GR-Research X-LS Encore vs MoFi SourcePoint 8

Last updated: September 16, 2026

Short answer: the MoFi SourcePoint 8 for better sound quality, the GR-Research X-LS Encore for the lower price. The MoFi SourcePoint 8 ranks #17 of 130 bookshelf speakers at $2594. The GR-Research X-LS Encore ranks #83 at $1300, $1294 cheaper.

GR-Research X-LS Encore vs MoFi SourcePoint 8

What the GR-Research X-LS Encore offers: An amazing value, especially if you managed to snag one of these built by AV123 in the early 2000s for $200-300. CEA2034 spinorama shows a generally flat on-axis response, especially in the listening window. Predicted in-room response is generally smooth and on-target. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is pretty clean above 200Hz. Watch for: A slight depression in the upper bass and some peaking in the lower bass shows up on-axis, along with directivity error in the crossover region. Vertical directivity requires staying within about 20 degrees of the tweeter axis. At 96dB SPL/1m distortion becomes “rather unhappy,” with bass distortion, a possible woofer issue around 2kHz, and a tweeter problem above 7kHz. As a DIY kit, it requires building the cabinet and crossover yourself.

What the MoFi SourcePoint 8 offers: 8” twin-drive concentric driver paired with a 1.25” soft dome tweeter, in a diffraction-reducing baffle design; rated 47Hz-30kHz. Notably more neutral and true-to-source than its sibling SourcePoint 10, which the reviewer found a bit too bright in the treble by comparison - measured about 4-5dB less high-frequency output. Excellent imaging: passed multiple stereo-panning and depth tests, including smooth continuous left-to-right pans without wobble and correct front-to-back layering of vocals versus percussion. Wide horizontal dispersion of about ±60°, broader than the reviewer expected from a coaxial design, and forgiving enough in placement that about 10° of toe-out variance and moving above or below the tweeter axis both still sound good. Excellent dynamic range and compression linearity - about 26dB of headroom up to 102dB/1m equivalent, with issues only appearing below about 60Hz. 8-ohm nominal impedance made it easy to drive on everything from a budget Denon AVR to a high-end Macintosh amplifier. No significant evidence of woofer-cone modulation distortion affecting the tweeter, even at 96dB/1m. Watch for: 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. The rear-ported cabinet (two ports) means it can’t be placed too close to a wall without the bass becoming overblown - the reviewer settled on about 2 feet of clearance. F3 of 52Hz and F10 of 43Hz mean genuine deep bass tops out in the mid-40s Hz in-room - a subwoofer is still needed for true low-end extension. Harmonic distortion crosses the reviewer’s 3% threshold at 96dB (though it’s second-order and less audibly significant), and multitone distortion becomes noticeably more audible at that same output level. Vertical response doesn’t perfectly mirror horizontal, since the cabinet is a rectangle rather than a perfect square around the driver.

Buy the GR-Research X-LS Encore when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the MoFi SourcePoint 8 when sound quality outweighs the price instead.

Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.

Buy the MoFi SourcePoint 8 at Crutchfield ($2594) →Buy the GR-Research X-LS Encore at Gr-research →

Specifications Side By Side

GR-Research X-LS Encore MoFi SourcePoint 8
Price$1300 per pair$2594 per pair
Ranked#83 of 130 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers#17 of 130 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers
Bass Extension (-10dB)44Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)52Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Dimensions13.5"H x 8.5"W x 12.1"D (342.9 x 215.9 x 308 mm)18"H x 11.4"W x 13.2"D (457.2 x 289.6 x 335.3 mm)
Impedance8 ohms8 ohms nominal (8 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Sensitivity84.4dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 87dB manufacturer specified)86.3dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Drivers6.5" Peerless M-165 paper composite cone, non-resonant polymer frame woofer, 1" Peerless India T26SG tweeter8" woofer, 1.25-inch soft-dome tweeter
Weight17 lbs (7.7 kg) each28 lbs (12.7 kg) each
Woofer Cabinetportedported, rear
Spinorama Preference Score-4.39
Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub-6.53
Buy the MoFi SourcePoint 8 at Crutchfield ($2594) →Buy the GR-Research X-LS Encore at Gr-research →

More worthwhile head-to-heads for MoFi SourcePoint 8:

Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM 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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The Two Speakers In Full

GR-Research X-LS Encore: $1300 per pair Gr-research eBay

GR-Research X-LS Encore ranking card

Pros: An amazing value, especially if you managed to snag one of these built by AV123 in the early 2000s for $200-300. CEA2034 spinorama shows a generally flat on-axis response, especially in the listening window. Predicted in-room response is generally smooth and on-target. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is pretty clean above 200Hz. Measured bass extension of 64Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84.4dB.

Cons: A slight depression in the upper bass and some peaking in the lower bass shows up on-axis, along with directivity error in the crossover region. Vertical directivity requires staying within about 20 degrees of the tweeter axis. At 96dB SPL/1m distortion becomes “rather unhappy,” with bass distortion, a possible woofer issue around 2kHz, and a tweeter problem above 7kHz. As a DIY kit, it requires building the cabinet and crossover yourself.

Full GR-Research X-LS Encore review and specifications →

Bass Extension (-10dB)44Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)
Bass Extension (-3dB)64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)
Dimensions13.5"H x 8.5"W x 12.1"D (342.9 x 215.9 x 308 mm)
Drivers6.5" Peerless M-165 paper composite cone, non-resonant polymer frame woofer, 1" Peerless India T26SG tweeter
Impedance8 ohms
Sensitivity84.4dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 87dB manufacturer specified)
Weight17 lbs (7.7 kg) each
Woofer Cabinetported
Check current price at Gr-research →Search eBay for GR-Research X-LS Encore →

MoFi SourcePoint 8: $2594 per pair Crutchfield eBay

MoFi SourcePoint 8 ranking card

Pros: 8” twin-drive concentric driver paired with a 1.25” soft dome tweeter, in a diffraction-reducing baffle design; rated 47Hz-30kHz. Notably more neutral and true-to-source than its sibling SourcePoint 10, which the reviewer found a bit too bright in the treble by comparison - measured about 4-5dB less high-frequency output. Excellent imaging: passed multiple stereo-panning and depth tests, including smooth continuous left-to-right pans without wobble and correct front-to-back layering of vocals versus percussion. Wide horizontal dispersion of about ±60°, broader than the reviewer expected from a coaxial design, and forgiving enough in placement that about 10° of toe-out variance and moving above or below the tweeter axis both still sound good. Excellent dynamic range and compression linearity - about 26dB of headroom up to 102dB/1m equivalent, with issues only appearing below about 60Hz. 8-ohm nominal impedance made it easy to drive on everything from a budget Denon AVR to a high-end Macintosh amplifier. No significant evidence of woofer-cone modulation distortion affecting the tweeter, even at 96dB/1m. Measured bass extension of 52Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.3dB.

Cons: 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. The rear-ported cabinet (two ports) means it can’t be placed too close to a wall without the bass becoming overblown - the reviewer settled on about 2 feet of clearance. F3 of 52Hz and F10 of 43Hz mean genuine deep bass tops out in the mid-40s Hz in-room - a subwoofer is still needed for true low-end extension. Harmonic distortion crosses the reviewer’s 3% threshold at 96dB (though it’s second-order and less audibly significant), and multitone distortion becomes noticeably more audible at that same output level. Vertical response doesn’t perfectly mirror horizontal, since the cabinet is a rectangle rather than a perfect square around the driver.

Full MoFi SourcePoint 8 review and specifications →

Bass Extension (-10dB)43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)52Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Dimensions18"H x 11.4"W x 13.2"D (457.2 x 289.6 x 335.3 mm)
Drivers8" woofer, 1.25-inch soft-dome tweeter
Impedance8 ohms nominal (8 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Sensitivity86.3dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Spinorama Preference Score4.39
Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub6.53
Weight28 lbs (12.7 kg) each
Woofer Cabinetported, rear
Check current price at Crutchfield ($2594) →Search eBay for MoFi SourcePoint 8 →