Eminent Technology's $899 LFT-11 planar magnetic multimedia reference loudspeakers are audio standard setters for the discriminating multimedia user who's looking for pure sound from the PC. Designed for multimedia authors and others who want to know exactly what they're recording, the LFT-11 will also find a home on the desks of mainstream--but affluent--audio aficionados.
Several components are included in the LFT-11 package. In addition to an 8.3- by 10.5- by 15-inch subwoofer (with a pair of 6.5-inch speakers) that sits on the floor, there is a pair of 6.3- by 9.3-inch planar speakers that are just 1 inch thick. On their stands, these satellite speakers are 10.5 inches tall. A 15-watt-per-channel Realistic Optimus STA-300 digital stereo receiver, a monitor stand, and all necessary cables complete the package. The wooden parts of the speakers and monitor stand are made of oak, a refreshing change from the de rigueur gray or black plastic cases.
Cabling is simple. Your computer's audio card connects to the CD/Aux jack on the back of the Realistic receiver. A custom cable goes from the receiver's speaker connectors to the back of the subwoofer, and the two planar speakers plug into the subwoofer. The sound quality is best if the planar speakers are about 3 feet apart. You can put them close your monitor without worrying about display-interference problems.
The thin planar magnetic speakers use matched sets of magnets to push and pull air so the same force comes out the front and rear of the speakers. This requires that they be positioned at least 3 inches from the wall. In contrast to more typical cone speakers, the planar magnetic speakers have very low distortion and narrow sound dispersion, which limits cross talk between the speakers. By the same token, this means that they really work best for a single listener.
When you position the planar speakers approximately 30 inches from each ear and tilt them toward your left and right ears, the LFT-11 speakers are in their element. As soon as you step away from the target zone, you'll notice an immediate loss of mid- and high-range content.
The subwoofer has a higher than usual 200-Hz crossover, so that all low and some low-midrange signals come from the subwoofers, leaving the rest of the midrange and the high-range sounds to the planar speakers. The result is that the sound you hear from the LFT-11 speakers when you're sitting in the target zone is very clear but also unforgiving.
The LFT-11 system brings to the surface sounds that were either muffled or buried by other loudspeakers. You hear singers breathing on audio CDs and a high level of detail from sound effects (like the loading of a shotgun while playing DOOM II). The lack of distortion and audio coloration makes the speakers ideal for people who are recording sounds, speech, or music and want to be sure of the exact audio content of the recording.
In case $899 is too rich for your budget and you already have a stereo receiver or amplifier (10- to
50-watt output per channel), the LFT-11 speakers are available without the Optimus receiver for
$749. At its present price, the LFT-11 system is too expensive for most personal or standard
business desktop applications, but that may change if sales volume increases. For now, however,
the LFT-11 speakers are good for their target market of multimedia authors and a treat for others
who want to splurge to hear great sound.