Zu Soul Superfly

I've been doing a lot of listening lately with an Atma-sphere S-30 with NOS 6sn7s and feel it is a very solid matching. It took me some time to get used to such an accurate and transparant sound as I was coming from a Dynaco, but I'm growing fonder of it by the day and can recommend it.

213Cobra heavily recommends pairing the Zu speakers with 845 SET amplification. Though I haven't heard that particular type of SET with the Zus (or ever for that matter) he's has a great ear.

I am not sure what the question means as to whether monoblocks are overkill for the speakers. Mono configuration doesn't have anything to do with the power output of the amplifiers. I've owned 2.5 wpc mono blocks for example.

I think that these speakers are good enough to leverage the merits of any amplification I'm likely to be able to afford in the next decade.

In the UK Simon handles Zu stuff but he also handles Atma-sphere. When I heard them at a show I was less than impressed but a show is rarely a true measure of any kit. When I get my Superflys, and we're now moving in the sooner rather than later direction, and assuming I like the finish and get through the sale or return period without trauma, I intend to live with them for quite a long time before changing anything. However, I may well look at the Atma-sphere and see if I can get a demo.

Mike

It may take a minute to get used to the OTL sound, honestly. I wasn't much of a fan at first but its RAPIDLY growing on me, especially after rolling 6sn7s.

I'm finding these speakers are so revealing of amplification and the amps I've tried are soooo different, that there is always an adjustment period (vintage tubes, to s.o.t.a. ss, to tripath to otl).

I'm very interested in hearing an 845 amplifier with these speakers as 213cobra recommends but I'm having a hard time conceptualizing an increase in enjoyment over the atma.

All other quality matters being equal, monoblocks are always worthwhile.

The Zu single FRD speakers have tremendous application elasticity for pure music uses. It's efficient and easy-to-drive and get good sound from a plethora of modest amplification options, beginning in the $$hundreds. But it has revelatory and tone density characteristics that can take good advantage of premium amplification many times the cost of Omen, Soul, Superfly, Druid or Essence. My Druids system has amps that are more expensive than what's in my Definition 2 system. Sure, somewhere there's a threshold where further expense in amps doesn't make sense for $2600/pr speakers like Superfly. But that threshold stretching credibility is much further out than most people would think, once you're committed to the holistic presentation of a single-FRD Zu system.

Essence is the problematic model in terms of pushing the amp/cost envelope, due to the mild loss of tonal intensity from the de-tuning of the FRD, and the discontinuity between the FRD and the chosen ribbon tweeter, but if your frame of reference is other speakers, rather than other Zu speakers, even that difficulty recedes. But the outer limit for amp cost to mate with Essence is nearer than it is for Superfly or Druid 4-08.

If you're not up for evolved 845 SET and their associated cost, a completely safe, tone-rich, beautiful choice for Zu speakers with 12-16ohms impedance is Quad II Classic (or rehabbed vintage) monoblocks. The Shuguang Treasure KT66z black bottle tube performs beautifully in them. The Quad II is the most SET-like push-pull tube amp I know, owing to its clever design simplicity and execution. And as hifi goes, cost is fairly modest. There are are others. I recently heard gorgeous sound from a Bob Hovland-modified Glow amp, its el84 5/5w easily trumping a number of megaprice amps, within the Glow's surprising dynamic range, on both Druid 4-08 & Definition 2. But $20,000 SET monoblocks don't sound like overkill either. Tremendous application range in amp options.

Phil

After a lot of shopping around and asking for opinions, I've decided to buy myself a set of Atma-Sphere M-60s that I found a great deal on locally. They would generally be way out of my price range, but discounted they seemed like a wonderful bargain for a set of Zu Superfly speakers. Even though they are 60 wpc, I feel that OTL amps will make very nicely with the 16 ohm impedance of the Superflys.

Now I'm just worried that I will probably need to buy a good pre-amp since both Zu speakers and M-60 will both be extremely revealing. I was hoping to use the pre-amp function in my Perfectwave Dac (+bridge), but the digital volume control might not do the system justice. Any opinions?