In this review, we will be comparing 750 and HDI-1600, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Mission and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Mission 750 and JBL HDI-1600 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Mission 750 | JBL HDI-1600 |
|---|
| Brand | Mission
United Kingdom · founded 1977 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.25" Soft-Dome | 1" Horn-Loaded |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Polypropylene | 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-20k Hz | 40-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 15-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.00kg / 19.8lbs | 9.98kg / 22lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14" x 8-1/2" x 12"
355.0 x 216.0 x 305.0mm | 15-1/16" x 9-1/8" x 11-3/8"
383.0 x 232.0 x 289.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Mission 750 and JBL HDI-1600 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 750 |
JBL HDI-1600 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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 750 and HDI-1600 are 2-way speakers.
Mission 750JBL HDI-1600
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 750 |
JBL HDI-1600 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
750 features a 1.25" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.4kHz. On the other hand, the HDI-1600 features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
750 has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz whereas HDI-1600 has a frequency range of 40-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the HDI-1600 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 750's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
750 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the HDI-1600 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 HDI-1600 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 750 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the HDI-1600's is rated at 85 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Mission 750 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL HDI-1600, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
HDI-1600 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas 750 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the HDI-1600.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
HDI-1600 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. 750 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL HDI-1600's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 750's and JBL HDI-1600's external dimensions. Mission 750 has external dimensions of 355.0 x 216.0 x 305.0mm (14 x 8-1/2 x 12inch) whereas JBL HDI-1600 has external dimensions of 383.0 x 232.0 x 289.0mm (15-1/16 x 9-1/8 x 11-3/8inch).
Mission 750 is 16mm narrower and 28mm shorter than JBL HDI-1600 but it is also 16mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints. Mission 750 is 16mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. JBL HDI-1600 is 28mm taller.
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 750 is approximately 658.8cm2 / 102.1inch2 and base area of the JBL HDI-1600 is approximately 670.5cm2 / 103.9inch2. The 750 requires 2% less surface area than the HDI-1600 which gives it a small advantage 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 750 weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs and the JBL HDI-1600 weighs 9.98kg / 22lbs. This makes the HDI-1600 11% heavier than the 750.
Here is a comparison of how 750 and HDI-1600'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 HDI-1600?
Here are the items that come with the HDI-1600:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
355mm
vs
383mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
658cm2
vs
670cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
1980USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Mission 750 |
JBL HDI-1600 |
| Brand |
Mission |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
15-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.5 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
48-20k Hz |
40-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.25" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Horn-Loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.4kHz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
355.0mm (14") |
383.0mm (15.1") |
| Width |
216.0mm (8.5") |
232.0mm (9.1") |
| Depth |
305.0mm (12") |
289.0mm (11.4") |
| Weight |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
9.98kg (22lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Walnut,Black,Oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
22-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - JBL HDI-1600 costs roughly 1.7x what Mission 750 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | JBL HDI-1600 digs deeper - 40Hz against 48Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 85dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Mission 750 is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | JBL HDI-1600 takes more power (200W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | JBL HDI-1600: bi-amping. JBL HDI-1600 sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Mission 750 is cheaper - $1,199 against $1,980, about 39% less; arguably a different class. |
A Mission 750 B JBL HDI-1600
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?
The usual trade-off: JBL HDI-1600 measures better, Mission 750 costs about about 65% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 48Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Mission 750 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Mission 750 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and JBL HDI-1600 for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.