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LFRs Improve Your Image
#425338 05/02/17 10:44 PM
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Ian Offline OP
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So often I am asked what can be done to achieve the best audio experience, as I am sure most of you are too. I think there are three main things you need to have; dynamics, neutrality, and imaging. These are the things that can make you feel like the artists are in the room with you. Dynamics are very much a function of both the amplifier and the speakers; you need enough power and dynamic headroom to never hit the limits of the amplifier and you need speakers that can handle it without straining. The other two, neutrality and imaging, are very much attributes of the speakers (the family of curves to put a finer point on it). The way I am achieving this audio nirvana is a pair of LFR1100s hooked to big ADA1500 amplifiers. With this said I have been thinking about how to get more people experiencing our LFR series omnidirectional speakers combined with big power. For those of you who already own them I think you can appreciate why this would make for some very happy customers.

It is always tough to explain what the experience is like listening to LFRs. They are not the traditional Bi-pole or Di-pole omnidirectional speakers. This is because we are controlling the front and rear outputs independently with the goal to make the listening window and sound power curves perfect (the family of curves to put a finer point on it). Here is the graph of the LFR1100s to demonstrate what is going on with the listening window and sound power:



The overall tonal balance is not disturbed doing this; they sound tonally like improved versions of the M60s, M80s, or M100s but the soundstage becomes incredibly 3-Dimensional; it is really cool to experience.

There are other attributes about the LFRs that make them exceptional. The ease that they handle dynamics is exceptional with all those drivers in place sharing the load. And then there is the ability to walk around the room and never leave the sweet-spot. It is like the sweet-spot is following you around. We tried to come up with a little graphic to show this:





Then there is the advantage of the added amplification. This I think can be viewed both ways, as having the DSP and the extra amp channels also adds a level of complication and expense to the equation. But these things aside, there is nothing better than lots of power if you want to crank things up a bit. Turning it up and hitting the dynamic limits of your receiver is downright painful but turning it up and it having it just get more dynamic is heaven. I am now getting into running a separate ADA1500-2 for each my right and left LFR1100, though this could be considered borderline lunacy.

Now it comes down to how to make the decision to go with LFRs as easy as possible. We have decided to make adding the amplifier to an LFR purchase a bundle price and give 25% off the cost of the amp when purchased with a pair of LFRs. I am also thinking about doing a one-time special offer of allowing the full amount you paid, no matter how long ago you purchased, for any trade-up to the equivalent or higher model in the LFR line.

Does any of this sound enticing?


Ian Colquhoun
President & Chief Engineer
Re: LFRs Improve Your Image
Ian #425340 05/02/17 11:31 PM
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Nice! Generous offer. smile

Re: LFRs Improve Your Image
Ian #425341 05/03/17 12:40 AM
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Enticing is a good word for it.



Re: LFRs Improve Your Image
Ian #425345 05/03/17 02:18 AM
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Offering a bundle with amp and speakers seems like a really good idea. Very few people are going to have 4 channels of amplification sitting around so buying both at the same time seems like it would be pretty common (and you already have to ship the DSP).

IIRC you mentioned building DSP into an amp before, although I think it was the -1000 and LFR's seem like a better match with 1500's unless they are a solid 4 ohms in the important regions, which I don't think is the case.

The trade-up offer seems overly generous at first glance (I have enough tradeable Axiom speakers to single-handedly make you reconsider, and at some point I'll probably trade them all in on some LFR1100's) but it might make sense for a while to seed some LFR's that others can listen to. Maybe combine with an expectation of allowing a few auditions ?

The diagrams are a good idea and worth including on the LFR product pages. You described the effect to me already but even so the diagrams seemed like a useful addition, since they make a nice simple connection between the sound from the rear of the speakers and the larger listening area.

Last edited by bridgman; 05/03/17 02:44 AM.

M60ti, VP180, QS8, M2ti, EP500, PC-Plus 20-39
M5HP, M40ti, Sierra-1
LFR1100 active, ADA1500-4 and -8
Re: LFRs Improve Your Image
Ian #425347 05/03/17 05:13 AM
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Out of curiosity, what updates have been made to the LFR1100s since they were first released? I shouldn't ask. I don't have disposable income to speak of for the foreseeable future.

Re: LFRs Improve Your Image
Ian #425352 05/03/17 12:48 PM
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The LFR-1100's with the ADA-1500-4 make for one spectacular speaker package. Throw in an EP-800, and they are in the super speaker class.

I auditioned a pair of Magico SS-5's ($40,000 per pair) with a JL Audio Fathom 113 ($5000), and while they were really good, they lacked the depth and width in sound stage of the LFR-1100 system.

Considering the Magicos were being driven by $20,000 worth of MacIntosh mono bloc amps and an $8000 preamp, and we are looking at a $73,000 system.

The entire Axiom system with pre-amp was about $12,000.

Last edited by craigsub; 05/03/17 12:49 PM.
Re: LFRs Improve Your Image
Ian #425354 05/03/17 01:33 PM
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so for those of us who already own the LFR's, do we get a deal, like a discount to upgrade our ADA amp to a more powerful model?


Anthem: AVM60, Fosi DAC-Q5
Axiom: ADA1500, LFR1100 Actiive, QS8, EP500, M3, M3comp, M5
Re: LFRs Improve Your Image
Ian #425358 05/03/17 03:15 PM
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Thanks for the info. I think this is a great idea and shows customers your commitment to giving them a positive experience. Unfortunately my tiny house won't allow the space for LFR's so I'll just dream along with you lucky ones!


Dan
On-Wall M5HP LCR, QS8 & EP500 in 7.1
Re: LFRs Improve Your Image
cb919 #425362 05/03/17 05:44 PM
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axiomite
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Originally Posted By cb919
Unfortunately my tiny house won't allow the space for LFR's so I'll just dream along with you lucky ones!

Ian, you need to add "makes your room seem larger" to the marketing materials laugh

Last edited by bridgman; 05/03/17 05:46 PM.

M60ti, VP180, QS8, M2ti, EP500, PC-Plus 20-39
M5HP, M40ti, Sierra-1
LFR1100 active, ADA1500-4 and -8
Re: LFRs Improve Your Image
bridgman #425369 05/03/17 10:03 PM
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Ian Offline OP
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That is a good point. It is a really good deal compared to an addition to your house.


Ian Colquhoun
President & Chief Engineer
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