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Mission 751 - Thoughts?

Bigerik

Bigerik

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
I'm looking at a pair of Mission 751's in the coming days, and wanted to get some input on them. These are the old front ported ones. In searching around it seems like they are considered to be somewhat of a classic across the pond.

What I have gathered is that they were built incredibly well, imaged like crazy, did vocals great but were shy on bass.

I'm interested to know what others who have used them think. What amp combos work or don't work. Placement? Wires? Anything!
 
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They are classics and have a large following, myself included. I bought a pair of these new in the late '80's. Mine had the Rosewood cabinets. Retailed for $800/pair then, but I got them for half that at a bankruptcy sale. I kept them for a long time. Superb small speakers. The mids are the magic. Slightly recessed, as is the case with most Mission speakers of the day. Great staging. Wonderfully built. The only quibble I had with them was the fact that the metalized mylar dome could sound a tad bright with some music. With first-rate ancillaries, these speakers are superb. I didn't much care that bass response was relatively limited. They did okay in that department, considering their size. They really respond well to being mated with a mosfet amp, such as an Adcom, Hafler or Hitachi HA7500. If I found another pair for a reasonable price, I'd buy them in a heartbeat. If you ever come across a pair of 753's, give them a listen. They are the floor-standing big brothers of the 751's and they are superb as well.
 
Bigerik said:
I'm looking at a pair of Mission 751's in the coming days, and wanted to get some input on them. These are the old front ported ones. In searching around it seems like they are considered to be somewhat of a classic across the pond.

What I have gathered is that they were built incredibly well, imaged like crazy, did vocals great but were shy on bass.

I'm interested to know what others who have used them think. What amp combos work or don't work. Placement? Wires? Anything!
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I think it's critical you get a listen on these. The original 700's weren't anything like the following ones which were indeed brighter. I sold the originals in the early 80's and was lucky enough to win a trip to the Mission factory and meet Mr. Azima where he demonstrated some of the newer designs which really imaged extremely well. The newer designs never did sell as well when my store brought them in later that year.
I've always thought the originals were the best. It think the newer ones have become a little more analytical.
But I've always preferred soft dome tweeters:music:
 
Definitely will give it a good listen. Hope to have them by the weekend to try out. Will have two different amps to try also: my h/k 825/870 combo and a borrowed Luxman LV-105u, which happens to have tubes and mosfets.
 
The original was called the Mission Cyrus 751. The next generation was called the 751 Freedom. The mylar dome in the original was replaced with a fabric soft dome which was a bit less forward in the treble. I still prefer the original speaker because it seems to be more detailed in the treble.
 
I've been doing some reading, and it doesn't appear that the freedom is loved quote as much as the original. I get the impression that some of the magic was lost.
 
RamblinE said:
:lurk:

Have been tentatively looking at upgrading my Mission Model 70 MkIIs.
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Talk about magical.....I love the 70's. I couldn't afford the 770s back when and I bought the 70's and had them for five or six years. Those are GREAT speakers! Wonderful on rock,classical or anything for that matter.
 
mtaudio said:
Talk about magical.....I love the 70's. I couldn't afford the 770s back when and I bought the 70's and had them for five or six years. Those are GREAT speakers! Wonderful on rock,classical or anything for that matter.
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Just saw a pair at the local thrift today for $70.ImageUploadedByTapatalk1355286092.442181.jpg
 
The 720 3-ways were one of Mission's best. Fairly rare, as well.
 

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Been doing some listening while trying to work, and they keep distracting me. :)

Always a good sign.

The bad, not much bass to work with. However, what is there is quick, fast and tight. They certainly don't like garbage being fed into them.

They sure do wonderful things with vocals. They also capture lots of detail, without sounding like some high end stuff that picks all the music apart, and just leaves you with a bunch of instruments, but no music.

This will be interesting!

BTW, this is being powered by my h/k 825 and 870 combo. I do have a tube/mosfet Luman LV-105u sitting warming up, which should be the cats meow with these.
 
I have some 70's running off a McIntosh 4100... pretty nice full range sound but mostly get played at low to medium low volume.

Also have a pair of 700's, Leading Edge, and I rotate some very nice Marantz receivers with them. Great for low to moderate listening volume. Great range. Compact and they can be near the back wall. The sound will fill the room. I bought them from an AK member and I really like them a lot and they are one of the best bargains I have ever gotten.
 
Bigerik said:
The bad, not much bass to work with. However, what is there is quick, fast and tight. They certainly don't like garbage being fed into them.
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Interesting...
I can't listen to 700's because of their bass. I mean in a good way.
They have so much bass that it disturbs neighbors even at 8 o'clock powered with Yamaha CR-800.
I haven't heard any other similar sized speaker with more bass.

May be 751 are completely different things. :scratch2:
 
Mystery said:
Interesting...
I can't listen to 700's because of their bass. I mean in a good way.
They have so much bass that it disturbs neighbors even at 8 o'clock powered with Yamaha CR-800.
I haven't heard any other similar sized speaker with more bass.

May be 751 are completely different things. :scratch2:
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Only so much you can do with a 5 inch woofer. Physics and all that..... :)

mission_751.jpg
 
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