Zu for Pass Labs?

Sean Casey uses Pass Labs gear at audio shows all the time it will work just fine.

nice!

Actually I think is the biggest bargain in speakers I’ve ever come thru.

Sound was so full, live, but at the same time beautiful, and present, no harsh.. really love that Omens. Maybe upgrade to Union 6 Supreme or Omen Def Supreme? Well I was really pleased with Omens.

I'm sure it would if that's what is used at the shows. I prefer tubes with my Omen Defs in comparison to the Modwright ss amp I use in the summer.

thanks!

BTW, what are the differences between my old Omen MKI and the DWII ? it worth the upgrade? Don't need actually the upgraded models, they sounded spectacular to me. Better than Heresy and Forte.

I had a First Watt F7 and a Pass Labs XA 25 and ran Heresy, Forte IV, Zu omen DW, Zu Soul 6, and other speakers.  It was awesome.  I did not lack for power on the F7 or XA25 but the XA25 was faster, more quiet and a ton more power. 

Not sure if you have pass labs and are looking for speakers or the reverse but I highly recommend the XA25

I use Zu speakers in both my systems ...

-  Dirty Weekend MK2 with a Prima Luna Prologue 5 (tubes)

-  Omen Bookshelfs with a Rogue Audio Sphinx 3 (tube hybrid) 

I have been through my fair share of speakers over the years and the sense of immediacy that the Zu speakers bring is what I like most about them.

Rich 

My INT25 makes any box sound great!

thanks again! May I know what differences are between Omen MKI and DW II ?

Found this is an old (er) on-line review ...

The Omen Dirty Weekend (Omen DW) is effectively a reduced-cost Omen Mk II. Both are two-way floorstanding speakers of modest dimensions (36” tall with a 12” by 12” footprint, 54 pounds). They present a 12-ohm load with efficiency claimed as 97 dB and a bandwidth of 35 Hz – 22k Hz. The Omen DW uses the same drivers as the Omen Mk II, which are Zu’s zu260frd/nd 260 mm nanotech/paper composite full-range driver and the Zu/ASD:1001 tweeter assembly. Both use the Zu-Griewe box/acoustic loading technology. Zu uses more advanced and expensive drivers higher up its product line. The cost reductions achieved for Omen DW relative to the Omen Mk II come from parts substitutions in internal wiring, crossover capacitors, and speaker terminals (the Omen DW does not include the Zu-B3 input connector). Like all of Zu’s speakers, the Omen DWs have a slightly pro audio look, which appeals to me visually but is a bit plain and utilitarian. The speakers are well made where it counts but they are not fancy-looking speakers-as-furniture..

Thanks guys, here in Spain I can get these ones:

Dirty Weekend II for 1.500€ brand new (hickory)

Omen MK II for 2.500€ brand new (Hickory)

Omen MK I for 1.100€ in kind of ruby. 

What would be best choice? is a real improvement, DW from Omen, and Omen II for the other two? I just know I loved my Omen MKI, and dunno if the other two has different sound.

@superelmar 

What are the really expensive speakers you said you have listened to? 

expensive at least to me, for example:  Audio Physic Avantera III, ATC SCM50 ASLT…

@superelmar Zu for Pass Labs: YES would work and sound very good. Omen MK II has a Similar sound with improved bass, mids, and an improved high end.

@lak  great! So its a good move spending like 1.400€ or 1.000€ more regarding DWII and MKI, right? I found this, but actually dunno what meant in sound, thanks for that:

Correct, but that's only my opinion.  

Hi -

You should stick with the MK II versions, be it the Omen or the DW.  The MK II represents a sufficient enough upgrade from the MK I to justify the extra cost.

As for whether to go with the DW or the Omen floor standers.  I have DW MKII floor standers and Omen MK II stand mounters, so it's similar comparison, but not the same.

I am testing my memory here, but I thought that the major build differences between the DW & the Omens were that the Omens have better inside wiring and the drivers are matched.  That is what brought Zu Audio to introduce the DW's in the first place, they had all these spare parts that they could make a speaker out of.  They weren't expecting the DW's to become so popular and the DW's wound up becoming a product line on their own.  

Is that worth a 1000 Euros ... don't know what your wallet looks like.  Does your hearing make distinctions at the level that it could detect those differences and would those differences matter anyway?  

3 years ago, I paid USD 1200 for the DWs in walnut & earlier this year, I paid USD 2000 for the Omen bookshelfs in ruby.  Both finishes were extra cost, the ruby more so.  I use the same speaker cables with both set-ups (QED silver anniversary); same turntables (Technics 1210); similar level cartridges; Prima Luna amp (all tubes) with the DW's; Rogue Audio Sphinx (tube hybrid) with the Omens.  Similar level, though not the same.  

Both the DW's and Omens sound very similar with both vinyl & CDs.  I don't know if I could tell the sound differences between the two in a blind test.  From a build perspective, the Omens seem to be of a higher quality.  Admittedly, I am getting stuck on the 1K price difference.  

As you can tell, I am leaning towards the the DW's, though I could not blame you if you went with the Omens MKII, just not to have any lingering doubts about your purchase.  Finally, are there any other upgrades or changes that the 1000 Euros could go towards ... perhaps a new cartridge?  

Rich 

@rar1  all clear now,

I’m going for DW and put those 1.000€ in a good soundsmith cartridge.

Thank U all!

@superelmar 

It looks like the Rockport Atria is in the same price range of the Audio Physic and ATC speakers. Have you auditioned the Atria or the Avior ii ?

   Contact Reno Hi Fi and ask for recommendations. I purchased used Omens and run on a budget with Had Inspire or Akitika, and enjoy them. The gentleman that sold me the Omens  regrets letting them go. However he has in his rotation Devore 0/96’s and a pair of Zu Druids with 2 sets of drivers that were Mr. Dans personal gear at Modwright. They pair well with Pass, Modwright and 300b tubes. I’ve not tried the new generation Omens, but the early ones spiked, work great on my shag carpet. A clean pair of DW Omens are always a good value and worth holding on to. Happy Listening, Mike B.