In this review, we will be comparing SourcePoint 8 and R3 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from MoFi and KEF. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MoFi SourcePoint 8 and KEF R3 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
MoFi SourcePoint 8 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.25" wide roll soft dome Tweeter
- 8" Paper-pulp Woofer
- 47-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 87dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-150watts
- Weight:12.70kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 456.0" x 11.4" x 12.6"( 456 x 290 x 320mm )
KEF R3 Meta Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
- 5" Midrange
- 58-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:15-180watts
- Weight:12.41kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 423.0" x 7-15/16" x 13-1/4"( 423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm )
What size room are the MoFi SourcePoint 8 and KEF R3 Meta 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 |
KEF R3 Meta |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the MoFi SourcePoint 8 and KEF R3 Meta compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that SourcePoint 8 is a 2-way design whereas the R3 Meta 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.
| Driver |
MoFi SourcePoint 8 |
KEF R3 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
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 R3 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 420Hz and 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
SourcePoint 8 has a frequency range of 47-30k Hz whereas R3 Meta has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the SourcePoint 8 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R3 Meta's min frequency of 58Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. 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 R3 Meta 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 R3 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SourcePoint 8 sensitivity is rated at 87dB and the R3 Meta's is rated at 87 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
SourcePoint 8 can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS from the amp the whereas SourcePoint 8 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 30 watts less than the R3 Meta.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
R3 Meta features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts 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
KEF R3 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both SourcePoint 8 and R3 Meta 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 KEF R3 Meta's external dimensions. MoFi SourcePoint 8 has external dimensions of 456 x 290 x 320mm ( 18 x 11.4 x 12.6 inch) whereas KEF R3 Meta has external dimensions of 423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm ( 16-5/8-inch x 7-15/16-inch x 13-1/4-inch) .
KEF R3 Meta is 88mm narrower and 33mm 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 KEF R3 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of MoFi SourcePoint 8 and KEF R3 Meta 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 KEF R3 Meta is approximately 680.7cm2 / 105.5inch2. The SourcePoint 8 requires 36% more surface area than the R3 Meta 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 KEF R3 Meta weighs 12.41kg / 27.3lbs. This makes the SourcePoint 8 2% heavier than the R3 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how SourcePoint 8 and R3 Meta's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF R3 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the R3 Meta:
1 pair of R3 Meta loudspeakers 1 pair of microfiber grilles Rubber feet Port bungs User manual and warranty information