Mission 770
There were several versions of the Mission 770 loudspeaker and in a recent Hi-Fi article, the tortuous development by Farad Azima (founder of Mission) shows how then, Mission was a very much different company to the organisation we see today. A lot of listening effort went into the design of the 770's from the type of polypropeleyne cone, the SEAS ferrofluid tweeter, right through to the panel damping - designed to allow a certain amount of flex in the panels augmenting the bass (or so I'm led to believe !)
In any case, the original 770's - up to the Mk IV's shown - were are recognised by the striking white baffle, Mission 770 logo and see through cone leading to that giant voice coil suspension system at the back. I had a pair of the very latest 770 Mk 4's and in my parents back room, they looked (and sounded) splendid.
I even made myself a pair of lookalike stands out of MDF and hammerited them black.
Was it all cosmetic ? Well for sure, the flambouyant looks of the 770's hooked me and after my 710's performed so well, how could the 770's do anything but be "better" in every respect ?
I was not dissapointed.
The 770's when coupled to my Sansui 65w A80, and ADC ZLM Select MM cartridge, quickly gave way to a new amp - 2 off Crimson Electric 100w "self builds" monoblocks - and I recall that the impedance curve of the 770's made them hard to drive; they needed current.
So, I then designed a monster 500va / channel power supply for the Crimson's - designing, winding and manufacturing my own top of the range transformers - who says an apprenticeship isn't worthwhile ?
After a while, I upgraded the front end to a Garrad 401, SME 3009 and for muscle, the Crimson Electric amps were upgrade to 170w / 4 ohm versions. The Missions just kept sounding better and better.
This kept me and my wife happy in noise for years. Incidentally, the front foams on the Missions rarely last (like all foams they rot with time). However, you might be interested to know that my own personal 770's still live today in March 2018. They are safely tucked away in a relatives house being preserved (but not used) and can occasionally be heard clearing their throats, offering that incredible mid-band and fluid bass they were renowned for.
I was happy with my 770's but could I possibly have "more" ? Well, it seems I could... enter stage left, the Mission 765's !
What were they ? Follow this link.
In any case, the original 770's - up to the Mk IV's shown - were are recognised by the striking white baffle, Mission 770 logo and see through cone leading to that giant voice coil suspension system at the back. I had a pair of the very latest 770 Mk 4's and in my parents back room, they looked (and sounded) splendid.
I even made myself a pair of lookalike stands out of MDF and hammerited them black.
Was it all cosmetic ? Well for sure, the flambouyant looks of the 770's hooked me and after my 710's performed so well, how could the 770's do anything but be "better" in every respect ?
I was not dissapointed.
The 770's when coupled to my Sansui 65w A80, and ADC ZLM Select MM cartridge, quickly gave way to a new amp - 2 off Crimson Electric 100w "self builds" monoblocks - and I recall that the impedance curve of the 770's made them hard to drive; they needed current.
So, I then designed a monster 500va / channel power supply for the Crimson's - designing, winding and manufacturing my own top of the range transformers - who says an apprenticeship isn't worthwhile ?
After a while, I upgraded the front end to a Garrad 401, SME 3009 and for muscle, the Crimson Electric amps were upgrade to 170w / 4 ohm versions. The Missions just kept sounding better and better.
This kept me and my wife happy in noise for years. Incidentally, the front foams on the Missions rarely last (like all foams they rot with time). However, you might be interested to know that my own personal 770's still live today in March 2018. They are safely tucked away in a relatives house being preserved (but not used) and can occasionally be heard clearing their throats, offering that incredible mid-band and fluid bass they were renowned for.
I was happy with my 770's but could I possibly have "more" ? Well, it seems I could... enter stage left, the Mission 765's !
What were they ? Follow this link.