In this review, we will be comparing Mission 770 and Elysian 1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Mission and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Mission 770 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Mission 770 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 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 Mission 770 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 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
Both Mission 770 and Elysian 1 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Mission 770 |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25-inch
|
27x90mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 7-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 Elysian 1 features a 27x90mm" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 7" Coated Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Mission 770 has a frequency range of 42-20,000 Hz whereas Elysian 1 has a frequency range of 49-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Mission 770 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Elysian 1's min frequency of 49Hz.
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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Elysian 1 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 Elysian 1 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Mission 770 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Elysian 1's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Elysian 1 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.
Mission 770 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Elysian 1 has a max power handling value of 175 watts RMS, 25 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
Elysian 1 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Mission 770 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Mission 770's Post terminals
Wharfedale Elysian 1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Mission 770 has a Front firing port whereas Elysian 1 has a bottom 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 Wharfedale Elysian 1'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 Wharfedale Elysian 1 has external dimensions of 458.0 x 264.0 x 316.0mm ( 18-24 x 10-3/8 x 12-7/16inch) .
Wharfedale Elysian 1 is 15.4mm narrower and 132mm shorter than Mission 770 but it is also 15mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Mission 770 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 in scale.
Comparison image of Mission 770 and Wharfedale Elysian 1 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 Wharfedale Elysian 1 is approximately 834.2cm2 / 129.3inch2. The Mission 770 requires 1% more surface area than the Elysian 1 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 Wharfedale Elysian 1 weighs 15.03kg / 33.1lbs. This makes the Mission 770 81% heavier than the Elysian 1.
Here is a comparison of how Mission 770 and Elysian 1'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 Wharfedale Elysian 1?
Here are the items that come with the Elysian 1:
2 Stand-mount loudspeakers2 Grilles4 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)User Manual
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
175 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
3.8 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
7 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
49 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
458mm
vs
590mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
834cm2 (264x316mm)
vs
841cm2 (279x301mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4995USD
vs
5000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Mission 770 |
Wharfedale Elysian 1 |
| Brand |
Mission |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
25-175 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-20,000 Hz |
49-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
mineral-loaded polyproylene |
Coated Fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
low-density nitrile |
Foamed Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.25" |
27x90mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2900Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
Front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
590.0mm (23.2") |
458.0mm (18") |
| Width |
279.4mm (11") |
264.0mm (10.4") |
| Depth |
301.0mm (11.9") |
316.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
27.20kg (59.8lbs) |
15.03kg (33.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, particle board, wood |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut,Black Oak |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
18-24" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 years |
5 Years |