Zu Essence owners....your impressions please

Hi Tony,
I would highly recommend that you try out the Omen Defs with the new upgraded Drivers. They are vastly improved over the Essence in regards to bass, midrange, and especially in the highs. I replaced my Essence with them a few years back and the improvement was night and day. There is a good reason that Zu is no longer manufacturing the Essence IMO.

Morganc, I had not heard that Zu has stopped producing the Essence. May I ask how you heard this news? Just like to confirm sources:)

I am finding that I love the FRD sound. Of course, having only listened for 2.5 weeks to my Essence, I may still be imagening this.

Morganc, I expect the Definitions to have excellent bass, that is a big part of their extra expense. Would you mind giving a bit more detail to how the highs and mids are better? I thank you in advance.

I also heard the Essence is going to be discontinued. Maybe from an email notification from Zu? Can't say for sure, but I thought I heard the Druid mkV (with the new Radian 850 tweeter) was to take its place. I'm sure Morgan has all the facts on this.

Markpao, thanks for the second to this. I never want to doubt anyones info, but we all know that way too often that is what becomes necessary.

I wish I could hear the other models close to the Essence to understand the difference. I do know that I truly love ribbon tweeters, which make for outstanding upper registers for me.

Markpao, the Druid MKIV does look the most similar, but I never know what a company is thinking until I hear it from them. The nice thing is that Zu will likely tell us what their thinking is.

As I keep saying, I really like my pair of Essence. The difference, at this point, would have to be very positive. I have spent, and wasted when selling, so much lately that it would have to be heard before I purchase anything more.

I'm still getting used to them... I've got them sounding very nice with the t-amp and the tube preamp section of the VTL. The bass filled in nicely (which makes little sense to me). At the end of the day it's all about synergies, and while I would love to hear these with a quality 300B amp, it's not going to happen any time soon due to funding...