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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.
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bdp24 OP
9,821 posts
 
Thanks for the info, Bruce. I got the LFT-8b's intending to bi-amp them, thinking that would bypass the stock x/o altogether. Turns out the x/o stays in circuit even when bi-amping, so upgrading the passive parts needs to be addressed anyway. Thigpen doesn't mind, and will even provide advice on parts---Eric.
brucefrederick
11 posts
 
Eric,

The only reason I went with Clarity TC's in exchange for the 470uf electrolytic is they were deeply discounted  at PCX a few years back.  Think I'd go for the Audionote Kaisei bipolar as I have the 63V 10Kuf x6 in my power supply of class D amp and am impressed.

  BTW i just bypassed the mid panel (on the outside) with the Duelund .01uf  silver foil in wax.  Surprisingly, the sound turned more organic and natural. 

My advice would be to use PIO/paper in wax where you can.    The only thing I might change is the tweeter cap to a Jupiter copper foil.  Certain CD's are strident in the lower trebiles......Let your wallet be your guide 
bdp24's avatar
bdp24 OP
9,821 posts
 
Thanks again Bruce. The Jupiter caps come highly recommended, preferred by Danny Richie of GR Research (as well as you ;-). They aren't cheap, but the LFT-8b x/o is relatively simple, with not that many parts.
brucefrederick
11 posts
 
I am curious what Audiogoners are using for speaker wire on the Eminents?  I had been using single run of Xindak FS-1 which I thought was great.  However upon returning to running 2 identical runs  of Straightwire Maestro 10' per speaker I was just shocked what I was missing.  It seems the crossover distortion has also been greatly reduced. Music just starts and stops on a dime.  Maybe its a biwre thing?
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bdp24 OP
9,821 posts
 
Bruce, Clear Day Double Shotgun for the LFT drivers, Kimber 8VS for the woofers, both in 8’ runs.
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