In this review, we will be comparing SourcePoint 8 and 705 S3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from MoFi and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MoFi SourcePoint 8 and B&W 705 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | MoFi SourcePoint 8 | B&W 705 S3 |
|---|
| Brand | MoFi
United States · founded 2016 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.25" wide roll soft dome | 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" Paper-pulp | 6.5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-30k Hz | 50-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-150 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.70kg / 27.9lbs | 9.58kg / 21.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 18" x 11.4" x 12.6"
456 x 290 x 320mm | 16.3" x 7.6" x 13.3"
413.0 x 192.0 x 337.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the MoFi SourcePoint 8 and B&W 705 S3 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
MoFi SourcePoint 8 |
B&W 705 S3 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both SourcePoint 8 and 705 S3 are 2-way speakers.
MoFi SourcePoint 8B&W 705 S3
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
MoFi SourcePoint 8 |
B&W 705 S3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
SourcePoint 8 features a 1.25" wide roll soft dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" Paper-pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1600 Hz. On the other hand, the 705 S3 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
SourcePoint 8 has a frequency range of 47-30k Hz whereas 705 S3 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the SourcePoint 8 can go slightly deeper then the 705 S3's min frequency of 50Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
SourcePoint 8 and 705 S3 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. SourcePoint 8 sensitivity is rated at 87dB and the 705 S3's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the B&W 705 S3 a more sensitive speaker compared to MoFi SourcePoint 8, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
SourcePoint 8 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas 705 S3 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the SourcePoint 8.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
705 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SourcePoint 8 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MoFi SourcePoint 8's 5-Way post terminals
B&W 705 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both SourcePoint 8 and 705 S3 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare MoFi SourcePoint 8's and B&W 705 S3's external dimensions. MoFi SourcePoint 8 has external dimensions of 456 x 290 x 320mm (18 x 11.4 x 12.6 inch) whereas B&W 705 S3 has external dimensions of 413.0 x 192.0 x 337.0mm (16.3-inch x 7.6-inch x 13.3-inch).
B&W 705 S3 is 98mm narrower and 43mm shorter than MoFi SourcePoint 8 but it is also 17mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MoFi SourcePoint 8 and B&W 705 S3 in scale.
Comparison image of MoFi SourcePoint 8 and B&W 705 S3 Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the MoFi SourcePoint 8 is approximately 928.0cm2 / 143.8inch2 and base area of the B&W 705 S3 is approximately 647.0cm2 / 100.3inch2. The SourcePoint 8 requires 43% more surface area than the 705 S3 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The MoFi SourcePoint 8 weighs 12.70kg / 27.9lbs and the B&W 705 S3 weighs 9.58kg / 21.1lbs. This makes the SourcePoint 8 33% heavier than the 705 S3.
Here is a comparison of how SourcePoint 8 and 705 S3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of B&W 705 S3?
Here are the items that come with the 705 S3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Two-piece foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-straps
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Minimum Impedance |
6.4 ohms
vs
3.1 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
2999USD
vs
3398USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
413mm
vs
456mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
647cm2
vs
928cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
MoFi SourcePoint 8 |
Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3 |
| Brand |
MoFi |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-150 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
6.4 ohms |
3.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
47-30k Hz |
50-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper-pulp |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.25" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
wide roll soft dome |
Decoupled Carbon Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1600 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
456.0mm (18") |
413.0mm (16.3") |
| Width |
290.0mm (11.4") |
192.0mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
320.0mm (12.6") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
12.70kg (27.9lbs) |
9.58kg (21.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
real wood veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut, Satin White |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | MoFi SourcePoint 8 digs deeper - 47Hz against 50Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | MoFi SourcePoint 8 takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | B&W 705 S3 is easier to place; MoFi SourcePoint 8 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | B&W 705 S3: bi-amping. B&W 705 S3 sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | MoFi SourcePoint 8 is cheaper - $2,999 against $3,398, about 12% less. |
A MoFi SourcePoint 8 B B&W 705 S3
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
MoFi SourcePoint 8 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. In a large or open-plan room, MoFi SourcePoint 8 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, B&W 705 S3 is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.