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Zu Omens Vs Dali Vs Vandersteen Vs Sonus Faber


This post is FYI for those wondering about the quality of the Zu Omens (Don't worry, Be Happy and get them!):

At my personal recommendation, two friends here in Tucson bought Zu Omens, and one replaced her floor standing Dalis with the Omens and another replaced his Vandersteens with the Omens. He recommended them to two other friends here in Tucson who replaced their speakers with the Zu Omens. Once of the pairs replaced were Sonus Fabers.

I imagine that the Soul Superfly's are better of course.

BTW, I have Zu Druids. I am hesitant to replace them because I like them so much that I have painted them piano black and put granite bases on them. They bested (for my preferences of course for immediate rich sound) some Dynaudio, Dali, and Spendor floorstanders. However, I have not heard the Zu Omens and Druids in the same room. However, at another person's home the Omens sounded wonderful. Similar magical sound as the Druids with perhaps a little more bass and they are certainly less imposing in size (but not in quality) in the listening space. Hmmm, maybe I can get a pair of Omens and paint them piano black...
128x128plangco

Showing 2 responses by plangco

plangco's avatar
plangco OP
158 posts
 
I found that the Zu Omens in comparison to my Spendor speakers sounded a tad richer yet still very immediate and present. Front row center with a strong tube glow if you will. Everyone who chose the Omens has tube amplification if that gives you a clue. Not overly warm or mushy like some of the older CJ gear, the Zu speakers convey instruments richly. Acoustic guitar, most instruments and voices are not only rich, but extended and very present.

I understand an analysis of reasons for choosing is in order to be helfull as well as accompanying equipment, tubes used, sound desired, personal preferences and all that. All I have is that each and every one of these four people, five including myself (although I have Druids and heard the Omens), ditched their speakers after comparing the Omen's in their house. That says something yet unfortunately leaves you to experiment. A limited risk considering the 2 month return policy (the Omens need 200 hours breakin, but sound good out of the box).
plangco's avatar
plangco OP
158 posts
 

I recently listened to my Zu Druids alongside Zu Omen speakers which weren't broken in yet, and found that the tonal shift in direction of the sound was such that the Omens were a little more in the direction of being slightly clearer and more airy with a little more bass than the Druids, and that the Zu Druids had a slightly warmer more 'tubey' sound overall compared to the Omens.

Which is better on balance of course will depend on personal preference and other system components bias. And naturally, the already close gap in the sound between the two will probably narrow as the Omen speakers break in and warm up. Reports are that the sound of the Omen's changes dramatically as they break in. However, I feel (and don't know for sure) that some of the differences in sound between the two just mentioned, however slight, will remain.
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