If anyone is upgrading to 8c’s and selling their 8b’s, please let me know!
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)
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Interesting. I'd read that interview and his discussion about the tweeters to the outside, but hadn't messed with it at the time as I was busy with other things. I'm still about a month out from being home and listening again(and installing the 8c upgrade). My room is about 13.5 x15.5, with the LFTs on the long wall 115 inches apart on center and 105 inches from the listening position. The panels are about 37 inches off the side walls and 43 inches from the front wall. This is a balcony over a great room and I have nothing but air behind my head over the room below. Basically, very different from Coleman's or ledoux's room. Once I get the 8c's setup and initially tuned in, I'll have to flip-flop them and see what happens. Thanks for highlighting this.. |
If someone has a set of 8b's then the "upgrade" is primarily swapping out the bass unit (purchased separately) as there's no real reason to repurchase a set of (8c) speakers. The 8c as purchased new today does have an improved tweeter over the 8b (or at least a 2017 8b pair, as mine are..I purchased the upgraded tweeter too), I doubt you'll find a set of 8b's due to someone upgrading to 8c's. There is a set of 8c's on audio mart in TN for a reasonable price. There was another 8c set in Knoxville a couple weeks ago. Very nice listing with extras tossed in, same money as the current listing...it's in the hifishark history. If you're up for a serious(I assume) roadtrip..there's a pair of 8a's up in British Colombia. They could be upgraded to 8b's or 8c's for a modest amount. |
...as an aside, as long as we're on the topic..once I upgrade my 8b tweeters and bass units to the 8c, I'll have a set of good 8b tweeters and bass units in the closet. Toss in midrange panels and the steel panel "enclosure" and I'd have anther set of 8b's. I can make new grills, as I did with my current ones. Not sure if this is feasible. |
@bdp24 Yes, I can hear the difference.
There is an electrical phase delay function in the 8c. Bruce recommends applying a 0.6ms delay between the bass and upper frequncies. The speaker toe-in you suggest is a mechanical way to phase align the tweeter and the midrange. Am I understanding this correctly? Regarding toe-in, I have read from other sources that with planar speakers it is best not to toe-in. As planars are dipoles in nature, any toe-in would alter the interaction of the back wave with the room. However, the LFTs' have separate tweeter and midrange panels side by side, so it behaves a bit differently from true dioples. Apply a toe-in to time / pahse align the tweeter and midrange seems to make sense. But I have the sides of the speakers only 8'-9' to side walls. I wonder if toe-ins might not cause unwanted room interactions? I will experiemnt though. |
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