STEREO GUIDE verdict
As a complete system with connection hub and radio transmission, the Mission LX Connect Set offers powerful, homogeneous and dynamic sound.
Pros
- sounds lively, dynamic and homogeneous
- powerful bass for the size
- easy to use
- very well equipped preamp/hub
Cons
- could deliver somewhat finer trebles
- Streaming only with additional digital players
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Sound: tonal balance / transparency8.3
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Sound: Bass / dynamics8.7
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Sound: spatial imaging9
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Ease-of-use / Connectivity9.7
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Price / Performance9.1
The traditional English brand Mission was previously one of the hi-fi manufacturers that remained loyal to the traditional passive speakers with amplifier connection. With the Mission LX Connect Set, this changes fundamentally in the direction of wireless transmission – although the speaker technology remains classic.
True, the really compact shelf speakers of this stereo set with transmitter hub look very similar to their passive relatives called Mission LX2 MKII. However, they are full-fledged wireless active speakers. Although they do not allow streaming via app directly into the speakers, they offer a well thought-out concept with HDMI and Bluetooth playback. This makes it very easy to route modern digital music streams to the wireless boxes.
Center of the mission: The hub
Under the name Mission LX Connect Hub, Mission understands a mixture of full-fledged preamplifier, headphone amplifier and wireless hub for the active LX boxes. It has numerous inputs. Besides analog RCA and digital Toslink for S/PDIF, this also includes an HDMI and a USB-B jack for connecting a computer. This basically determines where the hub is usually positioned. It is best to place it near sources such as TV or PC.
The signals are processed by a high-quality D/A converter and provided to a front-side headphone output. Optionally, the hub sends them via uncompressed radio link to the two active speakers.
Classic sound technology with a modern touch
You won’t find an input jack on the Mission LX Connect set’s active speaker. There is only one power connection and wireless feed from the hub. In return, the back reveals a bass adjustment in addition to a switch for the stereo channel. This can be enormously important, especially when placed on a shelf or near a wall, to prevent drone.
The combination of woofer and tweeter on the front is arranged in reverse to what we are used to from other speakers. This is a classic Mission design feature, which promises better sound dispersion and more homogeneous timing of sound on its way to the ear.
The 13-centimeter composite fiber woofer looks like an inverse dome, but is technically a cone with a smaller voice coil. It is complemented with a 2.5 cm tweeter with microfiber fabric mesh. Two small bass reflex tubes should help the very compact box to a stately sound foundation, but this also means that the box should not be placed directly against the wall.
Sounds much bigger: the Mission LX Connect Set
In the listening test, the Mission set off with a joy of playing that simply took the listeners’ breath away: fast, impulsive and powerful in the bass, it recommended itself for any dynamic music. Especially when it got a bit louder, the two small shelf speakers outdid themselves and created a real concert feeling, especially with rock, blues and jazz.
The Missions restrained themselves with treble gloss, which produced a certain sonic retro feeling depending on the recording. With any kind of music, their deep, wide and three-dimensional room imaging was inspiring, which especially with drums and electric guitars created the amazing feeling that as a listener you were really sitting in front of the instruments in the rehearsal room.
Their flexibility was also convincing, as the Missions projected a lively, differentiated and spatially three-dimensional sound image in both larger and smaller rooms and even in the near field. The bass switch reliably prevented a too fat low frequency when placed close to the wall or corner.
Mission LX Connect: Conclusion and alternatives
As a classically operated complete system with wireless signal transmission to the speakers, the Mission trio offers some features that you can’t get elsewhere. Namely the HDMI input as well as the headphone amplifier in the hub. The fact that the system can be fully operated classically with a remote control and that no cables are really necessary between the speakers and the hub is a double plus point in many applications.
In terms of sound, its homogeneous playability and superb spatial imaging justify the price. If you can do without comfort and live with larger speakers as well as more cabling, the Nubert nupro SP-200 offers less design aspiration, but a bit more resolution and dynamics for less budget.
Technical specifications Mission LX Connect
- Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: 1,300 Euro
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 20 x 30.5 x 26.5 cm (box)
- Weight: 6.6 kg (per box)
- Features: Transmitter preamp with headphone out, HDMI, USB input, roon tested.
- More at: missionhifi.com
