|
“A Close Encounter, OF THE COOL KIND" By Les Turoczi "Of course, the midrange, which has always been a strong suit for Zu speakers, came through with the dynamics and clarity that first caught my attention years ago, so pardon me if I don’t go into much more detail than that. Overall, it is clear to me that this $3,500 speaker system is a winner and delivers the goods in a delightful, effective and fun way. Another surprise of the day happened next when Sean asked Ron to bring in..." |
|
Read more...
|
|
"At $5,000 the Essence was a great speaker. At the new price of $3,495 it's an exceptional value, and that's why we've awarded it our Exceptional Value Award for 2009" —Jeff Dorgay, TONEAudio
|
|
Zu Audio and Peachtree Audio By Jason Victor Serinus "It's always nice to see yourself, or at least the vehicle for your thoughts, in the spotlight. That's certainly what happened in the Peachtree-Zu room, which paired the Peachtree Audio Nova ($1200) integrated amplifier, which was featured on Stereophile’s August cover, with Zu Essence speakers ($3500/pair). Add in the Apple TV and $500 worth of Zu cables, and you have quite a nifty system that delivered excellent sound." Wait, you say, $3500 for the Zu Essence speakers that just splashed across the cover of the October issue? Yes. Since the Utah company decided to ditch its dealer network, Zu lowered the price by $1500!" |
|
Read more...
|
|
Zu Audio and Peachtree Audio "Everyone throws around the term lifestyle as it applies to audio components, but rarely is it defined. Walking into the Zu Audio/Peachtree Audio room, it was instantly apparent exactly what it means. This system the two companies showed is not meant for the "man cave," but can be brought right into the living room with a decorator’s flair. People concerned with style, functionality and performance will love what they have here. |
|
Read more...
|
|
Frederic Beudot, 2009 Personal Favorites | Essence.
For the complete listings, please click here. "Srajan reviewed them, I wrote a follow-up (incidentally a world premiere follow-up by the way - and yes, I am being sardonic) where you can find my comments and impressions. While not perfect, they certainly are the most enjoyable speakers I have ever owned to actually listen to music with - instead of associated gear. I might get tempted to upgrade within their line if they start introducing a RAAL ribbon (instead of the already quite good Tang Bang unit the Essence employs). For now, I am content with my system which is a feeling I have not had in a long time." "I do appreciate how the vagaries about Zu’s business model—direct sales, sales through retailers, direct sales again—may have left a sour taste with many folks; and how concomitant prices in Europe are not sustainable when compared to importing directly from the US; but the factory-direct price of the Zu Essence is the second greatest value you can buy today (see the above paragraph if you’ve already forgotten N°.1 [Wyred 4 Sound STP]). Don’t let non-musical considerations get in the way. Order a pair to find out for yourself." —Frederic Beudot 
|
|
Stereophile October 2009 (Stereophile Vol.32 No.10) And right there on the cover is our red hot new Essence loudspeaker—Great review by Art Dudley—and to top it off Essence was placed in Stereophile's B-list (The A-list party is next year).
“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)
|
|
Follow-up review by Frederic Beudot, here are the highlights, for the cons and the complete review follow-up click here. "I was in no particular rush to write a follow-up on the Zu Essence. I bought them six months ago on Srajan’s assurance that the past shortcomings of the Druid had been addressed. Honestly, his review left nothing out so a follow-up was not on top of my list of priorities. After all, I got the Essence to listen to music, not as an analytical tool for reviewing purposes. Zu’s recently announced change back to direct distribution in the US with a substantial price reduction on the Essence as a result (from $5000 to $3495/pair) raised my sense of urgency." "At their launch price, the Essence and its combination of qualities was a great value already. At this new price, the speaker simply has no match. Imagine superb tone and density, imaging to die for, bass extension down into the 30s, finely resolved treble detail thanks to the new ribbon tweeter, a never aggressive upper midrange and lower treble and the ability to sing with amplifiers as varied as Srajan’s 2wpc Yamamoto SET or my 360wpc class-D Genesis GR360." "One final comment - the Essence must be the least finicky speakers to position I have ever owned. As the manual confirms, put them down where they look good and they will sound great! Of course fine tuning and a little effort brings extra rewards but unlike many other speakers to have passed through my house, these will sound good almost anywhere. That is a very real—but sadly quite rare—feature." "That’s as much of a follow-up I want to pen to avoid hyperbolics. These speakers need to be heard, not talked about. The original Druid won our Lunar Eclipse award. The Essence is better in every way and cheaper than the Druid was when last available. I wonder what that makes the Essence - a super nova cosmic explosion*? Anyway, there simply is no bigger bang for your buck out there." ____________________________________________
"* 6moons has reviewed a lot of Zu speakers and I, Stephæn, Frederic and former contributor Les Turoczi each own a pair. Given our extensive coverage and general perception, I deemed it counter-productive to issue another award to this brand even though this latest model is arguably the one to deserve it most. - Publisher "
|
|
By Jeff Dorgay "The Zu’s just kept revealing tasty little nuances sprinkled throughout the record and soon had me busting the shrinkwrap on that big pile of LP’s that have been sitting next to my equipment rack for a few weeks now." "The major strength of the Zu Essence, though, is its ability to project a larger-than-life stereo image with considerable width, depth and height. Much like a good pair of electrostats this makes for a very seductive presentation. These are speakers that make you want to stay up late and listen to records." "Another aspect of the Zu’s that you will find intriguing is the overall coherence of the speaker. Because the ribbon tweeter takes over gently at about 10 khz, you are listening to the full range driver most of the time." "The Zu Essence speakers will transport you to an extremely enjoyable place that few speakers can. I’d say the name is very appropriate." Get the whole skinny at www.tonepublications.com/magazine/toneaudio-magazine-issue-22
|
|
Review by Srajan Ebaen
"If you ask what makes live sound obvious from behind a barely cracked-open window where soundstaging, timbre, separation and even frequency response are skewed like that hilarious exercise circle, you'll probably find that it's timing, dynamics and tone density which automate our recognition of real sound. If so, those particular aspects of the playback performance are senior in import to the rest that fill audiophile check lists ad infinitum. This gets us to an inevitable while sobering conclusion: the Zu Essence gets squarely right what many far more expensive speakers fail to even consider." Check out the full review http://6moons.com/audioreviews/zu16/essence.html
|
|
Review by Mike Smith "Knowledge is a polite word for dead but not buried imagination." - e. e. cummings
"In some ways, this review closes a circle. My planet started orbiting the moons around my discovery of Zu. I was on the hunt for an efficient speaker based around a substantial and coherent midrange. I stumbled across the Druids in April of 2005 and over the interceding 3.5 years, have ascended the line. In that time I have owned the Druids, Definition 1.5s, Definition Pros and now the Definition 2s. My acquisition of the Definition 2 pair with its November 21, 2007 delivery makes this a birthday of sorts." Check out the full review http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/zu15/definition2.html
|
|
Review by Chris Groppi "If you don’t crave that bottom octave, I can’t think of a better way to spend $3400 on a full range loudspeaker. Your money buys you a spectacularly well-finished loudspeaker made entirely in the USA, with custom, in-house manufactured drivers. The realism of the musical event these speakers can deliver is unmatched by anything I have ever heard, and that can be directly connected to the very high sensitivity and dynamic range of the Druids." Check out the full review at www.hometheaterhifi.com
|
|
As reviewed by John Zurek. Presence didn't fair to well here—it all works out, we appreciate the effort. "As soon as you get a look at the Presence up close it's obvious that some intense engineering and design went into this product. Not a flaw to be found, everything, and I mean everything about this speaker has a high-end look and feel. Just the mill work on the aluminum parts is enough to make you drool. I do remember the manual saying the Presence was easy to set up. For me this was not the case. I struggled with set up, and tried several different tube and solid state amps. The problem was that the higher end of the mid-range spectrum was glaring and harsh. A long time and many positions, amps, and cables came and went before I could find a suitable listening configuration. Please note that this is not the first time this has happened in my room. Another speaker from a well-known manufacturer that several writers in PFO and other publications gushed over had the same problem in the almost-square room." Check out the full review http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue40/zu_presence.htm
|
|
Reviewer's Choice! by Wes Marshall
"In terms of sheer oomph, there was little to choose between them. The JLA has only a 12" woofer (for a cone area of 113.1 square inches) but a whopping 3" excursion. Both subs were almost perfectly accurate, but there were differences. Think of the JLA as a Hummer H-1 Alpha and the Zu as a Dodge Viper. Each passed every torture test I could throw at it, but the Zu felt a bit more responsive to the trailing sounds of bass instruments in natural spaces, such as the bass drum in Orff’s Carmina burana [CD, Telarc 80056] The JLA felt a bit more authoritative in the explosions in Resistance: Fall of Man. In any case, the differences were subtle. Both could play loud enough to fill a club with block-rockin’ beats. In a few areas, the subs were very different. First, the JLA’s 2000W amp drew a whopping amount of current from the wall. It’s not alone in that -- most large-excursion cubes do the same. The Zu’s 120W amp was much more abstemious in its appetite for power. The drivers, too, are different. JLA, who made their name producing some of the best car subs made, already make their drive-units in house. Zu buys its drivers from Eminence, who make speakers for Marshall and Fender guitar amps, and Ampeg and Gallien-Krueger bass amps. The subs look very different: The JLA’s piano-black finish looks very rich, and its controls are on the front; the Zu looks retro, with controls on the back. Then there’s customer service. Every time I called Zu, I got someone on the phone who knew the answer to my question, who seemed to care that I was happy, and who clearly loved what he was doing. I didn’t have such luck at JLA. The Zu Method delighted me. It has more than just bombast. Its clarity, resolving power, and ability to "disappear" into the music make it a very rare creature: a subwoofer that honors music as much as movies. Very highly recommended." For the full review please see http://soundstageav.com/onhometheater/20071001.htm
As well as www.reviewerschoice.com/rchoice2007video.htm
|
|
|
|
"The Zu DL-103 in particular was capable of sounding bigger, and had a better, more impactful way with uptempo music. In that respect, the Zu was more stirring—more involving—than all but my Miyabi 47. Really."
"The Zu doesn't just slay giants: It rips their beating heart from their chests, shows it to them, finishes them off, then chases their souls and drags them down to hell. Recommended." —Art Dudley Read the full review at Stereophile...
|
"Where the Druid is all about minimalism in the strictest sense, the Presence adds the ability to take advantage of room correction in the bass department, thus allowing for a more seamless experience and room integration. Now, obviously, 8 dedicated 10" subs as in the Definition, will undoubtedly deliver more punch, presence and power than 4x 10" subs; alas, the Presence should deliver much of what the Definition Mk2 does at less cost and it should be more favorable to smaller rooms."
Read the full article at SonicFlare...
|
|
"The Presence is the best speaker yet from this Ogden speaker house. Best means, the most balanced and refined. It's also the physically most attractive. Its dimensions and form factor seem very classically proportioned from the front. Unlike some high performance speakers, the Presence is quite unfussy about partnering amplifiers. The $2,500 RWA Signature 30.2 is a particularly good match which brings a pair of widebander speakers with active stereo subs and main (integrated) amplifier in for 10 grand and change." —Srajan
Read the full Presence review on www.sixmoons.com, click here...
|
|
"American Beauty: Finally, an ultra high-end speaker that doesn't cost a fortune!
The Zu Audio Driud Mk. IV is the Audiophiliac's Speaker of the Year! As a former hi-fi salesman and now as a professional audio reviewer for twelve years I've heard thousands of speakers, but the Druid hit me hard. A total rock & roll animal, the skinny monolith/tower feels tremendously powerful, and my samples look extremely cool decked out in brilliant red metallic paint. I initially reviewed the speaker in the March, 2007 issue of Robb Report Home Entertainment. I'm still listening." —Steve Guttenberg Read the full article at Audiophiliac c|net...
|
|
"One of the Best Buys, Ever. I'm more than happy to awar the folks at Zu one of our Exceptional Value Awards for 2008 with their DL-103. Honestly, this could be one fo the best values in high-end audio. Whether you are new to the analog world, or stepping up form a lower priced cartridge, the Zu DL-103 should be able to keep you very happy for a long time! If you are looking for a cartridge around a thousand dollars and have a decent step-up device, consider the Dl-103 and spend the other six hundred at your local record store." —Jeff Dorgay, Tone Audio Download the full review, ToneAudio Issue 14...
|
|
"Zu Audio ist eine noch junge Firma - im Vergleich zu Denons DL-103 fast ein Küken - und wer die Amerikaner kennt, der wird sich vielleicht wundern, warum die denn jetzt auf einmal einen Tonabnehmer anbieten. Bekannt ist Zu doch vor allem wegen ihrer Lautsprecher (insbesondere der Druid, die auch in meinem Besitz ist)..." —Ralph Werner
Read the full review at FairAudio.de...
|
(Translation of German review in FairAudio.de by Ralph Werner) "Spatial improvements also relied on the Zu's significantly higher contrast ratio between instruments and voices whereby outlines detached more cleanly from the background. The mild opacity or cloudiness of the stock 103 was gone. This benefited isolated moments—they had more dimensionality and body—and the virtual stage at large upon which goings on were more intelligible and apparent. Last but not least: The Zu..."Read the full article at 6moons...
|
|
"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." —Danny Kaey
To see the complete review of the Positive Feedback Definition Mk2 review click here...
|
|
"If I try and sum it up, all Zu cables tested during the past few weeks clearly belong in the neutral, detailed and faithful category - no question or ambiguity there."
"When one considers that accessing the next level up of elusive qualities would require jumping very high into such brands as Stealth, JPS Lab or Crystal Cable, with a price tag thousands of dollars more than Zu's best, it helps putting the 'hardly' higher price of Mother and Varial into perspective - they are incredible bargains, period."—Frederic Beudot Read the full Multi Cable review on www.sixmoons.com, click here...
|
|
"Someone told me that the Zu rave would be filled with dorky audiophiles and just a handful of women. They were wrong." —Josh Ray, SonicFlar
"I seriously doubt that Zu would ever again consider hosting a rave even remotely associated with our industry. In fact, I'd call 'em bloody fools if they did." —Srajan Ebaen, 6moons |
|
Read more...
|
|
"The Verdict—The Zu Druids rule! This is one of the most enjoyable speakers I have had the chance to spend time with. No matter what kind of music I listened to, I was having a blast. You will either love or hate the look, but as long as you purchase the LIBTEC speaker cables, I think you will enjoy the sound. Thanks to the very reasonable price, you can make these a cornerstone of modestly priced systems, or upgrade your gear well into the $20-$30, range and still be very impressed. I think I might need a pair of these in Kawasaki Lime green!" —Jeff Dorgay
Download this way cool publication, and the complete review...!
|
|
Druid receives the super rare Lunar Eclipse award from Srajan Ebaen! This is the review that pushed Zu loudspeakers into the English speaking consciousness. Prior to Srajan buying a pair of Druid (our review policy at the time was "buy the things as listed on our site, say whatever the hell you want, and send 'em back if you don't like 'em." No kidding, that's pretty much how it went down when Srajan gave us a call way back. Anyway, you should check the review!
Read the pivotal review at 6moons.com...
|
|
