matched system. Good luck finding a good place to listen to the Zu speakers. Rene |
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