Zu Druid IV - the real deal?


i just got done setting up my brand new pair of Zu Druid IVs. they just arrived this afternoon. i am speechless. my girlfriend is too, and quite frankly she could not give a damn about what kind of speakers i have. i bought these speakers without having heard them before. i was just curious.

right out of the box they are remarkable, and i can only expect that they are going to get better. music simply floats out of them effortlessly. wow. i can't even describe it.

now get this; i have them hooked up to a $799 Denon 2803 a/v receiver. $25 Audio Quest interconnects and cheap speaker cable. this is my second system, which i use mainly for watching TV. in the other room i have what would be considered an "audiophile" grade system. i can only imagine what these Druids are going to sound like if i give them a spin in there.

oh yeah; i have a REL storm sub woofer filling in the low end.
skuras
Warren you are right you don't need me at all but there is a consensus re the speakers that keeps the group cohesive and reassuring to each other. Why interfere?
All Zu issues aside, I think there is a definite break in period for many elements in audio. In the case of amps, caps do dissapate their charge and so does everything else that has them. With out your crossover you miss one part but the flexing of a speakers cones and surrounds does change them IMHO.
So all the low frequencys are driven into the tweeter Um! I didn't think--- in fact a premier speaker builder and master repair person Mr. Bill Legall of Millerspkr, has told me in person that he was annoyed with himself mixing up his external crossover and was certain that the emits on his IRS Vs would have suffered (its not a Zu but they are pretty good speakers)that it is simply not a good idea for the poor tweeter, could you tell me how those frequencies are prevented from getting there? There is no obvious way that these frequencies aren't seen by the tweeter, of course they can't reproduce them but they may be trying, just not a tweeters role in life I guess. BTW the opposite is ok you can subject a woofer to high frequencies but it does no harm apparently Just Curious-
hey - let's talk about me for a while!

i've only got about $1500 at the moment to drop on a tube amp. remember, this is my second system we're talking about here, and i simply don't want to drop a ton of $ into it right now.

front runners are the ASL "orchid" - a 2A3 integrated amp (i would just use the pre-ins, and utilize this as a power amp) or the cary / AES super amp (KT88's and about 25 watts). i am happy to listen to any options you may suggest.

actually, there is one other amp i have always liked - the ARC VS55. KT88's again, and about 55 watts of power.

anyone got an opinion? i'll bet you do...
So ZU is the new kip on the bloack with massive marketing push/$'s and is a better speaker than the Danes who have been researching to achieve the Excel line, for over 40+ yrs.
Go for it.
I'm thinking Tyler has 2-3 yrs to go before his speakers are known for the value they are.
Go for it dude.
Audiofeel,

"but the "phemonenom" is well documented by both manufacturers and listeners."

I'm just a noob at this can you show me where a serious audio company has documentation on "breakin", especially as a linear function of usage?

Things change over time but to say that manufacturers design their equipment based on predictable changes is novel but I believe it to false concept. A link would be awesome and please can we excuse small tube amp companies, cable companies and japanese audiophile companies. Thank You.

"Frequency accuray is sensational on Definitions, and very good on Druids. Phase coherence is about as good as you have experienced and far better than most speakers. Top-top-bottom consistency of transient behavior is uniform."

Cobra213, could you share your measurements. I am anxious to see real measurements of the Zu speakers. Because my measurements of the speaker conflict with your comments. And I think maybe my total lack of experience might have had something to do with it?

"Being free of crossovers can take some getting used to, as can the phase linearity of the full-range driver design"

Also I'm dying to see the acoustic phase of this speaker properly measured, it promises to be something to see. Don't you agree?

Unsound? I'm having some difficulty with your premise.

"Most people will not put in the time to learn Burn in.. It takes a lot of patience, NOT LISTENING... You do not sit and listen for 15 hours straight and decide to see if something happens. But this much I can Guarantee, TUBES, Capacitors, And even Drivers will change sound character after being under continuous load for a good solid week to 2 weeks straight."

No actually that is not how it works, it takes about 4-5 duty cycles heating and cooling, that's like 4-5 days 4-8 hours. Are you an engineer and does any of the technicians who made your equipment have a degree in anything? I'm just curious where you got your information that you're so confident to guarantee results from? Just want to know, I'm a noob you know.

Skuras,

That's what speaker soundlike when it has a big driver, my advice would be to go surround, buy three more Druids and quality prepro and have it all in one system.
Newbee has expressed my opinion better than I could. Thanks.

Mechans - That seems to me to be a very good question that you should put to the Zu boys. I would answer it here and now if I could but it never occured to me to ask so.........

Bartokfan - If you would take more care with spelling and punctuation, I would have a better idea of what you are saying. At times you are very clear and at other times I find your writings unintelligible. Please take your time and be more careful.