When Andrew Jones left ELAC after recreating the brand and delivering some of the best affordable loudspeakers audiophiles have heard in many years, there was a lot of speculation about where the storied loudspeaker designer would land. Was he finally retiring after a very long career which included many years at KEF, TAD, and Pioneer? Jones has always proven to be one of the more accessible designers in the Hi-Fi world and someone who enjoys a challenge. When the folks at MoFi Electronics came calling — Andrew Jones already had an inkling what he wanted to do. Enter the MoFi SourcePoint 10 loudspeakers.
18 months later, Andrew Jones and MoFi Electronics have unveiled one of his most understated and innovative loudspeakers of his entire career.
The new MoFi SourcePoint 10 stand-mount loudspeaker has arrived for $3,699/pair. According to Andrew Jones, the SourcePoint 10 was designed like a cost-no-object loudspeaker. It’s completely custom-tooled with proprietary technology and said to deliver the highest sound quality and value. It’s also Andrew Jones first pure two-way concentric design in over 20 years since his days at KEF.
“Regardless of what an audio product costs, my passion is to deliver a level of sound quality and an experience that is far beyond the asking price,” says Jones.
SourcePoint 10 is a rather large stand-mount speaker that is almost 2 feet tall and weighs nearly 50 lbs each. It doesn’t come with stands, but you’ll definitely need something sturdy.
What’s unique about SoundPoint 10 is its 10-inch concentric type driver configuration. Instead of building a traditional three-way implementation with small drivers, Jones and MoFi devised a two-way speaker with a large driver.
A 10-inch diameter paper woofer was chosen as the ideal size for the two-way concentric to minimize cone movement and produce deep bass. MoFi worked from a paper pulp mix and developed a cone shape that both optimizes resonant behavior and meets the requirements of the tweeter waveguide. Jones opted for paper after evaluating a variety of exotic materials. He adds that paper has the quintessential combination of properties for the size of the cone he needed.
The tweeter is a 1.25-inch soft dome capable of working at the 1.6Khz crossover point due to its wide-roll surround and large-diameter voice coil. The wide surround extends the low- and high-frequency response of the tweeter, while the loading of the waveguide increases the low-end efficiency by a significant margin.
SourcePoint 10 is driven by a magnet system that MoFi calls “Twin-Drive.” This important technical achievement helps the speaker play with exceptional clarity. After months of running magnetic field simulations, Jones selected high-flux neodymium magnets for the woofer and tweeter that are precisely coupled to create a compound effect: each aids the other in driving the flux across the woofer and tweeter gaps. The Twin-Drive magnet structure was also built to create a fully symmetrical magnetic field, which eliminates flux modulation for extremely low intermodulation distortion (IMD) and accurate reproduction.
“It is not enough to simply optimize the frequency response of the woofer and tweeter,” says Jones. “It is also critically important to minimize distortion in the motor structure of the drive unit. If the motor has distortion, it will generate new frequencies outside of the original signal. We have been very deliberate with the design of the motor to reduce these distortions.”
Tremendous thought was also given to the cabinet and shape of the two-inch-thick front baffle. The sculpted, multi-faceted baffle stands in front of the mid-century-inspired cabinet frame to reduce diffraction. Made of one-inch-thick MDF panels for the sides, top, bottom, and back, the cabinet itself has an internal volume of 50 liters, or almost two cubic feet.
This size gave MoFi the desired combination of bass extension and efficiency, with a sensitivity of 91dB, low-frequency point of 42Hz, and true eight-ohm impedance with a minimum of 6.4 ohms. In sum, SourcePoint 10 is extremely easy to drive. Two additional braces further strengthen the interior while the exterior is wrapped in a real wood veneer of either satin walnut or black ash.
Features
- 10-inch concentric driver
- 1.25-inch wide roll soft dome tweeter
- 2-way vented box
- Satin Walnut or Satin Black Ash real wood veneer
- 5-way binding posts
- Magnetic grilles
Specifications
- Frequency Response: 42Hz – 30kHz
- Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms, 6.2 Ohms minimum
- Sensitivity: 91dB/2.83V/1m
- Crossover Frequency: 1.6kHz
- Minimum Recommended Power: 30W
- Max Power Input: 200W
- Dimensions (WxHxD):
- 14.5″ x 22.5″ x 16.6″ with grille
- (368 x 572 x 422 mm)
- 14.5″ x 22.5″ x 16″ without grille
- (368 x 572 x 406 mm)
- 14.5″ x 22.5″ x 16.6″ with grille
- Weight: 46.2 lb / 21kg each
Capital Audiofest Demo
Andrew Jones and the MoFi Electronics team will demonstrate SourcePoint 10 at Capital Audiofest in Suite 532 in partnership with retailer Alma Audio and components from HiFi Rose and Isotek.
Price & Availability
The MoFi SourcePoint 10 begins shipping December 2022 for $3,699/pair USD in either black or walnut finishes. No word on stand options at this time.
More information: www.mofielectronics.com/sourcepoint10
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Mike Cornell
November 10, 2022 at 1:08 pm
That’s one chunky standmount! No kidding you’ll need substantial stands. Of course my vintage Dynaco A-25’s shoehorn a 10” woofer into a smallish cabinet, so it’s not without precedent. Really interested to hear these.
Ian White
November 10, 2022 at 1:50 pm
Reminds me of my old Spendor SP2/3e in terms of the size.
For $3,000 less now. Look very promising.
Ian White
Chris
November 10, 2022 at 3:12 pm
The first thing I thought of was a cross between a Dynaco and an Altec.
Ian White
November 10, 2022 at 5:22 pm
Chris,
The imaging and soundstage depth on these…utterly ridiculous.
Ian White
Playback Mansion
November 10, 2022 at 4:10 pm
This design is validation for we who love tannoys and altecs.
Mr. Jones- trendsetter and revivalist
Ian White
November 10, 2022 at 5:24 pm
The imaging and soundstage performance on these?
Some other brands won’t be happy.
I’m curious how they do with 30-40 watts of EL34 power.
Ian White
James McCall
November 10, 2022 at 6:45 pm
It looks quite similar in basic design to the Hsu CCB-8. The HSU uses an 8-inch LF driver, though, and weighs less than half as much…and costs as little as $389 each.
Ian White
November 10, 2022 at 6:56 pm
James,
I know that the 10″ driver in the SP 10 was designed in-house from scratch and they might be making them in Michigan. I will double-check on that one.
Two of my staff writers have listened to it already and reported back that they were very impressed. One very known recording engineer in the U.S. that I can’t name was involved in the listening tests during development and he was super enthusiastic about their performance.
I guess we’ll find out when we get our review sample.
Ian White
Mike Cornell
November 10, 2022 at 7:13 pm
Also like that it’s a paper cone woofer…there’s just something about how they reproduce bass. 10” is a plus too. Much cheaper than a pair of Devore O/93’s, though they may not go as deep. And you can get a pair of these for what a single Tannoy would cost!
Ian White
November 10, 2022 at 7:18 pm
Mike,
If these are made in America, with no outsourcing of parts or drivers, for the current asking price? Steal under current market conditions.
Sean
November 10, 2022 at 7:20 pm
Ian, is Mofi a sponsor?
Ian White
November 10, 2022 at 7:43 pm
Sean,
MoFi have never been a sponsor of eCoustics. If fact, they have never been all that helpful in regard to supplying review samples of anything that MoFi Distribution handles. We have bought our own review samples in some cases — Wharfedale would be a great example.
So no…we’re just reporting on a story and product release. They’ve never even been invited on the eCoustics podcast as far as I know.
Best,
Ian
Ray Nabozny
November 10, 2022 at 7:27 pm
Hope they are NOT made in china.I would be VERY interested if they are made anywhere else.
Ian White
November 10, 2022 at 7:50 pm
Ray,
They are being made in China. I confirmed. That does help explain the price.
Ian White
Ben Wilderman
November 10, 2022 at 10:34 pm
I find it telling that they didn’t make a big deal about the crossover in the marketing blowout from today. I assume that means sand cast resisters, iron-core inductors and maybe even some electrolytic capacitors. I always find it disappointing when hi-end speaker cheats out on the crossover.
Ian White
November 10, 2022 at 10:59 pm
Ben,
I don’t see anything in my notes or the press release about it.
It would be interesting to know. We will dig.
Ian White.
nwwoods
November 11, 2022 at 12:48 am
These will req. the buyer to come up with a custom stand.
The designer might have extended the enclosure another 20 vertical inches and call them towers to simplify matters, with the added benefit of more internal volume, thereby potentially extending the bottom end a few more Hz as well. What a few more square feet of extra wood product at that price point and where will buyers find a stock stand with a ~14.5×16.6″ footprint?
Ian White
November 11, 2022 at 2:00 am
Gord,
It should be obvious which stand MoFi wants you to buy with them. The Solidsteel SS-5. For another $600.
Ian White
Mike Cornell
November 11, 2022 at 12:46 pm
Actually I think they look a bit weird and top heavy on the Solid Steel stands. I think they need a 4 poster like some of the larger Harbeths….maybe a Sound Anchor.
Ian White
November 11, 2022 at 3:29 pm
Mike,
I have a pair of custom 20″ Sound Anchor stands that I purchased in 1999 sitting in my basement. The 4-post variety. Paid $350 for them back then to go under my Spendor SP2/3e.
I think you may be on to something.
Ian
Mike Cornell
November 12, 2022 at 4:02 am
Or how about those Bose tulip stands, especially if you set the speakers up horizontally! That would look pretty cool!
Ian White
November 14, 2022 at 3:07 am
Mike,
There are dedicated stands coming soon from MoFi for them.
Ian White
Richard
November 11, 2022 at 3:34 am
That’s an awfully big speaker to put on a stand. Not gonna be the on a dedicated mini stand like KLH? I like it though. Makes me think of when I was a kid and I dreamed of having cool speakers (JBL) like my big brother. Kind of like these retro speakers styles. Definitely a thing. Maybe I should put my narrow baffle towers in the garbage. Hey wait a minute. Leave me alone. Are you trying to get me to spend money I shouldn’t spend?
Dan Hirschler
November 14, 2022 at 8:16 pm
If the stands used at the demo in DC are what’s coming, they look very nice. Reminiscent of the Mission 770 or Wharfedale Linton – or obviously Harbeth/Spendor. Wonder how much they’ll add to the cost.
On one of the YouTube videos I saw of the demo, someone said the stands will be available in February. Quite frankly, I wouldn’t buy these without the 4 post stand, but it’s hard to want to pull the trigger until we know the price.
I’m a big fan of Andrew’s work and had a pair of Platinum Audio Solos and then a pair of AAD reference monitors. While I appreciated the work he did wirh Elac and Pioneer, he was working to a pretty strict budget, so those products never reached, in my opinion, the heights of his work at Platinum and AAD. But now?! Well, looks like he’s moved into the deeper end of the pool while still in the realm of reasonably affordable gear.
Once I know the stand situation, I’m strongly considering selling my Cornwall IVs and buying these. I think they’d be a better all-arounder and would fit my modest 13×15 dedicated listening room a little better.
Ian White
November 15, 2022 at 1:17 am
Dan,
I really like Andrew’s speakers and admire what he did with very little at Pioneer and ELAC. These intrigue me because they don’t have to be pulled more than 2-3′ from the wall and they image like crazy.
They will do well. I was intrigued by Steve Guttenberg’s suggestion that they might be better turned horizontally which apparently changes their tonal balance somewhat. 3 of these would be a great LCR system for music and home theater.
Ian White
Jonathan Ng
November 24, 2022 at 1:19 pm
Interested to hear how they sound on a less expensive amplifier set up.