MoFi Sourcepoint V10 Master Edition

[wgb113]

HA! I was there this past weekend as well @Jeff19342 - the Sunday slot at 11:30 - mostly to meet the man who designed the speakers I love and you're right, AJ's a great guy.

I only got to hear one song in the B&W Atmos room and it confirmed my choice of NOT buying a pair of 803D4 and buying the MoFi V10s instead. I demoed the V10s in that same room but with different gear (Luxman integrated, HiFi Rose streamer) before ordering my pair and, having lived with them for over 6 months now and having heard them again in that same room, the sound they're giving me at home is even better.

I couldn't be more pleased with these speakers and to hear that MoFi has him working on some more models has me very interested to hear what's next!

 

[wgb113]

BTW, looks like the V10 is only made as the master edition now. Looks like the original version has been phased out.

The V10 was always only the Master Edition. You're likely referring to the SourcePoint 10 (standmount). The V10 is the floorstanding model.

 

[Mr. Widget]

Holy mother of audio gods, I just demoed the V10's and met AJ at the recent AudioLab Expo... INCREDIBLE! I don't care about any graphs or charts or plots, they sound absolutely phenomenal with imaging that is simply visceral. When AJ played Dust in the Wind – Live from the UK, you swear Kerry Ellis & Brian May are in the room. May is right in front of you about 8' away with Ellis just to his right. I could point precisely to her lips. Next up was Tom Jones singing Dimming of the Day. He was dead center, a bit closer, and noticeably taller than Ellis. Again I could visualize him in the room and point precisely as his face. Not the general direction, precisely. Absolutely uncanny realism.

After AJ played Pneuma by Tool, I asked if he'd indulge me with one of my demo tracks by Tool, Chocolate Chip Trip. He did! You'd swear you're sitting on Danny Carey's throne slamming the snare, toms, cymbals yourself! Meanwhile the synth sound swirls around the entire room like a binaural headphone track rather than a simple right-left-right pan on so many speakers. Again uncanny realism.

Even more amazing is there was nothing exotic with the amplification or signal path. Everything in chain was relatively affordable AudioLab gear. Amps were their $1500 9000P ran bridged as 300W monoblocks for each V10. Their streamer was running FLAC files at 44.1 kHz 16bit. The whole system could be bought well under $15K.

Meanwhile right before hearing them, I demoed a quarter MILLION dollar B&W 7.4.4 system playing Dolby Atmos music. I was in the prime seat in both rooms. I was honestly more impressed with the bass slam and dynamics of a pair of V10's over SEVEN 801D5's & 4 DB1D subs! The B&W system was also powered by massive Marantz amps, each costing double the V10's. I even felt the imaging and soundstage was better with a pair of humble V10's then being literally surrounded by $30k 801D5's!

To be sure, this wasn't a case of being influenced by loudness. In fact, the B&W demo peaks were consistently well over 90dB, often 93dB; while AJ mercifully kept his peaks around 89-91dB. I left the B&W room with a headache and feeling they were almost shouty. That feeling was confirmed when I heard the effortless smooth sound of the V10's. My jaw literally dropped when AJ played his first track, Big Things Going Down by Dan Patlansky. And it also wasn't a case of preferred music. B&W played familiar songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, Boom by Tiesto, & one of my all-time favorites, Tom Sawyer by Rush. Meanwhile AJ played songs I never heard before, including the non-Tool tracks mentioned above plus: Way Down in the Hole by John Campbell, Wish You Were Here by Seguridad Social, Ratchets by HEDEGAARD, & Los by Rammstein.

Every genre, every instrument, every voice sounded true to life and viscerally present in the room. The V10's are simply phenomenal speakers, especially for "just" $8000 a pair. Yes they're ugly and lack the industrial design of the like of KEF, Revel, B&W, but they remind you there's just something about big, honking 10" drivers that simply can't be matched by an array of 6" or 8" woofers in a skinny and pretty cabinet that bean-counters insisted upon because it's easier to ship.

P.S. They say don't meet your heroes, but Andrew Jones is delightful!

There are many here who will quietly roll their eyes and others who will post at the top of their lungs, sighted bias, Andrew is an expert and demoing, etc. etc... but who cares?! If you enjoyed the experience that is great... I am sure they can sound wonderful at home too.

And yes, Andrew Jones is a genuine delight to meet and spend some time with.

 

[kharan]

Holy mother of audio gods, I just demoed the V10's and met AJ at the recent AudioLab Expo... INCREDIBLE! I don't care about any graphs or charts or plots, they sound absolutely phenomenal with imaging that is simply visceral. When AJ played Dust in the Wind – Live from the UK, you swear Kerry Ellis & Brian May are in the room. May is right in front of you about 8' away with Ellis just to his right. I could point precisely to her lips. Next up was Tom Jones singing Dimming of the Day. He was dead center, a bit closer, and noticeably taller than Ellis. Again I could visualize him in the room and point precisely as his face. Not the general direction, precisely. Absolutely uncanny realism.

After AJ played Pneuma by Tool, I asked if he'd indulge me with one of my demo tracks by Tool, Chocolate Chip Trip. He did! You'd swear you're sitting on Danny Carey's throne slamming the snare, toms, cymbals yourself! Meanwhile the synth sound swirls around the entire room like a binaural headphone track rather than a simple right-left-right pan on so many speakers. Again uncanny realism.

Even more amazing is there was nothing exotic with the amplification or signal path. Everything in chain was relatively affordable AudioLab gear. Amps were their $1500 9000P ran bridged as 300W monoblocks for each V10. Their streamer was running FLAC files at 44.1 kHz 16bit. The whole system could be bought well under $15K.

Meanwhile right before hearing them, I demoed a quarter MILLION dollar B&W 7.4.4 system playing Dolby Atmos music. I was in the prime seat in both rooms. I was honestly more impressed with the bass slam and dynamics of a pair of V10's over SEVEN 801D5's & 4 DB1D subs! The B&W system was also powered by massive Marantz amps, each costing double the V10's. I even felt the imaging and soundstage was better with a pair of humble V10's then being literally surrounded by $30k 801D5's!

To be sure, this wasn't a case of being influenced by loudness. In fact, the B&W demo peaks were consistently well over 90dB, often 93dB; while AJ mercifully kept his peaks around 89-91dB. I left the B&W room with a headache and feeling they were almost shouty. That feeling was confirmed when I heard the effortless smooth sound of the V10's. My jaw literally dropped when AJ played his first track, Big Things Going Down by Dan Patlansky. And it also wasn't a case of preferred music. B&W played familiar songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, Boom by Tiesto, & one of my all-time favorites, Tom Sawyer by Rush. Meanwhile AJ played songs I never heard before, including the non-Tool tracks mentioned above plus: Way Down in the Hole by John Campbell, Wish You Were Here by Seguridad Social, Ratchets by HEDEGAARD, & Los by Rammstein.

Every genre, every instrument, every voice sounded true to life and viscerally present in the room. The V10's are simply phenomenal speakers, especially for "just" $8000 a pair. Yes they're ugly and lack the industrial design of the like of KEF, Revel, B&W, but they remind you there's just something about big, honking 10" drivers that simply can't be matched by an array of 6" or 8" woofers in a skinny and pretty cabinet that bean-counters insisted upon because it's easier to ship.

P.S. They say don't meet your heroes, but Andrew Jones is delightful!

If you'll allow me a bit of criticism, you've been taken on a ride by a very good demonstration. I've just listened to every one of the tracks you've cited you heard on the V10 and they are all spectacular on a decent system.

By contrast, the tracks you've mentioned having listened to on the B&W system are merely decent to good.

That's before taking the room into account.

I don't doubt the V10s are excellent, but it shows AJ's experience with choosing tracks.

 

[Mr. Widget]

I don't doubt the V10s are excellent, but it shows AJ's experience with choosing tracks.

100%
Mr. Jones knows what he's doing when it comes to presenting speakers at shows! Fortunately he also knows how to design a great speaker as well.

 

[Endibol]

I don't doubt the V10s are excellent, but it shows AJ's experience with choosing tracks

Not only that: the quality of the imaging is very much dependent on the room.
I bet that a lot of high quality speakers would have sounded fantastic in that same demo environment.

 

[IngMishael]

we never stop being vibe killers it seems.

 

[kharan]

Not only that: the quality of the imaging is very much dependent on the room.
I bet that a lot of high quality speakers would have sounded fantastic in that same demo environment.

The biggest audio upgrade I could do would be to push away my side wall.

 

[wgb113]

Not only that: the quality of the imaging is very much dependent on the room.
I bet that a lot of high quality speakers would have sounded fantastic in that same demo environment.

That room’s okay but I’d say not great. When I was demoing them there we also listened to some Paradigms and Martens and they both underwhelmed compared to the MoFis.

Again, they sound even better at home and as good or better than my KEF Reference 3 in every way.

 

[wgb113]

Just listened to Wu-Tang’s debut for the first time in a while and was reminded of why I love these speakers…small drivers just can’t do any album like this justice at volume. The clarity, effortlessness, detail and slam are amazing.

 

[bansuri]

I am on a confused state in selecting between 888 vs SP10 ME. If v10 is much better than 888, then is selecting a SP10 ME makes more sense as it may not only have the v10 character in smaller form but also the the switch back that can give 3 different sound flavours? (And yes I have sb2000 pro that I can pair it up with) hoping to get advice on this. Thanks

 

[IngMishael]

I am on a confused state in selecting between 888 vs SP10 ME. If v10 is much better than 888, then is selecting a SP10 ME makes more sense as it may not only have the v10 character in smaller form but also the the switch back that can give 3 different sound flavours? (And yes I have sb2000 pro that I can pair it up with) hoping to get advice on this. Thanks

if you have a sub, get the 10 Master Edition Standmount

 

[bansuri]

if you have a sub, get the 10 Master Edition Standmount

Thank you. This helps. If anyone has tried that path, please share your experience. Thanks

 

[wgb113]

I am on a confused state in selecting between 888 vs SP10 ME. If v10 is much better than 888, then is selecting a SP10 ME makes more sense as it may not only have the v10 character in smaller form but also the the switch back that can give 3 different sound flavours? (And yes I have sb2000 pro that I can pair it up with) hoping to get advice on this. Thanks

I'm not sure if the differences in floor-standers translates exactly to the stand-mount models. On top of that, the changes to the high end with the ME cross-over are subtle. If you're running with a sub or subs you might be okay with the SP8.

 

[dasherzx]

I am on a confused state in selecting between 888 vs SP10 ME. If v10 is much better than 888, then is selecting a SP10 ME makes more sense as it may not only have the v10 character in smaller form but also the the switch back that can give 3 different sound flavours? (And yes I have sb2000 pro that I can pair it up with) hoping to get advice on this. Thanks

The v10 is more grandiose but in an average sized living room the 888 and v10 sounds the same to me, they both go down till 30hz or so. The 888 actually measures better and seems to go lower according to the charts within reasonable spl limits, but how that translates to real life I do not know. I’d still go with the v10 towers, I know well integrated subwoofers will complement the sp10 master but on its own there are other brands that outperform it. They did not meet my requirements when demoed without subs.

 

[cavedriver]

The biggest audio upgrade I could do would be to push away my side wall.

I saw a stunning improvement in one room when I removed a credenza that was sitting between the speakers and replaced it with a simple audio rack. The credenza was about 6 feet wide, and 3' high and that apparently was producing a lot of reflections (and possibly some bass resonances). It was really dramatic. I'm now on a quest to empty my library of furniture. I also have the system sitting along the narrower wall of the room, meaning the side walls are closer than I would like. I may rotate the arrangement 90 degrees to move the side walls further away, but really I too would like to knock down some walls!

 

[cavedriver]

Holy mother of audio gods, I just demoed the V10's and met AJ at the recent AudioLab Expo... INCREDIBLE! I don't care about any graphs or charts or plots, they sound absolutely phenomenal with imaging that is simply visceral. When AJ played Dust in the Wind – Live from the UK, you swear Kerry Ellis & Brian May are in the room. May is right in front of you about 8' away with Ellis just to his right. I could point precisely to her lips. Next up was Tom Jones singing Dimming of the Day. He was dead center, a bit closer, and noticeably taller than Ellis. Again I could visualize him in the room and point precisely as his face. Not the general direction, precisely. Absolutely uncanny realism.

After AJ played Pneuma by Tool, I asked if he'd indulge me with one of my demo tracks by Tool, Chocolate Chip Trip. He did! You'd swear you're sitting on Danny Carey's throne slamming the snare, toms, cymbals yourself! Meanwhile the synth sound swirls around the entire room like a binaural headphone track rather than a simple right-left-right pan on so many speakers. Again uncanny realism.

Even more amazing is there was nothing exotic with the amplification or signal path. Everything in chain was relatively affordable AudioLab gear. Amps were their $1500 9000P ran bridged as 300W monoblocks for each V10. Their streamer was running FLAC files at 44.1 kHz 16bit. The whole system could be bought well under $15K.

Meanwhile right before hearing them, I demoed a quarter MILLION dollar B&W 7.4.4 system playing Dolby Atmos music. I was in the prime seat in both rooms. I was honestly more impressed with the bass slam and dynamics of a pair of V10's over SEVEN 801D5's & 4 DB1D subs! The B&W system was also powered by massive Marantz amps, each costing double the V10's. I even felt the imaging and soundstage was better with a pair of humble V10's then being literally surrounded by $30k 801D5's!

To be sure, this wasn't a case of being influenced by loudness. In fact, the B&W demo peaks were consistently well over 90dB, often 93dB; while AJ mercifully kept his peaks around 89-91dB. I left the B&W room with a headache and feeling they were almost shouty. That feeling was confirmed when I heard the effortless smooth sound of the V10's. My jaw literally dropped when AJ played his first track, Big Things Going Down by Dan Patlansky. And it also wasn't a case of preferred music. B&W played familiar songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, Boom by Tiesto, & one of my all-time favorites, Tom Sawyer by Rush. Meanwhile AJ played songs I never heard before, including the non-Tool tracks mentioned above plus: Way Down in the Hole by John Campbell, Wish You Were Here by Seguridad Social, Ratchets by HEDEGAARD, & Los by Rammstein.

Every genre, every instrument, every voice sounded true to life and viscerally present in the room. The V10's are simply phenomenal speakers, especially for "just" $8000 a pair. Yes they're ugly and lack the industrial design of the like of KEF, Revel, B&W, but they remind you there's just something about big, honking 10" drivers that simply can't be matched by an array of 6" or 8" woofers in a skinny and pretty cabinet that bean-counters insisted upon because it's easier to ship.

P.S. They say don't meet your heroes, but Andrew Jones is delightful!

I've never been impressed by any of the B&W speakers I've listened to since listening to the old matrix 800's in the 90's (which were good for the time). Their flaws (mainly a non-flat target curve) have been discussed here plenty. If I were going to challenge the V10's with a 250k budget I would certainly use different speakers.