About The Mission 700 Speakers (No Stands)
Revisited as a sister model to the eagerly anticipated reintroduction of the Mission 770 – a model which heralded the return to UK manufacturing for the Mission brand; the Mission 700 takes what was referred to as an 'industry benchmark, in the original 700 model, but utilises Mission's 45 years of evolution and development in loudspeaker design.
Led by Mission's Director of Acoustic Design, Peter Comeau, the new Mission 700 bears a striking aesthetic resemblance to the original. However, there are many complex innovations and improvements that bring this revered model bang up to date.
Emphasis On Design: As with the flagship 770, Mission has developed a new polypropylene bass/midrange driver and model-specific motor system. This transducer not only upgrades the loudspeaker's integral design to take account of modern power handling and dynamic requirements, but it also maintains the extended response and low colouration of the original model with all the hallmarks and distinction of a class-leading loudspeaker. From the rigid, cast chassis to low-density surround, every aspect has been revisited to offer a driver with improved rigidity and precision-controlled cone-termination for dynamic performances and offer tight, fast, energetic output.
The distinctive reflex port has been carefully profiled both internally and externally to achieve very low distortion and extension to below 38Hz in-room – quite an achievement from a cabinet of this size!
Employing a new lightweight, coated microfibre dome for the high-frequency driver, the Mission 700 replicates the flagship 770 with a specially damped rear chamber that offers super smooth treble performance, largely thanks to the resonance control offered by such a design.
Inverted Driver Geometry: The Mission 700 was a precursor for what would become a Mission standard in an unconventional driver array, something Mission refers to as 'Inverted Driver Geometry'. Not just a design statement, IDG is a staple of Misson loudspeaker design from the 700 onwards. By positioning the treble unit below the bass/midrange driver, the length of the path is equalised so the sound waves coincide at the listener's head height. This principle improves 'time alignment'. Such design requires more than just inverting the speaker cabinet. Every aspect of the industrial and mechanical design requires a precision calculation to ensure the positioning, spacing and alignment aids the objective of optimum 'time alignment'. This is perfected by an artisan-level crossover design.
The Crossover: Part of the Mission design process includes advanced software-based crossover mapping and simulation to accurately equalise the balance of the drivers for seamless integration into the overall loudspeaker performance. Not breaking with tradition or protocol, the efficiency of the software-based development is matched in equal part with 1000s of hours of listening tests. The resulting crossover design brings a musical character with thrilling detail and musicality not just matching but superseding the acclaimed level of performance set by the original Mission 700.
The Cabinet: Form factor remains true to the original, wherever possible. This includes hand-applied, rich rose-tinted walnut or black real wood veneers and a luxurious laminated white-front baffle. However, as spoken of in the original design, the Mission 700 makes use of less visible innovations incorporated into the design. The new 700 cabinet uses a sandwich construction of differing woods bonded by a layer of damping adhesive. Internal bracing adds further strength and support while a mixture of foam and long hair fibre provides internal resonance and reflection absorption.
As it was in the beginning with the original, the new Mission 700 packs technology and know-how into a benchmark loudspeaker design that is never short in bass definition, frequency response; lack of colouration; imaging; transient attack; depth and perspective; accuracy and linearity; speed and dynamic range. And as you'd expect from a model with such nostalgia and history, the emotion in the musical performance is never short in supply!
A Word From The Designer: In the words of Peter Comeau, Mission's Director of Acoustic Design: "The larger cabinets and bigger drive units of 'classic' loudspeaker designs give them an acoustic advantage over speakers that follow the contemporary trend of slimmer cabinets with smaller footprints – you can't beat the laws of physics no matter how hard you try!
"When used with modern sources, however, these classic speakers – in their original form – can be found wanting in terms of definition at the frequency extremes, power handling and dynamic range; that's why it's critical that they are thoroughly re-engineered using contemporary techniques and technologies to allow them to thrive in the modern age. When this is done well, combining classic design and modern technology can deliver a wonderfully satisfying musical result.
"The new Mission 700 expands upon the sonic transparency and sense of musical engagement that made the original one of the most successful and fondly remembered speakers of the 1980s, enhancing its performance in every respect. The bass's depth and articulation, the effortless expression of the midrange, the smooth, seamless clarity of the treble – these are standmount speakers that emphatically engage the ears without stress or strain."
About Mission
Mission has built a world-class reputation for advanced audio design since the company's formation in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire in 1977, with an engineering-led approach to product development that has resulted in some of the most popular and iconic loudspeakers ever devised.
Three things have always characterised Mission speakers. First, the cabinets and drive units use innovative materials and sport a distinctive, modern appearance. Second, the sound they produce is fast, detailed and engaging. Third, they deliver excellent sonic and material value for money.
Today, Mission continues to stretch the boundaries of what can be achieved at specific price points, pioneering technologies to create fresh, new designs. The brand now benefits from the unrivalled manufacturing facilities and global reach of parent company IAG, with all the component parts of every speaker made in-house. Yet the company's roots remain firmly entrenched in Huntingdon, where much of Mission's design, servicing and technical support work is still carried out. This, coupled with a design team brimming with home grown talent, ensures Mission speakers remain as impressive today as they were when the company first established itself at the forefront of the burgeoning British audio scene some 45 years ago.
Mission 700 Reviews
"Mission says there is a clear demand for classic loudspeakers re-engineered for modern times, as shown by the success of the Mission 770 launched earlier this year. This demand is partly fueled by nostalgia and the appeal of 'vintage' style, just as vintage clothes or furniture are considered 'cool' compared to bland contemporary design. But in the case of loudspeakers, it's not just about 'hipster cool;' the allure, says Mission, is more specific.
For passionate music lovers, the appeal goes together with the vinyl revival; the desire to play music on something more tangible and authentic than digital, do-it-all 'smart' speakers pulling playlists off the internet. Plus, these classic loudspeaker designs pay due respect to the laws of physics – form following function, the function being to deliver full-range high-fidelity sound – rather than trying to make a modishly compact speaker sound big, extended and spacious.
There may be folk who buy the new Mission 700 because they remember the original; perhaps they were one of the thousands who owned a pair and want to recapture the joy these speakers gave them. Other buyers may not have been alive when the original 700 was available; they simply want a great-sounding pair of speakers to build an audio system around." Forbes
"Vive la difference!" as they say in France. As soon as you set ears upon the new Mission 700, you know you're not listening to another 'me too' design, cut from the same cloth as mainstream products. Fire up a pair of these, put on some punchy music with a strong beat or rhythm, and sit back and enjoy the music. Simple as that!
In this sense, it's a similar listening experience to the original 700 – which was also a barrel of fun. This new speaker rather reminds me of the sort of sounds coming out of the USA back then – lots of affordable, big, efficient, wide-baffle standmounters that really made rock and disco music fun.
This new 700 isn't as rough as those seventies classics, though, as it's far better behaved and composed, especially at higher listening levels. Yet it retains their essential charm, which is something conspicuous by its absence in many modern designs.
There's something quite pleasing about the new 700's bass; it goes very low – much more so than you'd expect given its size and price – and is pleasingly warm. Bass-driven techno tracks like 808 State's In Your Face came over as satisfyingly large scale, making this speaker sound bigger than it really is. It also proved pleasingly tuneful, and integrated well with the midband.
Mission's new 700 is an excellent speaker at its price point then, although it was never designed to be forensically neutral and transparent. Instead, it's aimed at thrill-seeking music lovers who want a big bang for their buck, so to speak – and most likely enjoy rock, dance, soul and jazz rather than classical music. If you fit into the latter category, you really should hear a pair." StereoNet
Our Take On The Mission 700
Fancy the Mission 770 but think the price might be a little out of reach? The 700 could be just the ticket. It embodies many of the same qualities that have already made the 770 a runaway success and condensed them into a smaller form factor with a drastically reduced price. Sound good? We think so too. In fact, we think many people will actually prefer the size, shape and domestically harmonious form factor of the Mission 700. It also has the advantage of not being tied to a pair of stands. You can buy a pair of 700's on their own and place them on a cabinet or 'large' bookshelf and if your circumstances ever change you can pick up a pair of their dedicated stands down the track. Or, you can bite the bullet and purchase speakers and stands as a set, which we would heartily recommend because they really do sound at their best together, standing out from the wall, looking like proper speakers should, and not all hidden away. Make a statement with your choice of speakers. Buy Mission 700.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Compact 2-Way Vented-Box Stand Mount Loudspeaker
- Enclosure Type: Bass reflex
- Transducer Complement: 2-way
- Treble Driver: 1.25" (28mm) soft dome
- Mid/Bass Driver: 6.5" (165mm) mineral loaded polypropylene cone
- AV Shield: No
- Sensitivity (2.83V @1m): 86dB
- Recommended Amplifier Power: 25 - 150W
- Peak SPL: 106dB
- Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms
- Minimum Impedance: 5.2 Ohms
- Frequency Response (+/-3dB): 45Hz - 20kHz
- Bass Extension (-6dB): 38Hz
- Crossover Frequency: 3.0kHz
- Cabinet Volume: 24.8 Litres
- Optional Damped Carbon Steel Frame Mission 700 Speaker Stands available
- Available Finishes: Black or Walnut Real Wood Veneer
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 260 x 510 x 270mm (292mm deep inc. cable terminals) each
- Weight: 12.8kg each
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 5 Years
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE