Hey everyone, maybe one day these will be in my price range, but I'm curious about the sonic differences between these two speakers.
Both cost about $3K, both are tall slim floor standers, and both are extra-efficient. These seem to be the first two speakers (on this board, anyway) with these characteristics to gain any mainstream popularity. I don't know if there are others, or if these two speakers are the sign of a shift toward these characteristics. They have obvious physical differences, of course...but what about the sonics?
One of these speakers was getting all sorts of hype about a year ago, but now things are relatively quiet (???)...the other is getting all the hype right now.
Anyone heard both?
I owned the Zu Druids Mk IV before my current Quads which Ive had now 7 mos. I liked the Druids, but was bothered by the lack of resolution and horizontal or lateral (width) soundstaging compared to the Quads. It wasn't even a matter of dynamics for me. The Quads having plenty for me in that dept..The Druids are excellent tonally and throw a huge soundstage in the vertical dimension, but not laterally..I found that the Druids sound dark and almost veiled on top..while the CS-2's are more open and revealing..more like my Quads.The Druids are an excellent speaker, I found them best suited to small acoustic works or jazz, and less so with classical, even with my Mini Method sub.
Hearing the CS-2's now at my dealer (awaiting their arrival) It was very evident to me that the resolution is on par with my Quads, in fact perhaps more so. The CS-2's present a huge stage more naturally and with less room interaction than any speaker Ive heard. Of course the bass response of the Druids..while pleasing and taut..cannot compare with the authority and dynamics of the CS-2's.
Ill post more after Ive lived with the CS-2's awhile. Incredible speaker!!!
Ken
