So I Says......

mrbiron
mrbiron Posts: 5,711
edited January 2014 in 2 Channel Audio
http://www.zuaudio.com/sales/sale-omen-peachtree-mission

F-bomb it! I hit the order button about an hour ago. I'm looking for simplicity at this juncture in time and i think this will be a good start at getting there. I've never heard anything by Peachtree but spent the last 3-4 hours getting my read on. Everything points to the positive and i doubt Zu would pair the two if they sounded like scat.

Now i play the two week waiting game.

Peachtree Decco65 vs Anthem. This might or might not be interesting. Who knows....

Anyone have any experience with either? I know BRun has the earlier edition Omens with the Kimber upgrade. This order consists of the MK.I-B with the Clarity Cap and driver upgrade. It was a toss up between these and a new pair of Usher 6311's on the 'Gon but i couldn't talked the guy down from $250 worth of shipping charges.


Thanks!
Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
Post edited by mrbiron on

Comments

  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
    edited November 2013
    Seriously considering pulling the trigger on this deal myself...
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    edited November 2013
    I'm just looking to clean up the system and make it extremely easy for my roommate (wife) to be able to use it without hassle. I should be able to move the Decco fairly easy if I don't like it to recoup losses. There is also the possibility to put it at the bar, grab a cheap pair of bookies, and have good tunes with my keg o' Xmas ale.

    Or, it works out lovely and I hawk the tlp, mca20, dacmagic and a couple sets of cables. Its really not a bad situation to be in.
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,727
    edited November 2013
    That pairing should sound fantastic. That Peachtree is not a powerhouse, but you don't need one with those speakers. It uses the same Sabre 9023 chip that's in the DAC-iT that I liked so much. It's classic Peachtree sound and errs on the side of being a more laid back and organic sound - it's not the most dynamic sound in the world which is probably why it didn't mate as well with Skip's Ushers. The headphone amp on that model isn't their best, but is still good and will drive almost any dynamic headphone out there reasonably well.

    Let us know how you like it. Then when you decide you really like that setup you can go buy the Grand X1...
  • CoolJazz
    CoolJazz Posts: 570
    edited November 2013
    I spent a good long day with a Peachtree running some Zu's a couple years ago. Very enjoyable.

    That particular Peachtree model had external connections that allowed it to be used just as a DAC/pre and when we later jumpered it to run a Pass amp, whew...very nice! So it seemed that while it was fun to listen to and didn't have issues by itself, it also had an upgrade path for later by bypassing the chipper amp and stacking the deck with more.

    I saw the ad hit my mail too and while it's not the thing for me and what I have, it did hit me as what a clean little system it'd make! Particularly for a room with the WAF demands. Simple, clean and musical.

    CJ
    A so called science type proudly says... "I do realize that I would fool myself all the time, about listening conclusions and many other observations, if I did listen before buying. That’s why I don’t, I bought all of my current gear based on technical parameters alone, such as specs and measurements."

    More amazing Internet Science Pink Panther wisdom..."My DAC has since been upgraded from Mark Levinson to Topping."
  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited November 2013
    I know Brandon (B Run) is running a Peachtree integrated with his Omens and really enjoys them! I've read they have great synergy, so you should be in for a treat. I have a set of the earlier Omens without any mods and I really enjoy them. They took a little getting used to at first, because they didn't sound like anything else I ever heard. I've owned electrostatics in the past (Martin Logan Sequel IIs) and currently own some Maggie MMGs. The ZUs are actually quicker than both of these! The transient response of these things is something you just have to hear for yourself to believe. They can also be a tad hot on top for my tastes if you don't have the right equipment upstream. They are very sensitive to equipment, so the fact that you are getting a package that already has synergy will put you ahead of the game. I really enjoy the Omens now after tweaking equipment and set-up (going from Ultralinear to Triode settings on amp had the biggest impact). I now listen to the Omens about 50% of the time and LSiM-703s the other 50%. Congrats on the new toys and let us know what you think of them!
  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited November 2013
    Yeah ZUs are supposed to pair extremely well with SET tube amps. I've been on the lookout for a lower priced one to experiment with. I bet they would sound awesome on your monoblocks. Hopefully y'all will get a chance to hear them soon. Wish I was closer to TX.
  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    edited November 2013
    Then when you decide you really like that setup you can go buy the Grand X1...
    Hey now!....baby steps here. But, if i was to do it right, i would bypass the Nova125 and consider the Grand. I'm just worried the 65 is up to the task of pressuring my room. But then again, i've never had a 97dB efficient speaker before.
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    edited January 2014
    So, I finally got my new Zu Omen MK-1B's hooked up.....all i can say is HOLY **** what have i been missing listening to the RTiA5's?!?!?!?!? And now i know!

    With that said, i apparently pulled one of the Cardinal sins with an audio system. I completely scrapped my entire system, replaced with new without swapping components in and out to hear the differences. I went from;

    Polk RTiA5's
    Anthem TLP-1 Pre
    Anthem MCA-20 Amp
    Cambridge Audio Dacmagic
    Monster 1600 HTS
    AT turntable
    Bottlehead Reduction/Bugle2 Phono Pre
    Aural Thrills Interconnects
    MIT EXP2's

    too;

    Zu Omen MK-1B's - Spiked to hardwood floors
    ZU Mission Speaker Cables
    Peachtree Decco 65
    PS Audio UPC200
    AT Turntable
    Bottlehead Reduction/Bugle2 Phono Pre
    Dougs Interconnects

    I am more than happy with these changes!

    Detail detail detail!!!....I'm am hearing things that i have never heard before! The highs aren't hot and the lows are present. Bass is extremely smooth and the mids are the perfect balance. I guess these are the things i am going to hear when i take an HT speaker and replace it with an more prone 2 channel speaker. It's one of those night and day differences. The soundstage, from the sweetspot increased by about 5 feet in either direction. It just fills the room now.

    Some MP3's sound like crap while others are ok. The vinyl sound is where the most noticeable difference was. Nothing replaces that pure vinyl sound!

    My biggest concern walking into it was the Decco65. Boy was i wrong! The dial doesn't go past 9 o'clock and i'm hitting 93db in my room with what would appear to have plenty of head room to spare.

    Finally, the best part of it all is the wife nonchalantly walks into the room and says "Are those your new speakers? They sound way better than the others you had. They also look awesome to boot!"

    I haven't heard as much as most when it comes to audio but i can say this, Zu Audio makes one hell of a speaker!

    That is all.
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    edited January 2014
    I hope B-Run shows up with his as well....then you can hear what you are missing :-P

    I have an MP3 version (i know not the greatest) of Zep's - Bonzo's Montreux and it sound incredible! In fact, it's playing as i type this.
    I wonder where i'd be at if that ebay seller didn't renig on those 6311's i had won for $500 (becuase he couldn't let them go for that cheap on an auction site). MF'er!
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,802
    edited January 2014
    you'll have to come up to NH sometime's all I can say...
  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    edited January 2014
    I would love too! The question is, do we use your speakers or do i bring mine with me??

    If you have another get-together, i will make it this time, i PROMISE! Only weekends please :-)
    That and we're supposed to compare my phono's to their predecessors.
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    edited January 2014
    DSC00719_zpsd44719ad.jpg

    They're the same as B Run's just the newer version with the upgraded driver and Clarity Caps.
    I'm still working on placement but am having a hard time hearing the image collapse as i make adjustments due to the wide soudstage.
    EVERYTHING SOUNDS GOOD!
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,802
    edited January 2014
    You can bring 'em up if you want; either way.
  • Ginn
    Ginn Posts: 46
    edited January 2014
    Nice set up Mrbiron.

    I recently picked up a peachtree pre/amp with the 220 to power my lsi9's.
    I hooked the lsi9's up to my emotiva amp which sounded good, but nothing compared to the peachtree combo. I can't say enough good things about their product.
    They sound crisp and detailed and along with you I can barely get about 9 o'clock on the dial before it's to loud.
    HT - Sony 52" Bravia - Onkyo TX-NR3008 - Emotiva XPA-5
    LSi15 - LSiC - LSifx - PSW505 - Mac Mini

    Warehouse Boxed up RTIa9 - CSIa6 - FXI6

    Office
    LSI15 - Peachtree Preamp / 220 - iMac

    LSi9's sitting around my dad's house