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Zu Omens Vs Dali Vs Vandersteen Vs Sonus Faber


This post is FYI for those wondering about the quality of the Zu Omens (Don't worry, Be Happy and get them!):

At my personal recommendation, two friends here in Tucson bought Zu Omens, and one replaced her floor standing Dalis with the Omens and another replaced his Vandersteens with the Omens. He recommended them to two other friends here in Tucson who replaced their speakers with the Zu Omens. Once of the pairs replaced were Sonus Fabers.

I imagine that the Soul Superfly's are better of course.

BTW, I have Zu Druids. I am hesitant to replace them because I like them so much that I have painted them piano black and put granite bases on them. They bested (for my preferences of course for immediate rich sound) some Dynaudio, Dali, and Spendor floorstanders. However, I have not heard the Zu Omens and Druids in the same room. However, at another person's home the Omens sounded wonderful. Similar magical sound as the Druids with perhaps a little more bass and they are certainly less imposing in size (but not in quality) in the listening space. Hmmm, maybe I can get a pair of Omens and paint them piano black...
plangco
morganc
239 posts
 
Eniac: I love electronica and live in San Francisco where we arguably get the best in the world, but of course we could debate that:). I am more particular to Claude von Stroke and Justin Martin (Dirtybird label) and if you are nearby, please drop in and I will show you what these paper cones are capable of. I'm driving them with a Pass XA30.5 and that combo easily surpasses all other speakers I've had from Monitor Audio, Onix, Dali. The Zu Essence I had in the past do not even compare either. I do have the Omen Defs, but I am sure they are similar to the Omens. They also amazing with jazz, vocalists, and of course electronica. Out of the box they were much better than the Essence and after break in even better. I also have several tube amps and am loving them too, though the bass, dynamics, and transparency with the Pass is especially apparent with electronica. With jazz, my 845 amp sounds as close to a live show as I could imagine. Hope this helps. I'm not one for measurements, graphs, etc....just pure musicality:).
rockn
26 posts
 
I second Morganc, although I have the Superflys, they pretty much have the same driver. Very dynamic & clean! Been listening to a lot of electronica lately myself through my Sqeezebox Touch, nothing short of amazing. These will dish & bang with the best.
morganc
239 posts
 
charlesdad: I 100% agree with your description: the paper cones on the Omens are very dynamic with an exceptionally natural tone.
james63
501 posts
 
Not the Omen but the Essence was measured by Stereophile (link below) and they are by far the worst measuring speaker I have ever seen them measure. I have never heard anything by Zu, just read the reviews...

"In many ways, the Zu Essence is an underachiever, measurement-wise. But the surprise for me, when I auditioned it in AD's room, was how much of its measured misbehavior was not too audible, other than the rolled-off highs and the lack of impact in the lower midrange."

http://www.stereophile.com/content/zu-essence-loudspeaker-measurements
morganc
239 posts
 
James63: I know nothing about measurements, but I do know from the first moment that I heard the Omens that they were much better to my ears than the Essence that I had for over a year. I compared the two side by side for about 5 minutes and then promptly sold the Essence. The Omens are much more open and dynamic and the highs are much easier on my sensitive ears. Just FYI.
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