In this review, we will be comparing Reference 1 Meta and Mission 770, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KEF and Mission. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Reference 1 Meta and Mission 770 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the KEF Reference 1 Meta 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 KEF Reference 1 Meta 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 Reference 1 Meta 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 |
KEF Reference 1 Meta |
Mission 770 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.25-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
Reference 1 Meta features a 1" aluminium dome with MAT Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" aluminium cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 2100Hz. 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
Reference 1 Meta has a frequency range of 45-35k Hz whereas Mission 770 has a frequency range of 42-20,000 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Mission 770 can go slightly deeper then the Reference 1 Meta's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
Reference 1 Meta 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 Reference 1 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Reference 1 Meta sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Mission 770's is rated at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Mission 770 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Reference 1 Meta, 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.
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
Reference 1 Meta features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Mission 770 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Reference 1 Meta has a rear firing port whereas Mission 770 has a Front firing ports.
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 KEF Reference 1 Meta's and Mission 770's external dimensions. KEF Reference 1 Meta has external dimensions of 440 x 205 x 422 mm ( 17.3 x 8.1 x 16.6 ) whereas Mission 770 has external dimensions of 590 x 279.4 x 301mm ( 23-1/4inch x 11-13/16inch x 12-11/16inch ) .
KEF Reference 1 Meta is 74.4mm narrower and 150mm shorter than Mission 770 but it is also 121mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF Reference 1 Meta and Mission 770 in scale.
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 KEF Reference 1 Meta is approximately 865.1cm2 / 134.1inch2 and base area of the Mission 770 is approximately 841.0cm2 / 130.4inch2. The Reference 1 Meta requires 3% 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 KEF Reference 1 Meta weighs 18.20kg / 40lbs and the Mission 770 weighs 27.20kg / 59.8lbs. This makes the Mission 770 49% heavier than the Reference 1 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how Reference 1 Meta 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 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 |
High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
440mm
vs
590mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Minimum Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Base Surface Area |
841cm2 (279x301mm)
vs
865cm2 (205x422mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
5000USD
vs
9000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
KEF Reference 1 Meta |
Mission 770 |
Brand |
KEF |
Mission |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
50-200 watts |
25-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
85 dB |
88 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
6 ohms |
Frequency Response |
45-35k Hz |
42-20,000 Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
Woofer Composition |
aluminium cone |
mineral-loaded polyproylene |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
low-density nitrile |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.25" |
Tweeter Type |
aluminium dome with MAT |
Soft-Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
5" |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 2100Hz |
2900Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
Front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
440.0mm (17.3") |
590.0mm (23.2") |
Width |
205.0mm (8.1") |
279.4mm (11") |
Depth |
422.0mm (16.6") |
301.0mm (11.9") |
Weight |
18.20kg (40lbs) |
27.20kg (59.8lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
n/a |
MDF, particle board, wood |
Available Colors |
High-Gloss White/Blue, High-Gloss White/Champagne, High-Gloss Black/Grey, High-Gloss Black/Copper, Satin Walnut/Silver |
Walnut,Black Oak |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 years |
3 years |
Labor Warranty |
5 years |
3 years |