Sound of Zu Soul Superfly vs Zu Druid Speakers

I will answer my own question, although in a limited way, with one viewpoint in the words of someone who was selling his Zu Druids, to paraphrase, he feels the Zu Soul Superfly, although still nicely warm in the midrange, was slightly less so than the Zu Druids, and a little more open in the treble region. He told me, however, that he had been using an amp that I know is a little bit forward, so it could have been that the Zu Druids slightly more forward mid and slightly more laid back highs, had good synergy with that slighlty bright amp.

Either way, he is now trying to break in the new Zu Soul Superfly speakers (hoping the highs subside just a little more upon breakin) to fit well into his current system and he feels that he has almost accomplished that - enough so to sell his Zu Druid speakers anyway.

His remarks seem to be very similar to some I read in regard to the Zu Essence speakers. Suffice to say, if this reviewer is correct, if you want a little more sparkle on top than you are getting with the Zu Druid speakers and do not mind just a little less warmth in the mids to get that (and tighter bass and slightly less edgyness I have heard), the Zu Soul Superfly may be a wonderful speaker for you.

In regard to apparently well intended post of another Audiogon member reffering me to another review of the Zu Soul (as if it provided proof that my request for more information was unecessary) - sadly, the review referenced (at that time anyway), had already been noticed by me and was one of the very few limited reviews available at that time by actual owners that I was referencing when I asked for more input other than the few limited reviews available.

However, my desire for more information was helped greatly by the reviewer who was hesitantly selling his Zu Druids (after over a month of A B comparing) and took the time to email me. I suspect, as expected, that the new Zu Soul sound is very similar to the Zu Druid sound albeit with changes that will either enhance or slightly detract from the overall net sound of ones system, depending on the tonal nature already balanced into it - and ones personal preferences of course.

While not hearing the souls I have updated my Druids with Soul drivers and hi pass, also adding griewe loading and internal damping. The only difference is a slight volume decrease compared to soul now.

My Druids were mk4/08 and there is a difference.

Druids were warmer before.......... now they have better bass and attack. The Mundorf hi pass provides clean detailed treble but is still smooth which is nicer than the old Kimber based hi pass.

Zu has a BIG SALE this Thanksgiving weekend, by the way.

I did forget to mention the increase in bass performance with the Zu Souls. I appears my comments and the most recent post sum up in simple straight forward language the basic changes noted with the Zu Soul Superfly vs the Zu Druids.

Hi,
I have Druids that have been updated with the newer drivers offered a few years back. At the time, I installed the Mundorf caps and Duelund resistors.
You mention that you added "Griewe loading and internal damping". Can you tell me how you accomplished the Griewe loading?

Sean suggested to add a foam wedge with a 3/8" gap all around the base of the Druid. I stuck the wedge to the mesh that covers the hole in the base. The wedge should be tapered on all sides to a point in the middle of the speaker level with the center of the tweeter. Zu use a closed cell foam but I chose an open cell melamine foam so not to affect the cabinet volume. He also said to glue a 1" dowel between the FRD and tweeter and the back of the speaker box. The internal damping I used is the same as Zu use on the Superfly, it's a waterbased damping paint, I applied 2 coats, about 1/8" thick. Simple tweaks but a bit ddly, especially cutting the foam.

As I used the new HO FRD from the Superflys I had to add a 10 ohm Duelund resistor insted of the 12ohm of the Druid.

Hope this helps