It bothers me when people claim the Zu as a 1-way speaker with a super tweeter. I have disconnected the tweeter on my DWs, and the highs COMPLETELY go away! The tweeters only have a capacitor on them, and roll off at 6 dB/oct. So if they crossover at 12kHz, then they are just 6dB down at 6k. That's still a LOT of information coming from the very important horn tweeter. I upgraded the standard cap to a Clarity cap, and I did notice an improvement.
@fredjoel8113
3 ай бұрын
Really neat! Reminds me of the type of loudspeakers I was building in the early 70's but updated with new materials and likely employing computer-aided design and measurement. As a matter-of-fact, I even utilized the same brand of drivers! That philosophy--even used earlier in the 50's--was to use a full range, high efficiency driver with a fairly light cone and a whizzer to cover most if not all of the range, then add with a tweeter/super tweeter to extend the top end. Complex crossover networks are avoided. Typically this also results in an easy load for amplifiers to drive. High amplifier power isn't really needed. Should be a nice match with a tube amp. Great to see that they're 95% made in USA. Nice!
@IndieAlternative27
Жыл бұрын
I almost got nervous, but then Steve reassured me. There would be a viewer system of the day.
@allanwhittle3041
Жыл бұрын
No one compares to SG Simply the best reviewer out here . I really must get to hear these speakers again recommended by my dealer 10 years ago and I opted for B&Ws as they were the bigger brand name , I should have been braver bought the Zu . Cheers for the reviews 👍
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Alan, I'm surprised your dealer would recommend Zu, they sell direct.
@keplermission
Жыл бұрын
'Braver' is right ... B&W are tuneful and Zu ... well, Steve hints at a certain partnering amplifier. You know today's Car Audio sourced know-how is awesome but a 'brave new world'.
@sixergixer
Жыл бұрын
According to some history I learned from a recent John DeVore KZitem video, interestingly, Zu had a brief period in time where an investor(s) moved them to a dealer-type sales model and it just didn't work out very well. Fortunately, founder Sean Casey was able to wrestle back control of his company enough to return to the direct sale model he cherishes so much.
@mediascapes2011
Жыл бұрын
Agreed, a great salesman, but funny enough i never fell for one of products
@wardprocter2371
Жыл бұрын
I feel like I shouldn’t have to spend extra to get well matched drivers. If you’re going to manufacture speakers that should be a key part of the process. Kinda suggests that the”base” model may not be up to scratch.
@67Pepper
Жыл бұрын
Good point!
@thebestoffools
Жыл бұрын
Speakers should be like socks.
@harleyn3089
Жыл бұрын
All of their speakers have matched drivers, likely much better matched than other brands. The upgrade just gets the matching from "tight" to "very tight".
@67Pepper
Жыл бұрын
@@thebestoffools Machine washable?
@mpi5850
Жыл бұрын
Definitely weird. No one else does this.
@tonyladokguy8985
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Steve for another great presentation. I got the DW6 based on your previous video, and just a word of advice: these things HAVE TO BREAK IN, and they go through various phases as they break in, probably more so than any speaker I've ever had. And I've owned about 25 speakers over the last 45 years! Before break-in, you'd think they suck. Once broken in, very satisfying. No, they aren't "better" than my Devore Super 9s, just different. Both play the tunes and keep the beat, as Art Dudley used to say. Both connect you to the music. The Devores have greater scale and impact. But compare the price.
@keplermission
Жыл бұрын
You know ... 12 ohm speakers, need an amplifier ideally suited and the power supply inside is different from an 8 ohm or a 6 ohm like your Devore Super 9. Try using an amplifier suited for 12 ohm.
@NeverTalkToCops1
Жыл бұрын
No, "break in" is a myth. You've been bamboozled.
@tonyladokguy8985
Жыл бұрын
@@keplermission appreciate the advice, but how do you know what amplifier(s) I'm using?
@Zzz-lz9kb
Жыл бұрын
Curious how long the break in took?
@keplermission
Жыл бұрын
@@tonyladokguy8985 Well ... for some reason ... Steve prefers the Audiokarma style thread. Maybe he's been conditioned by reading it? (Only hints allowed)
@weizenobstmusli8232
Жыл бұрын
So good to see really nice and affordable products made in the US. For a big company, the only reason to make such a thing in China, is to press more margin to give it to the shareholders.
@NickP333
Жыл бұрын
Amazing system of the day! Wow, that’s a true thing of beauty. 🔊🎶💜
@mpi5850
Жыл бұрын
That guy is clearly single, lol, those speakers take up the whole living room.
@michaelvaladez6570
2 ай бұрын
Love this review because Steve Guttenberg enthusiasm comes across as it should a honest opinion 👍 !
@richsherman3673
Жыл бұрын
I have owed a pair of Tokyo Frost Druids from 2006 and have enjoyed them very much. Then.... late last year I upgradeded the stock Tweeters with the latest ASD-101 Waveguides and they bloomed open like a Tulip greeting the Sun. The stock 10" Driver is still on duty. Maybe I will upgrade that but for the meantime, they sound so good, I just listen to the Music. The Tweeters uprades created a completely new set of Druids, the new tweetere are fantastic, clear, smooth and delicate.
@lsaideOK
Жыл бұрын
I gave the dirty weekends a try. While I wasn't fully satisfied with the sound, I was very satisfied with the customer service. They answered every question and gave me plenty of suggestions. In the end it didn't work out, but I returned them and got a full refund minus the original shipping. Very professional.
@DirectX3
6 ай бұрын
No retailer audition available and still going to charge customers on return shipping.... ??? 🤔 Sorry no matter what online says about it, I pass.
@lsaideOK
6 ай бұрын
@@DirectX3 They don't charge shipping one way and give you a 60-day free trial with boatloads of communication before and during the trial. Couldn't ask for more. The vast majority of people will probably keep the speakers. They were beautiful and created to order. They're going to lose a couple hundred selling them as B stock.
@trauma50disaster1
4 ай бұрын
what did you compare them with and what did you end up with?
@net_news
Жыл бұрын
amazing design and great price!! This is the way to go!! 🙌
@joenovak6393
Жыл бұрын
Country of Origin: USA (>95%)...Now that's what I am talking about. Hey Steve, what's your take on the MoFi SourcePoint 10 compared to the ZU DWX?
@vicu2sk811
3 ай бұрын
The reason for DWX is that you can imitate the Definition speakers very well with two Undertone subwoofers and 4 overlapping speakers, and you can also arch them bluntly when you overlap them.
@bruceandt
3 ай бұрын
Book shelf… large book shelf.. small stand mounts … large stand mounts… Somewhere in between all of this, we discover a critical design choice. The popular hifi bookshelf …. Intense bracing to allow 86 db 6.5” drivers deliver. This requires a very powerful amplifier. Now we find the 8 ohm high sensitivity speakers trying to slide into a market as large book shelf or stand mount speakers. Ok… but let’s all truly define the difference.
@dobieprime
5 ай бұрын
Steve, thank you for all the amazing work you have done over the years. I have read you and now watch you. I am on the verge of changing some things around. I am making a listening room, library kind of room at my home. At the moment I have a Rotel Tribute amp that I really enjoy. But, I am wondering what you're advice would be. Would Zu speakers work with my Rotel Tribute amp? Thanks again for all you do!
@MrRourk
Жыл бұрын
I like they front ported it. Makes placement a bit easier.
@Projacked1
Жыл бұрын
Setting the height of the speakers is dependent on the box and design. Set them too low and your sound image will be as if it's half in the floor. I would argue tweaking the height is the most important of any speaker. Get that part right, and it doesn't matter if you sit or stand up. It's the same with this sort if 'golden rule' that your tweeters should be on ear height. In my experience that is so not correct.-> Sound image= absolute. A vocalist for example should not be floating somewhere in the room , or somewhere near the floor. It's dependent on the dispersion of the drivers, so invest your time in the proper height for said speaker. The vocalist, in most cases , is standing during recording. Get the height right, and personal taste (width and toe-in) comes after that.
@MrKarlengel
Жыл бұрын
I have always wanted to have some ZU speakers. The advantage of these bookshelf ones is that I can import them through my forwarder to South America by plane. The freight cost of the floorstanders would be impossible to pay.
@stevieg3078
6 ай бұрын
Excellent review as usual. Your upgraded Zu DWXs bring the price point to $2k a pair.....closer to the KEF R3 Metas. How do they compare? Thanks.
@scottbernard8824
Жыл бұрын
My hearing only goes to 12kHz. Is there an option without the super tweeter?
@NickP333
Жыл бұрын
😂 You’re not alone, Scott…lol
@peterlarkin762
Жыл бұрын
It's probably -3 or -6 db at 12khz so you're gonna miss some micro details in the 8khz to 12khz range.
@jennahaze6835
3 ай бұрын
Is it worth it to get the superfly or premium package?
@michaelwright1602
Жыл бұрын
I just took delivery of the DW6's with the Supreme upgrade package and they do nothing but continue to impress me. I have a pair of the, circa 2017, Zu Omen Dirty Weekends and they sound fantastic. But, these new DW6's are walking all over them. Everything is better across the board, I honestly was not expecting this huge of an improvement over my Omens, but they did it. These new DW6 speakers disappear in the room, where the Omens, due to their finicky nature, it was difficult to do. And the soundstage, it is so much larger, I am hearing things behind and around me, these DW6's are three dimensional and holographic in the way they present the sound. I am simply blown away at what these babies can do. And here is my secret sauce to that sound... I'm using a vintage 1970 Sansui 4000 stereo receiver, streaming with a, don't laugh, WiiM Pro through a PS Audio GainCell DAC/Preamp to the AUX in on the Sansui. A Mofi StudioDeck is spinning the vinyl, using the internal phono stage on the Sansui. The Sansui creates deep incredible bass, with a very airy tube like sound in the midrange. The top end is so sweet, no harshness, none of that modern sterility, but very detailed and so sweet to the ears. The Sansui and Zu's were built for each other. The bass that both of the Zu's can produce is much lower than what the specs say, it has to be. I simply cannot get over how Zu did this. I have two SVS SB-3000 subs, and I really do not need them. I can turn them off, and they are set so low right now, nearly zeroed out, and the Zu's alone can rattle the cabinet glass in my dining room. And when I say rattle, I am only playing at less than quarter volume. I am not playing these loud at all to get this kind of sound out of them. And it is NOT a muddy or boomy bass, it is how I perceive the bass should sound. It is tight and fast where it should be, and deep and low when it needs to be. It is the Sansui doing this, my modern gear could not even come close to doing what this 53 yo Sansui can do.
@stimpy1226
Жыл бұрын
If I were to be building a 300 B system, why would I want these speakers that are $200 less than the floor standers? Makes no sense to me.
@laurencerothman931
Жыл бұрын
Totally agree, by the time you get stands you're already spending more for the same footprint and less sound. This is why I switched to floor-standers years ago.
@peterlarkin762
Жыл бұрын
They might sound better certain rooms or if the customer has subs already. Totally agree though floorstanders are often better value considering you dont need stands and get full bass.
@sixergixer
Жыл бұрын
As Steve said in the video, and others here, the standmounts offer much greater variety in positioning that *may* make them sound better in a listener's space than the floorstanders, especially as it relates to driver height. Probably worth auditioning them both to find out. But it's definitely not a good idea to just assume that any floorstander is automatically better than any standmount.
@NickP333
Жыл бұрын
ZU better get ready for a lotta orders for those speakers, especially after this great review, the more than reasonable cost, their high impedance and sensitivity (easy to drive), etc. I haven’t had speaker upgraditis since buying my Pendragons about 4 yrs ago, but I may have to add a pair of these DWX’s to my speaker arsenal… They seem to be right up my alley. Thanks, Steve! Fantastic review. 👍🔊😊🎶
@MeTuLHeD
11 ай бұрын
That connector is not proprietary to Zu. It's called a SpeakOn and it's widely used in the pro audio world.
@seanisham8593
Жыл бұрын
Good review, Steve! A question: did you use any amps from your Nelson Pass amp stack with the Zu’s? My older pair of Zu’s (DW Omen Mk.II) really come to life with the First Watt J-2. Thanks Steve.
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Жыл бұрын
I did not use any PASS amplifiers with the DWX, just the ones I referred to in the review. But over the years I have used many PASS and First Watt amplifiers with Zu speakers with very good results.
@mrmessyjesse
Жыл бұрын
Be cool to see them compared to the Mofi Point Source 10, way different prices but look similar in size. Are the Mofi’s worth the more money?
@stimpy1226
Жыл бұрын
Oh the system of the day is spectacular!
@EricBurbeck
Жыл бұрын
Yeah, that’s some top level gear!
@AllboroLCD
Жыл бұрын
Gotta have nothin but love for ZU. These guys really are a rare gem of a brand when you look at the US audio industry as a whole.
@keplermission
Жыл бұрын
Well you know ... I was just thinking about all the people who really want to have audio systems but they just have nothing because they're you know, so unfortunate in life. Just think how lucky Steve is and all his RICH viewers. Yeah ... most of Steve's viewers are all the beautiful people but uh ... there are one or two you know, dreamers let's say.
@mediascapes2011
Жыл бұрын
Agreed one needs to look beyond
@AllboroLCD
Жыл бұрын
@@keplermission Good HiFi has simply become less of a mainstream thing and more a niche, expensive hobby these days sadly.
@stevenholt5484
Жыл бұрын
@@AllboroLCD Not true, you just need to know where to look. Topping and SMSL are doing amazing, affordable things. And Zu, 'a rare gem of a brand'?? Oh, boy......
@AllboroLCD
Жыл бұрын
@@stevenholt5484 None of those other brands you mentioned are US based. That was my whole point.
@matsnaslund5762
Жыл бұрын
When did a regular Speakon connector become Zu?!
@EricBurbeck
Жыл бұрын
When Zu marketing decided to sell it that way 😂
@claytonkeltto3239
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the great review! I'm really curious about zu speakers but haven't taken the plunge yet. Also, you mentioned the isle of view lp...I hadn't listened to that in a long time...had to get it out again. Very nice!
@toddd7444
10 күн бұрын
' gr research Zu DWX, a TOTAL KNOCKOUT! upgrade mod easy to do crossover upgrade kit the speaker mafia marketing' the weak point of any speaker on the market today are the crossover parts they use cheap parts made to sale they dont really care about the sound really. they just want your money. dont buy in to the speaker mafia its you money not mine hugs wheelchair larry
@rawheadjim
Жыл бұрын
After your Pure Audio Project Duet15 review I really wanted a pair, but the $6,500 price tag is a little out of my range. I know it's not a fair comparison, but what would I be losing if I got a pair of ZU DWX or DW6's instead? I like the efficiency aspect of these, and I think they would go well with the rest of my gear.
@keplermission
Жыл бұрын
Yeah but ... the efficiency at 12 ohm is not the same as your efficiency at 6 ohm. It's not simply half, the whole amplifier has to be the right one.
@Martian128
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Steve! Interesting stuff!
@Martian128
Жыл бұрын
I have space constraints that the DWX would fit And the front port is especially welcome, as well as the orientation flexibility. Does Decware have an amp one or two levels above the Zen Triode? I'm not after anything ultimate, maybe just one or two steps above entry level. Love the 95 dB sensitivity !!!
@XeroBritt
Ай бұрын
The Decware Rachel SE34 has. 5.5. - 6 watts into 8ohms. I use it with my Klipsch Fortes and it’s great. Waited over two years to get it though…
@paolocruz8392
Жыл бұрын
I recall the big stanmpunt speakers of Lo-D HS400. 2 way by Hitachi. I regret everyday that I didn't buy those speakers. I tested it with a LSA 3350 15watt amplifier. It sounded great. I wanted to buy the set but could only afford the amp that time. By the time I saved up for the speaker it was sold.
@TitusTetricus
Жыл бұрын
I only recently learned about Zu and both the DW6 and DWX speakers, but everything I hear says I should replace my speakers. They're not even a year old haha.
@flargosa
Жыл бұрын
Does the Zu loose resolution when the music gets busy? I have noticed that full range drivers play simple music, like solo voice or solo voice with guitar, very well but complex music with a lot of things going on blurs the resolution a bit compared to 2 or 3 way speaker.
@sixergixer
Жыл бұрын
Following this query since I listen to a lot of music with massive layers of sound like doom and black metal, and also very large orchestral works.
@yuknasty1013
8 ай бұрын
Ditto
@yuknasty1013
8 ай бұрын
I would like to know that too
@paulwg2112
Жыл бұрын
I need the bookshelf flexibility. So I’m ordering these over the floor stander.
@seanb3303
Жыл бұрын
This review is a bit confusing because the pricing given is for the basic unit but this unit is over 2k with all the upgrades…like combine it with this cheap amp and you have a great system for under 2k…but I’m not reviewing the stock version so I’m guessing it’s still great??
@michaelwright1602
Жыл бұрын
I would say so... I have two pair of the Dirty Weekends, their Omen, stock, from 2017 and a pair of the Dirty Weekend 6's with the Supreme upgrade. I could easily live with the old Omens, which I am sure are not as good as the new stock DW6. Pair the Zu's with a vintage receiver, I use a 1970 Sansui 4000 and am continually blown away by the sound. None of my modern gear could come close to doing what this 53 yo Sansui can, and does do when paired with the Zu's.
@AdrianIII
Жыл бұрын
Steve - I would almost guarantee you and I can't hear anything that the super-tweeter produces. What do you think?
@BillBodega
3 ай бұрын
How does mounting work? Are those like special tripods?
@jedi-mic
Жыл бұрын
why you not say what it is? it's a speakon connector what can take up to 8 connectors in one connector
@frankgeeraerts6243
Жыл бұрын
INDEED
@Eugene737
Жыл бұрын
Steve, Is the DW6 good for near field as well?
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Жыл бұрын
Yes
@pixelmixture3067
Жыл бұрын
can't get the point of a smaller version which in fact is bigger or at least taller than the bigger brother while on a stand
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Жыл бұрын
Covered in the review
@RichardDurishin
Жыл бұрын
Steve, what about using the DWX as a studio monitor - style speaker?
@Philear4124
Жыл бұрын
Hi Steve, How would you compare this to the much more expensive Pearl Acoustics Sibelius. Grtz Phil
@paulroscelli2545
Жыл бұрын
I wonder how the speakers would compare to the harbeth 5s?
@frozerekmeyata4091
10 ай бұрын
I currently have JBL L7 speakers that now are in need of refoam and new tweeters. I was looking at other speakers, but forums I went on all said to rebuild mine because nothing under $4,000 each would come close to what I have. But now I curious about these ZU DWX, so I'm confused as to what to do. What I did notice about the ZU DWX speakers is that they are only 36" tall, wouldn't they sound better on speaker stands to bring the speaker to ear level?
@pickyaudiophile
Жыл бұрын
Mouth watering after 20 seconds, I keep on listening....
@joeygonzo
Жыл бұрын
makes me want to build an Eminence DIY
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Жыл бұрын
Do it!
@waldowsxxghostxx8577
Жыл бұрын
How well are the cabinets made?
@peerloo6931
Жыл бұрын
allright steve! playing esg. proper downtown newyork music. moody!
@jackiechan8840
Жыл бұрын
What amps would you recommend for Zu speakers in general?
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Жыл бұрын
I recommended some in the review! These are easy to Drive speakers, not fussy about amplifiers.
@jackiechan8840
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Steve. Appreciate your videos 👍
@michaelwright1602
Жыл бұрын
Try a vintage Sansui, audio nirvana... I think Zu and Sansui collaborated in an alternate universe.
@jackiechan8840
Жыл бұрын
@@michaelwright1602 I've got a rotel at moment. Didn't sound good with LS meta's.
@jennahaze6835
3 ай бұрын
Get a crown amp
@DAlan0909
Жыл бұрын
Would have been curious to hear them with the Emotiva TA-2 instead of the Denon.
@tmichael80
3 ай бұрын
I'm seriously considering these DWXs, any body have thoughts on speaker stands, as they are larger & heavier than most bookshelf speakers?
@jonvonshitzlebawm3331
12 күн бұрын
I’m considering them myself and think I may just build some simple wood stands to suit my space and budget
@TheBaldTruth1
Жыл бұрын
There is no replacement for displacement in woofer size!
@Hiluxtaco
Жыл бұрын
Sweet! A new speaker video by Steve!
@uncrocco
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the insights in this review. I have an off axis listening area and need to find speakers I can place on actual bookshelf close to back wall (can't place on floor) so looking at the DWX or MoFi Sourcepoint 8 for sideways placement. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts on which of these two might be more ideal for my placement and room. Room is 15 x 20 and looking for speaker that are good for off axis (no triangle seating position) and need speakers the play well at low volumes as well as high. I know the SP8 is not out yet but anyone who has heard the SP 10 vs. DW6 perhaps would have insight that can guide me.
@johnenglishIII
Жыл бұрын
My experience with the DW 2 is that most of the fun happens in that triangle seating position, sadly. But the low volume thing, they do that in an amazing way.
@artofthereal
Жыл бұрын
I have to ask, why do some people say Tekton and Zu are not the real deal and compare them to Bose? I have never heard them myself, but they are curious to me. The same people say Ascend is great.
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Жыл бұрын
I get it, everybody's got opinions. But whether or not they're based on actual experience of listening, that's a different story.
@michaelwright1602
Жыл бұрын
One thing I discovered with the Dirty Weekend line is that gear plays a huge role in what comes out of these speakers. They are high sensitivity, so it takes little to drive them. I now own two pair, the 2017 Zu Omen Dirty Weekends and their new Dirty Weekend 6 with the Supreme upgrade package. I tried a bunch of gear with the original Omens, and I found a PS Audio GainCell DAC and a Parasound A23+ did a great job, but there was still much lacking. And I had the Venus II 12th DAC, their Athena preamp and Thallo amp, the sound was muddy and veiled with that gear. Tried some Schiit, some Emotiva, etc, and they sounded like crap. I remember seeing a video on vintage Sansui receivers and the Zu Dirty Weekends. I found one used locally, a Sansui 2000 AM/FM stereo receiver with phono, $200... OMG! I have since upgraded to a year older, 1970, Sansui 4000... The modern gear I have owned could not even come close to what both of the Sansui units could do with the Zu's. I paid $200 for each of those Sansui units, $1000 for my Zu Omen Dirty Weekends and added a WiiM Mini to the system. $1300 all in, I could have easily lived with that system for many many years. The Zu's are a special beast, and I can see why folks would say what you reported, because with the wrong gear, these sound like crap. With the right gear, 3D and holographic sound that envelops the room. Bass output that goes so low that you will sell your subs, and the ability to sound so airy and tube like without a tube preamp/amp, just incredible what the Zu's can do with the right gear in the chain.
@ryan1845
Жыл бұрын
Wonderful review. Ever come across the Astell & Kern SP3000 portable digital audio player ($3700)? I would love to know what you think about the current "state of the art" capabilities of portable audio systems and their integration with home systems :)
@DJ_BROBOT
Жыл бұрын
On Aks, the wifi always sucks..and if it sucks, then your apps won't work well
@ryan1845
Жыл бұрын
@@DJ_BROBOT BRO. You base a DAP on its wifi capabilities? What was the issue? Software or hardware? What "apps" were impacted? What unit are you referring to?
@NightFlight1973
Жыл бұрын
Tried Zu DW II. They say you'll love/hate Zu, and their right. After living with a pair for a month, I came to the conclusion - I hate their sound. Its inarticulate, coloured, missing coherence and boomy. I'd rather have a pair of Cerwin Vega bangers if you want impact and loud with better coherence. I just don't get Zu - they want too much money and I feel they are niche for the hard of hearing. There are many many better options. Almost anything from ELAC spings to mind. /soapbox
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Жыл бұрын
Cool, so what did you replace the Zus with?
@NightFlight1973
Жыл бұрын
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac I don't know. Maybe its my room and equipment, but the DFR52 from ELAC seem to outperform the Zu DW II in terms of all the pertinent parameters by a good margin. IMHO and for a lot less $, which for me is a value deal. The DFR52s still list for $USD699 The DFR52 towers seem to be built on the same platform as the well regarded DBR62 bookies, just with two woofers serving the bottom end and third of same design tuned to midr-ange crossed with the tweeter. But, they're still towers and have a little talk from the side panels which is hard to tame. Originally I was thinking more tower = a better version of the bookies, but this did not necessarily turn out to be true. I see my future self compromising and building either a GR-Research or CSS kit bookshelves. I've also never heard anything of the Klipsch Heritage line and open to testing those waters. This never ends... And sorry for the rant. It was possibly unfounded - I've not actually heard these particular Zu bookshelves. I'm just so turned off by their house sound that I kind of went off. Maybe they're great. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@NightFlight1973
Жыл бұрын
Wait correction. The DFR52 got bumped to $899 and I priced them wrong, that for some reason is not per pair, its per speaker. But I got mine from a Canadian ELAC dealer in Toronto for $1200 CAD, so that would have been 880USD for the pair. So that's a more realistic street price. After shipping and such, the DWII speakers were around $2300 CAD, so twice as much.
@stevenholt5484
Жыл бұрын
Your comment is spot - on. The frequency bleed on these speakers is a nightmare, and all the 'break in' in the world isn't going to solve that. You did the right thing by going with Elac.
@NightFlight1973
Жыл бұрын
@@stevenholt5484 Well, its kind of obvious when you audition them together in your own home for a few weeks. Not that you need it that long, but I gave it an honest go. Its not a question of power or a good source or all that nonsense in this particular case. ELAC/Zu are totally different animals. They say its a matter of taste. Steve is no schelp, he's been around the block (and back) - knows what sounds good and he likes Zu. That makes me scratch my head. Zu reminds me of PA sound. I have heard very very few live powered performances that actually sound good. They are generally way too loud. One venue that was really good was Muldoons in Kingston, ON in the 90s. It was properly treated room and powered with Bryston (Teo Audio) and no PA garbage. They spent a lot of time tweaking that space. I watched Suzanne Vega there, and man... it sounded considerably better than any of her studio recordings. Since then, for me live performances have been more or less nothing but a let down. People just like loud harsh mud because they don't know better, or care. There's no incentive to do better. I guess what I'm saying is that that big harsh and flub PA sound isn't for me, and that seems to be the sound that Zu is chasing to put in homes. IMHO, doesn't work. I could be wrong, given they have much higher end offerings, the Soul IV for instance. But I'm certain the entry fee sets up a buyers halo effect.
@michaelhead4387
Жыл бұрын
Speaker stand suggestions?
@kloss213
Жыл бұрын
92db 1 watt is not = to horns even if the speaker is kind of cool.
@RogierYou
Жыл бұрын
With a name like Zu I was under the impression it was made in China..
@jimthvac100
Жыл бұрын
Lost complete interest in the speaker when you said it crosses so high, I don't like speakers that beam like this... that speaker would have to be aimed at your head all the time or you would miss out in frequencies. I like to walk around the room some when listening to music not stand in one single spot. They made a unique speaker that is not practical.
@janetyer7147
Жыл бұрын
Is this "The New Zu Review"? For those who don't get the above reference, here is an excerpt from the current version of a Wikipedia article on the topic, which states that the, "New Zoo Revue is an American half-hour children's television show that ran in first-run syndication from 1972 to 1977."
@RumblestripDotNet
Жыл бұрын
It's the New Zoo Review, coming right at you!
@johnboard7770
Жыл бұрын
Steve were you able to play these driven by the Sarah?
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Жыл бұрын
No, I did not. But I'm sure it would work since the DWX paired very well with the two watt Zen Triode.
@johnboard7770
Жыл бұрын
Thanks. Looking forward to part 2 of your Sarah review!
@SuperMcgenius
Жыл бұрын
Oh shit , ESG is so old NYC 👍
@mpi5850
Жыл бұрын
Centre channel speaker? Seriously? That thing is huge. I don’t think Zu intends these as AV system speakers. And putting them on their sides, or upside down? Seriously. Are you sure you didn’t dip into the special sauce before doing this review Steve??
@stevieg2755
Жыл бұрын
Some of your records maybe sold about 10 worldwide
@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120
Жыл бұрын
Drivers Made 30mins from my house , Built ole skool ' Now Automated robotics Systems building these Emenece KY Drivers 😃 Thanks Steve ' 🇺🇸 Did you Port Plugs ' ?
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Жыл бұрын
No port plugs.
@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120
Жыл бұрын
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac 😥 Rolled up Socks work well 😆
@simonirvine0000
Жыл бұрын
Maybe it is time to start reviewing some different brands rather than the same old same old..
@Atheistic007
Жыл бұрын
Interesting to see Robertson screw heads on a made in USA product.
@dougg1075
Жыл бұрын
Nice
@kawasakiaddiction6296
Жыл бұрын
Any Speaker can be turned sideways or upside down. Stereo Imaging can not, due to the Format. This is a ridiculous "review".
@benleo56
Жыл бұрын
Wow was this review too long. Steve, get to it man! Don't understand why he belabored this, but I had to stop watching it. The annunciation emphasis made it seem like he was teaching english as a foreign language. I have watched Steve's videos and read him when on CNET for many years. This is not up to his previous standards.
@phantumdrummer
Жыл бұрын
Very nice speaker, but... oh, look yet another specialty and totally odd ball connector for people to spend EXTRA money on. In full Apple style. Yup... no thank you.
@DJ_BROBOT
Жыл бұрын
Don't worry. Whenever you get that special connector on Zus, you also get regular binding posts too
@phantumdrummer
Жыл бұрын
@@DJ_BROBOT Correct. Why add an odd connector that nobody uses to a speaker? Looks more like marketing fluff than useful. The binding post's would have been more than adequate.
@jimfarrell4635
Жыл бұрын
It's a neutrik speakon connector, common on subwoofers and actually much more secure than bananas and less prone to damage. Personally I like them but would not pay extra for one. I think most of the extra cost is for better caps and driver matching etc.
@michaelwright1602
Жыл бұрын
I have the DW6, and use Mogami coaxial wire with Banana plugs on mine with my 53 yo Sansui 4000 receiver, no issues, sounds incredible.
@mpi5850
4 ай бұрын
Steve, stop saying bookshelves can be positioned on their sides on stands. They look ridiculous like that and NOBODY does that.
@sean_heisler
4 ай бұрын
Zu recommends that you can do this. I think you are missing the point. In a traditional 2-way speaker, no, you probably would not want to do that. In this case almost the entire frequency range comes from that 10" full-range driver. So, yeah, the idea of putting it on it's side can work due to the single-driver design, even despite the REALLY high frequency tweeter as part of the factor.
@LS-ti6jo
Жыл бұрын
So 3 of them would work in a audio/home theater system, or as a center with 2 DW6's?
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Жыл бұрын
Five speakers
@mpi5850
Жыл бұрын
These are not suited to home theatre, stupid idea.
@TheDanEdwards
Жыл бұрын
@@mpi5850 "stupid idea."
@mikemcguinness1304
Жыл бұрын
Its a speakon neutrik connection.zu didnt invent the connection
@frankgeeraerts6243
Жыл бұрын
RIGHT
@randybehenna3763
Жыл бұрын
Let’s hear from the folks How many can buy a set of speakers today for that price
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Жыл бұрын
Zu has found plenty of customers for over 20 years. The company is doing well.
@lilpoindexter
Жыл бұрын
Damn ....you really make me wanna try Zu.
@trumps-not-rightfor-us5603
Жыл бұрын
Everybody needs to pay attention to what I'm saying first of all the way in speaker looks and the cones themselves have nothing to do with whether it sounds better or worse than another what matters are the internals the crossover configuration and the strength of what it will handle period, as well as a portion of it has to do with the box that the drivers sit in with a particular kind of dampening fiber that's it great, do you know how many different brands of speakers there are? I will tell you 953 different manufacturers worldwide, and out of those 953 manufacturers they produced over 6422 different models of speaker Siri, it is an extraordinarily lucrative business when you think of what their cost is to build them Which is less than 20% the MSRP when they put this Baby's Uptown Market Perry, and that is the absolute truth the other truth is that only about sixteen different brands are available within your local city in order to audition them the rest are nothing more than a guess period, And the fact that the manufacturers spend so little to produce these boxes Mary, why not just call them up and write them and say hey send me a pair of them so I cannot dishes them to decide whether or not to pay you an extraordinary high-priced wood Carrie, this is an opinion F-250 two years of shuffling through amplifiers preamplifiers receivers speakers turntables cassette decks CD players Dax you name it.. I feel myself a well-educated expert on which speakers would do one best for the space in which they live with inside Siri, the problem that I have is that I simply do not have the time to produce dozens of videos and spend money to advertise them everywhere so the people can find them if they have questions they know where to contact me and email address and so forth and I will tell them what they need to know thank you very much for your videos I do appreciate it I truly do
@phantumdrummer
Жыл бұрын
Ever hear of a "run on sentence"? OMG, punctuation IS a thing. No matter what you have to say, you lost us just after several words in.
@yantrussart6584
Жыл бұрын
Euh, ok, could you repeat that in english please? From what I gather, you seem to be offering some sort of consultation service, but whatever knowledge you may want to peddle, it won't worth much if delivered in that tortured gibberich you use as lieu of language...
@TheDanEdwards
Жыл бұрын
@@phantumdrummer I suspect it is a failed AI.
@phantumdrummer
Жыл бұрын
@@TheDanEdwards LOL!
@keithwalker8090
Жыл бұрын
I say this without malice, you need to take a rest. In the comments, people are always blowing off steams of frustration over the price of HIFI gear. You have taken this to a whole new level. Read what you wrote and tell me that a rational person wrote that. Please take some time to think and rest.
@mikemcguinness1304
Жыл бұрын
Why are you making a fuss over them going up to 12 k ?
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Жыл бұрын
Most "two way" speakers crossover around 2K
@mikemcguinness1304
Жыл бұрын
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac ah crossover .. I see ... I thought you meant right up there steve
@mikemcguinness1304
Жыл бұрын
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Steve can you get your hands on a pair of brit speakers called proac d20r
@bolsesolheim7469
Жыл бұрын
Zu is nothing Special !Dear Steve You never commented on my Collection of the worlds Largest Collection of Audio Power Labs at $492500 Could not care less! Your Shirts are disgusting by the way! Muchos Gracias! Dr Solheim Marbella and Noruega!
@ChuckCelticCarNut
6 ай бұрын
Just so you know I just bought a pair of DWXs, after hearing them at the Southwest Audio Fest today. Just for your information, the price difference of $200 is before shipping, the difference after shipping is $300 to my location. Thank you for introducing me to Zu Audio.
@Tom_the_great
Жыл бұрын
Is that a standard speakon connector?
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Жыл бұрын
Yes, in the pro world.
@BretFrohwein
Жыл бұрын
Steve, my RP-600M's are sitting here glaring at you after overhearing that review. 😉
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Жыл бұрын
Ha ha!
@stillaliveandwell5291
Жыл бұрын
Nice to use different amps but since you mentioned being able to turn them upside down or tweeter inside outside that would have been important. Large standmounts can't usually do that. How does that affect the soundstage? I think 3,4,5 inches is too much leeway from being level with the main driver. More like half to one and a half inches max. Also speaker can be slightly tilted upwards, usually easier than slightly tilting the listener 😅. Hey I resemble that! Love the all american vibe, but really it's about great drivers and these are impressive for the price regardless. I've seen Elvis many times, always a super show, he is a prostate cancer survivor which is about all we have in common 😮. I loved his tv show from about 10 years ago. I think there are episodes on yt.
@astolatpere11
Жыл бұрын
Switzerland rocking a fine system of the day! 😮
@jikenj
Жыл бұрын
Very cool Steve and you had me at jazz side of the Moon 👍🎷
@hilde45
Жыл бұрын
As you know, isolation makes such a difference to speakers' coherence and punch. My speakers benefited so much from Townshend podiums. I wonder if you might consider reviewing them or at least discussing the subject in a video. Thanks, Steve.
@harleyn3089
Жыл бұрын
I actually agree that isolation is a benefit, for speakers and even for electronics since capacitors and tubes are microphonic. But one of the very best isolators is silicone. You can get a package of silicone earplugs for a couple of bucks that probably isolate better than expensive audiophile products do. (Just use 4 of them on the corners underneath a speaker.) That's what a lot of mastering engineers use.
@dilbyjones
Жыл бұрын
Love Zu and Co. Love the mgmt
@xilebat
Жыл бұрын
Would the Paraound Hint 6 solid-state amplifier be a good match for the Zu DWX? And did I miss how far they should be from the front wall?
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
Жыл бұрын
I think so
@xilebat
Жыл бұрын
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Thanks, Steve. I would be replacing my Klipsch RP-600Ms. I’m working on an “All Guttenberg” system… haven’t been steered wrong yet!
@michaelwright1602
Жыл бұрын
I had the Parasound A23+ and a PS Audio GainCell DAC/Preamp and they sounded very good with the Zu Omen Dirty Weekends I own. What took the the Zu's to new heights was a 53 yo Sansui 4000 receiver I picked up for $200. I sold the Parasound and kept the PS Audio for digital duty. That $200 Sansui is the heart of my system, as it does what none of my modern gear could do.
@paulstearns93
Жыл бұрын
As I am sure you are aware, as drivers become larger, the frequency at which they start beaming becomes lower. At 10" the woofer starts beaming at ~850 hz. This combined with the distance between the acoustic centers of the 2 drivers would have a tendency to make the vertical off axis response be a little wonky. The reason for this comment is to potentially explain your comment about standing & sitting. Of course beaming has benefits for the single listener in the sweet spot, but it could be less advantageous for someone trying to provide good listening to a larger number of positions..
@RoadtoNowhere73
Жыл бұрын
I have that Goldfinger record! a hand down from my pops (RIP).
@acorreira1915
Жыл бұрын
Why would one choose a huge "standmount" speaker over the "tower" version when they take up the same amount of space?
@sammymiami8601
Жыл бұрын
I have a toddler now, so my tower speakers may need to make their way out of my main listening room. Perhaps there is a way to mount these on my wall?
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