Zu Audio Omen Def Speakers

[atomicAdam]

Hummm... Thanks for the info, Poultry. I'm afraid issues of this sort underlie my prejudices against full-range dynamic speakers.

Doesn't the Omen have a tweeter of sorts, though?

Yes it does - it is very detailed - it seems a little pumped up in volume though - you can hear the turntable noise floor very easily and record hiss on CDs and stuff (recording room hiss). Something i've been trying to roll off with different digital sources.

[Mr Peabody]

I read some where while researching Zu, and I think it was on their old website, that they recommended the speakers firing forward. Rooms vary so wildly I'm sure it deserves some experimentation either way.

I noticed when using Klipsch that I heard more background hiss on CD's, I guess a down side of having a revealing mid or high end. Then the question becomes is the hiss being exaggerated by certain speakers or being muffled by others, and if muffled, what else is muffled.

[atomicAdam]

I've got the Mystere pentode ia11 integrated tube amplifier powering the speakers at the moment. I've plugged back in the Electrocompaniet CDP and everything is sounding very nice. At least for my taste at the moment - I've been hunting for a nice smooth sound.

[atomicAdam]

So I've got M82's Dead Cities album playing via the set up right now and it sounds fantastic! I wish I could crank it up more but I will do that later.

Right now I've got the speakers pointed straight at me - which makes the stage feel a little condensed. I'm going to toe the speakers back out and see how that sounds.

[Mr Peabody]

I'm trying to be patient waiting for mine but it's difficult. Do you think the speakers broke in more or just finally the right components?

[atomicAdam]

I'm trying to be patient waiting for mine but it's difficult. Do you think the speakers broke in more or just finally the right components?

Hey Mr P. Components - no way it is time, yet.

[Mr Peabody]

Adam, how goes it with the Zu? Mine should be here tomorrow but I probably won't get to do much with them until the weekend.

[pawblo]

Same here, guess we made the same shipment!

[atomicAdam]

They are breaking in. I played some Ministry really loudly yesterday on them - hope it helped.

What amps do you guys plan to run. I'm running them off a Mystere ia11 pentode tube amp. I'm going to try a Melody 300B as well and I think a Glow pentode amplifier also.

-adam

[Mr Peabody]

I believe Zu used Melody at CES didn't they? I just plan to use mine in my system with the CJ gear. In fact, I received mine tonight. I'm impressed with the build. I like what I've heard right out of the box, I hear the things you mentioned but the micro and macro dynamics come through out of the box. If it only gets better from here I'm enthused. The bass is good as well having good detail, I haven't played anything with extreme lows yet. Have you noticed much change from out of the box until now?

Did you get yours brand new? I had to laugh at a speaker wrapped in cellophane. I used the carpet spikes to get the recommended height underneath. The speaker covers are interesting but this has got to be the most kid proof speaker I've seen. Well, at least with the covers on. Much better than a traditional grill.

[Poultrygeist]

"micro and macro dynamics" out of the box - and it will only get better!

Welcome to the wonder of full range speakers.

[harley .guy07]

I am really anxious to hear how the Zu's do against your 2.5 contours which have proved themselves time and time again. So I will love to read what you have to say about these Zu's after breaking them in. I can tell by their construction that they are quite capable of dynamics and are way more efficient than your Dynaudio's but the main question is do they have the control and inner detail while retaining the smoothness and refinement that Dynaudio is known for and also the fatigue factor.If I lived just a little bit closer and did not have classes all the time I would not mind hearing them for myself in order to make my own judgment but I also trust your judgment Mr Peabody since it seems out likes are similar in what we like to hear.

[frenchmon]

Harley....im going to try and get over this weekend to take a listen if MrP is not busy....would love to have you come as well if you could...but I understand you cant make it....but when you do get a chance to get away and come down to MrP's...let me know as well.

[atomicAdam]

The barking has toned down a bit. But I am using a pentode amplifier.

I've been moving them around - still not found the perfect placement for my room and seating position. But I've heard they need now, from a couple sources, 250-500 hrs of break in - so I've got a little bit of time.

I am liking them more and more that I listen to them.

[woofersus]

I believe Zu used Melody at CES didn't they? I just plan to use mine in my system with the CJ gear. In fact, I received mine tonight. I'm impressed with the build. I like what I've heard right out of the box, I hear the things you mentioned but the micro and macro dynamics come through out of the box. If it only gets better from here I'm enthused. The bass is good as well having good detail, I haven't played anything with extreme lows yet. Have you noticed much change from out of the box until now?

Did you get yours brand new? I had to laugh at a speaker wrapped in cellophane. I used the carpet spikes to get the recommended height underneath. The speaker covers are interesting but this has got to be the most kid proof speaker I've seen. Well, at least with the covers on. Much better than a traditional grill.

They did use an older Melody P1688 signature preamp, although the power amplifiers weren't Melody. (they were 1.5w SET somethingorothers) That preamp does have a bit of a smooth sound, although I haven't heard the older one. We atctually talked to them about maybe supplying them with the newest iteration next time. (now called the Pure Black 101)

[Poultrygeist]

Flea power SET/SEP's are a great match for the Zu's. No doubt they'll like the 300B's.

[harley .guy07]

Harley....im going to try and get over this weekend to take a listen if MrP is not busy....would love to have you come as well if you could...but I understand you cant make it....but when you do get a chance to get away and come down to MrP's...let me know as well.

I will let you know the next time I will be available to make a visit. I live a little bit closer now that I live in Springfield so it would be no big deal to make a visit but i have to plan this with college in mind. Being a non traditional student I am getting my ass kicked relearning all the things I have not used in all these years so studies are very important to me now but I think some weekend when everything is taken care of and the weather will work for me for god sake! i can probably make another visit. I bought a new preamp which is on the way but delayed due to weather but I hope to have it up and running next week and maybe I can bring it along to do some comparisons and some listening with different stuff. The preamp I bought is a Nuforce P8 which is said to have a lot of tube quality to it without the solid state harshness but still having the tight bass and tight control that SS is known for. being a Rotel owner you know what I am talking about. I will let both of you know when it is possible to make another trip up there.

[Mr Peabody]

The Zu now have about 30 hours on them. When I'm not listening I let them play using a mono Jazz station on the HD tuner. Tonight I did a bit more listening they seem some what more balanced but the low end bass isn't quite there I hope that's something that comes with break in. The bass detail that's already there is impressive but it's missing the fullness it should have. From talk I was a bit worried the four drivers might be overwhelming but far from it at this point. Also, in a thread on Zu, I think here, it was mentioned by some one they thought Zu might exaggerate their sensitivity rating, at this point I don't think so, they are at least as sensitive as my Klipsch Heresy III. But, whose to say Klipsch don't exaggerate

Keep in mind Frenchmon they are practically out of the box, we shall listen though.

Harley, it would be a difficult comparison to the t2.5's, a different presentation from each. The Dyn's being smoother and more refined at this point but the Zu being more lively, like maybe a good sounding pro speaker. The t2.5 has a big sound stage but the OD is even larger. Larger for me isn't always better, it can ruin a mental image as much as one being too small but actually I find very few recordings that image a believable placement unless some Jazz. Things like a piano or drum kit that stretch across the entire room is hard to swallow

The Omen Def held together very well with higher volume. I also notice it reveals more layers of the music if that makes any sense. It's like you hear deeper into a track than you were able to before.

[atomicAdam]

mr p - how close do u have them to the rear wall, what is ur room size, toe in.

i have mine with a pentode amp, beefy and warm lows, i think massive attack sounds perfect.

[Mr Peabody]

Adam, were they like that at first or did it take some break in? I would say mine are a couple feet from back and same for side, they do have a cabinet back and to the side, and my TV between them but back some. They are about where my Dyn's were and they didn't have issues with bass. I have my Zu just firing forward for now. I find most of the time that's my preference. I am using the carpet spikes and the space under the Zu are a good inch. I suspect it could be just a break in issue. Maybe I need to play more bass heavy material to work that region.

[frenchmon]

MrP...im sure those babies aren't broken in as of yet. Every new speaker I have purchased new out of the box had to play for hours before the tweeters settled down and the bass went low...so im sure your OD just need time. But keep in mind....you are coming from a Dynaudio bottom end presentation...and not many speakers don't do it like that...

[atomicAdam]

I have mine almost right against the back wall - at the moment. I'll probably change this - pull the out a bit - I think that will help w/ image depth.

I have no complains about frequency range - either up or down the scale. I did play Metallica's Ride the Lighting the other day - Off CD - via the Electrocompaniet and Mystere amp - not as driving a bass beat as I would have liked - but with stuff like Massive Attack, or Aphex Twin - the OD hold their own. Maybe they are missing something in the mid to upper bass area.

[harley .guy07]

Harley, it would be a difficult comparison to the t2.5's, a different presentation from each. The Dyn's being smoother and more refined at this point but the Zu being more lively, like maybe a good sounding pro speaker

Mr Peabody I could definitely see them having this kind of presentation to them at least before they get broken in. Their drivers are made by Eminence which is one of the bigger prosound drivers manufacturers in America so they might have a more pro sound signature to them in comparison to a Usher or Dynaudio speaker would. I am a bit surprised that the bass is not as strong as expected with the overall size of the speakers and using 2 10" bass drivers. You would figure that the bass would be a strong point with these speakers but on the flip side I have heard speakers with 15" drivers that could not match the bass of our Dyaudio speakers in detail or amount. I hope they start opening up and get better for you though and give you something different than the Dynaudio's when your tastes call for it. I guess only time will tell and letting them brake in for a little longer hoping that things will improve in the area that you see them being weak in. I would not think with a speaker of that type that putting them against the back walls would improve things but it might, it also might make them boomy and not as detailed and give too much upper bass information like a lot of speakers do when too close to the back wall. Let us know after you spend some more time with them what you think because I have heard a lot of people are interested in these speakers and it is kind of cool to see an all American built speaker hitting the streets again that is priced within affordability.

[harley .guy07]

Harley, it would be a difficult comparison to the t2.5's, a different presentation from each. The Dyn's being smoother and more refined at this point but the Zu being more lively, like maybe a good sounding pro speaker

Mr Peabody I could definitely see them having this kind of presentation to them at least before they get broken in. Their drivers are made by Eminence which is one of the bigger prosound drivers manufacturers in America so they might have a more pro sound signature to them in comparison to a Usher or Dynaudio speaker would. I am a bit surprised that the bass is not as strong as expected with the overall size of the speakers and using 2 10" bass drivers. You would figure that the bass would be a strong point with these speakers but on the flip side I have heard speakers with 15" drivers that could not match the bass of our Dyaudio speakers in detail or amount. I hope they start opening up and get better for you though and give you something different than the Dynaudio's when your tastes call for it. I guess only time will tell and letting them brake in for a little longer hoping that things will improve in the area that you see them being weak in. I would not think with a speaker of that type that putting them against the back walls would improve things but it might, it also might make them boomy and not as detailed and give too much upper bass information like a lot of speakers do when too close to the back wall. Let us know after you spend some more time with them what you think because I have heard a lot of people are interested in these speakers and it is kind of cool to see an all American built speaker hitting the streets again that is priced within affordability.

[atomicAdam]

I moved the OD to about 72" apart - about 10" from rear wall and face directly forward. I'm sitting about 72" back from the center of the speakers. Things are starting to definitely come together.