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Did anyone hear the Zu room at CES/THE 2011?

I did. The first time I listened, they were playing the giant $45k (Dominance?) speakers, biamplified with a pair of Pass Labs XA30.5s. I thought they sounded excellent. Then I went back, and wasn't so impressed witht he sound. I saw that they had replaced the Pass with a 2.5 Watt SET amp (I think the internal sub was still powered by a Pass). To me, the life, energy, resolution, and naturalness just wasn't there. At least one other person there who had heard both said he preferred the tube amp, saying it "made him feel more connected to the music." I wanted to say, "No, the king is naked! You're just saying that because you think you're supposed to," but I didn't. I recognize that he may have heard something I didn't. Apparently, others thought the same as him, because they left the tube amp in for the rest of the show. So my question is, was I the only one who thought the Pass sounded better?
honest1
team212
250 posts
 
Yes Like you I heard both versions-- I must admit I did not care for either--Zu's frankly are sort of uninvolving and I cannot "gel" with them.

Those big fella's they were demonstrating sounded as if the drivers had been cobbled together in a box to make music come out-

I put Zu in same category as DeVore bland and boring

There are better out there.

Des
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drubin
3,274 posts
 
Not sure I recall ever hearing anyone describe DeVore as bland and boring, or even dis them at all. But that's been my impression the few times I've heard them.
telescope_trade
555 posts
 
Hi Team212,

Every ones ears are different, but "uninvolving" would be the farthest from what I would describe Zu as. I have Omen Defs
and they are very involving! Rich, open, airy, super dynamic, and most of all musical. My guess is something was up with the synergy of the system, or set up, or a combo of things?? But, I have never heard the Dominance so cannot speak for them, but, my experience with Zu has been fantastic, and I have owned many speakers.
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