Zu Druid IV - the real deal?

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.

Macrojack, I hate to bust up your Zen

"Plainly, the two of us have different levels of acuity or, at the least, difference points of reference or taste. Neither of us is wrong and neither is an expert."

I disagree totally with your comment, because between the two of you only one is of any use to me as a speaker designer.

"What I'm getting at is the need for all of us to recognize that our values are perceived and our opinions. flawed."

Again DISAGREE.

Sounds are fleeting no matter how many times we replay them. The notion of an Absolute Sound is poppycock. How can the ephemeral be absolute?

Because the signal has been captured on a recording, frozen lifeless and Absolutely quantified my friend. For better or for worse....