Mission 700 Bookshelf Speakers - (Pair)

The Mission 700 bookshelf speakers have been designed with a modern interpretation of the iconic and revered original model. The brand has utilized 45 years of evolution and development in loudspeaker design to create a product that delivers excellent sound quality and durability.

The original Mission 700 was a part of the same range as the 770, which was launched in 1978. The 700 was a smaller version, launched a couple of years later. Both speakers were innovative, cutting-edge designs that helped establish the brand as a major force in the market.

The Mission 700's cabinet measures 51 x 26 x 27cm (hwd), which is relatively large by modern standards. Their size offers these speakers useful engineering advantages over the generally smaller modern competition. A larger cabinet promises more extended bass, particularly as the wide front baffle allows for the use of a bigger mid/bass unit than would normally be found at this level. The wide-ranging dynamics of a larger driver can also produce the potential for higher replay levels. This is one of those cases where looking backward really does offer some significant gains over modern slim and small designs.

The appearance of the Mission 700 harks back to the past with its striking aesthetic resemblance to the original. The white polypropylene mid/bass unit and the front-firing reflex port are significantly larger with more flare. Yet, the position of the drive units (and port) is the same, as is the use of Mission's distinctive but rather unsubtle original logo on a white front baffle. Place the two generations side by side, and the resemblance is unmistakable.

The Mission 700's drive units are modern, with a 16.5cm mineral-loaded polypropylene mid/bass and 28mm microfibre soft dome tweeter. The engineers have designed these units with great care to reduce distortions and improve dynamic performance. They even have separate circuit boards for the treble and mid/bass crossover networks that prioritize simple, short signal paths and high-quality components to increase transparency and reduce distortions.

The Mission 700's wood-veneered cabinet is as impressive as the drive units. It replaces the original's rather basic box with a braced, composite structure that combines high-density MDF with particle board (bonded with high-damping glue) to provide a rigid and low-resonance platform for the drive units to work from. The single-wire speaker terminals look smart, chunky, and nice to use.

The performance of stand-mounters is heavily dependent on their support, so it makes perfect sense for Mission to make dedicated stands for the new 700. It's a nicely-made steel frame structure that bolts together in around 15 mins and lifts the speakers to the right kind of height.

The Mission 700 speakers aren't particularly fussy about positioning either. They sound best just short of a meter from the rear wall and well clear of the sides. They certainly benefit from being angled in towards the listening position, which improves the focus and solidity of the stereo imaging.

The Mission 700's strengths come to the fore with the impressive big and authoritative sound, making use of that larger-than-average stature to deliver the lows with conviction. The bass notes are taut and agile too, rendered with a pleasing amount of texture, and nicely blended so no part of the frequency range sticks out. These Missions have an upfront, open presentation with plenty of punch. Large-scale dynamic shifts are communicated forcefully, and the 700 have no trouble playing at high levels. Despite having a tweeter with bite, there's enough refinement to cope with less-than-perfect recordings, though a bit of care with system matching wouldn't go amiss.

The sensitivity of 86dB/W/m means that these speakers are not particularly fussy about partnering equipment, as it's as likely to be partnered with a premium lifestyle all-in-one system. A claimed 8-ohm nominal impedance (with a minimum of 5.2 ohms) indicates that these aren't a particularly tricky load for most amps.

In conclusion, the Mission 700 bookshelf speakers are a great investment for anyone who wants to enjoy high-quality audio without breaking the bank. The speakers are a modern interpretation of the iconic and revered original model, boasting complex innovations and improvements for today's market. The combination of a larger cabinet, modern drive units, and a nicely made wood veneered cabinet provides an impressively big, and authoritative sound. The Mission 700 offers excellent sound quality and great value for money, making it an excellent addition to any home audio setup.

Key Features

• Iconic and revered design with a modern interpretation
• Larger cabinet for extended bass and wider-ranging dynamics
• Mineral-loaded polypropylene mid/bass and microfibre soft dome tweeter for modern sound quality
• Nicely-made wood veneered cabinet for durability and low resonance
• Offers an impressively big and authoritative sound with crisp and sharply drawn nature

Technical Specifications