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Eminent Technology LFT-8c Robert Greene review

A friend of mine forwarded this review to me a couple days ago.  I hadn't seen it as it's just a week old at this point. 

Why would I be interested? I have a pair of LFT-8b speakers that I picked up about 7 months ago.  Wonderful speakers. I always wanted to try a set of panels and, as luck would have it, last summer I found a used pair of 8b's just a short drive from my home..I made the jump.  As it turns out, this was one of the best moves I've made in my 50+ year audio hobby. 

In the last few months, I was considering picking up the 8b to 8c upgrade components, but put it off as I had a number of other projects going on.  Well..the projects got completed and I started a few more projects, though this time around the 8c upgrade is one of them.  I ordered the 8c upgrade yesterday and I'm really looking forward to the adventure once it arrives. 

One thing I've noticed when reading discussions of the LFT-8(no a, b, c)  here on A-gon, is the discussion wanders over the now 36 year history of the LFT-8.  Issues identified in this or that review from 10-20-25 years ago are brought up as if they reflect what the LFT-8 is today.  LFT-8's had a great sound 30 years ago, with a few flaws, as any 30 year old speaker would, and it sounds better today. Nothing surprising there. Most companies cut ties with models as they age and come out with something new, whether they are really new or repackaged parts..that varies.. 

What's my point?  I just find it interesting that Bruce Thigpen (Eminent Technology) came out with the LFT-8 in about 1990 and has been continually improving the model 8 year after year, decade in and decade out, staying in business with no advertising, though with a few shows here and there. There are very few current speakers(let alone businesses) alive today that have a 30+ year history under largely the same name. (Though the Vandy 2 series comes to mind)  Pretty unique in this industry.  It's also pretty unique that a decades old pair of LFT-8 speakers can be upgraded to the current model at a very modest cost. And the upgrade is easily done by any owner. 

So..the latest review:

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/eminent-technology-lft-8c-planar-loudspeaker/

Robert Greene goes into considerable depth in his review, which is specific to the 8c version, though he's done an 8b review in the past. I'm glad it came out as it pushed me over the edge in ordering the 8c upgrade.  I'm not getting any younger..time to give the 8c a spin. 

One last note, I've read in a number of older and current reviews that the LFT-8 speaker placement is..finicky.  I haven't found that to be the case at all.  In the last 7 months I've experimented extensively with placement and they respond well to various setups. My current setup is about 115 inches between the panels (on center) and maybe 30 degrees toe-ed  in from facing directly forward.  Each speaker is 45 inches off the front wall(on center) and 38 inches from the side walls.  I have a great soundstage and and equally great imaging.  My tweeter panels are on the inside. 

 

(...and no..I have no affiliation with ET..just a customer owning a used pair of the 2017 model 8b)

nogaps
ledoux1238
421 posts
 

@bdp24

It’s very nice to hear from you. I agree that with your solution, LFT8b with 8” bass unit disengaged + Rythmik / GR Research dipole 12” sub-woofer, there is no need to explore the LFT8c. The 12” woofers should provide a fuller and more expressive low end, which may also affect the frequencies higher up. 
 

The differences between your speakers and a pair of LFT 8c could be resolved if we could ever get the two in the same system for an A-B compare. I would be very seriously interested, not so much to resolve disagreement. But I am still very much intrigued with the DSP that Bruce chose to deploy in the 8c. And a compare with your all analog system would reveal  something about the digital / analog divide. I have a feeling that we will hear how they differ rather than how one is superior to the other.

Over on Audiokarma.org, there is a much longer thread dedicated to the LFT-8c. And a fellow there has done a very thorough optimization of the 8c through its various parametric adjustments. He has also integrated an additional pair of subwoofers to the 8C. And his feels that the SQ from his set up is the best he has heard. 

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,487 posts
 

 

@ledoux1238:

Thanks for the info on the LFT-8c discussion on Audiokarma. I don't visit that site often, gonna go there for this topic.

 

nogaps OP
167 posts
 

@bdp24 

Good to have you back.  You're the one that started me down this LFT rabbit hole & many thanks for doing so. I'm having fun and some great listening.

As you may, or may not, remember..the last time we spoke was shortly after I bought the 8b's last summer. I was working on the completion of a pair of GRR Super V's.  Well..they're done(pics attached) and sound great, but I've only listened to them for about an hour as I've been traveling for a bit. They're waiting patiently for some breaking in and final tuning. That won't happen for a couple months yet. 

In the mean time, I'm taking care of other business. I sent out my McCormack DNA-1 for a complete SMc Ultra rebuild (power for the LFTs up until recently and for a while when I get it back).  The Super Vs will see Don Sachs DS2 pre and Kootenay power amp when I get them up and running.  At some point I'll be trying the Kootenay(60watts) to power the LFT-8c's...we'll see.

I went with the 8c upgrade(more use of downtime while I'm away) and intend to set them up as Bruce designed. I went the 8c upgrade route as I want to keep the Super Vs intact and separate..possibly for another system setup.  I do see some  reservation in the forums about the entire signal running through the DSP and that's understandable. On the other hand, I've read a number of posts in discussions where someone who had reservations did go the full DSP route and noted no ills by doing so.  Bruce has gotten the speakers this far(8b) with a unique design..I'll take the next step with him. Once things settle down(~6 months out), I'll be running some REW testing and see where I'm at. I'll update here once things settle down. 

 

 

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,487 posts
 

 

Excellent @nogaps!

By the way for those who don’t know: The GR Research Super V’s pictured above contain the Rythmik/GRR OB/Dipole Sub I recommend for use with the ET LFT-8b. The back of the OB/Dipole Sub H-frame is visible in both pics. For those who want even more bass, two of the dual-woofer H-frames (a 3-woofer model in also available) stacked is exactly the same height as the LFT-8b: five feet. The LFT-8b/stacked OB/Dipole Sub will make a great looking (and of course sounding) full-range loudspeaker. 

And for those who want to take the LFT-8b even further, Mye Sound offers a stand for them that braces the vertical planar-magnetic panel, much as the Mye stand does for Maggies.

 

ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,709 posts
 

I had a pair of the Super Vs a few years ago and they offered up some of the best bass I’ve ever had in my room. But ultimately I couldn’t come to terms with the coaxial driver. It just seemed like a weak point in what was otherwise a very good speaker.

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