Zu Soul Reviewers List
Zu Soul Superfly edition is off and running, with demand overwhelming production, at least for the time being. Nevertheless we know the vast majority of music and gear junkies, ourselves included, are interested to know what the review professional's think of it. So here's the list of reviewers that have contacted us and qualify for review samples:
Each will be loaned a new pair of production Soul Superfly speakers. We expect to be up to speed with customer orders by mid June and with that we can then ship out the half dozen reviewer pairs.
There will be two versions: standard and Superfly. Standard is $1,800 / pair. Superfly is $2,600 / pair.
Details are coming to ZuAudio.com shortly.... Excited? Yeah. It's awesome.
Zu Soul is a high-efficiency and high-output loudspeaker, able to deliver emotionally compelling playback of all musical expressions, from modest or perfectionist sources and amps. It’s just over 3’ tall and takes up just one square foot of floor space. Soul’s performance surpasses our legendary Druid in all respects, for about half the price. Zu Soul satisfies the need for kick-ass performance within a riveting but compact architectural form. Combined with best-value factory-direct prices that even a non-audiophile can swing, Soul moves all music lovers closer to real fidelity, and leaves cash enough for records and living. Soul is designed and manufactured in Ogden, Utah USA, and is complete with our 60-day satisfaction guarantee. Call us toll-free at 800-516-8925 or visit ZuAudio.com for sales and info.
Superfly edition is complete with Zu B3™ silver and silver alloy internal cabling; Cardas® binding posts; Mundorf® Silver/Oil caps; QuietCoat® composite internal core damping; Alexit® external damping surface, in Zu Cosmic Carbon finish $2,600 per matched stereo pair.
Zu at SuperFly 2010
03/11-14/2010 POWDER MOUNTAIN, Utah SuperFly Open 2010 The 3rd Annual SuperFly Open sponsored by Best Kiteboarding will be held March 11 – 14, 2010 at Powder Mountain Resort. Powder Mountain. Three years ago, it was the first mountain resort in the US to offer identify an exclusive snowkiting area and to offer a snowkite only pass. This past year, Best Kiteboarding established the Best Snowkite Center at Powder Mountain and offers lessons and demos at the resort. Zu will be providing sound for the on-snow demos as well as comp. DJ Dallas will be layin down the vibe and playin' MC on some hot new ZuSL-1200 Mk3 decks. Afterparty / lounge each night at the Red Moose Lodge, complete with a fully modern Zu music rig done up in a throughback retro-modern '50 style hi-fi living space, so bring your LP's, CDs, music files, goodtimes vibe and dress to impress. Last year’s event attracted over 50 of the best snowkiters in the world with competitors travelling from as far away as Norway. After the success of the 2008 and 2009 Superfly Open, it is expected that this year’s competition will grow substantially. Competitions during the festival include freestyle, big mountain race, kitecross and big air. For those who want to try their hand at the colorful adventure introductory kite clinics will be offered each day. If you have any interest at all (your breathing aren't you, and still healthy enough for sexual activitiess...) then check out www.superflyopen.com where you can book your trip! See you on the mountain.
Stereophile October 2009 (Stereophile Vol.32 No.10) And right there on the cover is our redhot new Essence loudspeaker. Add to that Art Dudley's excellent review of the same. And to top it off Essence was placed in Stereophile's B-list (The A-list party is next year), lining up with the likes of DeVore Gibbon Nine, BC Acoustics A3, Vandersteen Quatro, Varity Rienzi....
Damn, the cover! How cool is that.
“The Zu Essence is not a hair-shirt product, in which regard alone it has surpassed at least half the high-efficiency loudspeakers in the domestic marketplace. Inasmuch as it’s among the more affordable choices—exponentially, in some cases—it has surpassed many of the rest. The Essence is something of a milestone. With its very good bass extension, superb musicality, lack of egregious timbral colorations, and impressive spatial performance, the Zu Essence qualifies as the first loudspeaker I’ve heard that combines genuinely high efficiency with a level of audiophile performance for which no excuse needs to be made... I’m really impressed with the Essence—and, yes, I could happily live with it myself: It’s that good.” —Art Dudley Stereophile October 2009 (Stereophile Vol.32 No.10)
Zu Returns to Direct Sales Zu Returns to Direct Sales. New, Lower Prices Effective Now. OGDEN, Utah—August 31, 2009—Effective September 1st, Zu Audio once again sells our acclaimed loudspeakers, cables and accessories directly to our U.S. customers, via ZuAudio.com or telephone. After nine months serving our market through authorized dealers in the U.S., you’ve collectively spoken loud and clear: Zu customers want to buy from Zu. We also believe the radically changed economy of the past 12 months has reset music lovers’ perception of value. So we’re using the more efficient economics of direct sales to give you more for less: Our new critically acclaimed Essence loudspeaker, formerly starting at $5,000 per pair now starts at $3,495 per pair -- its new everyday price!
When we read the market in mid-2008, responding to a rush of new dealer inquiries and having just introduced Presence, Druid Mk 4/08 and Definition Mk 2, we believed that retail distribution would help us deliver Zu sound to more music lovers more efficiently, expanding our customer population more quickly than we could do on our own. We gave it an honest shake but three market realities emerged as obstacles to success. First, while we selected from among the very finest audio retailers, there simply aren’t enough outstanding high-fidelity audio salons to put Zu speakers within easy access for music lovers throughout this huge country of ours. Second, retail distribution required us to raise prices above traditional Zu value to provide for necessary retailer profit on Zu sales. And third, our existing customers vocally and relentlessly let us know each and every day, week and month that they prefer to buy from Zu directly. Our authorized dealers could not entice you to shop with them instead. Add to that the dramatic shift in global economic outlook after September 2008 has spurred a long-term change in music lovers’ perception of value in gear, and the complete picture adds up to a return to direct sales in the United States -- at lower prices and greater convenience.
Our new Essence loudspeaker, which marries the simplicity and tonal realism of our prior Druid Mk 4/08 model with deeper bass, extended treble and some of the sonic scale of our Definition Mk 2, now starts at just $3,495 per pair— less than Druid a year ago! It’s even easier to place well in any room, retaining the same 12” x 12” footprint as Druid and Definition but is more forgiving of room acoustics and the placement constraints of real living spaces. Beautiful base price standard satin colors and real wood veneers can be upgraded to gloss finishes and custom colors at additional cost. We will further expand our line to deliver new performance benchmarks in speakers and cables, at more accessible price points for their sound. But for most music lovers seeking accessible yet impeccable high-fidelity, Essence today is the right loudspeaker, at the right price, at the right time.
Find out more about Essence at www.ZuAudio.com/loudspeakers/essence. Call 1-800-516-8925 or visit www.ZuAudio.com to learn more or to order. As always, every Zu customer has 60 days return privileges. And welcome back to Zu! Sean Casey & Adam Decaria
Founders, Zu Audio Zu Audio is a manufacturer of high-quality audiophile loudspeakers, cables and other audio accessories for music lovers, located in Ogden, Utah. If you are interested in learning more about Zu Audio’s products and passions visit us at www.ZuAudio.com. Zu Audio—A Revolution In American Hi-Fi We’re Only Here for the Music” our tag for the last year embodies a powerful aspect of Zu’s soul, but only when things are getting done, moving forward, getting better. “A Revolution in American Hi-Fi” was our tag when we were direct, aggressive, it’s what is required, it’s what must happen for compelling playback to again be enjoyed in the living rooms of vast numbers across the country.
Yes, the economy as a whole is in the toilet, and it doesn’t look to come roaring back soon. But that’s not the root of the problem within hi-fi. Try this on: conservatively, half the U.S. population enjoys and consumes music, and yet far less than 1% enjoy high-fidelity playback. By contrast, less than 1% of the U.S. population ride dirtbikes, yet it’s a driving force in the culture, and it represents a large and healthy industry, completely dwarfing hi-fi today. This was not always the case. Hi-fi was number two on the list of “must haves” for all heading off to college. Okay, maybe number three but likely one of those three can’t be mentioned here. A sweet car was likely top, but that always seemed a bit out of reach for most of us -- but not our music, and not good sound in the dorm.
In Hi-Fi today, a basic, somewhat realistic sounding system is at least the price of a hot new, right-off-the-showroom-floor, ready-to race motocross bike, with all new gear; or track-capable street bike; or a sweet American, German, or Italian made work-of-mechanical-art. Or a decent waterski/wakeboard boat, a room full of climbing and backpacking gear, or all the snowboard or ski gear you can fit in your hatchback. Plus season passes to Snowbasin, and Whistler, and a week long heli trip to Alaska! The problem is that hi-fi is no longer relevant when you compare it to other “competing” interests and products. Things in Hi-Fi today are pretty rickety; when state-of-the-art seems totally ridiculous compared to the products of these other industries.
Hi-Fi needs to generate products, and information, that allow people to experience a profound level of fidelity for the same price as competing interests. And for the everyday American we’re talking, hunting, fishing, cars, bikes, motorcycles, ski trips... not million+ dollar yachts and private jets. Zu’s mission is to put sincere high-fidelity music reproduction back in the homes, dorm rooms and apartments of music lovers. Out of the man-caves and into living rooms for all to enjoy. We take seriously our brand proposition, “A Revolution in American Hi-Fi” meant to return the stereo to being among the most important furnishings in a home. To serve this mission, we must deliver convincing music fidelity, compelling visual appeal for the objects we create, and solid competitive value with other industries. The economics of dealer distribution undermined our ability to do both while meeting these expectations of value and affordability. Returning to direct sales allows us to reduce prices while becoming more profitable, and to develop and field a greater range of beautiful products more quickly. SOME HISTORY & PERSPECTIVE More on this will be laid down, but here's a teaser. In the heyday of hi-fi, an average working person could see his or her way to assembling a system comprised of the very best gear. They might have to do it piecemeal -- start with a best preamp, for instance, while everything else is just serviceable. Circa 1975 for example, anyone motivated had one of the two best preamps in their reach: Audio Research SP3a1 for $795 or Mark Levinson JC2 for about $1200. While either were real money 34 years ago, a middle class person could afford such a purchase if they were interested. A Linn Sondek was $295.00 and an SME 3009 tonearm was about $180.00. A Denon DL103 listed at $250.00. An Audio Research D76A power amp was $1200.00. A pair of Dahlquist DQ10s were $795/pair.
That system was attainable, for some all at once, and for many more, brick-by-brick, and it put you in the top tier of hi-fi. Frankly, it would still sound good today. Accessible "bests" in hi-fi vanished during the first Reagan administration, and hi-fi lost its heart ever since. As soon as most people could not imagine owning the best, they lost interest in settling for mediocre and the proliferation of competing hobbies more easily elbowed hi-fi aside. Early CD didn't help. "Perfect Sound Forever" made everything sound the same -- pinched, harsh and one-dimensional. Our message is simple: Zu is the basis for making the best in hi-fi attainable again, and your love of music is the reason to be interested. It's easier to build a smokin' system around Zu speakers than any other cornerstone component, and average people can afford to. It's good to be back.
Zu hosted a music event at the flagship Apple Store | The Grove last
The get-together focused on computer based audio, how to it sounding good, how to work within iTunes, how to get your analog collection in to your music library, and most importantly how to get it from our Mac and into our living space. This was not an iPod or headphone thing, it was about uncorking your sound, filling your room, making it life-sized, making the party at your place.
Likely we'll be back again in October, adding venues along the way, and expanding the Q&A and listing, and including an after partly meet and greet.
Apple Store | The Grove The Grove 189 The Grove Drive Los Angeles, CA 90036
Zu in full production of its highly anticipated loudspeaker—Essence
OGDEN, Utah—July 27, 2009—Debuting at CES 2009 but in limited production until now. Zu’s Essence builds on the companies legacy loudspeaker the Druid; crossoverless, full-ranger driver platform, incorporating Zu’s forth generation ten-inch full-range driver and complimented by a new Zu/TB high power NiB, transformer coupled ribbon tweeter which takes care of the fidelity in the top octave and beyond. Also new to the Essence is a complete implementation of Zu’s original and ground-breaking Zu/Griewe acoustic loading technology.
“To say we are excited and happy with our Essence loudspeaker is a huge understatement. Technically its solid and very well rounded; visually it’s timeless and luxuriously elegant with the highest level of fit, form and finish; sonically... throw whatever you like at it, Essence will play it back without hesitation, without disconnect, without reservation, complete with real emotion and all the harmonic nuances.”
Zu Essence is the culmination of the companies 10 years of creation and manufacturing and embodies the companies design philosophy of high efficiency, large dynamic range, wide bandwidth and tight top to bottom timing (technically known as group delay). Essence, with a suggested retail price of $5,000 for a matched pair, also reflects the companies desire to give the user the most possible performance, with high value, in a form that will look comfortable in any living room. And now as Zu is offering its products through select dealers and distributors throughout the world you can hear them at your local music hotspot.
Zu launched its debut loudspeaker Druid in 2001 with a direct from the manufacture price of $3,600 (US) per pair. Steadily this loudspeaker grew in sales and acclaim, primarily in Asia and Europe. Since its release Zu has manufactured and sold just under a thousand pair of this high efficiency, critically acclaimed cult classic.
Zu Druid Award And Recognition Highlights
• Audiotechnique—Loudspeaker of the Decade (China/Hong Kong) • 6moons.com—Lunar Eclipse Award (New Mexico/Switzerland, English) • Positive Feedback Online—Writers’ Choice Award (Los Angles, English) • HiFi Would—Five Stars (United Kingdom, English) • Audiophiliac / c|net Loudspeaker of the Year (New York, English)
Zu Audio is a manufacture of high quality audiophile loudspeakers, cables and other audio accessories located in Ogden, Utah. If you are interested in learning more about Zu Audio’s passions, products, retailers, or investment opportunities call us at 1-801-627-1040 or visit us at www.ZuAudio.com.
Zu Audio We are only here for the music!
Munich show day 2
Day 2 was open to the public and they showed up in droves. Rooms and hallways were pretty much full the entire time.
We did some tuning to the set up and improved the imaging quite a bit. We're getting really good sound and a lot of over the top comments, one specifically from a musician who brought in his own music and commented that it was the first time he's ever heard his instruments sound like they do when he plays. That sentiment has been repeated a lot of times over the last couple of days and I would say that is what really has set us apart at the show. Pretty much every other room you go in you hear hifi, when you come into our room you hear music. The Essence is also far less polarizing so the positives have been overwhelming if not unanimous. The Munich show seems extremely friendly and accommodating for both the exhibitors and the attendees.
Munich show day 1
The Munich show got underway today. Opening day is for press and industry professionals only but traffic was significantly better than CES and RMAF combined. The rooms are not anything great but acceptable and the management staff for the show have everything dialed. It's a nice change from the bull crap at the Venetian.
Our BeNeLux distributor getting the cabling sorted out before the show starts.
The Essence were playing with some new Luxman electronics and sounding quite nice. The placement needs a little more work but we're already getting the best sound at the show. If you prefer glow sticks to sparklers on the fourth of july you might feel differently but if that's the case there's a whole lot of "safe" speakers out there to make your rock-n-roll sound just like your jazz.
A switch over to the new Luxman SQ integrated amp proved to be a nice match indeed.
Trip to Switzerland and the Ebaen home Before the Munich show I wanted to pay Srajan with 6moons a visit and see how he was liking his Essence.Srajan's room should be the poster child for believable stereo imaging. It's great in all the other areas too but you can't believe how much depth and realism you get with his setup. If you want to hear how well the Essence can image then buy a ticket to Switzerland... nah just buy a pair yourself and then take a trip to Switzerland to do something else. The Essence hooked up to some really inexpensive little integrated amplifier out of Serbia. The Essence sounded amazing, not just okay, on the SET Yamamoto, Modwright 150W amp, and this less than 300 Euro little amp from Serbia. What other loudspeaker offers that?
Please contact Ferenc (ferenc.koscso@penna-media.hu) He's your guy for all things Hi-Fi & Pro in Hungry!
Essence with Grill Here's a photo of the Essence with its new grill. Lots of open area, lots of protection, and still shows all the good bits underneath. (just how I like my lingerie-except maybe the protection part)
Biketown Sound Works
Handout distributed at the 2009 International Motorcycle Show in Cleveland.
It was just after the whole "Y2K! the computers will crash and the world will end" crazyness, Zu was just getting off the ground and my close friend Jim Doxey sends me Pete's Lifehouse Chronicles. I listened straight through, most of the night, transported and enlightened—and those difficult to approach Who songs have never been casually played since.
And here we are again "the global economy is busted, the world is going to end." So before the Pound, Dollar, and Euro fade away, (...hope I die before I get old) buy and experience this recording.
I was born in 1970, and thanks to the influence of my buddy's older brother, I had the good fortune of growing up with some great '70s rock. I got tuned in just post Dylan, Beetles and Doors, but just in time to relate to bands like Zeppelin, The Who, BOC, Sabbath, Sex Pistols, Yes, Rush.... Yeah, I was prepubescent, but I could feel what they were layin' down—new sounds, expressions and themes. Brilliant music and the foundation of my audio reason for being.
Sometime in the '90s Pete from The Who was being interviewed, for classic rock radio. I was dumbstruck when he said "kids in the UK these days don't even know our music, or even know who The Who was." I simply couldn't believe it.
CES 2009, I'm the stand-in DJ when Ron needed to step out. I had a copy of Pete Townshend's Lifehouse Elements album, the single CD abridgment of the 6 CD Lifehouse Chronicles. Out of a dozen-plus people I played the orchestral variation of Baba O'Riley for, only one had heard of this epic fulfillment of Tommy, and nearly all these guys were in high school or college when Pete, Keith, Roger, and John, were everywhere. Dumbstruck deja vu. So here I am, taking a bit of personal responsibility to save our planet—consider owning and cueing up this album/play/vision. Yeah, I think Pete's a genius, a visionary (never mind his personal vices). Here are some links for more info, the last is where you buy the thing.
CES 2009. A good show for us, people were digging the sound, even vets like Jim Smith, Wes Phillips, John Atkinson, and Bob at BAAS liked the sound we were making, and given that the whole rig's cost when those mentioned was about 10k USD, we were pretty excited. Even the hard to please like Peter (Dave and Carol's kid) dug the sound, spinning up Thursday, Mogwai, Silver Jews and other bands that are impossible for trad hifi rigs to play with sincerity. Our focus was the launch of our new loudspeaker, Essence. As always we had not given proper attention to show prep so we loaded up Adams truck with a bunch of electronics, music, asked Dallas for some last minute display ideas and some basic media and headed off for Las Vegas.
We ran a verity of gear during the show, changing it up each day. CES show gear list: ModWright Sony CD player ModWright preamp Melody i2A3 intigrated Angelis Labor preamp Manley Mahi Mahi amps, generally running with minimum feedback and in triod. RedWine 70.2 amps PeachTree Audio Novus as an integrated + server. Angelis Labor amps
Setup: Ron, Adam, Sean DJ / Demo: Ron Williams Cabling: Zu Rack: Hotel magazine end table Power Conditioning: none Room Treatment: none Accessories: none Staging Fixtures: Manfrotto Lighting & Images: Dallas
We were happy with the quality of traffic, and to hear that most visitors thought our direction to dealers is a bold and positive move. We received a lot of input on dealer program, point of sale needs, marketing... all the stuff we generally need to improve on. Essence and dealer program will hit the ground the middle of February. Good to see and meet so many people that share the common passion for music and the passion and physics behind it. My highlights included getting to know John DeVore, who had a room right next to us. He and I did our share of "hall monitoring" and got to talk music and NY. Also had a good talk with Chris Sommovigo, been a long time and it was good to talk family as well as business. And then hanin' with Misha, the big crazy Russian, loved his Ety in-ear mods! And running into Frank Denson and the Dynavector guys, haven't really talked with Frank for well over a decade. (For a "young guy" I'm starting to feel old, talking in decades now, true of Misha, Chris, Frank...time flies they say.) Yeah, for sure, the best part of the show is talking to people and getting to know them. Really dug hungin' with Ferenc Koscso from Penna Media Hungry, man, this guys has his hands and feet in everything sound and music, ENG, Broadcast, Live, Mastering, Playback, DJ... it was super cool talking sound with him, and again, good to catchup with someone that I haven't seen for well over a decade! And don't worry Ferenc, Zu will stay true to its roots and "Druid" sense. Was super happy to meet the guys from Angilis Labor, a great bunch; and can you believe it, Lucas got to hang with Julian Cope--just kickin back at Julian's place shootin' the breeze. Really enjoyed them all and learning about their products and business. A big thanks to Kent, Joe and the rest of the Pass Labs guys too. And the list goes on but I gotta stop somewhere. In the end, despite the state of economies and the crazies in government, people in hi-fi are pretty excited and living--it's a good time to be alive. Big thanks to Tom W of Bike Town Harley-Davidson
CES 2009 "Zu Essence in BAAS Top 5"
Bob of the Bay Area Audiophile Society put's the Zu room in his top five list for this years CES. Follow the link for more info.
CES 2009 Stereophile Post
Follow the link, nice comments from John Atkinson; Ron and Sean had a nice chat with him and Wes about ELP and Little Feet.
CES 2009 Postitive Feedback Show Report
Follow the link / good photos, good comments. Thanks to the P-F Online crew: Dave, Carol, Peter, Brian and CJ, for stopping in.
Venetian debut, CES 2009. Yeah, this is a special product, and only $5k for the pair. Available in American Walnut or Zu Smooth Matte black. Custom colors available for custom order.
Available for audition at select Zu dealers February.
Press Rlease / Zu Matures And Embraces Traditional Sales & Distribution
Zu Audio is now ready to compete for global market share and brand credibility. CES 2009 (January 8) debuts Zu’s new sales platform and commitment to traditional sales and distribution; and closes the door on all of it’s direct to consumer sales efforts. Zu has been moving in this direction for several years and now has the resources, production technology, know-how, and capacity to realize the transition.
For nine years Zu has streamlined production, invested heavily in technology and systems, and has continually improved product performance and build quality.
