Go for the Zu... 60 day return your out shipping only if don't like them for the 2 months time. Any amp will drive them fine, they are far less finicky about high or low power, and have a very high impedance like 16 or 12 ohm so no problem there.
I think you would have to hear them in your room to really get a verdict. Obviously they are getting great reviews so they are no slouch. I owned the upper line Def 2's, which were more finicky due to being a 6 ohm speaker and having separate amplification for the subs. I had to sell a house and lost my dedicated room and these speakers required large space. These new essence are a better package for the price especially with the new Ribbon tweeter's...
The Zu's have extreme dynamics and soundstage, some say its too BIG! I love being in that live surrounded enriched sound field just as you state. The Zu's should do that no problem, and from my understanding the new essence are extremely placement friendly so should not take much to get the setup working well in your room in several different speaker positions.
Most other dynamic drive speakers accept horns sound flat compared to the Zu's, they also have no passive parts on them in the critical bass and midrange driver, straight thru no crossover. They are very natural and dynamic with nice full shades of tone that lack in other more steril models. Oh and 10 watts will sound like 1000 watts on them!
Good luck
I think you would have to hear them in your room to really get a verdict. Obviously they are getting great reviews so they are no slouch. I owned the upper line Def 2's, which were more finicky due to being a 6 ohm speaker and having separate amplification for the subs. I had to sell a house and lost my dedicated room and these speakers required large space. These new essence are a better package for the price especially with the new Ribbon tweeter's...
The Zu's have extreme dynamics and soundstage, some say its too BIG! I love being in that live surrounded enriched sound field just as you state. The Zu's should do that no problem, and from my understanding the new essence are extremely placement friendly so should not take much to get the setup working well in your room in several different speaker positions.
Most other dynamic drive speakers accept horns sound flat compared to the Zu's, they also have no passive parts on them in the critical bass and midrange driver, straight thru no crossover. They are very natural and dynamic with nice full shades of tone that lack in other more steril models. Oh and 10 watts will sound like 1000 watts on them!
Good luck