ZU Audio Essence
Floorstanding loudspeakers
They look like ordinary rectangular blocks, something you would expect. But wait - what is the strange thing in the middle of the driver? Dva obyčejné kvádry na čtvercové podstavě, ani zezadu nic extra zajímavého, ale počkat… co tam dělá ten podivný hliníkový nástavec na reproduktoru? A proč ten reproduktor vypadá tak divně? And why is there no reflex port? And what is ZU???
Function and form
The main driver in the Essence is a large 195mm wide-band cone that covers the range from 30Hz to 10kHz. A 95mm waveguide, that embraces the central aluminum piece of the driver, should help pressurize the room and increase efficiency of the whole assembly in a circular horn fashion.
Highs are handled by a transformer-coupled ribbon tweeter that is the only driver filtered via the cross-over (2nd order). The main driver is connected directly to speaker binding posts that were provided by Cardas. The terminals actually consist of a small metal plate that is pressed towards its counterpiece - quite unusual and very different from the omnipresent WBT standard. If you have a banana terminated set of speaker cables then you may have an issue to reliably connect them to the ZU.
The enclosure is a combination of MDF and Baltic birch ply. Between the main enclosure and the plinth of the speaker there is an air gap that is a kind of vent for the ZU's nternal bass-loading system, the ZuRG. It is a tall, foam-like pyramid inside the cabinet that widens from top to bottom and ends by the air gap. Such a design should eliminate turbulent behaviour and standing waves, as well as it controls acoustic impedance of the enclosures.
Bass management
The Zu Audio Essence are not bass shy speakers - despite their slim silhouette they really can pressurize the room. The bass was fast, well contoured and physical. Herbie Hancock's piano was realistically portrayed including its pedals, so were the saxes of Blazing Redheads (Reference recordings) that I could feel deep in my stomach. The good bass fundament is very vital for human voices that do not have major energy in the lowest octaves but without low-end extension they become thin, colourless and one dimensional.
Clarity & delicacy
The ribbon tweeter of the Essence is very natural and open, as if the sound was coming from no apparent source. With my eyes closed I could see sizzling cymbals in front of me and I could follow the circular movements of a brush on them. Still, to get such a natural illusion it requires careful placement of the speakers and the listener. If I sat too close the highs were too prominent and upfront, if I sat too far, they dissapeared. The ribbon tweeter is mounted unusually low to the top from the ground and it has limited dispersion capabilities in the vertical plane so it is really essential to find a sweet spot with the Essence. I can imagine that in some domestic conditions it will not be possible to find the right set up at all due to existing furnishings, dimensions etc. The good thing is that in the horizontal plane the Essence can provide optimum listening field for more than one listener which will be great in home cinema installations.
Tonal accuracy
For classical music lovers or for those who listen to richly orchestrated acoustic genres the Zu Audio Essence may ot be the right speaker. I could sense a bit of compression and loss of resolution with increasing volumes. Thus the Essence will appeal to the listeners that prefer low to moderate listening levels and more intimate music genres - acoustic jazz and female vocals, for example, were fantastic as they benefited from the open treble presentation and the speaker's high sensitivity. Thus one can use watt-shy amplifiers like SETs to get the maximum result.
Spatial resolution
Provided that the ritual of the finding a sweet spot was successful, the Essence can throw fantastic soundstage. In the lateral (left to right) plane the delineation of instruments and interprets was magical, the focus was rock solid with the sound not travelling between the speakers. The Zu's were among those few speakers that could project the sounds that were beyond the speakers. The depth was a bit deeper than necessary, the Essence gave me a prespective of auditorium rather than the front row. Like with most other speakers they benefited from sufficient room around them - I would not recommend to squeeze them between the wall and your seating in a small apartment below 20sqm.
Recommended resellers
Interaudio, Komárno, +421 905 884 677, Slovenská republika
Manufacturer's website: http://www.zuaudio.com
Associated components
- Sources: Audiomat Maestro Référence AL1 (power supply), D1 (CD transport) and 24/192 DAC (D/A converter Maestro Référence)
- Amplifiers: Audiomat Récital
- Interconnects and speaker cables: Nordost Valhalla, Audiomat (DAC)
Gallery
ACOUSTIQUE QUALITY AQ Passion
Acoustique Quality has been around since early 90’s. The company’s loudspeakers were always close to what can be characterized a good value for money, with a bit of pre-2000 vibe. Speaker by speaker the guys in Acoustique Quality ...
Recommended resellers
AQ s.r.o., Červenka, tel. +420 585 342 232
ANTE Supersonic One
The Supersonics were visually inspired by Lamborghini Countach racer. The functional elegance of the Lamborghini does not come at budget costs and neither the Ante does. The price tag of €160,000 keeps the Supersonics in the company ...
Recommended resellers
Media Control, Bratislava, SK, +421 905 613 928
AQ Canto 5
An experience that moves your soul. This is how Czech loudspeaker manufacturer presents the brand-new Canto range. For the company, the Canto is a milestone, so important that they decided to dedicate a special website to it. The ...
Recommended resellers
AQ s.r.o., Červenka, tel. +420 585 342 232
AUDIO PHYSIC Avantera
The Audio Physic’s HHCM midrange drivers are fantastic. The realism of both male and female vocals through the Avanteras is nothing short of magic. The Avanteras skillfully blend a cocktail full of colors, sonority, textures, ...
Recommended resellers
CZ: High-End Audio Studio, Praha, tel. +420 224 256 844
SK: Platan Audio, Hlohovec / Bratislava, tel. +421 905 409 802
AUDIO PHYSIC Cardeas Plus+
Audio Physic's original Cardeas was like an album of a respected band that was recorded just because it had to be recorded due to a contract. Not like the album that was recorded because the band wanted to. I sighed with relief that ...
Recommended resellers
CZ: High-End Audio Studio, Praha, tel. +420 224 256 844
SK: Platan Audio, Hlohovec / Bratislava, tel. +421 905 409 802
AURUM CANTUS V6F
The Aurum Cantus V6Fs have the ability to dissapear from your ear-view - they move an orchestra to your living room instead and let you bathe in an expanding and transparent soundstage. After listening to the V6Fs you'll find ...
Recommended resellers
Hifi studio MeLissa, Brno, tel. +420 777 04 1313
AVANTGARDE ACOUSTIC Uno Fino
Should your priority is to blend the speakers with your interior and make them visually disappear, the Avantgarde Acoustic Uno Fino is not for you. I am not in favor of color lacquers on speakers and prefer natural veneers where ...
Recommended resellers
HI-FI studio TYKON, Ostrava, tel. +420 723 449 894
