Integrated Amplifier Recomendations For Zu Druids

Maceo23 · « **on:** 10 Aug 2015, 12:50 am »

Hey guys. Just bought a pair of Zu Druid mk4's and i want to venture into the tube world. Looking to keep it around or preferably under $1000. Definitely in the used market. Any advice on what I should be hunting?

Poultrygeist · « **Reply #1 on:** 11 Aug 2015, 01:49 pm »

2a3 bottleheads worked great with my omens

jsm71 · « **Reply #2 on:** 12 Aug 2015, 07:14 pm »

With the efficiency of those speakers the smallest Decware SET Triode amp would be plenty and can be had in your price point new with lifetime warranty. Decware lives is the HE world. Many of their customers use Zu speakers.

Russtafarian · « **Reply #3 on:** 12 Aug 2015, 11:13 pm »

The Almarro A205A is soooo perfectly matched to Zu speakers, especially the 16 ohm versions. My custom Zu 16 ohm cabinets absolutely sing with this amp. 5 wpc is plenty. It's only when I get to stoopid loud levels that the amp runs out of gas.

The problem is they are nearly unobtanium. If you can find one, it's a serious score. Good luck.

Russ

Poultrygeist · « **Reply #4 on:** 12 Aug 2015, 11:30 pm »

In this review of the original Miniwatt it's paired with the mega buck Zu Essence.

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/miniwatt/miniwatt_2.html

morganc · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 Aug 2015, 01:07 am »

I agree with the Decware combo: Any of the Decware amps would pair well depending on budget and room size. I also think the new Coincident Dynamo would work well.

Gopher · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 Aug 2015, 01:24 am »

Redgum!
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2014/07/redgum-black-series-rgi35enr-integrated-amplifier-review/

stwombly · « **Reply #7 on:** 13 Aug 2015, 03:55 am »

I drive my Omen Defs with a Van Alstine Ultravalve amp and they sound great! And I do sometimes get stupid loud with them. There is at least one Van Alstine tube amp for sale on Audiocircle that would make you very happy, I'm sure.

shadowlight · « **Reply #8 on:** 13 Aug 2015, 01:15 pm »

I am using Response Audio Extreme 3205 (Modified Jolida) with either EL34 / KT88 / 6550 tubes or Ming Da 3008abse. My primary amp is a setup uses 2a3 based amp with 4P1L based preamp.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #9 on:** 13 Aug 2015, 01:19 pm »

Quote from: Maceo23 on 10 Aug 2015, 12:50 am

Hey guys. Just bought a pair of Zu Druid mk4's and i want to venture into the tube world. Looking to keep it around or preferably under $1000. Definitely in the used market. Any advice on what I should be hunting?

Under 1K=new Decware ZenTriode EL84=2W or 6W in mono.

Maceo23 · « **Reply #10 on:** 13 Aug 2015, 03:36 pm »

Thanks for all the replies guys! I am A big VTL fan and actually ran across a deal on an st85 that I couldn't pass up. I have a Bel Canto DAC2.5 that I guess I'll use as a preamp for the time being. Its great for digital, but the gain on the AUX for my turntable leaves a bit to be desired. I guess I'll have to keep my eyes open for an inexpensive tube pre. Any recommendations on that?

Poultrygeist · « **Reply #11 on:** 13 Aug 2015, 08:33 pm »

I did like the Dared 2a3c with the Omens before I went OB.

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #12 on:** 13 Aug 2015, 09:59 pm »

I drove my Druids with an upgraded Dayens Ampino and a 300b...

Don't have picture of the Ampino on hand, but even though the Ampino isn't tubes, it sounded almost every bit as good the 300b.

Scott_W · « **Reply #13 on:** 22 Mar 2016, 01:21 am »

MiniMax

md92468 · « **Reply #14 on:** 22 Mar 2016, 02:12 am »

I had these speakers many years ago, and the best amp I ever heard with them was a chip amp from AudioSector, which you can still buy here for just a shade over your budget.

http://www.audiosector.com/chassis_integrated.shtml

It's still one of my favorite pieces I've ever owned...with those speakers, the AudioSector outperformed every tube amp I tried (and I love tube amps). In fact, as I recall, Srajan at 6 moons mentioned that particular amp as a great match for the Druids...

Good luck!

Poultrygeist · « **Reply #15 on:** 22 Mar 2016, 11:27 am »

If I had my Omens today I'd power them with this TPA3116/Astron and a $37 Sain Smart tube preamp from Amazon. It's the best my Tektons have ever sounded.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #16 on:** 22 Mar 2016, 01:06 pm »

Quote from: md92468 on 22 Mar 2016, 02:12 am

I had these speakers many years ago, and the best amp I ever heard with them was a chip amp from AudioSector, which you can still buy here for just a shade over your budget.

http://www.audiosector.com/chassis_integrated.shtml

It's still one of my favorite pieces I've ever owned...with those speakers, the AudioSector outperformed every tube amp I tried (and I love tube amps). In fact, as I recall, Srajan at 6 moons mentioned that particular amp as a great match for the Druids...

Good luck!

~~Its Class D or Chip amp?~~ Disregard, they are Chip amps.

Sonico · « **Reply #17 on:** 28 Mar 2016, 09:23 am »

I got a pair of Omen Def and I drive them with a Cayin MT45 Mk2 push-pull (35w from KT88 valves). I also auditioned the smaller Omen driven by Line Magnetic small amplifiers. All the combos sound amazing!
The Zu speakers are very easy going with low powered tubes.
The best experience I had with a pair of Zu was when they were connected to the mighty Line Magnetic 219ia. Superb sound! It's expensive for your budget, but gives you a hint about SET amplifiers.
So as a conclusion, any amplifier will do. A good SET will always sound better.

SteveFord · « **Reply #18 on:** 29 Mar 2016, 12:02 pm »

Quote from: Maceo23 on 13 Aug 2015, 03:36 pm

Thanks for all the replies guys! I am A big VTL fan and actually ran across a deal on an st85 that I couldn't pass up. I have a Bel Canto DAC2.5 that I guess I'll use as a preamp for the time being. Its great for digital, but the gain on the AUX for my turntable leaves a bit to be desired. I guess I'll have to keep my eyes open for an inexpensive tube pre. Any recommendations on that?

Define inexpensive.
Congrats on the VTL!

Maceo23 · « **Reply #19 on:** 29 Mar 2016, 01:43 pm »

Wow, this thread is still going! I have since moved on from my Druids. It was a second system and I decided to consolidate the two, so the druids have been sold. The final iteration was to put my ARC LS5 mk3 and BEL 1001 mk5 on the druids. Holy crap! They sounded great. I ended up selling them to a buddy of mine who bought them for his brother in law. Last I heard, he was loving them. My hats off to ZU. I bought the speakers simply because I was taken with the company. Sean's approach and background really intrigued me. In an industry where music is selected for its playback quality, I like that there are still people who are gonna play the music they like and just rock the house. Between the website, the show footage, and user reviews, I just wanted to see what all the hype was about. I was glad to see that it wasn't just hype. What a fun, kick ass, speaker.