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

A few years back while auditioning my current pair of Quicksilver Mono 120 amplifiers with KT150s installed, they were paired up with the smaller LFT-16a speakers. The room and speakers were set up nice and it was very enjoyable. At that moment I remember saying to myself, man this is all anyone needs in a smaller listening room setting. I’m not sure they’d do as well in a larger room at higher volume levels.

Prior to that heard the I’ve heard larger LFT-16a speakers set up and playing at my local dealer many times. Sometimes paired with various lower powered amplifiers too - Quite surprising how well they sounded at lower volume levels for such inefficient speakers, in the low 80s. Look at the impedance of these speakers to learn more.

I tend to believe they can do their best when paired with a proper set of mono block tube amplifiers with quality iron behind them. I kinda liked them paired with higher power 60wpc+ push-pull tube amps vs lower power tube amps. That could just be me, or my taste. I have yet to hear them paired up with high quality Class-A solid state amp(s). Would be great to hear from others and what SS amps they’ve used with them, and compared running them with various tube amps. What were the results - if anyone here has stories to share about different pairings with ETs?

@aniwolfe Sensitivity is low but it does not require a high current amp. This speaker will not go lower than 7 ohms. So lower powered tube amps work fine if not used in a large room, needing concert listening levels. The LFT’s are especially sensitive to VOLTS = Tube power.

I’ve heard the LFT-8bs paired with a very capable 10w AudioNote EL34 amplifier, and a 20wpc QS Integrated. While it sounded nice at low volume levels, in a 12x25’ room, sitting about 8ft away, the speakers tended to lose their steam and dynamics above 1/2 volume level on that AN integrated. A little better on the QS 20wpc integrated. Still needed a little more boost, even for low volume listening levels, imo. Now jumping up to higher power 60wpc+ QS Monos, separate/active tube preamp, yielded larger and more expansive sound. I found the 8Bs seemed to thrive better at lower listening levels with a little more power and drive behind them, for whatever reasons.

Given the chance, once the 8Bs are back in stock at my local dealer, I’m gonna ask to hear them on the Audio Note Meishu Tonmeister 300b amp. While its only 8w, still a capable amp, speaking of current, impedance/match, capability to drive. Might be a few months, hope to try it next to see & hear the pros/cons.

@hilde45 .."The key issue, it seems, is how loud people want to play them."

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Yep, desired volume levels, room size, and placement options matter in order to decide on the type of preferred amplification and whether these are the speakers are for you (or maybe not). I’ve heard the 8s and 16s placed in different locations in a room, and they tended to sound their best to me out from the front wall a little bit. Was involved in attempted listening sessions with nice 10w, 20w, 60w tube amps. Me, I’d go with 60wpc push-pull tube amps for these, imo. Very few SS amps need apply. I’d still pick really good mono tube amps over most good Class-A SS amps for these particular speakers. .

imo, its not the same type of hollow sound co-mingled/blurred and spread all across the front such as I’ve heard with some of the Magnepan speakers. It’s more of a directed and forward (at you) type of sound when the speakers are slightly tilted to the listener. The speakers, particularly the 8s provide some added upper end detail you don’t hear with most conventional cone speakers. Some may not like this. Really good tube amps, and with big-iron behind them would totally be my preference for these.

Selecting the correct amplification for the room and for these speakers is key, imo. If (decades late on these) Steve Guttenberg does not review them with different amplifiers in different size rooms, and placements, the test and review will be somewhat limited imo. Having heard these speakers at least 15 different times, with different amplifiers. Your hearing, rooms, and experience may vary.  Best of Luck to anyone who jumps in on these.  

...just hook 'em up to a nice amplifier and enjoy.