After listening to and enjoying the speakers from Odgen, UT-based Zu Audio at hifi shows for the past 18 or so years, I finally have a pair in Barn for review. It’s been a long time coming.
The model under review is the new Zu Definition 6, a further refinement of the company’s flagship Definition floorstanders that first saw the light of day back in 2005.
The Definition 6 carry on the tradition of using two Zu 10″ drivers run full-range, derived from the new Soul 6 driver, sitting over and under an Eminence N151M super tweeter. Those full-range drivers reach down to 35Hz so the powered Eminence LAB-12 subwoofer handles things from there on down to 24Hz. The Definition 6 present a 6 ohm, 101dB (SPL 1W,1m) load to the accompanying amplifier.
From Zu:
Completely new are the cabinet construction and first application of the Griewe driver-to-room acoustic impedance adaptive scheme in a Definition loudspeaker. Cabinet construction will borrow from the engineering investment in Soul 6, using a stiff, relatively lightweight internal superstructure to manage energy dissipation and thwart cabinet talk with less bulk than in Definitions past. Definition 6 is significantly lighter than Definition 4.
All prior Definitions have been sealed box speakers, with powered subwoofer sections. The subwoofer reappears, of course, but for the first time, a version of the Griewe scheme used in every other Zu floorstanding speaker will be applied to each of the two full-range drivers in Definition 6. We’ve engineered an innovative new way to implement Griewe so that the acoustic impedance adaptive interface is via the rear of the speaker, rather than floor-facing. And we’ve incorporated an internal “Griewe Gap” adjustment. Incorporating Griewe in Definition 6 means that the Zu full-range drivers will have useful response down to 35 Hz, so the subwoofer can more precisely be assigned its true, specialty task.
Each speaker’s subwoofer can be optimized for in-room response using the rear mounted controls that include Volume, Low-Pass (Hz), PEQ (“Parametric EQ”) Gain (dB), PEQ Frequency (Hz), and Phase.
The Zu Definition 6’s cabinets are 13″ x 13″ [33 cm] square and 54″ [137 cm] high without the included feet. The standard finish is black dyed Okoume (wood veneer) with your choice of black or silver machined aluminum trim. Upgraded and custom finishes abound, see the Zu website, and the review pair wear a mirror gloss white paint that sets off the black on black drivers/trim nicely.
I’ve got five amps in Barn, four tube-based, and look forward to finding out which make for the best Definition 6 partner(s). Stay tuned!
Zu Audio Definition 6 Loudspeakers
Price: starts at $25,000/pair in standard finish, review pair +$10,000/pair in Mirror Gloss White (see the Zu website for other options)
Company Website: Zu Audio
