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In Reply to: RE: Eminent Technology LFT-8b posted by JohnnyTee on January 10, 2012 at 09:26:36
In my experience they also are limited and distort with high output. The bass on the 1.6QR did not fare nearly as well when pushed too hard. I consider the distortion due to the single magnet array of the 1.6QR as strong as the distortion of the bass driver of the LFT-8B; neither one handles very high levels well. Different technologies and different types of distortion when pushed too hard.
But one has to get to what imo is reaching higher listening level to do so with either speaker. The LFT-8B has no problem with 88-90 dB. That is more than enough for the majority of audiophiles. Now, if someone is trying to fully pressurize a 20x25 room and expects an 8" sealed woofer to do so they are expecting way too much, and would be expecting way too much of any passive, sealed 8" woofer. You run a 1.6QR at the same levels and you'll hear plenty of distortion as the midrange is effected as well, whereas the LFT-8B is a bipolar and has a smaller diaphram surface area; the mid is more under control as a result.
The OP did not state why the demo was at moderate listening level. I have known audiophiles who play their system well below 90 dB and never turn it up.
The greatest impediment to advancing an audiophile system is the audiophile.
Follow Ups:
While you are correct that the maggies distort on high level bass, that is just as true for the LFT 8.
There is the point that among value planar speakers, the LFT8 is the current version of a $2k speaker, while the 3a is an old version of a $5k speaker. Do you really think there is a benefit to going to the smaller speaker vs updating the 3a he has with decent modern XO parts?
The bass of the 3.x models is far better than that of the 1.6, and their ribbons outperform the LFT 8. The main drawback on some of the 3.x models is a bit of incoherence between the ribbon and midrange. It is more significant to some than to others.
As Davy has found out it is not inherent to the speaker design, but a byproduct of the XO alignment. Going 1st order for the mid/tweeter XO really resolves this.
My use of the word "also" was intended to affirm that both can be over-driven. I do not make a habit of listening over 90dB, and I believe a large number of audiophiles also do not. Achieving a somewhat realistic reproduction of an orchestra at live levels is exceptionally difficult and would tax any smaller speaker system. Any number of sealed woofer/smaller subs would have a fair bit of distortion doing so. Imo, the levels at which you are listening would tax any speaker with 8" bass drivers, as well as one like the 1.6. So, given your preferences I agree that the LFT-8B would not suffice. But that is hardly indicative of the listening habits of many audiophiles, for whom the LFT-8B may never even approach those levels.
While a speakers price may be indicative of it's sound quality this is not an absolute relationship. It is quite possible that a $2K speaker can sound better than a $3K speaker, especially an older design. If the relationship was absolute then selecting speakers would be easy - just go for the most expensive one you can afford.
I agree that the modded 3.x may sound a fair bit better, but it entails modding; it would depend on whether the OP is up to it. Perhaps he is, and if so then it may be a great solution.
The greatest impediment to advancing an audiophile system is the audiophile.
OP here,
One other variable I have to consider; the emotional satisfaction of owning something new and different. I think it is wise to modify older previously top of the line components to match up to today's considerably more expensive components. But not only are you taking the "new" aspect out of it, you also have to consider the fact that you still have an older model, and other components in that older model can fail.
I believe that modding the 3a could make it sound better than the LFT8b, depending on what you consider better. The other think though for me is size. Although the 8b weighs more than the 3a, it is a smaller panel and does not dominate the room as the 3a, and that is something I want to consider.
"The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him" Proverbs 18: 17
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