Zu Druid IV - the real deal?

warrenh,
i must admit that i originally had low expectations about mating the Druids with my low-fi HT receiver. but i talked to sean at Zu several times before i took the plunge, and he told me that he had a pair of Druids in his home and they were being used with an entry level Yamaha receiver. he told me that on a few occasions he had tried using the pre outs of his Yamaha receiver and adding a higher end tube amp, but always went back to just using the receiver!

within the next couple weeks (after the Druids get a couple hundred hours on them) i plan to buy a mid-priced 2A3 amp and see what the Druids can do with tubes. have also been considering the AES / Cary Super amp with KT88s. at this time, though, i must say that the future looks quite bright with my trusty old Denon receiver.

the curious audiophile should give a call to Zu sometime - the guys there really were quite helpful, and took lots of time on the phone with me.

although i have not had the experience that you are describing, drubin, i think i know what you mean. almost like newly weds, right? things are great at first, but after a few months of being together 24/7 you start to notice the shortcoming of your partner a lot more!

hey - let's talk about me for a while!

i've only got about $1500 at the moment to drop on a tube amp. remember, this is my second system we're talking about here, and i simply don't want to drop a ton of $ into it right now.

front runners are the ASL "orchid" - a 2A3 integrated amp (i would just use the pre-ins, and utilize this as a power amp) or the cary / AES super amp (KT88's and about 25 watts). i am happy to listen to any options you may suggest.

actually, there is one other amp i have always liked - the ARC VS55. KT88's again, and about 55 watts of power.

anyone got an opinion? i'll bet you do...

after an exhausting two week search i have pulled the trigger on the primaluna prologue five power amp. kt88s / 36 watts of power.

it should be here in by the end of the week. i am really looking forward to it!

i am very pleased with the system so far. the speakers sound super, and are working nicely in my large-ish room with high ceilings. stereo imaging and sound stage are excellent, and the speakers produce surprisingly deep bass. this is not a particularly dynamic system, but is more laid back and liquid. i have been listening to a lot of electronic music and reggae music lately and, frankly, i am as happy as a pig in shit! at this very moment i an listening to a german electronic artist who performs under the name "isolee". his new album is called "western store", and it sounds absolutely killer.

i just posted a profile of my system in the "opinions please" category of audiogon's virtual systems. i don't have a photo of the system on there right now, but i will put a photo on tomorrow morning.

mine are on a carpeted floor too, and i would say that my gap height is similar to yours. when i first set up the speakers i had them much lower, and the bass performance improved a lot when i raised the speakers.