Zu Soul Superfly

Actually, the reason I cancelled the review is that the preview which went live when Zu first solicited the review was live for far too many months. By the time an actual review pair was finally supposed to ship in October plus the time it would take to write the review, it would have been an 8-9 months delay.

I thus deleted the preview. The function of our previews is not to hang in endless limbo after all. Because I've personally reviewed a great number of Zu speakers already, I decided to sit this one out. With the demand this model generated, Zu needs to first take care of its paying customers. Mahughes is quite mistaken thinking that we expect preferential treatment and cancel reviews if we don't get it. That's rubbish.

We do expect to be kept in the loop when we make space in our tight schedules for any review solicitation and for whatever reason review samples don't manifest in the agreed upon time frame. In this case, Zu simply initiated things prematurely.

It's no big deal. Eventually review samples will become available and there's quite a list of assigned writers listed on the Zu website already.

Thanks for clearing that up! Its a shame you won't be reviewing this one as I love your reviews and your site.

I usually find myself auditioning gear based on your endorsement--I wanted to see if my early adopter/unbiased findings mirrored yours this time around with the tables turned.

Keep writing great reviews!

Fred

Using common sense, my prior exposure and current ownership of the Essence, I would predict a return to the Zu house sound,i.e. less concessions to a modern 'commercial' sound as the ribbon tweeter in the Essence was supposed to do. To match the ribbon, the widebander's sensitivity had to be padded down. With the Soul, I think it's back up. The Griewe loading of the Essence (that foam cartridge) really works and apparently the Soul's turned/twisted design and new 'breathing holes' are an advancement on that.

My assumption is thus an upgraded Druid Mk IV with more bass power and an improved widebander in a stumpier box for what until recently was a better price. Today the site when accessed from Switzerland shows $4.543 which isn't exactly the $2.600 it was when I was first solicited. Not sure what happened there and whether this is the price *delivered* (i.e. including shipping) to the EU - which would be first-class expedited shipping plus unless the base price too has increased.

Zu will hopefully make a public statement on this price increase (American readers apparently see $3.500).

The Zu website has always had different pricing for US and non-US readers. Non-US pricing has always been a lot higher. It seems as if there was a glitch; and US readers (for a while) saw $4543. It is now $3500.

I know. My point was, an increase from $2600 to $3500 or 35% up isn't insignificant and a further sign that I was approached prematurely. The current direct-sales model does not explain why foreign pricing outside the US would be another $1000 more, does it? It's an entirely different positioning and value proposition.

After I published the Presence review in which Zu announced a return to dealer distribution, the company shortly afterwards reverted to direct sales again and the Presence was quickly discontinued. Given that experience and the current delay and price changes of the Soul, I'm merely reinforced in my decision to sit this one out.