Why Mission
Founded in 1977, Mission is one of the enduring names in British loudspeaker design, and today it sits within IAG alongside a wealth of engineering talent. As an authorized Mission dealer, All Elite Audio is glad to walk you through how a full Mission system comes together, from the loudspeakers that carry the brand's signature design thinking to the 778 series electronics developed with Audiolab engineering. This guide covers both sides of the range and shows you how each piece connects to the next.
The Signature Inverted Driver Geometry
The idea most closely associated with Mission is Inverted Driver Geometry. On a conventional two way speaker the tweeter sits above the mid-bass driver. Mission flips this, placing the tweeter below the mid-bass driver. The purpose is time alignment. Because the higher frequencies from the tweeter and the lower frequencies from the mid-bass driver need to arrive at your ears together, the physical arrangement of the drivers matters. By inverting the layout, Mission works to align the arrival of sound at a seated listening height so the music reaches you as a coherent whole.
Mission pairs this geometry with driver materials chosen for their behavior. The bass cones use mineral-loaded polypropylene, a material selected for its blend of stiffness and damping, while the treble comes from soft dome tweeters. These are longstanding Mission design choices rather than novelties, and they run throughout the 700 series.
The 700 Series Loudspeakers
The 700 series gives you a family of standmount designs. Every one of these is a passive loudspeaker, which means each requires an amplifier to drive it. Choosing among them is less about ranking and more about matching a speaker to your room and your intentions.
Mission 750
The Mission 750 is the compact standmount in the group. If your room is on the smaller side, or if you want a speaker that sits discreetly on a shelf or stand without dominating the space, the 750 is designed with that use case in mind. It carries the same soft dome tweeter and mineral-loaded polypropylene bass thinking as its siblings in a more space conscious cabinet.
Mission 700
The Mission 700 is the standmount that sits at the heart of the series. It is a natural choice for a medium sized listening room where you want a full and engaging presentation from a stand mounted design. If the 750 is about fitting into tighter spaces, the 700 is about giving a typical room a satisfying voice.
Mission 770
The Mission 770 is the flagship of this lineup and something special. It is a Made in Britain reissue of the original 770 from 1980, one of the definitive Mission designs. For the listener who wants the fullest expression of the classic Mission standmount, built in Britain, the 770 is the reference point within this family. It rewards a listening room with a bit of breathing space and thoughtful placement on suitable stands.
Matching Amplification to Your Speakers
Because each 700 series model is passive, the amplifier is not optional, it is part of the system. Within the Mission range the natural partner is the 778 series integrated amplifier, which was engineered to sit alongside these speakers. When you are selecting an amplifier, think about your room size and how the speaker will be used. A more capable standmount such as the 770 deserves an amplifier with the composure to let it perform, and pairing it within the Mission family keeps the system coherent in both design intent and appearance.
The 778 Series Electronics
The 778 series is a stackable trio of components built with Audiolab engineering. Together they let you assemble a complete source and amplification setup that visually and functionally belongs together. Here is how each piece fits.
Mission 778X Integrated Amplifier
The Mission 778X is the integrated amplifier and the hub of the system. It drives your passive 700 series speakers, and crucially it includes a built-in DAC. That built-in DAC is important, because it converts digital audio to analog for the sources you connect to it. The 778X is the piece that turns a collection of speakers and sources into a playing system.
Mission 778S Network Streamer
The Mission 778S is the network streamer. It brings streamed and networked music into your system. As a streamer it does not drive speakers on its own, so it needs an amplifier, which in this range is the 778X. Connect the 778S to the 778X and you have a modern digital front end feeding your loudspeakers.
Mission 778CDT CD Transport
The Mission 778CDT is the CD transport. A transport reads the disc but has no internal DAC of its own, which means it needs an external DAC to convert its digital output to analog. The DAC built into the 778X fills exactly that role. If you have a CD collection you want to keep enjoying at a high level, the 778CDT paired with the 778X is how it comes together.
Putting a Complete System Together
Here is the simplest way to think about a full Mission system. Start with the 778X integrated amplifier as your center. Add the loudspeakers that suit your room, whether that is the compact 750, the 700, or the flagship 770. Then choose your sources. If you stream, add the 778S. If you play CDs, add the 778CDT, and remember it relies on the DAC inside the 778X. You can begin with the amplifier and one pair of speakers and grow the source side over time, since the 778 pieces are designed to stack and work as a family.
Example Pairings
For a smaller room, the 750 with the 778X makes a tidy and capable setup, and you can add the 778S when you are ready to stream. For a medium room where you want more presence, the 700 with the 778X is a well matched pairing. For the listener who wants the flagship experience, the 770 with the 778X, joined by the 778S for streaming or the 778CDT for discs, brings the whole system together with matching design intent throughout.
Come Have a Listen
All Elite Audio is an authorized Mission dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Our demo units rotate and not every model is set up at all times, so the best way to hear how a Mission system suits your room and your music is to get in touch. Contact us and we will be glad to arrange a listen and help you build the system that fits you.