Zu Audio Presence? Who's got insider info?

IronLion · « **on:** 21 Jun 2007, 09:36 pm »

If you look under the "Upcoming" section of 6moons you can see a mysterious little thumb that clearly implies Zu's new entry between the Druid and Definition is coming up soon; does anybody have any info on what this design might be?

On another note, my Tone monitors fresh from two weeks of factory break-in should be arriving tomorrow...

raven · « **Reply #1 on:** 5 Aug 2007, 08:02 pm »

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/zu12/presence.html

Danny Kaey · « **Reply #2 on:** 6 Aug 2007, 02:33 am »

LOL, that's funny, I just remembered this question here but was too lazy to look for it and post the link...

macrojack · « **Reply #3 on:** 8 Aug 2007, 02:49 am »

I ordered a pair today. Should arrive in 5 weeks, they say. Hooray!!

IronLion · « **Reply #4 on:** 8 Aug 2007, 03:24 am »

Nice macrojack! What are they replacing, Druids if I remember correctly? Those Presences look like awesome speakers; for now I am enjoying my Tones and Minimethod combination, and I don't see myself changing from it for a while. I read on Audiogon about somebody getting Druid drivers put into their Tones, I think I'm going to send Sean an email to see if it would be possible to put those new Presence drivers into my Tones...let us know how they sound when you get them.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #5 on:** 8 Aug 2007, 03:33 am »

Quote from: macrojack on 8 Aug 2007, 02:49 am

I ordered a pair today. Should arrive in 5 weeks, they say. Hooray!!

Tom....
I thought you were getting the "super duper" Zu's ?

2bigears · « **Reply #6 on:** 8 Aug 2007, 04:28 am »

ok,the boys at Zu are keeping fit.you have to move in this world or be passed and forgotten.i say the type of speakers i have here in Canada and i get a response of ???? ,take away Cana,and the 'Da' is my feedback.good to see they are moving.go Zu.... i would say they are the Harley Davidson of speakers?

Danny Kaey · « **Reply #7 on:** 8 Aug 2007, 04:54 am »

The Presence are not a replacement for any speaker... they are a new member of the family! aa

Quote from: IronLion on 8 Aug 2007, 03:24 am

Nice macrojack! What are they replacing, Druids if I remember correctly? Those Presences look like awesome speakers; for now I am enjoying my Tones and Minimethod combination, and I don't see myself changing from it for a while. I read on Audiogon about somebody getting Druid drivers put into their Tones, I think I'm going to send Sean an email to see if it would be possible to put those new Presence drivers into my Tones...let us know how they sound when you get them.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #8 on:** 8 Aug 2007, 05:00 am »

Quote from: Danny Kaey on 8 Aug 2007, 04:54 am

The Presence are not a replacement for any speaker... they are a new member of the family! aa

Quote from: IronLion on 8 Aug 2007, 03:24 am

Nice macrojack! What are they replacing, Druids if I remember correctly? Those Presences look like awesome speakers; for now I am enjoying my Tones and Minimethod combination, and I don't see myself changing from it for a while. I read on Audiogon about somebody getting Druid drivers put into their Tones, I think I'm going to send Sean an email to see if it would be possible to put those new Presence drivers into my Tones...let us know how they sound when you get them.

macrojack/Tom recently sold his ZU DEFINITION PRO speakers....so for "him" they may be a replacement....but yes they are a new speaker from Zu....

stingfan · « **Reply #9 on:** 8 Aug 2007, 05:23 am »

Hey Gang, wow great news on the Presence! I just stumbled on this link almost by accident! I've got the Druid Mk4's and absolutely love them. I demo'd the Definitions with Adam and Sean in person here in the Bay Area not long ago, and considered upgrading since then. The Presence could be the ultimate value. I'm a huge fan of Zu Audio.

I'm curious about one thing with the Presence, before I too hit the phone to place my order: Does this architecture run the risk of sounding too much like a satellite/sub combo, that can sometimes have that lost soundstage, and bad vibration from room acoustics that subs often create? I of course presume not, given these are much like the Definitions, but I had to ask. Any speculation? Also, what color to order? I actually really liked the stock matte black textured paint of my Druids. The glossy colors are cool, but seem like they would show hairline scratches more easily, and be harder to keep clean/free from finger prints, etc. Thoughts? Go Zu!

Srajan Ebaen · « **Reply #10 on:** 8 Aug 2007, 07:14 am »

"Does this architecture run the risk of sounding too much like a satellite/sub combo?"

Based on long-term ownership of the Definition Pro, I'd say not. Merely on paper, I could in fact imagine some advantages to now having the woofers face forward like the rest of the drivers. The widebander is in its own sub enclosure just like the two in the Definition are so I would expect a similar level of "vibrational separation". The triangular cabinet promises reduced plate modes, i.e. even less cabinet talk.

Listening will tell but conceptually, I think of the Presence as 4/5th Definition and am particularly curious about what the new crossover parts did to the treble. For now, it's cliffhanger time until my review samples arrive but Sean & Adam promised very soon.

gbeard · « **Reply #11 on:** 8 Aug 2007, 11:57 am »

Ah, what have they done to the treble?

I can't wait to find out either. It should be fun!

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #12 on:** 8 Aug 2007, 12:31 pm »

That Presence is one very cool lookin' speaker! (I'm looking at the red one shown in the 6moons link: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/zu12/presence.html

And both chambers are sealed, correct?

Good luck to Team Zu!

Vinnie

macrojack · « **Reply #13 on:** 8 Aug 2007, 12:39 pm »

Zu is very high on the Presence.

The cabinet of the Presence is a 14" equilateral triangle. This provides a stiffer construction and a wider baffle. The Defs and Druids were 12 inches wide. The cabinet materials have changed too. The plinth, formerly MDF is now maple and the cabinet itself has gone from MDF to birch plywood. There is a Mini-Method sub in each cabinet firing forward and it has the gain, phase, and XO point adjustments mounted in the back panel. Except that it's a triangle so there are actually two rear panels. The binding posts and sub controls are mounted asymmetrically so that both are on the inside toward the center. Colorwise, there are 4 standard colors. You can choose from the flat black like on your Druids or you can go for Ferrari Red, Maserati Blue Nettuno, or gloss black. Any other color in the universe is available at an additional charge.

I called the factory to order Def 2's and was advised to choose these instead. I've never regretted taking Sean's advice.

By the way, I don't think there is more than one full range driver. I have seen mention twice in forum comments about such things but I have yet to be told of another FRD. The same one is used in all current Zu speakers.

Both the Presence and the DEF2 now utilizes oil in paper capacitors in the tweeter XO.

sts9fan · « **Reply #14 on:** 8 Aug 2007, 12:55 pm »

So after that HUGH thread of you tring to sell your speakers to make a small upgrade to the newest model you have now moved down the line? oy vey

Back on topic. These look very promising as my next speakers. I love my Druids but would like a bit of punch for Hip Hop and electronic music.

mcullinan · « **Reply #15 on:** 8 Aug 2007, 01:26 pm »

Gorgeous looking speakers! Love the red and the grill on front. Very sexy.
Mike

macrojack · « **Reply #16 on:** 8 Aug 2007, 02:30 pm »

Zu is like Toyota or Honda. They will dominate because they excel. This could take a long while because many of you will be slow to change. However, it is coming. They are building the better mousetrap. They are innovative and persevering.

I was assured that I was not "moving down" by going to the Presence and that I would, in fact, experience better performance in several areas. One of my reasons for moving from the Def Pros was to gain the option of internal amplification in the interest of system simplification. I also wanted a color other than black. The Presence does all that and also allows me to put money toward an Altmann Attraction that I really liked when it visited, and a Melody I2A3 integrated which I've read and heard is among the best tube amplification available. (Thanks, Srajan.)

Life is in the details.

Srajan Ebaen · « **Reply #17 on:** 8 Aug 2007, 02:54 pm »

Actually - the wideband driver in the Presence is different. It doesn't show from the outside but there's a bigger motor on it and impedance behavior above 100Hz has been smoothed for a better power transfer to tube amps. Whether this version of the driver will migrate to all models I forgot to ask - but like it sez in my preview, the driver in the Presence is not what's in my Definition Pros tho it may look like it from the front where it's in fact identical.

Re: the "what have they done to the treble" question, all I know at present are upgraded crossover components on the high-pass which, I'd assume, would be audible - but how only actual listening will tell...

macrojack · « **Reply #18 on:** 8 Aug 2007, 06:24 pm »

Whoops!!! Looks like I got one of the details wrong. I specifically asked Sean if there had been changes in the
FRD because of the rumors I'd heard. I'm sure he told me they hadn't changed it in several years. Oh well, I could be sure and still be wrong.

Anybody else going to spring for these?

I had Druids and a Mini-Method together for a few months before I got my Defs. The combo was quite good but according to my man at Zu, the Presence completely eclipses that combination.

I think the question we had better ask at this point is: Are the Zu boys on steroids? How do they surpass the competition with such ease? It's not natural. How can we not be suspicious? What are they doing that the other guys can't seem to accomplish as much.

This Presence is the product, I suspect, that will finally put Zu on the map, if the new cartridge doesn't do so first.

Sonny · « **Reply #19 on:** 8 Aug 2007, 08:37 pm »

Quote from: macrojack on 8 Aug 2007, 06:24 pm

I had Druids and a Mini-Method together for a few months before I got my Defs. The combo was quite good but according to my man at Zu, the Presence completely eclipses that combination.

Well, what else will the people at ZU say about their new speaker??? Of course they say it's better than the old models...they aren't going to say that it's not or its different and excel in one aspect while the older models are better than the new at other aspects...

I had some Zu cables and I think Adam and the guys are great!!! They are trying new things, and granted, it's a long road, but they are making strides. I also had the mini method on trial, liked it but it just didn't mate well with the main speakers...Too much messing with the XO range and volume on different music led me to return it...but I like the ZU stuff!!!