Soul Superfly is our single-minded response to the needs of single-ended triode (SET) tube amps. Our design target from the outset was focused on extracting every last bit of the mid-range tone of SETs without losing power and definition at the frequency extremes.
So, welcome to our 4th generation, 16 ohm, high-output 10" [26cm] paper coned full-range driver. We've used this driver, coupled with the same tweeter as used in Definition Mk2, mounted in a tapered cabinet, with Zu silver alloy ZuB3 cabling, Mundorf Silver/Oil capacitors, Cardas pure copper binding post, and the Zu Superfly post lay-up cabinet adhesive infusion process. The end result is a modestly-sized loudspeaker that'll give any SET amp the dynamics of a Fender stack. The bottom line: Soul Superfly is a true, state-of-the-art, high-end, high resolution speaker that'll work in any room and is small enough to disappear amongst the furnishings of anyone bigger than a Hobbit.
Soul Superfly, like all Zu products, is built around the critical human voice (A1, 55Hz, through A6 and all the possible harmonics, to approximately 10kHz). Serving this critical region of tone is Zu's 4th generation high-output 10" [26cm] paper coned full-range driver. And despite what many audiophiles might think about this loudspeaker based on price, Soul Superfly is a true, state-of-the-art high-end high resolution speaker that works in any room.
"Now it's becoming clearer what you audio wizards at Zu are up to.... As my Event RCA breaks in and matches qualities with the Event speaker interconnects and the inner Event wiring in the Soul Superfly,....my brain relaxes into the music, the gestalt of the music is just THERE and the Tonal quality of the music instruments, voices, and even electronica, is JUST RIGHT. WHAT did you guys have to surrender at the CROSSROADS to make blues sound so Blue??? cheers, —drblue
Soul Superfly Quick Specs
38" tall [96.5cm]
Weight: 53 pounds [24kg]
Bandwidth: 30—25kHz
Efficiency: 101dB 1W/1m
Impedance: 16 ohm
Power Amp Range: 2—200 watt
Third generation Zu-Griewe electroacoustics loading
Zu-Griewe driver / cabinet / room loading technology allows this high efficiency platform to deliver a truly articulate and deep bass performance—an attribute rarely achieved in a passive, high efficiency loudspeaker system of this size, and never before at this price level. (Zu-Griewe is an acoustics technology and model originally developed for high performance competition two and four cycle engine exhaust systems for improving power output through pulse and pressure management, with increased bandwidth, while reducing noise and sound pressure levels over convention. More on the Zu-Griewe tech can be found in the FAQ section.)
New Zu260FRD/G4 HO Full-Range 10" Driver
This new, specific to the Soul Superfly, driver has a lighter cone, bigger and stronger magnet (60 ounce), improved flux density in and around the gap, and better finish. The center "phase" plug is a carry-over from the research and testing we did with Essence, and gives Soul Superfly a more linear management of high frequencies and broader dispersion from the directly-coupled-to-voicecoil inner cone. And as dynamic contrast—to-the-max shove and pop—are of primary importance with Soul Superfly, we mated the new HO driver with the same super tweeter assembly used in Definition Mk.III, reworking the high-pass filter a bit to blend super smoothly with the new 10" [26cm] driver and cabinet.
For music lovers of every era—techno, '70s soul, you choose...
Soul Superfly is complete in form and quality of sound. Order your pair today, with full no-questions-asked 60 day return privileges. Pull the stuff you really listen to from the depths of your CD, LP and digital music collection, including Sly & The Family Stone / There's A Riot Goin' On, and let the Soul Superfly work its magic. Matched well with a suitable amp' the right amp, this speaker will amaze, delight and always leave you satisfied. If you want your music alive with all the passion the artist and engineers put into it, a pair of Soul Superfly is the only way to go.
Amps, Engineering and Design
We love tech' and engineering, and we love music and sound and sensation. Soul Superfly, like all Zu speakers, is designed by ear first and foremost, using engineering and measures to help isolate and realize solutions for audible improvements. Once we get any loudspeaker sounding sweet we standardize it, including the test and measures procedures and systems used to ensure the highest possible matching and quality. Zu does not engineer around someone else's ideals, implementation of models or engineering conventions.
So what amps did we use in the development of Soul? Here's a short list of amps we think are a good to great match-up:
Allnic A-6000*
Allnic T-1500
Art Audio PX-25*
Audion Black Night 845
Audion 300B 25th Anniversary
Audion Golden Dream
Bryston LP2
Denon PMA2000R Mk4
Dynaco ST-70*
Leben CS-300
Leben CS-600*
McIntoch MA6600
Melody I-2A3
Melody M-300B
Panasonic XR-25
Peachtree Nova
Classic Quad
Yamamoto A-08S*
*Best on 16 ohm tap, or special order with 16 ohm output transformer.
Best Value: Dynaco Stereo 70, no mods, with original Mullard tubes. Yeah, it's awesome, use the 16 Ohm tap and get ready to rock!
Tips On Getting Great Sound From Soul Superply
Take the time to read the Soul Superfly ownwer's manual, there's a lot of good stuff in it to help you realize a fantastic sounding space. Guidebook is included with each pair of Superfly. It's also available for download.
Soul Superfly loudspeakers now get a 320 hours of factory burn-in, they will sound good right out of the box but will not give you their best for several weeks, depending on how much play they get and what kind of music they see. If at first you find them restrained and a bit conservative, relax, they will come around.
Soul Superfly loudspeakers are very amp sensitive and revealing of upstream gear. They are also very sensitive to the cold. If you have received, moved or stored Soul Superfly in cold temperatures they will take a week or so to again sound their best.
Make sure you have 1/4" [6mm] or greater gap between the bottom of the loudspeakers and the floor. The finger ports are part of the Zu-Griewe box loading technology. They are not ports as used in a bass-reflex design (Helmholtz resonators in all their forms) but the finger ports do need to see the acoustic space of the room. Blocking them turns the Soul Superfly into an interesting but "sealed" design.
In addition the installed ball end footers (for use with hard surface flooring) Soul Superfly also ship with spikes to be used to punch through and anchor the speaker through carpets and rugs...
