In this review, we will be comparing LX-1 MKII and LX-2 MKII, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Mission
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Mission LX-1 MKII and Mission LX-2 MKII first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Mission LX-1 MKII Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Composite fibre Woofer
- 58-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-80watts
- Weight:4.13kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 10-1/4" x 6-5/16" x 8-3/16" ( 260.0 x 160.0 x 208.0mm )
Mission LX-2 MKII Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Composite fibre Woofer
- 55-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-100watts
- Weight:6.34kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 12" x 7-7/8" x 10-3/16" ( 305.0 x 200.0 x 258.0mm )
LX-1 MKII and LX-2 MKII are members of Mission's LX MKII series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Mission LX MKII Series
History
What size room are the Mission LX-1 MKII and Mission LX-2 MKII 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 LX-1 MKII |
Mission LX-2 MKII |
| Near-field |
Good |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
No way |
(* 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 LX-1 MKII and Mission LX-2 MKII 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 LX-1 MKII and LX-2 MKII are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Mission LX-1 MKII |
Mission LX-2 MKII |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
LX-1 MKII features a 1" Microfibre Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Composite fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.7kHz. On the other hand, the LX-2 MKII features a 1" Microfibre Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Composite fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3.2kHz.
Frequency Response
LX-1 MKII has a frequency range of 58-20k Hz whereas LX-2 MKII has a frequency range of 55-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the LX-2 MKII can go slightly deeper then the LX-1 MKII's min frequency of 58Hz.
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
LX-1 MKII and LX-2 MKII have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. LX-1 MKII sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the LX-2 MKII's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Mission LX-2 MKII a more sensitive speaker compared to Mission LX-1 MKII, 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.
LX-1 MKII can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS from the amp the whereas LX-1 MKII has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the LX-2 MKII.
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
LX-1 MKII features Binding post type posts and LX-2 MKII has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 LX-1 MKII's and Mission LX-2 MKII's external dimensions. Mission LX-1 MKII has external dimensions of 260.0 x 160.0 x 208.0mm ( 10-1/4 x 6-5/16 x 8-3/16inch) whereas Mission LX-2 MKII has external dimensions of 305.0 x 200.0 x 258.0mm ( 12 x 7-7/8 x 10-3/16inch) .
Mission LX-2 MKII is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 40mm wider, 45mm taller and 50mm deeper than Mission LX-1 MKII.
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 LX-1 MKII is approximately 332.8cm2 / 51.6inch2 and base area of the Mission LX-2 MKII is approximately 516.0cm2 / 80.0inch2. The LX-1 MKII requires 36% less surface area than the LX-2 MKII which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.