The most performance you can get in one square foot of floor space. True when we launched the Definition, still true today. So what’s changed? Everything but its hot looks. And to get right to the point, Definition Mk2 spanks the original. Designed to really show its best performance in mid size and larger rooms, in situations where you are listening seven feet (2.0 meters) or more from the loudspeakers.
Definition Mk2 is designed for home audio and home theater use. It is a direct radiating, controlled dispersion, infinite baffle (sealed), floor-standing loudspeaker with internally powered, four 10” low frequency drivers with simple user bypass ability—allowing the internal bass amp and all filter networks to be electrically removed, affording unhampered use of signal processing and external amplification for the four subwoofers on the back.Read more...
“If riding an F430 at breakneck pace through your favorite Malibu canyon road is the idea of an ultimate car control, then listening to Meeting by the River, a Kavi Alexander/Water Lily Acoustics recording must be the audiophile equivalent. The intricate interplay of only three or four instruments within the confines of Santa Barbara's St. Anthony's Seminary Chapel is an exemplary demo track for the Definition Mk2s. Transient responses are off the charts. The dynamic swings, multi-layered instrumental colors, and tones are a test for any loudspeaker, yet, the new Zu loudspeakers don't even begin to break a sweat. Perfect downshifts, you hit the apex and slam the throttle—until you are ready to do it again at the next turn. That about sums up the experience you get when the Definition Mk2s play this track.
The Definition Mk2s are quite remarkable. They retain the essence that makes Zu great while adding on a layer of refinements not heard from the previous king. They are far more forgiving with regards to setup and placement; they marry the Pro model's benefits of extreme room integration with the Mk1.5's ease of use, high-fidelity, and all. They are the quintessential upgrade: you feel right at home, yet are immediately aware of their newfound guts and glory. It's like getting in the F430 Scuderia when you already own the F430.” —Positive Feedback, Danny Kaey
The original Definition loudspeaker was launched in 2003 and has since received world-wide critical acclaim, as well making a ton of users very happy. Definition has received great press from audio magazine from all over the world; Hong Kong, UK, USA, Germany, Hungry, New Zealand, China, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Brazil, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, Spain, Norway.... Here are a few awards and links to reviews:
- Positive Feedback Online Writers’ Choice Award by Danny Kaey: http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue33/zu_definitons.htm
- 6moons.com Blue Moon Award for Definition Pro by Les Turoczi http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/zu9/definitionpro.html
- 6moons.com Definition Pro by Srajan http://6moons.com/audioreviews/zu7/defpro.html
- 6moons.com Definition Pro by Srajan http://www.sixmoons.com/audioreviews/zu10/pro.html
- 6moons.com Blue Moon Award for Definition 1.5 http://6moons.com/audioreviews/zu2/definition.html
Changes and features
Definition Mk2 (mark II) allow user selectability of internal bass amp or external processing and amplification. Internal amplification in the Definition Mk2 powers the four backside subwoofers—allowing the user to reduce the number of visible electronics and keeps setup / operation of the audio system simple. However, with the simple removal of backside jumpers the user can completely bypass the internal electronics and open the door to full-on unfiltered, unswitched, ready for bi-amplification and line-level signal processing subwoofer bliss.
The original Definition loudspeakers were a bit more complicated, and required the end user to choose between the home hi-fi Definition 1.5 and the Definition Pro. Definition 1.5 with internal bass amplification for the four woofers in the back; or the Definition Pro which required external amplification for the back woofers (in addition to amplification for the front driver array) and signal processing to integrate the unfiltered woofers response to that of the room, amplification, and user preferences. Definition 1.5 was basically a passive loudspeaker with powered woofer section, requiring the use of just a single amplifier. Definition 1.5 was for the home audio market. Definition Pro was for sound engineers in the professional audio market, for use in mastering studios, tracking and screening rooms, and high quality monitoring in large studios. Now you get both in one, without compromise in either, plus all the other cool stuff we are about to list for you.
Improvements in design include the removal of many cabinet resonances. These resonant modes in the original Definition would cause audible glare and mask resolution. In place of the MDF (medium density fiberboard) core, the Definition Mk2 now features a highly superstructured, 3/4” (20 cm) composite Super-ply with maple ply core, and composite gelcoat/polyester epoxy shell. The lower mass, broader Q, and dramatically improved core strength of the Definition Mk2 provides many benefits such as increased resolution, particularly in the upper bass through midrange, and an overall more relaxed less fatiguing quality—two things that rarely go together. Reducing cabinet ring also heightens the Definitions ability to create a believable and organic stereophonic space, not that it didn’t already stand out, but now the stereo image is solid regardless of the listening position. New material and new cabinet design work together to increase cabinet strength and rigidity in driver anchoring, now drivers and their mounts exhibit significantly less flex, furthering the improvements in time and space (not spacetime) and full bandwidth sonic integration. Definition 1.5 and Pro used minimal internal superstructures allowing baffles, side plates and bulkheads to have undesired resonant modes and excessive amplitude, the biggest problem spots being the full-range driver to super-tweeter area and the points between the back woofers. Definition Mk2 addresses these problems with better engineering and production of the superstructure, tying baffles, plates and bulkhead together in methods that really do control cabinet resonance, tame amplitude, and cause the loudspeaker system’s cabinet system to behave more as a solid, and less like a box of planes.
We have also lowered noise and phase distortion through the reengineering of the high-pass super-tweeter network. We replaced the decent Solen polypropylene capacitors with the very best silver/oil caps we could find and batch and match them to 0.1% tolerance. Like the cabinet changes, the high-pass filter changes also benefits the stereophonic image recreation and also smoothes out all the rough edges that critical treble-tone sensitive ears noticed in the super-tweeter. Integration with the two front full-range drivers is also more accurate, lowering phase artifacts in the upper treble (12 kHz) region.
New internal cabling built on our B3 cable/EM geometry platform utilizes the highest quality Teflon for insulation of circuits and silver alloy conductors. Very similar to the original Def but with evolved and improved gauge size relations and higher tolerance production, enabled through experience with our still young B3 E&M (electronics and magnetism) model and our new third generation cable machine. The cable changes have improved the loudspeakers’ ability to resolve musical color of well played instruments, and vocals that have complex yet interesting shading and harmonic texture.
New low frequency drivers (same as used in Definition Pro). They are still a high efficiency, high power, high resonance design but have bigger motors and much tougher frames. The new drivers also have a revised, moderately rising rate suspension. Net improvements are better bass contrast, better definition of recorded space and energy, and more pop and shove.
New split tuning on subwoofer array. Upper two subwoofer drivers share a smaller rear chamber air space. Bottom two subwoofer drivers share a much larger rear chamber airspace, roughly a 1:3 ratio. The dual sub tuning allowed us to get a more natural blend between front full range drivers and sub array, decreased destructive interferences between subs, as well as improving the quality of tone in the bottom two octaves (16 - 64 Hz).
New internal bass amp with redesigned power supply that is quieter than the original specified for the Definition 1.5. In addition to lower noise, the new amp is a bit more articulate and agile.
New bass array cabling for improved bass tone; power transfer and electrical damping. Original featured #16 AWG silver plated copper with Teflon insulation. New harness is made of U.S. refined, drawn and insulated #12 AWG pure copper in a seven strand (concentric) lay insulated with cross-linked polyethylene. Nothing to shout about but it all adds up.
New composite finish process yields a very flat surface, free of all grain, seams, core irregularities and so on.
New 1.5” (3.8 cm) maple ply base. Funny how playing with turntables and phono pickups these past two years has caused us to really look at the micro level at such things as base material and how a driver is mounted, sealed, and supported. The new base and mounting improves focus and attack bottom to top. It also seems to reduce the negative effect of discordant resonance in less than great sounding floors and subfloors.
Super-tweeter changes:
Complete remanufacture of driver with the removal of all shims, gaskets and screws.
Ferro-fluid is removed from gap.
Polyurethane bonding and the removal of all voids and shims on tweeter top-plate waveguide / voicecoil frame.
Complete bonding of composite phenolic dome diaphragm suspension to driver top-plate.
Repositioned / enhanced voicecoil / gap alignment.
Dynamic alignment process of voicecoil and gap to ensure correct tone and shove (pre PU adhesive set).
Reflow voicecoil lead-in pots with high quality lead-free silver bearing solder (RoHS).
Cream of the crop pick and 0.1% matching for the highest quality of tone and efficiency.
200 hours minimum factory burn-in post network termination.
Super-tweeter high pass network changes:
Simple resistor-less capacitance network.
Twin parallel, mundorf silver/oil capacitors matched to better than 0.1%.
Reduction of termination joints by half.
Direct cold forged and sealed terminations.
FastOn connectors are now terminated using the solderless Amp crimping process.
Dramatic reduction of solder joints. In fact, the voicecoil lead-in pots are all that remain.
0.1% matching of completed assemblies.
Full-range driver changes:
Improvement in cone and cone binders.
Improved assembly tolerance.
0.1% or better matched pairs.
200 hours minimum factory burn-in together as a matched set including harnesses. Also using some new music James selected for good, well rounded, musical appreciation.
Zu is not a company that changes for change sake, so why all the changes? Blame our turntable and phono pickup research and development. Definition Mk2 changes and improvements were evaluated on both the macro and micro scale, any area we could improve was, even if the changes were subtle, add all the little changes up with the big and you get a product that has taken a giant leap forward.
Definition loudspeakers, like everything we do, are manufactured by us in Ogden, Utah—USA.
Definition History
2003, original Definition was released.
2003, Audax informs us that they can no longer produce the super-tweeter we are using as they are closing their French production of drivers. We scramble to finish the driver lens we had been working on.
2004, Definition Mk1.5 is launched with new ZuT1 super-tweeter. No other changes to the design or manufacture of the loudspeaker hence the 1.5 designation. Addition of iridescent and matte finishes. Matte finish is a true matte, but is rough like sandstone.
2004, Definition Pro is launched as a “secret menu” item. Definition Pro, despite it’s adoption and solid sales, was never marketed to the home audio, or pro markets.
2007, Fall, Definition Mk2 was introduced.
