Presence is a triangular shaped, full spectrum, high efficiency, high output, direct radiating infinite baffle (sealed) loudspeaker designed for high fidelity home audio and home theater use. To properly cover the bottom octave or two (16Hz to 40Hz) Presence uses an onboard Hypex UcD (v2) power amp to drive two internally housed 10” low mass subwoofers that are isolated and reside just behind the Presence’ lower grille. The main driver is a full-range design that is free from any crossover or signal manipulating components—signal comes in through the pure copper Cardas inputs, runs directly into Zu B3 silver alloy cable, and runs directly to the main driver voicecoil inputs. The full range driver and subwoofer array are complimented by a high output, time-matched super-tweeter that covers the top of the treble range.
The first review of the Presence has been wrapped up by Srajan of 6moons, check it out. http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/zu12/presence.html “First impressions, by a confessed admirer of the Zu sound, are thus a big thumbs up. To tease out finer distinctions and assess how offboarding with external bass amps and filters shifts the equation or not, continue on.”
Read more...Presence is very easy to place, thanks in part to its triangular shape, and also to its uniform, in-time hemispherical wavefront. They can be very effective at recreating sonic events placed in corners and near walls—generally not possible with the vast majority of loudspeakers. And since the subwoofer section is integrated into the design, bass detail does not sound detached from the music. Nothing worse than a big square subwoofer trying desperately to hide somewhere in your room but only capable of making wooly sounds and rattling.
Because of the high efficiency of the Presence, and the very friendly 16 Ohm circuit each loads to the amplifier, users are able to explore a whole new world of amplifier possibilities—from the 1 Watt to huge, and cheap to hand built exotica. Theater lovers will also appreciate knowing that most of the receivers on the market will sound much better on Presence thanks in part to the easy load. And due to their high efficiency, low power amplifiers, particularly single ended triod and OTL tube amps, will have no problem mating with and driving a Presence loudspeaker system to very respectable levels with totally convincing, real fidelity. And, since Presence loudspeakers also have high power capacity, those who truly want to kick out the jams have all the big amps shouting to be matched up. Just a note, even ten Watts of music into the Presence is enough to kick out the jams Motor City 5 style! Thirty Watts into them will have the cops on your threshold asking you to turn it down, because your neighbor a quarter mile down the road is not to hip on what you call music....
Like all Zu loudspeakers, Presence can dance, mash, shake, rock, and roll.
Presence loudspeakers also feature CNC machined from billet aluminum Alcoa 6061 super-tweeter lenses, driver reinforcing 1/4” deep trim rings, machined binding post plates with machined serial numbers, and machined driver motor components and input lugs. Other features include our Zu B3 silver alloy internal cabling, cold forged terminations for the highest possible conductance and fidelity between interconnecting terminals; CNC machined cabinet maple SuperPly core as mentioned, with composite shell; and the highest quality finish and finish tolerance in the business. One look, or listen to the Presence loudspeaker will convince you that it’s a world-class product made with the highest possible care.
Technology and feature highlights
Presence specific Zu103FR 10.3” full-range transducers, 177 Oz. (5025 Gr.)
New Zu/APT50/3 super-tweeter with machined from billet Alcoa 6061 ZuG1 high frequency lens.
Superstructure composite cabinet with maple super-ply wood core.
0.5% or better matching on all electronics and drivers for quality of tone and efficiency.
Simple two component (Cs + Rs) network featuring Mundorf silver / oil capacitors, and new Mills audio specific resistors—all matched to 0.1% or better between pairs.
Direct connection of capacitor, resistor, FastOn, via cold-forged and sealed termination.
Zu B3 silver alloy internal cabling.
Dual 10” low mass Eminence subwoofers.
New Hypex UcD (v2) subwoofer power amp with user selectable Voltage operation.
User selectable subwoofer control, including the option for line-level sub feeds and complete bypass for outboard subwoofer control and amplification.
160 hours minimum factory burn-in, as we’ve been doing, but this time we kit and batch them to burn-in with the matched super-tweeter assembly. Also using some new music James selected for good, well rounded, musical appreciation.
And except the Hypex amp which is made in the Netherlands, and the Mudorf capacitors that are made in Germany, Presence are manufactured by us in Ogden, Utah—USA.
