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Zu Omens Vs Dali Vs Vandersteen Vs Sonus Faber


This post is FYI for those wondering about the quality of the Zu Omens (Don't worry, Be Happy and get them!):

At my personal recommendation, two friends here in Tucson bought Zu Omens, and one replaced her floor standing Dalis with the Omens and another replaced his Vandersteens with the Omens. He recommended them to two other friends here in Tucson who replaced their speakers with the Zu Omens. Once of the pairs replaced were Sonus Fabers.

I imagine that the Soul Superfly's are better of course.

BTW, I have Zu Druids. I am hesitant to replace them because I like them so much that I have painted them piano black and put granite bases on them. They bested (for my preferences of course for immediate rich sound) some Dynaudio, Dali, and Spendor floorstanders. However, I have not heard the Zu Omens and Druids in the same room. However, at another person's home the Omens sounded wonderful. Similar magical sound as the Druids with perhaps a little more bass and they are certainly less imposing in size (but not in quality) in the listening space. Hmmm, maybe I can get a pair of Omens and paint them piano black...
128x128plangco
morganc
255 posts
 
James63: I know nothing about measurements, but I do know from the first moment that I heard the Omens that they were much better to my ears than the Essence that I had for over a year. I compared the two side by side for about 5 minutes and then promptly sold the Essence. The Omens are much more open and dynamic and the highs are much easier on my sensitive ears. Just FYI.
paulfolbrecht
603 posts
 
Hey Morgan what 845 SET you running there?

I've found the First Watt F3 to be a completely divine match for Def 2.0s as well as the Wavac MD811 integrated (amazing amp).

The Tom Evans Linear A is also completely stunning with these speakers. An amplifier in its own category in many ways actually.

As for turning one's nose up at "paper drivers", they (and other natural materials - hemp) seem to nail the tone of real instruments better than anything else. Poly and the like always sounds at least a wee bit plasticy in comparison.
pizzatheorem
8 posts
 
Indeed, PHY makes some of the best drivers around and their cones are paper.

http://www.phy-hp.com/English/Products/KM30_E.html
morganc
255 posts
 
Hi Paul,
I have the Art Audio Carissa 845's. I think I need to do a little tube rolling either in the input tubes or in my Modwright pre as it sounds a little on the laid back side especially in comparison to the Pass XA 30.5. It currently uses the KR 845's.
plangco's avatar
plangco OP
158 posts
 

I recently listened to my Zu Druids alongside Zu Omen speakers which weren't broken in yet, and found that the tonal shift in direction of the sound was such that the Omens were a little more in the direction of being slightly clearer and more airy with a little more bass than the Druids, and that the Zu Druids had a slightly warmer more 'tubey' sound overall compared to the Omens.

Which is better on balance of course will depend on personal preference and other system components bias. And naturally, the already close gap in the sound between the two will probably narrow as the Omen speakers break in and warm up. Reports are that the sound of the Omen's changes dramatically as they break in. However, I feel (and don't know for sure) that some of the differences in sound between the two just mentioned, however slight, will remain.
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