Zu Soul Superfly

I have been following this thread with interest. I was already to buy some Reynaud Bliss speakers based solely on reviews and emails from Bob Neil, then I saw this thread. I had not thought about Zu Druids before because they were 4 ft high and I thought that would not work since my room is only 11 x 14 and I listen in the near field. At 3 ft tall the Soul may be a contender. Can someone tell me if they communicate well at lower volumes. I have a Leben CS300XS and I listen at average levels of about 75 - 77 dB (according to my Radio Shack meter).

Gopher - FYI, I have one of these Wineclones, and it is a good amp. In fact it is very good for the money.

Regarding the Blessing of the Wineclone, the amp is simply a battery-powered Tripath amp. There's no patent on that - very simple idea - and no need for anyone's blessing.

I've been using mostly tube and occasionally Class A ss amps continually since buying my first component amp in 1970. Other than advising anyone to keep such an amp away from the HVAC thermostat, I've never had an amp put out enough heat to determine how often my AC runs. So other than the room being very small and the amp sitting next to the thermostat, it's hard for me to imagine a different amp for climate control reasons.

I know people who use tube amps except when they run their "summer" configuration around solid state. I haven't sensed any difference in their incidence of AC. Anyway, I know the F1 releases some heat. If you like Nelson Pass amps, you might like the M2. Very clever and voiced to be more like a tube amp, including passive magnetic gain in the input stage.

You already have a great amp. If you really need a cooler running solid state amp, consider a Quad 909, an evolution of Peter Walker's excellent current dumpiing amp, the Quad 405.

Phil

Mike,

I'm not sure what actual level I listen at, but these speakers have been enjoyable at night when I keep things a bit softer. Take that with a grain of salt as I'm told I listen to music irrationally loud--I don't feel thats the case at all but to each their own. Its not a speaker that must be cranked to come alive though, nor is it (thankfully) a speaker that comes apart when cranked (I just left a speaker like that).

Paul,

Thanks for sharing your experience with the wineclone. It is intriguing and relatively cheap (albeit fuggly). I just may give it a whirl--I'm not in a rush but I am curious after reading of Srajen's account of pairing the Signature 30.2 with Zu speakers.

Also, as it pertains to blessings--it is pretty obvious that Wineclone is marketing itself as a copy of the Red Wine Audio Signature 30.2... If its name isn't enough of a giveaway, the tag line is ""WineClone" Integrated Amplifier -- A $3000 amp for $349. " and further goes on to state "WineClone", was modeled after a very expensive ($3000) amplifier of a similar name. "

I'm not going to get into the ethics of it or anything, but it has piqued my curiosity. Especially at the price. I may drop you an email one of these days to pick your brain about its sound if you don't mind.

Phil,

It sounds completely silly, I realize but it puts out a LOT of heat. In fact, yesterday I burned my hand trying to slip a set of black diamond racing cones underneath it (I found them in my tweak chest and don't even recall buying them!).

Its also too hot for me to feel comfortable putting in my enclosed hutch where I'd really like it to be. I'm concerned for overheating problems.

Though I did bring up amps again, I'm not feeling a need to graduate/move on. The pairing is quite nice and I'd like to hold on to the Rawson built F1 AND try something inexpensive as well.