Zu, a company formed in 2000 and launched at CES in 2001, has certainly come up in the world. Their new speaker, the Druid2 seen here in Bobby-dazzling flame orange livery and powered by a Theta Digital front-end, was one of the best speakers that I heard at the Alexis park, although admittedly my audition was only brief. Built upon the design of the original Druid, the new model represents the culmination of many minor improvements and advances that include better interfaces, driver upgrades and a new damping cartridge.

Together, these changes allow the speaker to resolve much finer detail and make in-room placement a much easier affair. Bass definition and low frequency response has also improved, although this hasn’t stopped the company working on a new subwoofer for delivery some time in 2003. While owners of older Druids will be able to have the factory retrofit the new improvements, those who purchase the Druid2 will definitely find themselves in possession of a greatly enhanced loudspeaker and the price remains the same, $3,600, explained Adam Decaria, the company’s co-founder. []

From the rollout of its imposing spherical Reference Nucleus more than a decade ago, Anthony Gallo Acoustics has always been a company with balls. The new Adiva updates Gallo’s popular lifestyle-friendly single driver Micro design in a larger (5” vs 4”), shielded and more rigid enclosure, with better resolution and extended frequency reach at both ends (76-20kHz). Weighing 3.5lbs, the Adivas with mounting hardware retail for $225 each, midway between the Micros and the double-orbed Dues.