Short answer: the MoFi SourcePoint 8. It ranks #17 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $2,594. The Wharfedale Linton 85 ranks #36, rated 4.3/5, at $1,699, $895 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
What the MoFi SourcePoint 8 does well: A bookshelf speaker with an 8 inch concentric driver, neutral sound, excellent imaging, and wide dispersion that forgives placement. The catch: 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 Wharfedale Linton 85 is the more accurate choice. A retro styled bookshelf speaker with an 8 inch woofer, very neutral sound, and good bass extension for its size. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.07 against 5.15 for the MoFi SourcePoint 8. Watch for: The spacing of the drivers makes the vertical off axis not very good.
Buy the MoFi SourcePoint 8. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $895 you would save on the Wharfedale Linton 85 does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the Wharfedale Linton 85 reaches 35 Hz (10 dB down) against 43 Hz for the MoFi SourcePoint 8, about half an octave deeper. You hear more of the lowest bass notes and kick drums.
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the Wharfedale Linton 85 scores 7.9 against 7.3 for the MoFi SourcePoint 8 on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
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Specifications Side By Side
| MoFi SourcePoint 8 | Wharfedale Linton 85 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2594 per pair | $1,699.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #17 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #36 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 18”H x 11.4”W x 13.2”D (457.2 x 289.6 x 335.3 mm) | 22.2”H x 11.8”W x 13”D (563.9 x 299.7 x 330.2 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (8 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.3dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85.1dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, 1.25-inch soft-dome tweeter | 8”(200mm) black woven Kevlar® cone woofer, 5”(135mm) black woven Kevlar® cone midrange, 1” (25mm) soft dome tweeter |
| Weight | 28 lbs (12.7 kg) each | 40.6 lbs (18.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.15 | 6.07 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.28 | 7.87 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Upgrade Your Sound with These 6 Surprisingly Affordable Speakers!
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Personal Favorite Speakers Under $2500
Where the Ratings Come From
- MoFi SourcePoint 8: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner and GR-Research.
- Wharfedale Linton 85: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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