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Some impression on Zu Omen Definition

I just pick up a pair of Zu Omen Definition, and I have mixed feelings. It sound very different from my B&W.

First of all, the height of the sound. For my B&W, the sound is a bit higher than my ear level. But for the Zu, it is the same or a bit lower than my ear level. This sounds a bit weird. Because usually the singer will be on a stage, so, it is more natural to expect the sound is higher from my ear level.

Secondly is the depth. For my B&W, the singer is behind the speaker plane. For the Zu, the singer is very forward. It almost feel it is in front of the speaker plane. I don't know which way is better. Due to this difference, for the 30 mins or so .. I feel very weird listening to Zu.

Why would 2 speakers have so much different in presentation? The zu is much taller than the B&W, so, I expect it will project a bigger soundstage. And usually the sound stage is behind the speaker. But with the height and forward sounding, I can't say produce a big sound stage. Or can I say it produce a sound stage in front of the speaker plane, and I need to sit back further?
gte357s
gte357s OP
281 posts
 
And I did some more A/B testing. I think the Zu is more musical, and has more detail. It is brighter, but not bright or harsh of any sort. It is still neutral. I think it depends on the type of music. For instruments like acoustic guitar, saxophone, piano, the Zu sound better. For vocal, I think it is a tide and depends on individual. I like the Zu a bit more as there is more detail. But the B&W is darker and more relax. For cello and violin, I like B&W better as it deeps down to the lower frequency range more. Cello sounds more solid and sweet.

I start to like the Zu, it's just I hope to get a bigger sound stage out of it. But as mentioned, I need to experiment with a different amp. I can't do much in terms of the room though.
gopher
499 posts
 
If you really only had 30 minutes on them when you bought them, they will be changing a lot in the MONTHS to come. If I had to name a qualm with Zu speakers (FRDs really) its the length of burn in.

Some guys seem to enjoy it, but I just want everything sounding awesome and ready to roll day 1. I already paid for it, I don't like working for it :)
gte357s OP
281 posts
 
I bought it used. The previous owner said he has about 100 hrs on it. He said the suggested burn in period is 200 hrs. Let's see. But I am not a big believer in burn in. I can't imagine the sound change linearly with time. I think for the first 50 or so hours, maybe there will be some changes in sound, and eventually, it will settle down. Like the cone now becomes more flexible compared to new. but I am not sure if it really requires 200 hrs. Maybe ... but even there is, probably the improvement will be hard to notice.

And I am with you. I buy something, and I want it to work in day one, or shortly after.
rja's avatar
rja
2,380 posts
 
That speaker surround is very stiff so 200 hours may not be an exaggeration.
morganc
255 posts
 
Well, just because you believe in something or not does not change the fact that it will take a minimum of 200 hours for break-in, and mine kept improving for maybe 300-400 hours. If you fall out of a tree it doesn't really matter if you believe in gravity, you are going down!

I was never a believer in break in either till I heard it myself with my Omen Defs. They went from so so to decent to great to crap all over the course of a week. I was questioning my decision to buy them on more than one occasion, then they settled down and now they sound great.

As for amps, you cannot go wrong with a Pass XA30.5 or F3, or pretty much any quality set amp. But if you have any weakness, your system will suffer.

And if you cannot get the sound you want, then your maybe too small.....in which case the Superfly's would be a much better choice as they are much smaller.
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