MoFi SourcePoint 8—The Hype Is Real!

[EddNog]

Well, count my love affair with LS50 Metas as finally over. Just got these MoFi Electronics SourcePoint 8 standmounts in and…yeah, they destroy the LS50 Metas. No contest. So much richer, more full bodied (this comparing with both pairs of speakers crossed over to an SVS PC-2000 Pro at 60Hz). Soundstage is both deeper and wider, yet imaging is more sharply focused. Bigger sweet spot for listening on top of that. Just stellar—can’t believe I waited this long to do this. Got them open box, so snagged a great deal on them $1,550 for the pair and they look brand new! Selling the pair of SVS 3000 Micro subwoofers, along with the pair of LS50 Metas & S2 stands, and the spare (RCA) miniDSP Flex, should cover the cost of these and then some. Using DIRAC Live to correct only from 12-300Hz with +6.5dB Harman bass tilt.

Besides the soundstage and tonal improvements, I am witnessing a tremendous increase in system headroom. Using the same 60Hz, 30dB/Octave high-pass on both pairs of speakers for a fair comparison (SVS PC-2000 Pro subwoofer in sealed mode covers 60Hz and down, preventing potential localization that would occur at higher crossover frequencies), and playing, “Carmen Fantasy (After Bizet),” as performed by the All-Star Percussion Ensemble, one of the most dynamic tracks I’ve ever listened to, the LS50 Metas rapidly start running out of breath with average volume in the low/mid-70s dB and peak hits around 83dB. The SourcePoint 8s meanwhile happily slam out 91dB peaks with average volume around 81dB with equal, if not even greater clarity (lower distortion).

The difference is truly stunning; I did the numbers before, but there’s a huge difference between, “doing the numbers,” and then witnessing the actual results of changing out the LS50 Metas for the SourcePoint 8s. I also had some initial concerns about going backwards in terms of headroom by removing the 3000 Micro subs and moving back to a, “normal,” 2.1 setup from the three-tiered arrangement, because the 3000 Micros obviously have a huge difference in capacity over the single 8” mid/low driver on the MoFis, but, “the numbers,” indicated that in reality the 3000 Micros were just overkill and the MoFis would be more than enough, and fortunately the reality turned out to be a confirmation of them, with the added benefit of significantly improved lower-mid and upper-bass clarity. I haven’t lost any punch or slam at all in giving up the small subs for upper bass, such is the capability of these big standmounts. Listening to Flying Dragons and Leaping Tigers performed by Yim Hok-Man at reference levels is absolutely mind-blowing!





-Ed

 

[90sNintendoKid]

$1550 for the pair, I’m envious of your amazing deal . I’ve got the Kef Q Concerto Meta, Kef R3 Meta and these Mofi’s on my list of speakers for my home theatre LCR.

 

[EddNog]

$1550 for the pair, I’m envious of your amazing deal . I’ve got the Kef Q Concerto Meta, Kef R3 Meta and these Mofi’s on my list of speakers for my home theatre LCR.

I think all three of those are great options. Myself, I was leaning towards either R3 Meta, R5 Meta, or the SourcePoint 8s, whichever one I could get a decent price on a pair in great or new condition, and this deal came up first. I also had eyeballed the Elac Uni-Fi Reference UFR52 (what a mouthful!), KEF Q7 Meta & Q11 Meta, and Arendal 1961 Tower floorstanders, but in the end I wasn't confident that the KEF Q7/11 and Elac UFR52 floorstanders wouldn't be a downgrade from the LS50 Meta in accuracy/clarity, and the strobing/vertical dispersion...weirdness...with the mid-tweeter-mid Arendal towers (and other MTM designs that I staked out) also scared me away from them. Never saw a deal on R3 Metas or R5 Metas that were compelling enough for me to go with either of them before I found the deal for the MoFis--everything either looked like it had been drop-kicked/fell off a truck and dragged, or just too expensive.

-Ed

 

[DazST]

Well, count my love affair with LS50 Metas as finally over. Just got these MoFi Electronics SourcePoint 8 standmounts in and…yeah, they destroy the LS50 Metas. No contest. So much richer, more full bodied (this comparing with both pairs of speakers crossed over to an SVS PC-2000 Pro at 60Hz). Soundstage is both deeper and wider, yet imaging is more sharply focused. Bigger sweet spot for listening on top of that. Just stellar—can’t believe I waited this long to do this. Got them open box, so snagged a great deal on them $1,550 for the pair and they look brand new! Selling the pair of SVS 3000 Micro subwoofers, along with the pair of LS50 Metas & S2 stands, and the spare (RCA) miniDSP Flex, should cover the cost of these and then some. Using DIRAC Live to correct only from 12-300Hz with +6.5dB Harman bass tilt.

Besides the soundstage and tonal improvements, I am witnessing a tremendous increase in system headroom. Using the same 60Hz, 30dB/Octave high-pass on both pairs of speakers for a fair comparison (SVS PC-2000 Pro subwoofer in sealed mode covers 60Hz and down, preventing potential localization that would occur at higher crossover frequencies), and playing, “Carmen Fantasy (After Bizet),” as performed by the All-Star Percussion Ensemble, one of the most dynamic tracks I’ve ever listened to, the LS50 Metas rapidly start running out of breath with average volume in the low/mid-70s dB and peak hits around 83dB. The SourcePoint 8s meanwhile happily slam out 91dB peaks with average volume around 81dB with equal, if not even greater clarity (lower distortion).

The difference is truly stunning; I did the numbers before, but there’s a huge difference between, “doing the numbers,” and then witnessing the actual results of changing out the LS50 Metas for the SourcePoint 8s. I also had some initial concerns about going backwards in terms of headroom by removing the 3000 Micro subs and moving back to a, “normal,” 2.1 setup from the three-tiered arrangement, because the 3000 Micros obviously have a huge difference in capacity over the single 8” mid/low driver on the MoFis, but, “the numbers,” indicated that in reality the 3000 Micros were just overkill and the MoFis would be more than enough, and fortunately the reality turned out to be a confirmation of them, with the added benefit of significantly improved lower-mid and upper-bass clarity. I haven’t lost any punch or slam at all in giving up the small subs for upper bass, such is the capability of these big standmounts. Listening to Flying Dragons and Leaping Tigers performed by Yim Hok-Man at reference levels is absolutely mind-blowing!

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-Ed

Mate you must really trust your cat to have that tower so close to your rig!

 

[EddNog]

Mate you must really trust your cat to have that tower so close to your rig!

You know, we got lucky with our two cats, they’re fairly good about not knocking stuff over or climbing onto everything! One just vomits a lot and the other never buries his waste (doesn’t, “flush the toilet”).

-Ed

 

[EddNog]

Moved the speakers back, readjusted delays in REW, and recalibrated DIRAC Live. Still sounds great, and now they’re not, “in the middle of the room,” as my wife was saying.



-Ed

 

[Mr Ee]

and now they’re not, “in the middle of the room"

I have to say I was impressed with the first picture, but did wonder if it'd last.
Even less time than I thought!

 

[Hiphiman]

I know (and respect) that others love them, but over the years I have never been able to warm to KEF speakers. Most recently, I tested R3 Metas alongside others like PMC Prodigy 5s and run-out ex-demo PMC twenty5 23is, which were all similar prices. First out were the KEFs mainly because they - like other KEFs I have heard over the years - just lacked excitement. In fact, between them and my 40-odd year old Mission standmounts, yes the KEFs had more clarity and were no doubt truer, but I could never lose the fun that came with the (£80!) Missions, or how they also maintained that at lower volumes. I suspect that new-found fun is part of the appeal you are finding with your new MoFis.
Which PMC seemed best? Both were exciting, but it was actually unexpectedly very, very close between the Prodigy 5s and the 23is though the latter had it for me because of better 3D imaging, a 20 year warranty and lovely shape. And speaking of shape, both floorstanding PMCs take up less real space than the surprisingly large KEF standmounts.
As ever, this is a subjective pursuit, so YMMV.

 

[Terge Sturgeon]

Cool write up. Did you consider the lintons (reg or super)?
How are these at low listening levels?

 

[harkpabst]

I know (and respect) that others love them, but over the years I have never been able to warm to KEF speakers. Most recently, I tested R3 Metas alongside others like PMC Prodigy 5s and run-out ex-demo PMC twenty5 23is, which were all similar prices. First out were the KEFs mainly because they - like other KEFs I have heard over the years - just lacked excitement. In fact, between them and my 40-odd year old Mission standmounts, yes the KEFs had more clarity and were no doubt truer, but I could never lose the fun that came with the (£80!) Missions, or how they also maintained that at lower volumes. I suspect that new-found fun is part of the appeal you are finding with your new MoFis.
Which PMC seemed best? Both were exciting, but it was actually unexpectedly very, very close between the Prodigy 5s and the 23is though the latter had it for me because of better 3D imaging, a 20 year warranty and lovely shape. And speaking of shape, both floorstanding PMCs take up less real space than the surprisingly large KEF standmounts.
As ever, this is a subjective pursuit, so YMMV.

My mileage does vary, indeed.

I don't expect my speakers to add "fun" to the music if it's not already in there. Also, I never followed the concept of speakers sounding good (or not) at low levels. This is all a matter of EQ. In my experience KEF have been a technology leader for decades, then went through a substantial crisis, but are back at the top at least since Jack Oclee-Brown joined the company. KEF stands for technical excellence ever since and the resulting products prove this.

Surely there are alternatives. My current main speakers are not KEF speakers right now. But I'd consider them every time. Since speakers can be a highly subjective topic I accept different view. But there's no such thing as a KEF "house sound" that appeals to some, but not others.

 

[EddNog]

My mileage does vary, indeed.

I don't expect my speakers to add "fun" to the music if it's not already in there. Also, I never followed the concept of speakers sounding good (or not) at low levels. This is all a matter of EQ. In my experience KEF have been a technology leader for decades, then went through a substantial crisis, but are back at the top at least since Jack Oclee-Brown joined the company. KEF stands for technical excellence ever since and the resulting products prove this.

Surely there are alternatives. My current main speakers are not KEF speakers right now. But I'd consider them every time. Since speakers can be a highly subjective topic I accept different view. But there's no such thing as a KEF "house sound" that appeals to some, but not others.

Agree on many points there. With an unlimited budget (yes, unlimited), I'd still probably go with a pair of Blade 1 or 2 Metas (no, not the Muons) over SourcePoint V10s .

The LS50 Metas are great for what they are, but they really didn't fit my desires which include more body and bottom-end. On the other hand, I'm actually so happy with the SourcePoint 8s that I've sold all of my subwoofers (for now) and am enjoying the simplicity of not having to integrate a sub. With the SourcePoint 8s pushed back towards the back wall to take advantage of port gain and DIRAC Live keeping a good handle on the resulting bass, it sounds fantastic and very, very punchy.

That said, I do have my eyes on a Rythmik L12, whenever they get back in stock.

-Ed

 

[EddNog]

Cool write up. Did you consider the lintons (reg or super)?
How are these at low listening levels?

To be frank, I haven't looked at any speakers that are not coaxial with the exception of maybe some MTM designs, but even those I've not considered very seriously.

-Ed