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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
nogaps OP
165 posts
 

...and for an update on my setup/toe-in tuning:

A few days ago, after swapping the left for right and right for left speakers to get the midrange panels on the inside, I played with toe-in and arrived at 21 degrees of toe-in as "good".  This was based on ears & listening alone. Sounded pretty good and was an improvement over the toe in I 'd set previously, which, guessing only, was probably in the 15ish degrees area. 

As a side-note..GPT states the speakers "disappear" when you have things set up right..well..I've had 9 months of "setting them up wrong" and they've always disappeared and sounded great, though some seat-of-the-pants setups were better than others. 

After the ChatGPT adventure yesterday and GPT suggesting my optimal toe-in for an axis crossover slightly behind my head was 24-26 degrees, I increased the toe in from 21 to 23 degrees.  It was an improvement, though things are getting pretty marginal with trying to distinguish improvements. 

Being a little anal..and that 24-26 degree "optimum" hanging out there like a big matzah ball..I made a further toe in adjustment to 24.5 degrees. I think I'm done & GPT may have gotten it right.  This is the best setup I've heard..and I've heard at least 6-8 with these speakers..and honestly, they all sounded great (except for direct axis on head..that was a little intense). 

ledoux1238
418 posts
 

@nogaps First of all, thank you for the measurements.
 

I did some experimenting last night. The distance I gave, 260 cm, was measured from center of speakers. But because they were only 20cm from side wall and with these toe-in angles, the speakers had to be moved closer together so as not to hit the side walls. They are now spaced around 230cm center to center instead, so I am using the toe-in angles you supplied as references to extrapolate. I am not at the suggested optimal yet, but what I am hearing is a much more energized soundstage and more center filled. It’s like  moving from balcony to the front row. 
 

With my previous straight firing setup, the speakers ‘disappeared’ pretty well, so I agree with you. The LFT-8s are good at disappearing with many setups. The big difference for me is the soundstage. Previously it occurred entirely behind the speakers with a wide spread. With good recordings, it would spread beyond the speakers. The toe-in setup moved the entire soundstage to the face of the speakers. I was listening to digital last night, the ‘lesser’ format, so not quite as wide as vinyl. But the entire frequency response is much more balanced, down to the bass. 
 

I had experimented with toe-ins when the speakers were in their 8b version. But I never remember hearing such coherence in the soundstage. Then again, I had never had the midrange on the inside, so that may be the crux of the matter. It’s interesting that Bruce has always been quite agnostic about this, recommending that I try both. 

 

In any case, a very positive start on this new speaker placement journey, quite exciting really! I have not been so hyped since first receiving the speaker five years ago. I’ll be fine tuning and trying to dial it in this week. 

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,487 posts
 

 

It’s such a shame that so few people venture away from the far-better known Magnepans, ignoring the Eminent Technology LFT-8b/c (your choice), the best value(s) in a dipole/planar loudspeaker for over 35 years! While both are planar-magnetic designs, they sound quite different from one another. While I’m sure I could be happy with a pair of MG3.7i’s (with the Danny Richie-designed GR Research mod), I couldn’t with a pair of 1.7i’s, the LFT-8b’s competition.

 

ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,682 posts
 

Just curious how far away you guys are listening? I am having trouble with the center image. Kind of fuzzy and not very realistic. Side walls are treated with absorption and rear wall (behind speakers) have diffusors. Still experimenting with toe in.

nogaps OP
165 posts
 

@bdp24 

As I mentioned above, I've made a point to listen to the Maggies in recent audio shows for just this very reason (owning LFTs).  I visit and revisit the rooms..they just sound thin and anemic to me. 

I did notice/hear the Altec Lansing Ribbonacci Reference at Axpona. Wonderful sounding speaker (at about $90K). They are a planar magnetic using a push-pull design. I suppose somewhat similar to the LFTs. If Bruce had any patents on the early LFT models, they've run out by now. I think(?) even Maggie(?) uses a push-pull design on the upper models.(can't remember where I read that). Last month when I was in FL and ordered the 8c upgrade, I asked Bruce if he would be attending the Tampa Audio Show (he's in Tallahassee..not that far away..) and he said..nope, too busy working on stuff. 

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