Short answer: the MoFi SourcePoint 8. It ranks #17 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $2,594. The GR-Research X-LS Encore ranks #146, rated 3.5/5, at $1,300, $1,294 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The case for the GR-Research X-LS Encore: Two-way bookshelf speakers with a Peerless woofer, also sold as a kit so builders can save money by assembling them. The tradeoff: 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.
The MoFi SourcePoint 8 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. A bookshelf speaker with an 8 inch concentric driver, neutral sound, excellent imaging, and wide dispersion that forgives placement. Its bass reaches about 52Hz before falling 3dB, against 64Hz for the GR-Research X-LS Encore. 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 MoFi SourcePoint 8. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $1,294 with the GR-Research X-LS Encore does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Two-way bookshelf speakers with a Peerless woofer, also sold as a kit so builders can save money by assembling them.
A bookshelf speaker with an 8 inch concentric driver, neutral sound, excellent imaging, and wide dispersion that forgives placement.
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Specifications Side By Side
| GR-Research X-LS Encore | MoFi SourcePoint 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1300 per pair | $2594 per pair |
| Ranked | #146 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #17 of 222 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) |
| Dimensions | 13.5”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) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms nominal (8 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.4dB (measured by Audio Science Review on the kit; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 86.3dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Peerless M-165 paper composite cone, non-resonant polymer frame woofer, 1” Peerless India T26SG tweeter | 8” woofer, 1.25-inch soft-dome tweeter |
| Weight | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) each | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.05 (measured, spinorama.org) | 5.15 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.42 (measured, spinorama.org) | 7.28 |
| DIY Kit | - | No |
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