In this review, we will be comparing SourcePoint 8 and L100 Classic, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from MoFi and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MoFi SourcePoint 8 and JBL L100 Classic first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | MoFi SourcePoint 8 | JBL L100 Classic |
|---|
| Brand | MoFi
United States · founded 2016 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.25" wide roll soft dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" Paper-pulp | 12" Pulp |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-30k Hz | 40-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-150 watts | 25-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.70kg / 27.9lbs | 26.70kg / 58.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 18" x 11.4" x 12.6"
456 x 290 x 320mm | 25.0" x 15.3" x 14.6"
636.5 x 389.6 x 371.5mm |
|---|
What size room are the MoFi SourcePoint 8 and JBL L100 Classic 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 |
JBL L100 Classic |
| 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that SourcePoint 8 is a 2-way design whereas the L100 Classic is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
MoFi SourcePoint 8JBL L100 Classic
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 |
JBL L100 Classic |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 12-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 L100 Classic features a 1" Titanium Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 12" Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 3500Hz.
Frequency Response
SourcePoint 8 has a frequency range of 47-30k Hz whereas L100 Classic has a frequency range of 40-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the L100 Classic can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SourcePoint 8's min frequency of 47Hz.
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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the L100 Classic which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the L100 Classic can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SourcePoint 8 sensitivity is rated at 87dB and the L100 Classic's is rated at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the JBL L100 Classic 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.
L100 Classic can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas SourcePoint 8 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the L100 Classic.
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
SourcePoint 8 features Five-way gold-plated binding posts type posts and L100 Classic has a Five-way gold-plated binding posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MoFi SourcePoint 8's 5-Way post terminals
JBL L100 Classic's Five-way gold-plated binding posts terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
SourcePoint 8 has a rear firing port whereas L100 Classic has a front firing ports. JBL L100 Classic's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to MoFi SourcePoint 8 with its rear-firing port.
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 JBL L100 Classic's external dimensions. MoFi SourcePoint 8 has external dimensions of 456 x 290 x 320mm (18 x 11.4 x 12.6 inch) whereas JBL L100 Classic has external dimensions of 636.5 x 389.6 x 371.5mm (25.0 x 15.3 x 14.6inch).
JBL L100 Classic is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 99.6mm wider, 180.5mm taller and 51.5mm deeper than MoFi SourcePoint 8.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MoFi SourcePoint 8 and JBL L100 Classic in scale.
Comparison image of MoFi SourcePoint 8 and JBL L100 Classic 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 JBL L100 Classic is approximately 1447.4cm2 / 224.3inch2. The SourcePoint 8 requires 36% less surface area than the L100 Classic which gives it a small advantage 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 JBL L100 Classic weighs 26.70kg / 58.7lbs. This makes the L100 Classic 110% heavier than the SourcePoint 8.
Here is a comparison of how SourcePoint 8 and L100 Classic's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL L100 Classic?
Here are the items that come with the L100 Classic:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- Owner's Manual
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
456mm
vs
636mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
928cm2
vs
1447cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2999USD
vs
4400USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
47 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
| General |
MoFi SourcePoint 8 |
JBL L100 Classic |
| Brand |
MoFi |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-150 watts |
25-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
6.4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
47-30k Hz |
40-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper-pulp |
Pulp |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.25" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
wide roll soft dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1600 Hz |
450Hz and 3500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
456.0mm (18") |
636.5mm (25.1") |
| Width |
290.0mm (11.4") |
389.6mm (15.3") |
| Depth |
320.0mm (12.6") |
371.5mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
12.70kg (27.9lbs) |
26.70kg (58.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
real wood veneer |
Genuine walnut veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut, Satin White |
Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
18" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A generation apart: MoFi SourcePoint 8 is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | JBL L100 Classic digs deeper - 40Hz against 47Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | JBL L100 Classic is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | MoFi SourcePoint 8 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | JBL L100 Classic takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | MoFi SourcePoint 8 is easier to place; JBL L100 Classic is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | MoFi SourcePoint 8 is cheaper - $2,999 against $4,400, about 32% less. |
A MoFi SourcePoint 8 B JBL L100 Classic
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?
The usual trade-off: JBL L100 Classic measures better, MoFi SourcePoint 8 costs about about 47% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 47Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper MoFi SourcePoint 8 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, JBL L100 Classic has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, MoFi SourcePoint 8 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.