Zu Soul Superfly

Hi Jack,
If you're looking for natural resolution and and explosive dynamics you should go for it. The introductory price is ridiculous. If I remember correctly they're offering a 90-day trial. You can't really lose. What's the competition? High performing bookshelves? You won't get the range. Maggies are fun, but way more expensive and you're going to need a lot more juice, probably solid state. I liked my Druids better than either Totem's Staffs or Model 1's. The Souls are better again and the Omen's appear very similar on paper. When the dust settles you'll still have purchased your Omen's for only $999 whatever the final retail price.

Jack,

Sean recently characterized Omen to me as "Druid 4-08 in a three foot package," further explaining that Omen will have the essential sound of the D4-08. I don't know how bass response in the new cabinet will compare with Druid 4-08s that are correctly adjusted for floor-plinth gap, but even partial Greiwe loading would provide a proper foundation. So at $999, having all other attributes of the Zu FRD in a crossoverless configuration with a dynamic supertweeter, Omen gets presumption of excellence from me. Plus, I've been an advocate of "guitar finishes" for speakers, so I think the transluscent stain on maple shown in the promo photos will look great.

How the market will respond to the speaker at a higher price later in the context of the rest of Zu's line-up remains to be seen but the target market should find Omen startlingly good against the mass market alternatives they can audition and buy locally. Druid 4-08 sound was remarkable at a much higher price 2-1/2 years ago. I think it's a safe bet to order, and, no...I don't see a competitive nor better speaker for the price.

Phil

I'm picking (from reading the website) the difference between the,

Omen: Zu260FRD/G4
Soul: Zu260FRD/G4HO

are the magnets. Soul Superfly mentions "bigger and stronger magnet (60 Oz.)".

According to an email from Sean, Druid and Omen share the same FRD.

Whether the nomenclature on the spec sheet has changed is another issue.

I believe his email to be factual.

The omen frd is the Druid mk4/08 with the new (essence) phase plug. The soul frd has a 60oz magnet and lighter paper cone..... Is completely different with the same phase plug.

Not sure about the omen tweet. The mesh screen protects the dome according to Gerrit.

12 ohm 97db vs 16ohm 101db....