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Zu Omens Vs Dali Vs Vandersteen Vs Sonus Faber


This post is FYI for those wondering about the quality of the Zu Omens (Don't worry, Be Happy and get them!):

At my personal recommendation, two friends here in Tucson bought Zu Omens, and one replaced her floor standing Dalis with the Omens and another replaced his Vandersteens with the Omens. He recommended them to two other friends here in Tucson who replaced their speakers with the Zu Omens. Once of the pairs replaced were Sonus Fabers.

I imagine that the Soul Superfly's are better of course.

BTW, I have Zu Druids. I am hesitant to replace them because I like them so much that I have painted them piano black and put granite bases on them. They bested (for my preferences of course for immediate rich sound) some Dynaudio, Dali, and Spendor floorstanders. However, I have not heard the Zu Omens and Druids in the same room. However, at another person's home the Omens sounded wonderful. Similar magical sound as the Druids with perhaps a little more bass and they are certainly less imposing in size (but not in quality) in the listening space. Hmmm, maybe I can get a pair of Omens and paint them piano black...
plangco
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,898 posts
 
I've read some unconfirmed frequency response measurements on some Zu speakers in blogs (not always the most reliable source for these things and can't remember which Zus exactly, Druids perhaps, but not the newer models) that were not favorable at all from a flatness perspective. The full range drivers used were indicated as the culprit.

I do not know if this is the case or not, but such info is out there, so it would be helpful if someone could address it.

Maybe even if so that frequency response issues do not practically matter to the owners, though I think what I've seen would matter to me if I heard it. The benefits of teh full range driver approach in terms of coherency, soundstage and imaging, plus the high efficiency and synergy with tube amps could far outweigh any other issues.

After all, no speaker is perfect, especially those in the less expensive Zu's price range typically anyway.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Treated paper drivers when done correctly can sound very natural and dynamic. I don`t own Zu speakers but one hugh advantage they have is high sensitivity and benign load characteristics. You are`nt forced to settle only for high power amps, but have the option to use high quality but low power amplifiers (SET,OTL,First Watt etc.) which can often sound better.
sebrof's avatar
sebrof
837 posts
 
03-11-11: Mapman
I've read some unconfirmed frequency response measurements on some Zu speakers in blogs (not always the most reliable source for these things and can't remember which Zus exactly, Druids perhaps, but not the newer models) that were not favorable at all from a flatness perspective. The full range drivers used were indicated as the culprit.<<

I did a little reaserch regarding this before I bought my Omens, and although not conclusive (it is the internet after all) I think this info may apply:
The Zu speakers in question were Druids, which are bottom porting. The floor gap/spacing is critical to get them to sound their best. The online mag that did the testing always hangs the speakers in mid air, I suppose to mitigate any boundry anomolies (floor, ceiling, walls).
But I didn't find anything to support this.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,898 posts
 
Sebrof,

That could be.

FWIW, I looked at the specs for the new Omens. Zu indicates bandwidth in their specs but nothing regarding flatness of response that I could see.

I would expect getting flat response would be a challenge with most conventional full range drivers.

Plus specs can be overrated. Its what you hear and like that really matters.

Some people may care though, so it is worth taking note of these things.

There seems to be little risk with the Zu's however. I think they offer an audition period during which the speakers can be returned if not liked, right?
naggots
115 posts
 
The stereophile frequency graph in question was for Druid mk2....... Using an different tweeter and FRD to the MK4 that won all the awards. Druid needs a 10mm gap at the base to load the cabinet. Standard testing calls for the speaker to be suspended in the test chamber.

Omen and Druid Mk4/08 share the same tweeter and FRD with a different phase Plug. The difference being that Griewe loading in Omen is achieved using a foam pyramid as with Superfly and Essence not a gap.

The Zu FRDs are sourced from Eminence.......The largest pro speaker manufacturer..... Most live music you hear use Marshall and Fender stacks filled with paper cone Eminence drivers. These speakers are specifically design to be abused...... Home audio speakers are not.
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