Short answer: the MoFi SourcePoint 8 for better sound quality, the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 for the lower price. The MoFi SourcePoint 8 ranks #17 of 222 bookshelf speakers, rated 4.5/5, at $2,594. The Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 ranks #114, rated 3.8/5, at $468, $2,126 cheaper.
The Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 is the more accurate option. On-axis response is impressively flat from about 100Hz to 2kHz, staying within roughly ±1dB, with a clean, gradual bass rolloff below that. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.30 against 5.15 for the MoFi SourcePoint 8. The catch: A narrow dip in the on-axis and listening-window response appears in the 3-5kHz range (down to about -2.7dB), mirrored by a matching dip in the directivity index at the same frequencies: likely a brief widening of dispersion right at the tweeter/woofer crossover.
The MoFi SourcePoint 8 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass choice. 8” twin-drive concentric driver paired with a 1.25” soft dome tweeter, in a diffraction-reducing baffle design; rated 47Hz-30kHz. Its bass reaches about 52Hz before falling 3dB, against 70Hz for the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2. The tradeoff: Like other coincident designs, produces diffraction dips around 4kHz and 7kHz when pointed directly on-axis; needs about 10-15° of toe-out to smooth those out.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the MoFi SourcePoint 8 when sound quality outweighs the price instead.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
On-axis response is impressively flat from about 100Hz to 2kHz, staying within roughly ±1dB, with a clean, gradual bass rolloff below that.
Ascend Acoustics $468 eBay
8” twin-drive concentric driver paired with a 1.25” soft dome tweeter, in a diffraction-reducing baffle design; rated 47Hz-30kHz.
Crutchfield $2594 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 | MoFi SourcePoint 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $468 per pair | $2594 per pair |
| Ranked | #114 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #17 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.8dB (2.83V/1m, measured, manufacturer spinorama data; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 86.3dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 27mm custom SEAS soft dome tweeter, 6.5” proprietary composite polygel cone woofer | 8” woofer, 1.25-inch soft-dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 12H x 9W x 9.5D in | 18”H x 11.4”W x 13.2”D (457.2 x 289.6 x 335.3 mm) |
| Weight | 15 lbs (6.8 kg) each | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) each |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms nominal (8 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 200W continuous, 400W peak | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.30 | 5.15 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.66 | 7.28 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared. The two were measured by different sources, so small differences, especially in the bass, can come from the measurement setup rather than the speakers.
Measurement data: Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 (measured by the manufacturer) and MoFi SourcePoint 8 (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner), via spinorama.org.
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