I have those same amps and they have much more power than you think. If you'd like to message me, I can tell you what I've used them to drive. I've paired them with a couple of preamps and my main preamp is a Quickslilver linestage. But their wattage should not throw you; they are much more powerful than you might think.
change amps or speakers
I am powering Eminent technology LFT8bs with quicksilver M60 monoblocks. No preamp - I am running a dac directly to the amps, which works because with this configuration I am using very little attenuation. Problem is it is obvious that the ETs require more current and/or wattage- the detail is there but not the punch and there are times when I am maxed out on volume at 12 0'clock and need more. Question is do I change the amps or speakers - I love the quicksilvers and put some serious $ into modifications. A well respected friend/tech highly suggested I seek out a used pair of PSB stratus golds. I have a medium sized family room and like detail neutrality but need more rhythm and dynamics. Thanks you.
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@majorc By chance are you in Sac? Familiar combo here locally. I’ve heard the LFT8bs on the larger 100w QS Mono 120s, and the smaller LFT16s on amps as low as 10w. In either case, neither were super loud but sure are musical. Neat speakers. It depends on how loud you want to play them, and those speakers can be tricky if they are not placed out from the wall, very room sensitive. The older 2014 review by AS indicated they preferred the 8bs with at least 100wpc. https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/eminent-technology-lft-8b-loudspeaker/?page=4 However, I’m also wondering if your DAC direct to the Mono 60s is not giving you sufficient output voltage/gain to drive the Mono 60s properly. I’ve tried a former DAC direct to my own QS amps and it did not drive them properly. Do you have access to someone you could borrow an active preamp from to test it out before bailing on speakers or amps? |
The LFT-8b is a pretty-stable 8 ohm load. The LFT m/t panel itself is an almost purely resistive 11 ohms, so good with tubes. If you bi-amp---with any old solid state amp for the woofers (180Hz down) and your excellent Quicksilver amp for the panels, you may find happiness. If you like the LFT-8b panel a lot (I do), look into the OB/Dipole Sub offered by GR Research in collaboration with Rythmik Audio. Unlike any other sub on the market, the OB/Dipole plays up to 300Hz, and can be used in place of the LFT-8's woofer. Imagine dipole operation from below 20Hz to over 20kHz! Details on both the GR Research and Rythmik Audio websites, discussions about the sub on the GR Research section of the AudioCircle Forum. |
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