2. analog
  3. 130205-2248

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
bdp24's avatar
bdp24 OP
4,908 posts
 

Ha! Hyperbole on my part Lew, obviously. But close to it (let's say 120dB @ 1Hz ;-), the Rotary Woofer not being constrained by physical excursion like mechanical transducers. A really fascinating, revolutionary, visionary creation from the mind of the brilliant Bruce Thigpen.

You have Beveridges, Lew? Another visionary product, with direct-drive amps for the ESL drivers designed by Roger Modjeski of Music Reference. I'm green with envy!

Post removed 
jollytinker
147 posts
 
Well not to hijack the thread but this has me thinking. Anyone have experience pairing the LFT-8b with low power SET amps like my Art Audio Jota? The Jota is famous for being able to power relatively inefficient speakers (something to do with its big output trannies), and the LFT-8b's appear to work well with lower watt amps (my HC Jota puts out 24 tops I believe). But maybe this is asking too much? As it happens the same 2.5k could buy me upgraded wiring in my speakers (Devore Silverbacks), or a new set of LFT-8b's. 
rotarius
426 posts
 
I really don't want to rain on anyone's parade but like every speaker I have tried, the LFT-8B have a few flaws and they can be quite intrusive.  I had them paired to my Belles 150a amp.  The bass from the woofer was never quite right in my room.  Way to under-damped and boomy.  The other issue was the panel itself.  They are supposed to be crossed over at 180 Hz but I wished that wasn't the case because at moderate volume, with bass heavy stuff (think Patricia Barber), the panel would distort, panel slap is what I have heard it called.  So, they are nice, very nice for classical but not up to the reference quality some people here claim.  I liked my Martin Logans I got after that a little more.
  
bdp24's avatar
bdp24 OP
4,908 posts
 
What? The LFT-8b’s aren’t perfect?! I like my Quads (original 57's) and Magneplanar Tympani-IV's more than the LFT's in some ways, but that's not the point of the post.
More to discover