Zu Druid IV - the real deal?

Macrojack you obviously have't heard of Bill. Don't pass judgement on his fund of knowledge regarding speakers. His primary work is repairing every type of speaker there is and very little manufacturing he can modify the sound of virtually any speaker extant but he has chosen to stop doing that because he is an obssesive perfectionist of the highest order and he is now getting into his 60s. He has a national reputation for extremely fine exacting work.He owns many of the finest speakers ever made. He was profiled in 6 moons. I'm sorry you are simply unaware of of people who are truly masters, he has only been doing this for just short of 50 years his father owned a repair shop where helped out. I guess you can't take my word for it but he knows of what he speaks. I think your attack on him is a shameful act of complete ignorance. You really think you could hold a candle in this regard with Bill. No he is not a Zu person but if you brought them in broken he would be able to diagnose the issue very quickly and most likely fix it but he would be extremely careful being the unreal prefectionist he is. The simple fact that he is neither a Zu enthusiast (nor detractor) doesn't disqualify him or anyone and everyone else. From knowing speakers in a way very few of us could ever aspire to.
On a completely different topic I forgot to add that burning in a speaker with tube amps that you are using precious older tubes shortens their life so you might want to take out your finest tubes before burning them for 24 hours a day for 2 weeks.

213Cobra or anyone...could you please clarify this statement

"A key characteristic that drives the unusual tonal excellents and coherence to the Zu sound is absence of crossovers. You don't have to accept the tonally disruptive effects of crossovers, and the dynamic constriction they inevitably cause. Being free of crossovers can take some getting used to, as can the phase linearity of the full-range driver design, but the behavior of these design attributes is startlingly reinforcing of your illusion of musical reality from recorded performances. The jump factor of very high efficiency combined with a strong-motor driver that is as dynamically engaging as real instruments only adds to the value of Zu's speakers in an overhyped market."

This is why I am confused. I don't understand why I would have to get use to the sound of a speaker. My effort was to build a system that sounds like real instruments in the now, not after some time getting use to them.

If my niece was to play piano in the same room with the speakers, wouldn't they both sound the same?

Dave if your niece were playing her piano next to a $250k rig, you'd hear the difference in a jiff. Now if she were playing an electric piano or an electric guitar, that would be a different story. But acoustic? We're not even close. Great stereo cannot approach live acoustic sound, but it can sure make it fun, to say the least.

Dave,

The reason you might have to "get used to" the sound of a speaker is that the absence of a crossover in an otherwise tonally accurate speaker yields a sound quite unlike what you've heard from conventional speakers. The hifi loudspeaker industry has made most people accustomed to phase incoherence, inconsistent transient behavior and choked dynamics as you approach crossover points. Not to mention serious cabinet contribution to sound character for better or worse. When you really hear a voice or an instrument juxtaposed with most speakers, even good ones, you realize how dissimilar the two sound.

In my case, this initial period of disorientation lasted about 3 minutes and then I realized what was going on. I reconnected a pair of my prior speakers and realized there was no going back. Then you begin to notice the extraordinary jump factor and dynamic shadings these speakers are able to transduce in sharp relief. The essential unity of sound you get from a Zu speaker makes its own case, but for many people it will be the first time they've heard such a thing.

Phil

Warren...

I understand what you are saying, bad example...I will try and be more direct

As the poster said...

"Being free of crossovers can take some getting used to, as can the phase linearity of the full-range driver design, but the behavior of these design attributes is startlingly reinforcing of your illusion of musical reality from recorded performances"

If they give the illusion of musical reality (which I take to be a audible sonic copy of the recorded material), why would I have to get use to them (refering to the sound, being crossover less and full range design?)

Would a recording of a trumpet not sound like a recorded trumpet right away, even if I was not use to the sound of the speaker?

The quote sounds like a contradiction to me, at first he states you have to get use to the sound, then states, in the same sentence, that they give the illusion of musical reality. I don't understand why there is a disclaimer before offering praise for the sound.

So really my question is...what would I have to get use to about this speaker?