In this review, we will be comparing L100 Classic MKII and Mission 770, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from JBL and Mission. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL L100 Classic MKII and Mission 770 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the JBL L100 Classic MKII and Mission 770 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL L100 Classic MKII and Mission 770 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that L100 Classic MKII is a 3-way design whereas the Mission 770 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
JBL L100 Classic MKII |
Mission 770 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.25-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 12-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
L100 Classic MKII features a 1" Titanium Dome Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 12" Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 3500Hz. On the other hand, the Mission 770 features a 1.25" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" mineral-loaded polyproylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
L100 Classic MKII has a frequency range of 40-40k Hz whereas Mission 770 has a frequency range of 42-20,000 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the L100 Classic MKII can go slightly deeper then the Mission 770's min frequency of 42Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
L100 Classic MKII is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Mission 770 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the L100 Classic MKII can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. L100 Classic MKII sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Mission 770's is rated at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the JBL L100 Classic MKII a more sensitive speaker compared to Mission 770, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
L100 Classic MKII and Mission 770 has the same power range of 25-200 watts.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
L100 Classic MKII features Five-way gold-plated binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Mission 770 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL L100 Classic MKII's Five-way gold-plated binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Mission 770's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
L100 Classic MKII has a front firing port whereas Mission 770 has a Front firing ports. JBL L100 Classic MKII's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Mission 770 with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare JBL L100 Classic MKII's and Mission 770's external dimensions. JBL L100 Classic MKII has external dimensions of 636.5 x 389.6 x 371.5mm ( 25.0 x 15.3 x 14.6inch) whereas Mission 770 has external dimensions of 590 x 279.4 x 301mm ( 23-1/4inch x 11-13/16inch x 12-11/16inch ) .
JBL L100 Classic MKII is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 110.2mm wider, 46.5mm taller and 70.5mm deeper than Mission 770.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL L100 Classic MKII and Mission 770 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL L100 Classic MKII and Mission 770 Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the JBL L100 Classic MKII is approximately 1447.4cm2 / 224.3inch2 and base area of the Mission 770 is approximately 841.0cm2 / 130.4inch2. The L100 Classic MKII requires 72% more surface area than the Mission 770 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The JBL L100 Classic MKII weighs 28.60kg / 62.9lbs and the Mission 770 weighs 27.20kg / 59.8lbs. This makes the L100 Classic MKII 5% heavier than the Mission 770.
Here is a comparison of how L100 Classic MKII and Mission 770's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL L100 Classic MKII?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of L100 Classic MKII:
Bookshelf loudspeaker
Grille
Owner's Manual
What's in the Box of Mission 770?
Here are the items that come with the Mission 770:
Mission M770 Speaker: 2 Stand-mount loudspeakers 2 Grilles User Manual Mission M770 Stand: 2 Top-plates 2 Bases 8 Upright posts 8 Spike feet Hardware Instructions
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Price per pair* |
4800USD
vs
5000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
590mm
vs
636mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
841cm2 (279x301mm)
vs
1447cm2 (389x371mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
JBL L100 Classic MKII |
Mission 770 |
| Brand |
JBL |
Mission |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
25-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-40k Hz |
42-20,000 Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pulp |
mineral-loaded polyproylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
low-density nitrile |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.25" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 3500Hz |
2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
Front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
636.5mm (25.1") |
590.0mm (23.2") |
| Width |
389.6mm (15.3") |
279.4mm (11") |
| Depth |
371.5mm (14.6") |
301.0mm (11.9") |
| Weight |
28.60kg (62.9lbs) |
27.20kg (59.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Genuine walnut veneer |
MDF, particle board, wood |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Walnut,Black Oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
18" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 years |