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In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: A quest for a better monitor.
Post Subject: Zu DruidPosted by KLegind on: 11/13/2009
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 Romy the Cat wrote:
 manisandher wrote:
As I alluded to before, I'm at risk of becoming a DSET convert - it's all very well having a nice low-powered amp, but what the hell do you use with it? Are there any decent high-sensitivity FR speakers out there? Or is this simply physically impossible?

I do not know. My local guy told me initially that Zu Druids are 110dB sensitive and high impedance. Hearing it I lent to him my full-range Melquiades to try. He has a few other PP and SET amps, so I thought with 110dB sensitivity and high impedance my no-feedback Milq will be running the show. He kind of liked Milq initially but what he reported was not what I expected and it in my view it was confusing.  Another day I visited him; we did some changes in Zu Druids (more need to be done) and tried a few different amps. It was clear the Milq was not the best candidate as it was dynamically straggling to drive Zu Druids. He has some kind of 30-40W tube PP that did much better job. That made me to do only and to learn that Zu Druids are 101dB. In really it might be even less as those hi-fi companies lie for am few dB and it become a common practice. Furthermore in LF the Zu Druids have perhaps 90dB efficiency as then use port and what the port begin to become affective the no-feedback SET would die.

I still, can’t figure out Zu Druids. I would heavily highpass it to use with SET or drive it with 50W SET, preferably with feedback. Something the level of Lamm ML1 might be a good candidate for them to try. If you look out there then you will see anybody promote Zu Druids as some kind of wonder that might be perfectly used with flea-power amp. This is why people attracted to them I guess. However, I do feel that it is a bit stupidity to promote Zu Druids as a SET friendly loudspeaker. It might be a good speaker for the money but not for use with SET. In 2006-07 the industry whores created a lot of hype about Zu Druids. I do not know if it was worthy or not but I know that fact that they were pushed as “$3000 solution that can be driven by SET full-range“ was very inaccurate.

The Cat


Initially I thought the Zu might be an interesting speaker in the context of tube amplification, however I tried the fullrange driver approach and I have misgivings about it...

Anyhow, the industry rag Hifi World (with whom I have a hate/love relationship) did a review of the Zu a few years ago. The content of said review I think is irrelevant, however there were measurements of the speaker done by Noel Keywood and they showed a much lower sensitivity than advertised. I believe it to be in the low nineties. The frequency response also looked suspect. I see if I can find the review when I get home from work.

best

PS. I do not express any opinion on Zu sound as I am unfamiliar with it. In a certain context it might be good.

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