Zu audio Omen Def MK1-B on the way...

[dduval]

Some hate em, some love em...guess ill find out. Always wanted to try a pair of full range xoverless speakers, so I scooped a pair up off audiogon. They are upgraded with mundorf silver in oil caps and the latest nanotech drivers. Same drivers they use in the definitions...

Should be interesting...should have by this weekend. Some specs:

Zu nanotech drivers are now standard equipment (Zu103ND/G1-16) these are the same units developed for our Dominance and as used on Definition Mk.IV and Mk.III. They feature our high-output motor assembly, 16 ohm magnetically neutral-hung voice coils and paper-cored nanotech cones. No other changes are done. Original Omen Def loudspeakers can be field upgraded. Markings for Omen Def Mk.I-B are: REVISION-B nameplate and the engraved model identification on the drivers’ center cone.

High efficiency, high output, moderate impedance, direct radiating, floor-standing loudspeaker. Omen Def Mk.I-B features Zu’s full-range driver (Zu103ND/G1-16), in the Zu Definition architecture, ZuGriewe driver/box/room acoustic loading technology, no crossover or filters on full-range drivers, complimented by a dynamic tweeter featuring phenolic-composite dome and machined 6061-T651 billet lens, providing the acoustic sparkle and resolution from 10kHz and up.

Mk.I-B June 2012, shipping August 2012 (Mk.I-A November 2010)
47x12x12[119.4x30.5x30.5cm]
12 x 12” [30.5 x 30.5 cm]
78 pounds [36kg]
FlexPak, one loudspeaker per shipping box, 84 pounds [38kg]

2x Zu103ND/G1-16, 10-1/3” full-range nanotech driver in Zu Definition array covering 30–12,000 Hz Zu/U-APT-L2 tweeter assembly
better than 1% driver pair matching, 0.1% on all other electrical components
accepting: 1/4” spade [6.3mm fork], 5/16” spade [8mm fork], bare wire ≤ #4 AWG, banana plugs

100dB SPL @ 1W/1m
8 ohm, nominal full bandwidth (5 ohm minimum at 270 Hz)

[dduval]

My Def's arrived yesterday. Haven't got them dialed in yet and just doing some 2channel direct thru my onkyo 3008. But I will say this, so far I absolutely love them. The midrange is just killer. The highs are nice and smooth and base is tight and impacts with authority. I listened to everything from country to pop to metal. At 100 db of sensitivity...when cranked up...they will blow your mind. Crystal clear and just loud as hell, never distorts or breaks up. I just listened to "rhythm of love" by Yes at extreme levels thru my onkyo and that song has never sounded so good.

[tesseract]

One of my favorite Yes songs.

Congrats on the new Zu speakers, I bet they sound great. I'd like to try Zu someday. So many speakers, so little time (and money).

[dduval]

Yea, I almost went with the Tekton Pendragons, but the wait from Eric is ridiculously long...

Both Zu and Tekton seems to be the only game in town for ultra high sensitivity speakers that are not consider "pro" gear. Both use eminence drivers...which of course are modified guitar and bass speakers.

That's what intrigued me so much...pro level speakers, high sensitivity, but crossover less design. However, Tekton does use a crossover of some type. Plus Tekton is getting "too good to be true reviews" I would like to try them some time to see if the reviews have merit, but like you say...too little money. :)

[jimsfield]

Do you have an update yet? I've become very interested in these. The factory is about 40 miles from where I live. I visited it a couple of weeks ago and met the head guy, Sean Casey. He graciously gave me a tour and offered to let me take a pair for a trial. He even said he'd have one of his employees deliver them since I don't have a vehicle large enough to transport them. He also said something about a locals discount.

[dduval]

Sorry, just seen your question...

Yes, I posted a more in depth review here:

http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/ubbthreads.php/topics/391820/M80_s_vs_Omen_Def_MK1_B_s#Post391820

These by far, for me are the best speakers for my use, loving them so far.

[jimsfield]

Dana, thanks for your reply. I read your review. Glad you've found something you like. You got a sweet deal on your Defs.

Since you posted in a home theater forum I have to ask. Have you used the Defs for movie watching? I haven't seen anyone suggest the Defs for home theater use but I have to think they would be strong contenders.

The JTR Noesis seem to be the darling of the home theater crowd right now because of their huge dynamic range. The Pendragons also seem to be a favorite for much the same reason. The Pens and the Defs are similar in several ways. Both use full range drivers made by Eminence, they're built within less than 20 miles of each other, and both by guys who used to work for Kimber Kable.

I wonder how the Defs compare to the Noesis in sound.

Noesis 212 two 12" drivers sensitivity of 101dB $2,199 each
Defs two 10"drivers sensitivity of 100dB $1,600 each
Noesis 228 two 8" drivers sensitivity of 98dB $1,199 each

I would guess the Defs would have an advantage on music over even the Noesis 212s.

I don't know how to compare the Defs to the Pendragons in terms of how they sound.

Jim

[dduval]

Jim,


Yes! The Defs are great for movies. I have them setup into my 9.2 Audyssey DSX home theater via my Onkyo NR3008 avr.

Put it this way...I have only purchased two Blu rays in my entire life. Since I got the Defs, I now own 14 blu rays. :)

I have never heard the JTR's, but I was also following the 228's closely during my search. People rave about them for sure, but I came to the conclusion they probably were not for me because they are designed to be used with a sub, they don't go low, I believe they roll off around 70hz (I only do 2 channel pure direct for music listening)...The Defs don't require a sub in my room. Plus the wife would not like the commercial industrial finish in our living room. Now when you combine the Defs with my dual 18" subs for Movies, now I just can't see me ever needing more, just an awesome, chest pounding movie experience. :D

As for the Pendragons. The guy I bought my Def's from had both the defs and the pens, after extensive comparison, he ended up selling the pens. The only reason he sold his Defs to me was so he could move up to the $12K Zu Definitions.

I also, in no way shape or form, was going to wait for 6 months "hoping" that Eric would deliver a pair of pens. The wait time is completely unacceptable no matter what his issues are. They get good reviews, but the more I read about Tekton owners, they are nothing special and their drivers from eminence are nothing special compared to the nanotech drivers that eminence builds for Zu...just my opinion though...

I'm sure the Pens sound great, but at 54" tall, the WAF was also an issue.

[jimsfield]

For clarification. Yesterday I talked to Sean Casey, the head guy at Zu. I was wrong in my description of Zu's 10" driver. It is not an Eminence driver. It is their proprietary design which Eminence manufactures for them.

[dduval]

For clarification. Yesterday I talked to Sean Casey, the head guy at Zu. I was wrong in my description of Zu's 10" driver. It is not an Eminence driver. It is their proprietary design which Eminence manufactures for them.

Jim,

I'm curious, what speakers and subs do you have now? Interested to see what path you will be taking...:)

[jimsfield]

I have Onix Rocket RS1000s, RSC 200 bigfoot center, RS250 surrounds and 2 MFW 15s. The speakers have served me well since I bought them 8 years ago. The subs are dying the typical amplifier death.

I've been interested in high efficiency high output speakers since I gave Mark Schifter a ride to the airport about 4 years ago and he mentioned some new speakers he was working on called Bravo that would be designed by Mark Seaton. They never saw the light of day before AV123 imploded.

I learned about Zu Audio while looking at Tekton Pendragons. When I saw Tekton was located about 30 miles from where I live and Zu Audfio was about 40 miles from where I live I called both companies. Eric Alexander, the head of Tekton, put me off. Zu said sure, come on up so I dropped in to see them. Sean Casey, the head of Zu, gave me a tour of his factory and even offered to let me take some speakers to audition. I put off the audition because I'm in the process or remodeling my house.

I think the Zu Omen Defs are a hidden gem for home theater use. They have the dynamic range that has made the JTR Noesis models so popular but come from an audiophile background so they have to sound really good for music.

[diamonddelts]

I bet the speakers are awesome. However I just don't understand why every speaker company in the "home audio" world has to have such huge markups. I love pro speakers but their high tuning is a big turnoff for me.

I would not mind giving up some sensitivity for a lower tuned speaker in the home audio world but home audio sites always have huge markups on speakers and subs in comparison to the no nonsense pro market.