I didn't have original Event cables to compare to and comment on whether Zu's target of increased resolution was reached. Instead, I will compare the MkII to my Absolute Fidelity reference, the ASI Liveline and Zu's own Libtec. The listening notes will actually be pretty short but it is important to remember that all Zu cables take significant time to burn in and stabilize. In fairness though, I found the MkII to reach their full potential within a couple of weeks of regular listening, faster than my experience with earlier generations of Zu cables. The Event MkII is very well built but still flexible and easy to dress. Orientation is clearly identified and you can select connectors of your liking at each end.

As mentioned earlier, the Absolute Fidelity cables shine with neutrality and resolution of very low-level signals. The Zu Event matched them on neutrality but exhibited perhaps a hint of richer tone especially in the lower midrange. The Event MkII also sounded every bit as resolved as my reference. The one area where it fell very slightly behind would be the representation of spatial cues, especially soundstage depth. The difference is minimal however and at a quarter of the price, a no-brainer tradeoff. What I especially liked about the Event cable was no issue with either the Ocellia, Zu Essence, FJ Om and Rogers LS 3/5a speakers I had on hand. From high-efficiency widebanders to very low-efficiency bookshelf speakers, nothing fazed them, confirming that they would easily meet my objective of finding eminently adaptable application-flexible cables. On ultra-resolving speakers, the differences might be greater but on my diet of high-efficiency tone-loaded speakers and triodes, the Event MkII became all I needed.

Compared to the ASI Liveline, the Event's greater gravitas and richness of tone was immediately obvious, accompanied by a little less air and sizzle in the treble. The Liveline cables are well known for their lean speed and sharpness of attack. Although the Event MkII could not quite match that specialization, it was not far behind yet introduced just enough relaxation to make long listening sessions more enjoyable. The Liveline are high-strung, on extra caffeine at all times and won't exactly let you disconnect if not in full-on analytical listening mode. The Event MkII gives all the insight and speed you may want when you want it but also combines richness and depth of tone with transients that are less in your face to provide relaxed listening when desired.

Finally compared to Zu's now discontinued Libtec, it was very easy to hear the progress the company has made over the past decade. At the time, the Libtec was an incredible value but primarily designed to be a price-compatible partner for the original Zu Druid speaker. This made it less than desirable for speakers which don't need to manage the same uneven upper midrange. The Event also offered greater depth and width of soundstage and a quieter background with even purer tones. All in all it was easy to hear that team Zu had not been resting on its laurels, taking the lessons from an already good cable to now offer an outstanding one. The Zu Event MkII is not cheap but in the world of high-end cables far from unrealistic. I compared it to cables costing two to four times as much and one in the same price range. It came extremely close to the performance of the Absolute Fidelity while offering a far more easily accommodated set of qualities than the Liveline or the now defunct Zu Libtec. I now understand why Srajan has made it his go-to cable for all sorts of setups. The Event just blends in and disappears, allowing differences between gear to shine through unedited. I am sure there are cables that will edge out the Event MkII on one characteristic or another but they will likely be far more expensive and thus unnecessary in the context of my system or most others.