'planar' vs. 'boxes'

I also have a pair of Eminent Technology speakers, the LFT IVs, and must say that I love them and consider them a great value ( I bought mine used from Audio Classics ). I was turned onto them when I did a video projector setup for a reviewer for The Perfect Vision, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, and Widescreen Review. He had a pair of LFT VIIIs, and that night after the 3 hour drive home, I found a used pair of VIs and ordered them. Here is a review link to someone who uses TWO PAIRS of the LFT VIIIs in tandem, and calls the combination " a poor man's (Infinity) IRS V". The link is: www.eminent-tech.com/stacked8review.html. Very interesting, and something that I never would have thought of.

I have listen to electrostatics my favorite planar type, and the ribbons, to my ears the electrostatics (Martin Logans) sound the more real. In practical use, unless you have a tremendous budget on amplification to apply a Krell made crossover and some real hefty amplification let's say Classé, Krell, Mark Levinson, etc, the ML won't sound their best. There are extremely detailed and very well designed speakers in the market, I own a pair of NHT 3.3 highly recommended, also the 2.9's but also listen to Dunlavy and Von Scweikert VR series of speakers they are also quite good. Sound quality/price ratio the NHT 2.9 are very and I mean very hard to beat. I love planars, but I think music is better served by being played thrugh well designed dynamic speakers. If I had unlimited budget I would have 2 complete systems and I would own a set of Martin Logans CLS's or Sequel's or Re-Quests' but it will be on my second system, My flagship system will conyinue to delight me with NHT's or perhaps Dunlavy's maybe even Wilson Watt-Puppy combo. Go listen for yourself, don't let anybody sell you something. listen with your heart you'll end up living a few years of your life with these speakers. make your choice a clear one. Best of lucks Gonzalo

The electrostatics offerer unsurpassed midrange. But the sheer size of the planar drivers to creat bass, the need for powerful amplifiers and the high cost stack against the planars. Unfortunately hybrids (that use cone drivers for the low frequencies) are not the best of both worlds...

Bohlender Grabner, Planer Magnetics, www.bgcorp.com. I have a 5.1 setup of their floorstanding series w/ 2 7.4 madrigal passive subs powered by 2 7.1 Citation amps and a monoblock. The front LR run in bridged mode @ ~500w. Outstanding for a home theater and audio comprimise, although I have a hard time finding the comprimise. I would describe myself as a serious listner of music but not educated. This setup affords me serious dynamics and clarity with an expanded soundstage that still gives the instruments precise locations. Call them, good people to talk to. BTW...the madrigal/citation subs are wonderful. Set up properly they can be musical and tight for audio and very powerful in HT. The system is located in a converted 23x25 garage as far as acoustics go. I have seen all of these speakers being sold on ubid lately. Any body else had any experience with these dirvers?

I agree, it's a broad question, here's a broad answer: Read reviews, then listen and compare for yourself. Whatever you buy, it's likely that you won't keep it for the rest of your life, so don't put so much pressure on yourself.