The Mission 778 Series at a Glance
Mission has built loudspeakers in Britain since 1977, and the 778 Series brings that same design philosophy to electronics. Rather than one all in one box, the 778 range is a set of thoughtfully separated components that you can combine to suit how you actually listen. Each model is engineered with Audiolab engineering expertise, which shows in the clean measured performance and the careful attention to power supplies and clocking. The result is a compact, matching stack that scales from a simple single source system to a full digital and analog setup.
The three models we carry are the Mission 778X integrated amplifier with a built in DAC, the Mission 778S network music streamer, and the Mission 778CDT CD transport. They share a common enclosure width, a matching OLED display language, and a shared system remote, so they look and feel like a family when stacked together.
Understanding the Roles: What Each Box Does
Before comparing, it helps to be clear about what each component is for, because they are not interchangeable.
The 778X is the heart of the system
The Mission 778X is an integrated amplifier, which means it provides the amplification your passive loudspeakers need to make sound. It is also the only model in the range with a built in DAC that can serve other sources. It delivers 2 x 45W into 8 ohms and 2 x 65W into 4 ohms, uses an ESS Sabre32 ES9018K2M DAC, and handles PCM to 384kHz over USB along with DSD64, DSD128, and DSD256. It adds Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX and AAC, a moving magnet phono stage for a turntable, a headphone amplifier rated for 20 to 600 ohm loads, and a generous input set including coaxial, two optical, PC USB, two AUX RCA, and phono.
The 778S is a source, not an amplifier
The Mission 778S is a network music streamer. It is a source component, so it needs an amplifier such as the 778X to drive loudspeakers. It carries its own high performance ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M 32 bit DAC with a signal to noise ratio over 120dB on XLR, supports PCM up to 768kHz and DSD up to DSD512, and runs on the Silent Angel streaming platform. For services it is Roon Ready and supports Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, AirPlay 2, and TuneIn. It offers balanced XLR and RCA analog outputs, optical and coaxial digital outputs, a headphone amplifier, and networking via Gigabit Ethernet, dual band Wi-Fi, and USB storage.
The 778CDT is a transport that needs a DAC
The Mission 778CDT is a dedicated CD transport with no internal DAC. It reads the disc and outputs a digital signal, so it requires an external DAC to produce sound. The built in DAC of the 778X is a natural partner for exactly this purpose. The 778CDT plays CD, CD-R, CD-RW, and Data CD, and also handles USB playback of FLAC, WAV, MP3, WMA, AAC, and APE. It uses a TCXO master clock, dedicated low noise power supplies, coaxial and optical 75 ohm digital outputs, and an OLED display with CD text.
Grouping the Range by Role
The amplifier tier
The 778X stands alone as the amplification and central DAC hub. If you are building a 778 system, this is almost always the foundation, because it is the box that actually powers your speakers and can accept the digital output of the other two components.
The digital source tier
The 778S and the 778CDT are both sources, but they serve very different listening habits. The 778S is for streaming and networked libraries and includes its own reference grade DAC and balanced outputs. The 778CDT is for physical disc collections and outputs digital only, relying on a partnering DAC. They are complementary rather than competing, and many listeners eventually add both.
Who Each Model Suits
Choose the 778X if
You need an amplifier for passive loudspeakers and want a versatile digital and analog hub in one box. The moving magnet phono stage makes it turntable ready, the built in DAC lets it accept a transport or a computer, Bluetooth covers casual listening, and the headphone amplifier serves private sessions. For most people this is the essential first purchase.
Choose the 778S if
Streaming is your primary way of listening and you value a high resolution, network first source with a top tier DAC. Its ES9038Q2M DAC, PCM to 768kHz and DSD512 support, and balanced XLR outputs make it a serious streaming source. Remember it needs an amplifier, so it pairs naturally with the 778X.
Choose the 778CDT if
You have a meaningful CD collection and want to keep spinning discs with a dedicated, well clocked transport. Because it has no internal DAC, plan to pair it with the DAC inside the 778X or another DAC in your system.
Which Should You Buy by Scenario
Starting a system from scratch
Begin with the 778X and a pair of passive Mission loudspeakers. This single amplifier gives you Bluetooth, USB, optical and coaxial digital inputs, a phono stage, and a headphone output, so you can grow into it over time.
Streaming focused listener
Pair the 778S with the 778X. The streamer handles library and service playback with its own reference DAC and balanced outputs, while the integrated amplifier drives your speakers and covers any additional analog sources.
Dedicated CD listener
Pair the 778CDT with the 778X. The transport reads the disc, and the DAC inside the 778X converts it, keeping the signal path clean and the system tidy.
The complete 778 stack
Combine all three. The 778X anchors the system, the 778S covers streaming, and the 778CDT covers physical media. Because they share a common width, matching displays, and a shared system remote, they present as one cohesive stack.
Speaker pairing note
Every model here except the 778S and 778CDT sources requires the 778X to make sound with speakers, and the 778X itself needs passive loudspeakers to drive. Mission offers loudspeakers in the same design family with the signature Inverted Driver Geometry that places the tweeter below the mid bass driver for time alignment, mineral loaded polypropylene bass cones, and soft dome tweeters. These pair naturally with the 778 electronics for a coherent all Mission system.
Room and System Considerations
The 778X delivers 2 x 45W into 8 ohms and 2 x 65W into 4 ohms, which suits small to medium rooms and efficient stand mount or compact floorstanding loudspeakers particularly well. For larger rooms or more demanding speakers, sensitivity and placement matter, so a listen in your intended context is the best guide. If you want maximum flexibility and future proofing on the digital side, the 778S offers the higher resolution ceiling and balanced outputs, while the 778CDT is the answer for keeping a disc collection alive.
Come and Listen
AEA is an authorized Mission dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Demo units rotate and not every model is always set up, so we invite you to contact AEA to arrange a listen and confirm what is currently on display. We are happy to help you match the right 778 combination to your room, your speakers, and the way you love to listen.