Ive enjoyed my Zu Omen Defs Mk IIs with the Radian Tweeter. It is an amazing speaker.
After thousands of dollars trying to get my old Audio Research VT100 repaired with no success, I gave up on tube amplifiers temporarily. I have tubes everywhere else, but replacing 16 tubes on the VT100 was way too much for my stomach. I had to do it twice on my last bout of retubing, and had to give up on it. The amp was no longer reliably reparable.
i switched to a Pass Labs X150.8 for the moment. Its sounds great, but it doesnt give me the midrange I want at low levels. I wake up to music and have to play at low levels for my marriage.
i decided to try another speaker. My requirements were easy to drive, great midrange, good low level playback and can handle power when I want it. It arrived yesterday. I now have the Gibbon X from Devore.
In the early part of a 4 hour listening session, I was wondering why the Devore cost $ 10,000 more than the Zu’s. Its good, but only marginally so.
I shouldve known better to judge it so early. I personally believe the mind dictates a large part of what we hear. And having learned to listen to my Zu’s for 3 years, Im get gonna have to give the Devores some time so I can learn to listen to what it does.
Late last night, it all clicked. The midrange is sweet and floats in the air. The bass is deep. You can say its a bit lean mid bass, but the power is there in the low end. The highs arent as delicate and as refined as the Zu’s 2 inch coiled Radian tweeters, which is surprising. But its not bad, just different.
Its the next morning after it all clicked and Im still liking it. Actually getting a better appreciation of what it does in my system.
A few notes, I was afraid the Devore would be too sensitive at 91 db. John Devore makes a big deal about his sensitivity numbers being accurate. Ive always had some doubt to the accuracy of Zu 102db claim on the Omen Defs. Well the Defs did prove to be much more sensitive, and I didnt have a problem with too much gain with the Gibbons.
A few reviewers cautioned that placement of the GX is tricky and is room nit picky. This has not been my experience. It took three songs and I already got them to disappear. I’ll continue to work on it, but right now its already excellent.
Also concerned it may not produce as much slam as the Zu’s. Its slams different, but plenty.
Feeling good about the purchase.
After thousands of dollars trying to get my old Audio Research VT100 repaired with no success, I gave up on tube amplifiers temporarily. I have tubes everywhere else, but replacing 16 tubes on the VT100 was way too much for my stomach. I had to do it twice on my last bout of retubing, and had to give up on it. The amp was no longer reliably reparable.
i switched to a Pass Labs X150.8 for the moment. Its sounds great, but it doesnt give me the midrange I want at low levels. I wake up to music and have to play at low levels for my marriage.
i decided to try another speaker. My requirements were easy to drive, great midrange, good low level playback and can handle power when I want it. It arrived yesterday. I now have the Gibbon X from Devore.
In the early part of a 4 hour listening session, I was wondering why the Devore cost $ 10,000 more than the Zu’s. Its good, but only marginally so.
I shouldve known better to judge it so early. I personally believe the mind dictates a large part of what we hear. And having learned to listen to my Zu’s for 3 years, Im get gonna have to give the Devores some time so I can learn to listen to what it does.
Late last night, it all clicked. The midrange is sweet and floats in the air. The bass is deep. You can say its a bit lean mid bass, but the power is there in the low end. The highs arent as delicate and as refined as the Zu’s 2 inch coiled Radian tweeters, which is surprising. But its not bad, just different.
Its the next morning after it all clicked and Im still liking it. Actually getting a better appreciation of what it does in my system.
A few notes, I was afraid the Devore would be too sensitive at 91 db. John Devore makes a big deal about his sensitivity numbers being accurate. Ive always had some doubt to the accuracy of Zu 102db claim on the Omen Defs. Well the Defs did prove to be much more sensitive, and I didnt have a problem with too much gain with the Gibbons.
A few reviewers cautioned that placement of the GX is tricky and is room nit picky. This has not been my experience. It took three songs and I already got them to disappear. I’ll continue to work on it, but right now its already excellent.
Also concerned it may not produce as much slam as the Zu’s. Its slams different, but plenty.
Feeling good about the purchase.
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