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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.
majorc
decooney
2,038 posts
 
@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?


bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,816 posts
 

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.

majorc OP
78 posts
 
Thank you. I did speak with Mike at Quicksilver and he thought the amps were sufficient to drive the speakers so long as my room was not to big and I don't play too loud; he also recommended possibly trying a preamp. But I did use a preamp (sonic frontiers anthem pre1P) and it sounded better going direct without the preamp - much more detail - as though a blanket was taken off the speakers.  But the tradeoff is now I have detail but no weight or dynamics - the sound is a bit thin - and I do need a bit more volume.  My budget is 3,000 give or take - if I had to choose 1 to replace it would probably be the speakers - I love the amps.  And I tried replacing the amps with an Eagle 2c prime which was recommended to drive the ETs, and it gave me a bit more volume but did not in any way compare to the sweetness of the quicksilvers.  I understand  the moscode 600 is recommended to drive  ETs- not sure how that compares to the Quicksilvers sound quality wise.    
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,701 posts
 
Do you have the older 60 watt Quicksilvers? Or the new ones?

M60 Mono Amplifier

 New one!
http://quicksilveraudio.com/products/sixty-watt-mono-amp/

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,974 posts
 
@yogiboy -- what are the salient differences between older and newer 60s?
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