In this review, we will be comparing Mission 770 and ES20, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Mission and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Mission 770 and Polk ES20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Mission 770 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.25" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 8" mineral-loaded polyproylene Woofer
- 42-20,000 Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-200watts
- Weight:27.20kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 590.0" x 11-13/16" x 12-11/16"( 590 x 279.4 x 301mm )
Polk ES20 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer
- 41-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-125watts
- Weight:7.73kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 375.0" x 8-9/16" x 13-13/16"( 375.0 x 218.0 x 351.0mm )
What size room are the Mission 770 and Polk ES20 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 770 |
Polk ES20 |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Mission 770 and Polk ES20 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Mission 770 and ES20 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Mission 770 |
Polk ES20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Mission 770 features a 1.25" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" mineral-loaded polyproylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900Hz. On the other hand, the ES20 features a 1" Terylene Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Mission 770 has a frequency range of 42-20,000 Hz whereas ES20 has a frequency range of 41-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the ES20 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
Mission 770 and ES20 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Mission 770 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the ES20's is at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Mission 770 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES20, 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.
Mission 770 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas ES20 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the Mission 770.
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
Mission 770 features 5-Way post type posts and ES20 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Mission 770's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Mission 770 has a Front firing port whereas ES20 has a rear 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 Mission 770's and Polk ES20's external dimensions. Mission 770 has external dimensions of 590 x 279.4 x 301mm ( 23-1/4inch x 11-13/16inch x 12-11/16inch ) whereas Polk ES20 has external dimensions of 375.0 x 218.0 x 351.0mm ( 14-3/4 x 8-9/16 x 13-13/16inch) .
Polk ES20 is 61.4mm narrower and 215mm shorter than Mission 770 but it is also 50mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Mission 770 and Polk ES20 in scale.
Comparison image of Mission 770 and Polk ES20 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 Mission 770 is approximately 841.0cm2 / 130.4inch2 and base area of the Polk ES20 is approximately 765.2cm2 / 118.6inch2. The Mission 770 requires 10% more surface area than the ES20 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 770 weighs 27.20kg / 59.8lbs and the Polk ES20 weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs. This makes the Mission 770 252% heavier than the ES20.
Here is a comparison of how Mission 770 and ES20'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 are included inside the box of 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
What's in the Box of Polk ES20?
Here are the items that come with the ES20:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grille (attached)8 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualOnline Product Registration
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
375mm
vs
590mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
765cm2
vs
841cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
5000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Mission 770 |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES20 |
| Brand |
Mission |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
42-20,000 Hz |
41-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
mineral-loaded polyproylene |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
low-density nitrile |
Butyl rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.25" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2900Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
Front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
590.0mm (23.2") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
279.4mm (11") |
218.0mm (8.6") |
| Depth |
301.0mm (11.9") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
27.20kg (59.8lbs) |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, particle board, wood |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut,Black Oak |
Black,White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
22-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 years |
5 Years |