In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by Mission. Mission ZX-C1 is a Center Channel speaker whereas the ZX-3 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Mission ZX-C1 and Mission ZX-3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Mission ZX-C1 | Mission ZX-3 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.5" Ring Dome | 1.5" Ring Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Aluminium | 5.25" Aluminium |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-24k Hz | 42-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.60kg / 27.7lbs | 20.40kg / 44.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-1/16" x 23-5/8" x 12-5/16"
180.0 x 600.0 x 312.0mm | 40-3/8" x 9-7/16" x 14-1/4"
1025.0 x 240.0 x 362.0mm |
|---|
ZX-C1 and ZX-3 are members of Mission's ZX series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Mission ZX Series
History
What size room are the Mission ZX-C1 and Mission ZX-3 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 ZX-C1 |
Mission ZX-3 |
| 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both ZX-C1 and ZX-3 are 2-way speakers.
Mission ZX-C1Mission ZX-3
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 ZX-C1 |
Mission ZX-3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.5-inch
|
1.5-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
ZX-C1 features a 1.5" Silk Ring Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Aluminium Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.5kHz. On the other hand, the ZX-3 features a 1.5" Silk Ring Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminium Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.4kHz.
Frequency Response
ZX-C1 has a frequency range of 48-24k Hz whereas ZX-3 has a frequency range of 42-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the ZX-3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ZX-C1'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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
ZX-C1 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the ZX-3 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 ZX-3 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. ZX-C1 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the ZX-3's is rated at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Mission ZX-3 a more sensitive speaker compared to Mission ZX-C1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
ZX-C1 and ZX-3 have the same power range of 25-150 watts.
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
ZX-C1 features Binding post type posts and ZX-3 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/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 ZX-C1's and Mission ZX-3's external dimensions. Mission ZX-C1 has external dimensions of 180.0 x 600.0 x 312.0mm (7-1/16 x 23-5/8 x 12-5/16inch) whereas Mission ZX-3 has external dimensions of 1025.0 x 240.0 x 362.0mm (40-3/8 x 9-7/16 x 14-1/4inch).
Mission ZX-C1 is 845mm shorter and 50mm less deeper than Mission ZX-3 but it is also 360mm wider.
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 ZX-C1 is approximately 1872.0cm2 / 290.2inch2 and base area of the Mission ZX-3 is approximately 868.8cm2 / 134.7inch2. The ZX-C1 requires 115% more surface area than the ZX-3 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.