Zu Druid questions

You are welcome Macrojack, and my thanks to you as well for all your reviews and discussions of the Zu speakers. I might not have been as willing to consider them without pioneers like you doing the trailblazing, I hope you keep it up. But I'm from the Show-Me state, and had to experience it myself to really know how they would suit my needs. As I do every piece of audio equipment I ever comment on. Wish more folks would just do that simple thing, and not have to argue about why they cannot work. Their loss.

I can honestly say that in the short time I have had the Druids, they have helped me get mastering contracts that I otherwise would not have. The ability to hear and adjust the midrange is just about the most important factor for creating the tone of the final CDs, and the Druids are the best at this I've ever found. No hyped treble that might leave me guessing at the top end. And the clean, fast bass response is the finishing touch, offers such a realistic presentation that allows me to shape sounds that will translate well on a wide range of playback systems.

I've heard what the competition on my latest project were producing from their 'multi-crossover self-powered super detailed reference monitors', usually with a !hole! where a midrange driver should be. Some of those samples were pretty painful to my ears. And I am also guilty of doing similar things in the past.

I am so done with that type of audio reproduction. The Zu's just present the honest emotion and allow me to keep that feeling plus the real dynamics of the music. Whether just listening or while polishing the mixes to a smooth, vintage, analog sound. I should probably shut up about that, will lose my advantage if the other guys catch on. ;)

Steve

Squeegybug, what differences did you hear between your two Zu speaker cables? I'm considering both.

Jack, the short version is: We preferred the Libtec.

Of course, it will depend on the type of sound the listener wants. For us, we compared them directly and pretty easily picked our favorite. That was using the Druid Mk4's and Bel Canto only, in our rooms. Obviously if using different equipment and rooms and ears, other cables might work differently. Or not.

I had the Libtec first, used for a while in the HT then moved them to the studio. I then bought Wax and put in the HT room. We could immediately tell the difference, but wanted to get some run in time and make sure before final decisions.

After several weeks of using both, I ran a single cable of each type to two Druids set side by side in the recording studio. This was mono only, which I have found usually helps focus on the tonal differences in equalizers, which is what cables really are anyway. Results might vary a bit in overall stereo image, etc. with a pair of speakers, but I think not enough to outweigh the frequency response of the singles in my experience.

Now both cables are fairly long -- Libtec is 12 ft, Wax is 15 ft. This might affect the responses, but actually should provide even more sensitivity to variations. Playback was an ordinary HHB studio CD player/recorder going through Lavry Blue for DA then to Presonus Central Station passive switcher/attenuator. Interconnects are decent grade Straightwire 75 ohm S/PDIF coax and superb Belden 89207 Teflon plenum balanced cable that I made myself. I've used that chain plenty, it is reliable and has transparent sound quality.

So, they are both nice speaker wires. My wife/studio partner/singing partner and I took turns switching and listening blind to each, up close and from various distances. Turns out that listening blind didn't last for long, the differences were obvious.

We played a variety of excellent productions that I almost always use for comparisons -- The great Bob Ludwig's *master*piece of Dire Strait's 'On Every Street'; Emmylou & Lanois' collaboration on 'Stumble Into Grace'; Van Morrison's 'Back on Top'; and The Wailin' Jennys first album '40 Days'. Plus some material that I've recorded and a current mastering project for someone else.

Lynnie and I occasionally have some contradictory opinions on audio choices, sometimes completely 180 degrees. Some of it is gender related, there is no question that females hear differently than males. And I take advantage of her musical training and excellent hearing to balance my own opinions.

Well, this shootout was unanimous. It was immediately obvious when switching that the Libtec just presents more emotion. And that is the bottom line for us.

Wax is a great cable, beating out the other options I still have left around here (Kubala-Sosna and Tara Prism). It is a 'dry' sound compared to the Libtec and those others. Wax also reveals the most powerful dynamics I've ever heard, the drum hits on those reference recordings were really special. I think the overall tone is a bit forward, seems to have almost a reverse smiley curve around 1 kHz. This can really punch those drums to the front.

So the sound of Wax with the Druids is very detailed in the midrange, can get almost a bit 'honky' if the recording has some of that already. But not in a bad way. It's a pretty unique sounding cable in my experience, and I liked much of its character, particularly with vocals. You know how it is trying to describe sound, especially cable effects. I'll just say it was a strong, open, dry sound, with no hyped bass or treble and a slightly forward midrange. Can make vocals and drums sound larger than life, brings out the wood in acoustic instruments. I did not think it was a completely accurate presentation of the raw recordings I have done of us singing and playing, but it was a fun variation.

Libtec is pretty much the opposite. A bit lush, but not overdone. Definitely not hyped. Clear and beautiful, with the most remarkable intensity in the midrange. This cable brings out texture and resonance and harmonics, feels like I am hearing the live sources. It was hard to do A-B comparisons with the Libtec -- when switching to it, we didn't want to switch back. We just got captured by the emotional energy in the music and wanted to keep listening. I wish Zu could bundle these with every Druid sold, they are that wonderful in bringing out the full response of the already outstanding Druid speaker.

Hope that helps. Just our opinions of course, but that is all we have to work with every day.
And remember, we are unique, just like everyone else :)

Steve

I had all zu cables at this point, on the definition the Libtec was the most rounded and smooth sounding.. The wax was nothing too special honestly.. The Ibis for much more money can be a bit sharper, but over time they might be the best, but again at way more money.

Thanks so much for your cable opinions. They are very helpful. BTW, I just picked up a pair of Cornwall II's. Haven't heard them in years, but they are of my all time favorites. I can't wait to see how they match up with the Zu's.