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Eminent Technology LFT-8b in Harry's system

I recently signed up for the V.P.I. Industries newsletter, and today received my first such. In it, Harry Weisfeld reviews a Grado phono cartridge, but this post concerns one of the speakers he listed as being those he uses to listen to music and evaluate recordings through. All but one are traditional dynamic cones/domes in a box designs, only one being a planar/dipole. That planar is the Eminent Technology LFT-8b. I'm pretty sure Harry could, if he so chose, have instead as his sole planar a pair of $6000 Magneplanar MG 3.7i's, or even $14,000 20.7's. But nope, he instead chose the $2500 ET LFT-8b, imo the greatest value in a loudspeaker on the market. I compared it to the 1.7i, and the difference was dramatic.
128x128bdp24
pryso
1,501 posts
 
bdp24, thank you.  That is the sort of response that can actually be of some value for anyone wondering about the ET speakers.  You included rationale as well as personal observations.
fraterperdurabo's avatar
fraterperdurabo
39 posts
 
I'd love to try a pair, but I'm absolutely a bottom feeder, audio wise.  (Retired, on a fixed income).  There just aren't enough used ones out there.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24 OP
4,908 posts
 
If you’re in the northern Washington state area, there are a pair of LFT-8b available from Planar Speaker Asylum forum member "Davey". His asking price is only $1500, a ridiculous bargain.
aniwolfe
544 posts
 
After 12 years in my system, its the only component I haven’t upgraded. No urge to get rid of them. I am constantly amazed by the LFT8b’s as they do so many things well. Such a seem-less zero distorted spacial sound. Just got done listening to the latest Radiohead album and what a great experience it was. Highly Recommended!

I power them with a Primaluna Dialogue Premium Integrated. They don’t need a lot of power in my experience.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24 OP
4,908 posts
 
aniwolfe, why the ET's aren't as commonly owned or even discussed as are Maggies is a mystery to me. The 1.7i with the essential Mye stands cost more than does the LFT-8b with Sound Anchor stands, and are simply not as good a speaker (okay, imo). The ET's make the 1.7i sound "wispy", lacking tonal density and body. The ET's magnetic-planar driver covers 180Hz to 10kHz, without a crossover! The dynamic woofer goes lower than the 1.7, the speaker plays loud enough for R & R and Symphony Orchestra, and with less power required than the Maggie. The single highest value product I know of, and almost no one owns them. Weird!
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