Steve Guttenberg finally reviews the Eminent Technology LFT-8b loudspeaker.

@ledoux1238: It's understandable that a Maggie owner might feel---I don't know, maybe threatened---when a competing and somewhat similar loudspeaker is suggested as an alternative to consider. But if I had just spent $2995 on a pair of MG1.7i's, and then heard the $3200 LFT-8b, I'd be quite pissed off.

For those who love their 1.7i's, fantastic, enjoy the music. I went out and listened to a pair, and they didn't give me what I need. As Guttenberg said, the LFT-8b sounds surprisingly different from the "smaller" Maggies (those below the 3.7). To move up the Maggie line, you have to spend $8,000 for a pair of the 3.7i's, and need to have an amp that can drive them. I would try a Sanders amp with them.

I can't wait to hear the upcoming LFT-16LS, as well as the Magnepan concept speaker, the "30.7 For Condos", which like the 16LS will have separate dipole woofers and DSP. Like I said above, exciting times.

FWIW...The LFT8b's are lovely. During 2020, 2021 and 2022 I had alot of time to evaluate my small collection of panel speakers including, Quad 63's, Lft-8b's and ML ESLs. Evaluation was done in a constant rotation, using an upgraded (resistors, caps, transformers) ELEKIT push/pull KT120/KT77/EL34 amp. I found the 40 - 50 wpc to be lots of power for my listening, in a Treated but smallish (11'.5" x 13'.5") room.

I still rotate between the LFT 8s and the ML ESL (with Spetz Zeros). I prefer the ET LFT8 but the vast majority people who have heard both, including our Vinyl Club members,  like the Logans...

I sold the 63s...

Yes, looking forward to the release of LFT-18LS. The videos links provided by @ricevs really gave a good glimpse of the new speaker. Did I hear correctly? It is a fully powered DSP speaker system, without the need of amps? 

I wrote to Bruce asking him about the use of DSP. He replied that deploying DSP tech is the lesser of two evils, the other being passive x-over. And digital tech has advanced such that he could do things that he couldn't just ten years ago. I personally find the DSP part of the 8c a quandary. How can a plate amp / DSP digital processor that retails in the $250 range make such an impact? I am in effect putting analog play back through a A-D and D-A conversion every time I use the speaker. And analog still comes out sounding like analog!? I guess my question is if 'cheap' digital tech can be deployed to such good effect in speaker design, then why are we chasing digital playback tech in the $10k + realm. Or is it that Bruce is in fact moving up the digital chain with the LFT-18 for even more superior sound in addition of the neodymium magnets?

Sanders Sound System also uses DSP, though a more sophisticated / expensive kind. And Robert Greene in his review of the Sanders speakers claims not to 'hear' the DSP degrading SQ. In fact, he felt it would be the future trend in speaker design. I did not understand that part of his review But having lived with DSP, I can honestly say it woks without degrading SQ, having 8b as a compare.

I am going to contact Bruce about creating an updated LFT-8b and C......like an EXTREME version: the new 90db Neo drivers, new woofer to match and all upgraded parts: WBT posts, cryoed wires and super xover parts. Probably would be at least 2-3K more......but can you imagine?......Way, way more transparency and dynamics!!!...add the C part and super bass too......would not need another speaker.......ever! The older ones could then be upgraded to the latest since all the drivers are the same size as the older ones (I am assuming here).

Yes, the new 18LS would be even more dynamic.....but who has the room and money?.....and you can always add super subs to the 18b Extreme or C Extreme.

Will see what he says.....certainly what I would do if I were him.......it would blow the roof off the industry.....90db....easy to drive maggie beater.......send one to Steve Guttenberg and he will use it as his reference for years.

The LFT-8b can be turned into a world class speaker that has few equals... for those who appreciate coherence and staging. They play loud enough and only change level, not character no matter the request.

Replace the passive XO with active DSP. Time align the system. Drive the mid and tweets with very good tube gear. Replace the woofer drivers if they are original Usher or Tymphany with the Dayton RS225-8 and drive it with 200WPC of good SS. Roll the bottom octave from the woorfers w first order HP. Add a pair of subs with controls to integrate properly: multiple XO slope, polarity inversion, continuous phase.

Add in a decent cable loom and put them in a very good room.

They will "float like a butterfly and sting like a bee" when required.

Former bi-amped Tympany IV owner - a long time back...

See ieLogical Audiophilia Redux