1. Home
  2. speakers
  3. 197662-203296

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
161 posts
 

Everyone has different ears and prefers a different sound.  I've been to two audio shows this year and identified just two speakers that I'd consider taking home, price no object. The mega systems..meh..interesting, but I don't find them at all engaging. The other couple hundred I've heard..many sound nice, some really nice, most struck me as exceedingly average. A surprising number, dozens, many well respected brands, sounded rather bad.  Many folks here seem to like ATC actives.  I heard one of their topline sets in Florida.  A sales manager type walked up to me and started explaining all about them.  They were playing loud in a pretty good sized room. I had to politely excuse myself from his pitch as I couldn't get out of the room fast enough. I was embarrassed for the guy on the way they sounded.  He was very proud of them though.

In the context of an audio show, once you hear speakers that do it all for you, it's real easy to toss even the "best" brands overboard after a brief audition. If they're not really engaging, like, I don't want to leave the room, regardless of how "great" they sound, then they're just another nice sounding speaker. the building is full of them.

Ozzy said he likes hard rock and some metal.  Everyone likes what they like and it's all good. I haven't listened to hard rock for 45 years and have never heard metal..not my cup of java.  That said, knowing how the LFTs sound with jazz, small classical ensembles, female vocals from Patricia Barber to Alison Krauss to Montserrat Figueras, acoustic guitar, bluegrass, acoustic blues...it's not hard to believe LFTs and rock/metal may not be a good mix.  

I don't do vinyl so the sheen is unheard by me. Are there better speakers than the LFTs?  Sure. I heard one pair at the FL show and one pair at Axpona. Neither were planar types. They sounded wonderful, to me. Both were about 20 grand more than the LFTs and are ear-marked for the next speaker, whenever that spirit moves me, enough.. But to me the LFTs do so many things so right, that I'll need to listen to them for a good while yet before I move on..and I haven't had the time to install the 8c upgrade yet., so there's another chapter 

ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,682 posts
 

I have the original 8B bass modules, the buyer didn't want those. I'm not sure if there is even a market for them, but I'm going to list them. Any idea what these might be worth?

ledoux1238
418 posts
 

Here’s another positive review of the LFT-8c, this time bu Tom Maertin of TAS:
 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IGOnwzOFFwI&list=PL3wo_G8xqrL6cH0DkL_zI-KRQ0WyrH_Y3&index=1&pp=iAQB

ledoux1238
418 posts
 

@ozzy62 Please let us know if you do manage to sell the bass modules of the 8bs’. 

wlamt22
6 posts
 

The 8c is an excellent speaker if you like panels - easier to place than Maggie 3.7i w/ much better low bass, and better bass integration and treble then the ML 9 and 11 - and its well cheaper than all 3.

The amount of adjustment with the bass cubes assures that you'll get a very good match with your room/tastes.

I thought the treble element was a ribbon at first it was so pure and clear.

I owned or had on long term loan/purchase option over 10 panel or panel/hybrids and only the Apogee Duetta was in the same class - and the ML CLS IIz w/ Gradient 63 subs.  

 

More to discover