In this review, we will be comparing 700 and P300, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Mission and Buchardt.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Mission 700 and Buchardt P300 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Mission 700 | Buchardt P300 |
|---|
| Brand | Mission
United Kingdom · founded 1977 | Buchardt
Denmark · founded 2014 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.25" Soft-Dome | 0.74" aluminum waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" mineral loaded polypropylene cone | 6" paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-20,000 Hz | 37-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | 50 - 200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.80kg / 28.2lbs | 6.30kg / 13.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 20" x 10.2" x 10.6"
510.0 x 260.0 x 270.0mm | 14.4" x 7" x 11"
365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Mission 700 and Buchardt P300 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Mission 700 |
Buchardt P300 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both 700 and P300 are 2-way speakers.
Mission 700Buchardt P300
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Mission 700 |
Buchardt P300 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25-inch
|
0.74-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
700 features a 1.25" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" mineral loaded polypropylene cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the P300 features a 0.74" Custom fine weave soft fabric textile with CDC aluminum waveguide aluminum waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6" paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
700 has a frequency range of 45-20,000 Hz whereas P300 has a frequency range of 37-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the P300 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 700's min frequency of 45Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
700 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the P300 which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 P300 can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 86 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
P300 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas 700 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the P300.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Mission 700 Front Port
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Mission 700's and Buchardt P300's external dimensions. Mission 700 has external dimensions of 510.0 x 260.0 x 270.0mm (20 x 10.2 x 10.6 inch) whereas Buchardt P300 has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm (14.4 x 7 x 11inch).
Buchardt P300 is 80mm narrower and 145mm shorter than Mission 700 but it is also 10mm deeper.
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 Mission 700 is approximately 702.0cm2 / 108.8inch2 and base area of the Buchardt P300 is approximately 504.0cm2 / 78.1inch2. The 700 requires 39% more surface area than the P300 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 Mission 700 weighs 12.80kg / 28.2lbs and the Buchardt P300 weighs 6.30kg / 13.9lbs. This makes the 700 103% heavier than the P300.
Here is a comparison of how 700 and P300'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 700?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 700:
- Mission M700 Speaker:
- 2 Stand-mount loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- User Manual
- Mission M700 Stand:
- 2 Top-plates
- 2 Bases
- 8 Upright posts
- 8 Spike feet
- Hardware
- Instructions
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
one 5x8-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
365mm
vs
510mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
504cm2
vs
702cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1450USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Mission 700 |
Buchardt P300 |
| Brand |
Mission |
Buchardt |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
50 - 200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
5.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
45-20,000 Hz |
37-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
mineral loaded polypropylene cone |
paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
low-density nitrile |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1.25" |
0.74" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
aluminum waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
Front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
510.0mm (20.1") |
365.0mm (14.4") |
| Width |
260.0mm (10.2") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
270.0mm (10.6") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Weight |
12.80kg (28.2lbs) |
6.30kg (13.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF, particle board, wood |
15mm Fiberboard HMR.E2 Moisture-proof with internal bracing |
| Available Colors |
Walnut Pearl, Black Oak |
Black, White, Peach, Ocean, Olive |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 years |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
| Labor Warranty |
3 years |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Buchardt P300 digs deeper - 37Hz against 45Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Mission 700 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | Buchardt P300 takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Buchardt P300 is easier to place; Mission 700 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Buchardt P300 sits in a wider range (6 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,500 vs $1,450 a pair). |
A Mission 700 B Buchardt P300
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Buchardt P300 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 45Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Mission 700 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Buchardt P300 is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.