My goal was to redo my entire system with first class components and be done with it. The system is located in a real-world living environment (as apposed to a dedicated listening room) with mostly off-axis seating. My priority was a system that had rich tone and "presence," was full-range, was not associated with listening fatigue, and could fill a very large space and still sound good at low volumes with all types of music; typical audiophile priorities were secondary. I started with the ZuAudio Definition 1.5s, but upgraded from the MK1.5s to the MK2s (when the MK2s were announced during my trial period) and eventually to the Definition MK4s. (Sean Casey tuned the MK4s to be flat to 16Hz; the output curves in the ZuAudio specs and product manual come from my living room.) This was my first foray not only into high-efficiency speakers, but also into tube electronics. I started with an EAR 859 amplifier that was replaced with a Yamamoto A-08s and then a Deja Vu 45/2a3 SET. I also started with an EAR Acute CDP. However, I discovered the Ancient Audio Lektor Prime CDP in Krakow when visiting Poland in 2008. And, eventually, I had an Ancient Audio Integra 300b SET made to match the Lektor Prime. The Integra 300b SET came with Shuguang Black Treasures; I upgraded from the BTs to Sophia Electric Royal Princess and then from the RPs to Takatsuki 300b tubes. The built-in cabinetry (including custom CD storage by the Kennebec Company in Bath, Maine) is on the wall apposite the speakers; speaker wires are concealed and run through the walls and under the floor from one side to the other - a distance of 30+ feet. The cherry cabinets have soapstone countertops that were mined in Vermont. Since my house is a converted bank that has appeared in many architecture and design magazines, the physical appearance of the components could not be ignored. Zu speakers and Ancient Audio electronics fit into the modern industrial design aesthetic perfectly. One word about the size of the room. . . The living room (primary listening area) is one end of an open volume that is 20'x40'x16'. I wanted speakers that could fill this space as needed as well as be optimized for the primary listening area.
Thanks. The Ancient Audio CDP has a built-in pre-amp; it is designed to go directly into a power amp without a pre-amp. There is a second analogue input; and volume is controlled using a remote. The cables between the CDP and power amp are Zu Mission.
Nice improvement to you system. I don't see any controls on your amp. Are you running variable output from your cdp direct to a power amp? What cabling too?
System edited: Done for now (again). Upgraded from Zu Definition MK 2 to MK 4. The Def 4s are not merely upgraded Def 2s, but a totally new speaker. Only the aesthetics have been preserved. Everything has been thoroughly (re)thought out. The engineering is amazing. The built-in bass amplifier can be unscrewed and removed for service if necessary. Similarly for the bass driver. The aluminum base that supports the downward-firing bass driver is a work of art. The Neutrik Speakon connector accommodates a selection of connectors for different types of speaker wire terminations (spades, banana plugs, etc). The highs and lows are more extended. The dedicated amplifier has five controls (volume, etc) so that the speakers can be tuned to individual rooms. Deep organ notes are palpable (when appropriate). Resolution is better, but the sound is also smoother, more organic, and more dynamic. They integrate with the room and the rest of the house extremely well such that off-axis imaging is amazing and the sound fills my large living room and even larger main living space without a change in tone or quality when I am in a different room. The soundstage is deep and wide even though the Def 4s are within 4" of the back wall. I have listened for hours without any fatigue. And yet, everything that I liked about the Def 2s is still there. If there is anything negative (and I am not at all sure that this is a negative), it is that the Def 4s are more revealing and unforgiving of poorly-recorded discs compared to the Def 2s. Conversely, well-recorded discs sound marvelous. Zu has outdone itself with these.
Devilboy: Zu actually recommends a wide spread. I was fortunate to have Ron Williams from Zu Audio visit last winter to optimize the speaker position. He picked the same spread, but reduced the toe-in somewhat compared to the photos.
Mjcmt: The living room is 24' x 14.5' x 16' high. The speakers are, obviously, on the long wall of this room. However, this room is one end of a huge, mostly open 45' x 20-24' x 16' high space. My goal was as much to fill the house with music as to optimize listening in the living room itself.
System edited: I asked Jarek Waszczyszyn of Ancient Audio to make one last Integra 300b SET to match my Lektor Prime CDP, but eliminate the volume control from the amplifier since the Lektor Prime CDP has a built-in pre-amp. He took the opportunity also to rework the signal path and upgrade the component parts and in doing so created a new product that he intends to produce commercially in the future. The result is outstanding - both visually and acoustically.
Looks like his speaker placement has a lot to do with available space on either side of the double door as much as width for acoustic value. Furthermore, the toe in has to do with the off axis seating in his smallish room. Seems like the artist room layout plays as much into of the scenario of speaker placement. Anyway, that's how I see it from his photos.
Hi. After selling my old system, I now have the Zu Essence speakers. I noticed that your Zu's have a wide spread and a severe toe-in. I know every system and room is different, but in your room I guess they sound best pretty wide? Your thoughts.... I believe they sound better the wider they are. I will post my new system in a week or two. Mini>Minerva>Bent>Kora>Exactpower.
Not that many, actually. I went back and forth between EAR 859 and Yamamoto A-08s. I also considered a James Burgess 2a3/45 SET and a couple of other Deja Vu amplifiers.
System edited: System edited. I finally accepted the fact that the 40-50 feet (est.) of speaker wire was too much for the Yamamoto A-08s. This was noted by Jeff Day in his original review of the A-08: "There's no other way to say this: the Yamamoto fell flat on its face here. Those 35-foot long runs of speaker cable just killed it with too much of a load to handle. . . " My Yamamoto A-08s went to a good home, and I bought a Deja Vu Audio 2a3/45 SET from a fellow Audiogon member. Using EML 2a3 solid plates, I now have the oomph that was missing.
I have Single Six on loan right now ... and they are nowhere near as good as the GSM. In fact - I like my ARC Ref 110 better. But the GSM - oh my Jesus - this is not hifi, this is virtual reality !
I have listened to many multi-thousand dollar systems around the world, including Dave Wilson's system in his house in Provo and Transparent Audio multi million dolar room, and I can tell you, GSM is in another league altogether. It is absolutely brilliant.
I visited Jarek and listened to his entire system, but I believe that the amplifiers that he used are what is now called the Single Six. I did not here the Silver Grand Monos.
If you like the Lektor Prime, you should listen to Ancient Audio Grand Silver Mono. I have had it on loan, and it has emparassed my Lamm M1.2 Reference monos in every possible way driving Avalon Eidolon Visions.
City Bank was incorporated around 1900 as a neighborhood bank; my building was the branch with headquarters 6-7 blocks away. Years later, it was bought by America Security Bank that then merged with others. By the time the building was put up for sale in 1993, it had ceased to be little more than a check-cashing service. So, no, it did not go bust. It just outlived its usefulness as a financial institution. Most older American cities have many such buildings; they make for great adaptive reuse projects. For a 1200 sq ft (footprint) building with 1600 sq ft of living space, it has great spaces.
I agree - very tasteful and how interesting you live in what was an old bank - did it go bust? I agree the speakers look really cool and that driver is very popular with bass guitar players too.
First, the EAR Acute is a wonderful CDP; so differences are very relative. However, the soundstage is a bit wider and deeper; every note has more presence, resonance, and air; and overall the music is more fluid, utterly non-mechanical, and full of color and tone. Everything that I love about the EAR Acute, the Lektor Prime just does a little bit better. And it is a great match for the Yamamoto A-08s.
