Mission introduced seven loudspeakers to ther flagship SX Series. The new line includes the SX1 (£699 per pair) and SX2 (£849 per pair) standmount speakers, the SX3 (£1,499 per pair), SX4 (£1,799 per pair), and SX5 (£1,999 per pair) trio of floorstanders. The SXC1 (£499) and SXC2 (£699) handle center speaker duties, and users can complete their SX home cinema system with a model from Missionʼs MS range of active subwoofers.
For the SX Series, Mission engineers designed new drivers that incorporate the latest research in composite metallic material technology. The design target was to generate a wide bandwidth bass/midrange driver that reproduces all frequencies from 30Hz to 4KHz – a span of seven octaves, which is no mean feat.
To help achieve this ambitious self-set goal, the team designed the SX MC driver, a metal/fibre cone composite. It utilises a combination of pulp and aramid particles bonded to a precision-formed alloy ʻvoice plateʼ, which forms the front face of the speaker. The resulting new cone possesses just the right level of rigidity and self-damping to quell break-up modes, and damp unwanted resonances, whilst ensuring pistonic cone movement for low distortion. Consequently, it reacts with astonishing precision to the musical waveform delivered to it, and delivers not only superb bass performance but also surprises with its lucidity and realism delivered throughout the midrange.
To further enhance the SX MC driverʼs dynamic performance, it is housed in a cast-aluminium shell that is securely mounted on the die cast front baffle. Additionally, Mission sets this die-cast chassis into a multi- layer cabinet sub-baffle with a system that securely clamps the driver to both – thus ensuring that the desired mechanical stability is achieved.
The extreme forces generated by the SX MC motor system could expose the treble unit to unwanted vibration, however the Mission team has also cunningly countered this danger. The SX TD treble unit features an extremely light and rigid titanium dome, fitted with a surrounding phase-correcting plate, ensuring smooth and extended response from 1kHz to beyond audible levels. This assembly is then housed in an elastomer chamber, isolating it from low frequency vibration, while still providing mechanical stability.
Combining the SX MC and TD drivers is a crossover that enables the seamless performance necessary for each SX Series loudspeakers to behave as a coherent source. Thanks to the smooth, wide bandwidth responses of the drivers it is only necessary to create the correct electrical filtering to provide a phase- perfect, ruler-flat crossover transition. Hundreds of hours of listening and engineering refinement and tuning complete the design process, and result is a flagship series that delivers Missionʼs famously exciting sonic signature.
To ensure the SX Series looks as good as it sounds, Missionʼs cabinet makers hand veneer and polish each cabinet. The premium piano lacquer option adds £100 to the standmount and centre channel prices, and £200 to the three floorstanding speakers. This stunning finish uses seven individual coats of lacquer, each polished and buffed to a mirror finish, to reveal the full colour and grain of the real wood veneers.
The SX Series design project was led by Peter Comeau, Director of Acoustic Design for IAG, Missionʼs parent company. Peter previously designed speakers for the Mission brand between 1999 and 2005, his work encompassing multi-award-winning designs such as the Mission 780 and 782.
Price and Availability
The Mission SX Series is available now in hand-finished black, cherry or rosewood real-wood veneers, with premium piano black or piano rosewood lacquered options.
SXC1 (£499) Center
SXC2 (£699) Center
SX1 (£699 per pair) Standmount
SX2 (£849 per pair) Standmount
SX3 (£1,499 per pair) Floorstander
SX4 (£1,799 per pair) Floorstander
SX5 (£1,999 per pair) Floorstander
Mission SX1
Enclosure type: two-way bass reflex
Bass/mid driver: 130mm metal/fibre cone
Tweeter: 25mm titanium dome
Frequency response: 62Hz – 40kHz
Nominal impedance: 6 – 8 Ohms
Sensitivity: 85dB
Recommended amp power: 25 – 75W
Weight (per speaker): 7kg
Dimensions (HxWxD): 313x191x293mm
Mission SX2
Enclosure type: two-way bass reflex
Bass/mid driver: 160mm metal/fibre cone
Tweeter: 25mm titanium dome
Frequency response: 58Hz – 40kHz
Nominal impedance: 6 – 8 Ohms
Sensitivity: 85dB
Recommended amp power: 20 – 100W
Weight (per speaker): 10kg
Dimensions (HxWxD): 381x231x365mm
Mission SX3
Enclosure type: two-way bass reflex
Bass/mid drivers: 2 x 130mm metal/fibre cones
Tweeter: 25mm titanium dome
Frequency response: 56Hz – 40kHz
Nominal impedance: 6 – 8 Ohms
Sensitivity: 86dB
Recommended amp power: 20 – 150W
Weight (per speaker): 20kg
Dimensions (HxWxD): 922x222x333mm
Mission SX4
Enclosure type: three-way bass reflex
Bass drivers: 2 x 160mm metal/fibre cones
Midrange driver: 160mm metal/fibre cone
Tweeter: 25mm titanium dome
Frequency response: 55Hz – 40kHz
Nominal impedance: 6 – 8 Ohms
Sensitivity: 90dB
Recommended amp power: 60 – 200W
Weight (per speaker): 27kg
Dimensions (HxWxD): 1016x261x365mm
Mission SX5
Enclosure type: three-way bass reflex
Bass drivers: 3 x 160mm metal/fibre cones
Midrange driver: 160mm metal/fibre cone
Tweeter: 25mm titanium dome
Frequency response: 54Hz – 40kHz
Nominal impedance: 6 – 8 Ohms
Sensitivity: 90dB
Recommended amp power: 60 – 200W
Weight (per speaker): 31kg
Dimensions (HxWxD): 1121x261x365mm
Mission SXC1
Enclosure type: two-way sealed box
Bass/mid drivers: 2 x 130mm metal/fibre cones
Tweeter: 25mm titanium dome
Frequency response: 80Hz – 40kHz
Nominal impedance: 6 – 8 Ohms
Sensitivity: 87dB
Recommended amp power: 20 – 100W
Weight: 10kg
Dimensions (HxWxD): 202x500x293mm
Mission SXC2
Enclosure type: 2.5-way sealed box
Bass drivers: 2 x 130mm metal/fibre cones
Bass/mid drivers: 2 x 130mm metal/fibre cones
Tweeter: 25mm titanium dome
Frequency response: 65Hz – 40kHz
Nominal impedance: 6 – 8 Ohms
Sensitivity: 90dB
Recommended amp power: 50 – 150W
Weight: 18kg
Dimensions (HxWxD): 202x840x293mm
