Zu Druid MK IVs vs. Essences

Sibelius: I would agree that the Essence were better on jazz and vocalists than on rock, hip hop, electronica, etc.. They got really "busy" easily with anything too fast paced. In comparison, the Omen Defs and the Superfly's have much better dynamics, much better detail, while being what I like to call "musical" for lack of a better term. They sound much more like live music and have a much wider and deeper soundstage. And IMO, vocals and jazz and rock and all genres sound better than they did on the Essence. The change was so dramatic and such an improvement that no direct A/B was required. I just got out the boxes for the Essence and put them up for sale within a day. And that was when I was running the Melody I2A3 that 6 Moons raved about with the Essence (it was dead quiet and awesome on both speakers btw).

BTW, Zu has a closeout special on the standard Soul in a very nice Maple for $999. That will be hard to beat at the price.

Best of luck,
Morgan

Thanks, all. This has been very helpful. I'm going to hold off on buying Druids or Essences. If I do go for a Zu speaker, it will probably be a Soul Superfly or an original Soul. $999 is a nice price, I have to say.

But, based on these comments, I'm rethinking Zu. I really like revealing, detailed speakers, no matter what type of music I'm listening to. I mainly listen to soul, funk, reggae, jazz, rap, afro-beat, and Latin jazz and soul. I'll probably start researching some other brands. I've had a pair of Reference 3a DeCapo MMi's in a low-powered second system for the past two years, and they're my reference speaker right now. But that system is in a little 8 x 10 room. I don't even use a subwoofer, and the 3a's still sound wonderful. But in my large listening room they get lost.

If anyone can recommend a larger speaker that's as revealing and detailed as the Reference 3a's I'd love to hear about it.

Klein,
Morganc says the Omen/Superflys have apparently more detail than the earlier Zu Druids/Essence models.

What amplifier? Price range?

Other options, Tekton,Tonian Lab, Coincident,Sonist. These are examples of high efficiency speakers with detail,especially the Coincident and Tonian Lab models.

maybe look into Audio Note speakers, crystal clear and easy to drive, also, if you buy the model E, they are nearly full range.

enjoy!

I used to own the Essence. I liked them and agree with above posts. Great for classical and jazz (which is my preference anyway). I foolishly sold them, but after a few other pairs I got lucky and currently have a pair which in my opinion outperform the Zu's: the Omega MaxHemp V2. They come up for sale once in a while. I got this pair with the older Hemp drivers for not much more than what your looking at.