MoFi Sourcepoint 8 - Initial Impressions
Right up front you should know that these Sourcepoint 8s are used and have been modified with the GR Research Crossover Mods. According to the GR site/web, the mods are a straight replacement of components with higher quality ones. It also has an impedance trap to tame the impedance peak around 3k. The same trap was implemented in the 10s ME.
The speakers are in a 14x16x9 living room. On their original stands, 3+ ft from the side walls and about 6 ft apart. I won't go into my system or sources at this point (except in context) since I want to just tell you what I heard that changed. I will say that my current Speakers were/are Apogee Stages that I love. They are 3ohm and 83db.
After initial placement I listened to the 8s for about 3 hours with certain tracks (Hi-Res) from Amazon HD through Eversole DMP A6 into Denafrips Venus II 12th via I2S. I moved them around a little, but have not had time to integrate them into my room or with my Rythmik and SVS Micro subs. I can comment on components of the sound more so than the musical aspects.
First of all - the details are all there. The complimentary voices in James Taylor's song "Wondering" from Gorilla were distinctly there. Lesser speakers barely reveal them much less place them separate. The drum segment at about 3:20 into "Take 5" sounded substantially different than I have heard it before. It was more real and live and defined. Dire Straits "My Latest Trick" was full and perfectly rendered. The drum and bass in the first section of "The Spanish Moon" filled the room with the heft that it is intended to have and as the song becomes more complex and filled with all of the bandmembers entering the fray, the 8s still held everything together - or - should I say apart?
In general, the sound was big and wide and rich. I do feel that there is an overall downward tilt to the sound with the upper ranges slightly lower than I would like. That may just be a placement issue more than anything else. I can certainly understand how some think of the speakers as warm but I hear them as big. Even at this early stage, I can tell that their off axis sound will really suite my lifestyle. I am very pleased with the initial sound, but I need time to rewire my brain after years with the Stages and I need time to dial things in.
@tom899 @maam522a, I have SP 888s and am really enjoying them. I've not opened mine up but someplace I thought I saw a photo of the crossover and it was two boards, similar to the Sp 10 Master Edition. That could be to handle the two woofers and/or better parts, I don't know. While I've been pleased with the 888s it's easy to wonder about simple upgrades. I'm about to replace the metal straps with speaker wire I use between T/M and Ws. Also I've wondered about IsoAcoustic feet replacements? |
I have not seen upgrades to the triple 8s on line. I would assume that the two boards are for the additional components since the inductors would be quite large. The upgrades of the 8 are a straight replacement with parts of higher quality - larger gauge inductors and better capacitors. I have to assume that there are a few discussions on feet for the 888. so far - only a few days in - I found the 8s to be boomy as well but that was due to where I have to place them. I plugged the rear ports and then focused on my subwoofer integration and everything came together very well. With the mid-bass roll off, the two rear ports per box, and the need for a sub, it was a mess of my own making. Taking the rear ports out of the equation simplified the integration with the room. I have crossed over at 50hz and the volume of the subs are turned way down. They do not appear to be playing at all until you hear a familiar piece that tells you that they are doing what they are supposed to do.
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@maam522a I couldn't find any comments by SP 888 owners who changed their feet. So I reached out to Mo-Fi who replied several owners have positive results with IsoAcoustics feet. Otherwise, not any information from 888 owners on audio sites I've seen. Only the initial reviews. |
The stands for the 8s are quite robust but there are no hard attachments for the speakers to the stands. They have 4 very small thin pads at the corners of the top plate, but with grandkids, I wanted a more secure fix. The top plate has three open holes so - using a Forstner bit, I marked, drilled, and inserted 1/4-20x1/2 brass threaded inserts and ordered the appropriate brass knurled thumb screws to lock them down. I decided to place stainless and hard nylon point cups under the point feet to protect my hardwood floors and to be able to slide them around if need be. I also added a 1/8" sorbothane like pad between the speakers and the top of the stands. I feel that the isolation pad may have muddied the mids and bass. I will remove the pads this weekend and listen again. It could just be an aborition. I will let you know what I hear/find... |
