Zu Audio DRUID MK4/08 Manual

Mk4 / 08
guidebook
Druid Center Mk4 / 08 loudspeakers shipped beginning January 1, 2008 have the new ‘08 full-range
driver, super-tweeters, high-pass networks, 0.1% tolerance matched components and 0.5% matched
drivers.
Guidebook last updated July 9, 2008

Thank you for your purchase of the Druid Center Mk4 / 08 loudspeaker. Every element is designed for a lifetime of trouble free high
performance playback. It is our desire to exceed your expectations in product performance, quality, durability and service. If we have
simply met your expectations or have fallen short, we would sincerely appreciate knowing how we may improve. Likewise, if we have
exceeded your expectations we hope to hear from you too.
Impressions of new realities struggle and flow—eventual transition.... Awareness of surroundings, songs of tranquility and warning—
history and intuition instruct that patterns of sound have been a fundamental constant. Observance of nature, both physical and
spiritual, teach us of the endless interplay of vibrational forces.
While traveling the line of time we can see many periods of increased awakening and technological advancement but none so
powerful and rapid as that of the Scientific Revolution, Enlightenment and the birth of modern physics. The dramatic increase of
understanding regarding possibility, vibration and energy coincide with our collective ability to listen and express patterns of life.
David Toop in his book Ocean Of Sound paints a powerful image of our modern musical creativity: “...Starting with Debussy in 1889,
is an erosion of categories, a peeling open of systems to make space for stimuli, new ideas, new now, this environment included
sounds of the world—previously unheard musics and ambient sounds of all kinds, urban noise and bioacoustics... unfamiliar tuning
system and structuring principles, improvisation and chance.”
Welcome to Zu,
Sean Casey, Adam Decaria, Chris Thiel, Marty Petersen, James Read, Randy Sandman, and the rest of the Zu team.
WARNING, electrocution through loudspeaker cable is possible (though very unlikely). To avoid electrocution make sure your
amplifying gear is powered down prior to connecting or disconnecting loudspeaker cables. This will also reduce the possibility for
accidental damage to your audio amplifier.
WARNING, the Druid Center loudspeaker drivers create stray magnetic fields that extend far beyond the boundaries of the cabinet.
We recommend you keep magnetically sensitive electronics and media at least 2.5 feet (76cm) from the loudspeaker.
WARNING, Druid Center loudspeakers are capable of extreme sound levels, play responsibly.
Included with each pair of Druid Center Mk4 / 08 loudspeakers
Installed user serviceable hardware: None.
Additional items included in package:
(1) connector polishing kit for copper lugs.
(1) loudspeaker finish care kit.
(1) Guidebook.
Unpacking
Cut banding wrap. Cut tape, open flaps.• Roll the box so the exposed Druid Center is now facing the floor, keeping flaps on the outside of box.• Lift box off the Druid Center.• Remove closed-cell foam plates.• Remove protective wrap.• Remove full-range driver protective cover.•
Connecting and placement
All connections should be made with the equipment switched off.
(+) mark on Druid Center input connectors correlates to positive (outward) driver diaphragm motion.
Druid Center loudspeakers are designed to be placed just below the viewing area. Druid Center should be placed in the center of the
left / right axis of the viewing area. The height should be as closely matched to the main left / right loudspeakers as practical. If you
have a quality acoustically transparent screen, Druid Center should be mounted behind the screen, centered to it but on the same
acoustic axis as the main left / right loudspeakers. It should also be the same distance (depth, Z axis) from the main seat as the left
/ right main loudspeakers.
Placing your center channel speaker much lower than (or higher than) the acoustic center of the left / right main loudspeakers will
decrease your chance for seamless channel fades—as will placing your center much closer or further in depth relative to your left /
right mains.
The face angle of the Druid Center should be perpendicular to the screen and point to the main listening spot. Canting is generally
unnecessary because of the coherent, phase accurate, 35 degree hemispherical wave-front.
All connections should be made with the equipment powered down. Make sure you connected the “+” output of the amplifier to the
“+” (red) input of the loudspeaker and the “–” to the “–”. The Druid Center features Cardas® pure copper unplated binding posts and
are internally terminated using a high pressure crimp system in place of solder. They accept standard and oversized spade lugs, bare
wire and banana plug. While they accommodate a wide array of terminals we recommend spade lugs with strong recommendation
on the use of our unplated pure copper spades. In the European countries, 4mm banana plugs are considered a safety hazard as
banana plugs can be inserted in to many European home power outlets. The binding posts featured on the Druid Center comply with
CE standards regarding loudspeaker binding post inputs and safety.
Break-in
All Zu loudspeakers shipped after September 31, 2006 are manufactured and processed under the Zu burn-in system. This new
aging process cannot be duplicated and ensures your Zu loudspeakers will sound their very best. All Zu loudspeakers now come with
at least 160 hours of conditioning. This puts the loudspeakers in a position to really sound good within a few days, great in a week or
two and awesome in the end. We do not recommend recordings specifically designed for loudspeaker, system or cable burn-in. The
quickest and most enjoyable way to finish the conditioning of your Druid Center loudspeaker is to play music and movie scores that
are fun, dynamic and harmonically dense. No longer do you need to worry about cranking them up either. Let your neighbors know
where they can send tips, that’s Zu in Ogden, Utah....
Break-in Phenomenon: A running-in of driver suspension components is the prime influencing factor in loudspeaker burn-in. Cone
and cabinet changes also happen with play. Another is cable burn-in. Druid Center loudspeakers all leave the shop with factory
burn-in. Loudspeakers generally go through two types of burn-in sound transformations. The first is mechanical effecting bass and
intimacy. We now take care of this at the factory. The second is electrical and primarily effects stereophonics and resolution. We start

this process at the factory, burning in the drivers with the cable assembly at the same time. Even so, Druid Center will need a bit of play
once in your system due to handling and temperature changes during shipping.
The following table is an approximation of how your Zu Druid Center loudspeaker will sound during the weeks of play. Double the hours if
played at very low levels.
Out of the box, sound is good, a bit constricted and reserved; much worse if shipped by air, or in winter months due to extreme
temperature changes. After 50 hours of play, the first week, sound should be much more present and extended in bass and treble. Most
will notice this after just a few hours of rock or big music. After 100 hours of play things should be very open and alive with compelling
transient accuracy. You know if you are liking them or not by this time. After 200 hours of play, they should be nearly transparent, music
and dialog should sound very relaxed and full of life. We are pretty excited about the system and process and we hope you are too.
Old, user burn-in recommendations
The old recommendation for burn-in on Zu loudspeakers: Zu does not recommend recordings specifically designed for loudspeaker,
system or cable burn-in. The quickest and most enjoyable way to break-in your Druid loudspeaker is to play music and movie scores
that are fun, dynamic and harmonically dense. The louder you play the quicker they break-in. (This assumed that users would really
poor it on, finally having a hi-filoudspeaker that could handle real levels of playback for rock and big orchestral stuff. We assumed
incorrectly and found that only one in a hundred would ever play our loudspeakers loud enough to properly run them in.)
Burn-in Phenomenon: A running-in of driver suspension components is the prime influencing factor in loudspeaker break-in. Cable
burn-in is also a factor but secondary. Druid loudspeakers will go through two break-in sound transformations. The first is mechanical
effecting bass and intimacy. The second is electrical and primarily effects soundstage and resolution.
The following table is an approximation of Zu Druid loudspeaker break-in. Double the hours for each if played at low power levels.
(SET amp users may want to find a solid-state amp to run them in with.)
* 50 hours of play 50% of break-in
* 100 hours of play 80% of break-in
* 250 hours of play 95% of break-in
* 1000 hours of play 100% of break-in
Amplification
Bipolar or F.E.T., class A or switching, O.T.L. or transformer isolated, one bottle single ended triodes or 200 Watt pentodes; Druid series
loudspeakers will work well with most all audio amplification designs. Sure some will prefer one over another, for assistance on which
might fit your idea of playback fidelity please give us a call, we’re hear to help.
Loudspeaker cable
The most common abuse in home hi-fiis to use cable as a form of tone control. Doing so usually leads to frustration and further loss
of fidelity. When cable affects timbre it affects timing, phase, frequency response, and so on. Timbre problems are usually solved with
loudspeaker break-in and correct loudspeaker placement. One last note on tonality and cable, if the cable has good properties relative to
phase, gain, group delay, impedance, and bandwidth, it will likely convey with fidelity the transmitted emotion and color.
We recommend that the same brand and model is used for all three front channels. We also recommend that you keep the lengths
between the left and right mains identical; cable length for the center should be similar in to the front left / right, no shorter than half for
the best chance of seamless fades and integration.
Here is a bit more on why cables make a difference. For more info please see www.ZuAudio.com. While insulation, jacket materials,
pigments, conductor shape, metallurgy and structure are important, all pale compared to the influence of field, virtual ground plane and
conductor relational geometry. This final cable geometry largely determines measured attributes. Druid Credenza features a specifically
engineered B3 silver alloy cable for internal hook-up. We strongly recommend the use of our Ibis, Libtec or Wax loudspeaker cable
terminated with our pure copper spade lugs.
Improvements that will be noticed from well engineered cables should include bass depth and resolution, system noise floor, harmonic
structure and timbre, attack, soundstage size and accuracy, easy of listening—simply a lot closer to the recorded event.
Maintenance and cleaning of finish
For cleaning and dusting of your Druid Center loudspeaker simply use a clean damp cotton or microfiber towel. Dusting of the 10” drivers
should only be done with hand-held compressed air as used in photograph and sensitive electronics dusting.
Maintenance and cleaning of binding post terminals
The unplated pure copper binding post terminals should also be cleaned once or twice a year using the supplied polishing compound.
Once you have cleaned and polished the binding posts and spade lugs (if you are also using our unplated pure copper spade lugs) avoid
touching the spades or the binding posts. Keeping the contacts free of the halides and oils of your skin helps ensure a long and trouble
free connection.
Wash your hands with soap and water prior to cleaning the terminals.1. Completely remove the machined aluminum binding post nut and black plastic terminal block.2. This will make for easy access of the pure copper lugs.
Using the supplied polish cloth (jar labeled “polish”), rub the exposed copper lug until it is clean, usually about 15 - 303. seconds is all that is needed.
Wipe the polish off the copper lugs with the supplied white buffing cloth. (DO NOT WASH THE POLISH OFF, POLISH MUST BE4. REMOVED BY BUFFING ONLY.)
Refit the black plastic terminal block and machined aluminum binding post nut.5. Again wash your hands with soap and water. The polishing does contain a small amount of petroleum distillate.6.
As implied, if you are also using our loudspeaker cable fitted with our pure copper spade lugs, we recommend that you clean your spades
at the same time you clean the binding posts. Polish each spade for 15 to 30 seconds then buff with the white buffing cloth.

Warranty information
Zu products are designed and manufactured to the highest quality. However, if something does go wrong Zu will fix or replace the product
free of charge.
Zu loudspeakers have a five year limited warranty from date of purchase to original owner. If under normal home use you have any
problems with drivers, cable, parts, cabinet, we are going to fix or replace the product. Loudspeaker warranty and service can usually
be performed by the user, also known as DIY Service, in such cases Zu will provide full technical support, instructions usually including
a DVD video, and any special tools. This provides faster repair of product reducing down time, minimizes handling hassle and damage
potential to both Zu and you, and reduces shipping costs.
Zu loudspeaker finish warranty covers color fade, finish checking, and oxidizing. While every effort is made to ensure a perfect finish that
will last a lifetime, this warranty does not cover damage from impact and abrasion; or seam / core construction visibilities in extreme
high temperature / high humidity environments.
Zu phonograph cartridges have a limited two year materials and workmanship warranty. This warranty does not cover misuse or accident.
It does not cover premature stylus wear from playing dirty records.
Zu products are designed to be used in temperature and humidity controlled environments, namely your home or office unless otherwise
stated. Storage of Zu Audio products, particularly loudspeakers, in uncontrolled environment may cause damage to the product and will
void the warranty.
If in the highly unlikely event that a Zu product arrives to you Dead On Arrival (D.O.A.), and after discussing it with a Zu tech, we will
ship another of the same product at our expense and arrange for the D.O.A. product to be collected. If after inspection however we
find that you have misrepresented a returned product’s condition, and that it was improperly handled or used, Zu will charge you for all
damaged parts, labor, shipping and handling of the product.
Warranty does not apply to damage caused by operating the product outside the intended use, accident, another product, misuse, abuse,
flood, fire, earthquake or any other external causes. Warranty does not cover damage caused by modification or service performed by
anyone other than a Zu representative. Cosmetic damage is also excluded from warranty, as is all product that has any part of the Zu
serial number removed.
When a product or part is exchanged the replacement becomes your property and the suspect or damaged part becomes Zu’s property.
Parts provided by Zu must be used in products for which the warranty service is claimed.
What you can expect if warranty service is needed
If warranty becomes necessary, you must call or email for a Return Material Authorization (R.M.A.) number, or to arrange for user
serviceable parts. This provides opportunity to assist in diagnosing the problem and helps us to schedule for rapid turnaround in the
event that parts, service or repair is needed. Upon factory inspection of parts or product, warranty eligibility will be determined.
While service options, parts availability and response times will vary, we do our best to keep you happy and strive for same day
turnaround on cable problems, and one to three day turnarounds on phonograph and loudspeaker problems. Depending on the situation
you may be responsible for shipping and other charges. International customers should know that Zu will comply with all applicable
export / import laws and regulations, you may be responsible for custom duties, taxes, broker fees, freight, and other charges.
When shipping of product or part is required, repackage the complete product, or part, in its original packaging. If you have any
questions about packaging please call or email. Product damage caused from incorrect repackaging is not eligible for refund or warranty
and the freight company may also reject your insurance claim. Until we have the product back in the shop and sign off that it is eligible,
the product is still your property, we recommend you insure or declare the full value when shipping. We also recommend that you only
ship with a freight company that has a good reputation and offers tracking and insurance for the full amount.
Within the package you need to also include your contact information.
ZU AUDIO, ATTENTION REFUND + RMA NUMBER
OGDEN COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL PARK
3350 S. 1500 W.
OGDEN, UT 84401
USA
SALES INFO | PRIVACY POLICY | COPYRIGHT information available at www.ZuAudio.com
Zu Audio
Ogden Commercial Industrial Park
3350 S. 1500 W.
Ogden, Utah, 84401, USA
[phone]
[email protected]
www.ZuAudio.com