In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Mission. Mission QX-1 MKII is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the QX-3 MKII is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Mission QX-1 MKII and Mission QX-3 MKII first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Mission QX-1 MKII Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.5" Ring Dome Tweeter
- 5" Composite fibre Woofer
- 55-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-100watts
- Weight:6.20kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 11" x 7-11/16" x 10-1/4" ( 280.0 x 195.0 x 260.0mm )
Mission QX-3 MKII Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.5" Ring Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5" Composite fibre Woofer
- 42-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-120watts
- Weight:20.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 38-3/16" x 7-11/16" x 12-3/16" ( 970.0 x 195.0 x 310.0mm )
QX-1 MKII and QX-3 MKII are members of Mission's QX MKII series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Mission QX MKII Series
History
What size room are the Mission QX-1 MKII and Mission QX-3 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 QX-1 MKII |
Mission QX-3 MKII |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Mission QX-1 MKII and Mission QX-3 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 QX-1 MKII and QX-3 MKII are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Mission QX-1 MKII |
Mission QX-3 MKII |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.5-inch
|
1.5-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
2 x 5-inch
|
QX-1 MKII features a 1.5" Textile Ring Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Composite fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.4kHz. On the other hand, the QX-3 MKII features a 1.5" Textile Ring Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Composite fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.0kHz.
Frequency Response
QX-1 MKII has a frequency range of 55-24k Hz whereas QX-3 MKII has a frequency range of 42-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the QX-3 MKII can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the QX-1 MKII's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
QX-1 MKII and QX-3 MKII have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. QX-1 MKII sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the QX-3 MKII's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Mission QX-3 MKII a more sensitive speaker compared to Mission QX-1 MKII, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the QX-1 MKII and the QX-1 MKII can provide this impedance level.
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.
QX-1 MKII can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas QX-1 MKII has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the QX-3 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
QX-1 MKII features Binding post type posts and QX-3 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 QX-1 MKII's and Mission QX-3 MKII's external dimensions. Mission QX-1 MKII has external dimensions of 280.0 x 195.0 x 260.0mm ( 11 x 7-11/16 x 10-1/4inch) whereas Mission QX-3 MKII has external dimensions of 970.0 x 195.0 x 310.0mm ( 38-3/16 x 7-11/16 x 12-3/16inch) .
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 QX-1 MKII is approximately 507.0cm2 / 78.6inch2 and base area of the Mission QX-3 MKII is approximately 604.5cm2 / 93.7inch2. The QX-1 MKII requires 16% less surface area than the QX-3 MKII which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.