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  1. Home
  2. Mission Speakers
  3. Passive Bookshelf Speakers
  4. Mission ZX-S
Mission ZX-S Review
Mission ZX-S - Front View

Compare To

Main Features

  • 1.5" Ring Dome Tweeter
  • 2 x 5.25" Aluminium Woofer
  • 120-24k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range: 25-150 watts
  • Weight: 18.96 lbs / 8.60 kg
  • Dimensions(HxWxD): 11-1/4"x13-3/16"x7-5/16" / 285.0 x 335.0 x 185.0mm
MSRP: $899 (list price)
Check price atAmazon›
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Mission ZX-S Review
Mission ZX-S Mission ZX-S
Check price atAmazon›

Made by Mission · United Kingdom · since 1977 · sold through dealers

Mission ZX-S is a 2-way Passive Acoustic Suspension Bookshelf speaker by Mission. It was released in November 2019. It features a 1.5" Ring Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Aluminium Woofer.

A 2-way sealed standmount with 2 x 5.25 inch aluminium bass drivers and a 1.5 inch ring dome treble unit. 88 dB sensitive, 8 ohms nominal (4.3 ohms minimum), 120 Hz to 24 kHz. ZX is Mission's flagship range: aluminium cones, a 38 mm ring-dome treble unit whose centre is fixed so the voice coil drives two rings rather than one dome, and the Inverted Driver Geometry that puts the treble unit below the bass/mid.

The speaker has a frequency range of 120-24k Hz and a sensitivity of 88 dB. Mission ZX-S has an MSRP of 899$ per pair.

Room Size Suitability

The size of the room where you plan to use the Mission ZX-S is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:

Listening Environment* Suitability
Near-fieldGood
Small RoomGood
Mid-size RoomAverage
Large RoomPoor
Very Large RoomNo 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.)

Mission's ZX Series of Loudspeakers

ZX-S is a member of Mission's ZX series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.

See all 8 Mission ZX models compared »

Mission ZX Series Speakers
Model Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
Mission ZX-5
Compare
36-24k Hz 91 dB4Ω 2 x 6.5"
Mission ZX-1
Compare
52-24k Hz 88 dB8Ω 1 x 5.25"
Mission ZX-3
Compare
42-24k Hz 90 dB4Ω 1 x 5.25"
Mission ZX-2
Compare
45-24k Hz 89 dB8Ω 1 x 5.25"
Mission ZX-4
Compare
40-24k Hz 90 dB4Ω 2 x 5.25"
Mission ZX-C1
Compare
48-24k Hz 89 dB8Ω 2 x 5.25"
Mission ZX-C2
Compare
48-24k Hz 90 dB8Ω 4 x 5.25"
Mission ZX-S
120-24k Hz 88 dB8Ω 2 x 5.25"

Frequency Response of the Mission ZX-S Speaker

Mission ZX-S has a Frequency response range of 120-24k Hz and Power Range of 25-150 watts. With a minimum frequency of 120 Hz, it is hard to expect a strong bass response from ZX-S so depending on your use case, using a subwoofer will significantly help to widen the response range.

Here we have a comparison of how ZX-S's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Mission ZX-S
Min
Average
Median
Thinking about a subwoofer for the Mission ZX-S?
  • Work out the crossover setting - it follows from this speaker's 120 Hz low end
  • Powered subwoofers under $1,000 - a similar price range to these speakers
  • Every powered subwoofer we cover, whatever the budget

Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 1000$ (Pair), these are the 5 Passive Bookshelf speakers that have the deeper bass levels than the Mission ZX-S's 120Hz:

  • B&W 607 S2 with Low Frequency of 52 Hz (Compare w/ ZX-S)
  • B&W 606 S2 with Low Frequency of 52 Hz (Compare w/ ZX-S)
  • B&W 607 S3 with Low Frequency of 52 Hz (Compare w/ ZX-S)
  • Wharfedale EVO5.1 with Low Frequency of 56 Hz (Compare w/ ZX-S)
  • Wharfedale EVO4.1 with Low Frequency of 64 Hz (Compare w/ ZX-S)

Crossover frequency of the Mission ZX-S?

The crossover frequency of the ZX-S is set to 2.7kHz. This is the threshold frequency where the higher frequency signals over this level are sent to the tweeter and the lower-frequency signals are sent to the woofer by the crossover component.

Mission ZX-S driver frequency bands120-2.7kWoofer 5.25"2.7k-24kTweeter 1.5"20501002005001k2k5k10k20k40kHz, log scale

Impedance and Sensitivity

Mission ZX-S's nominal impedance level is 8 ohms but can go down to as low as 4.3 ohms, and has a sensitivity of 88 dB.

Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Mission ZX-S
Min
Average
Median

8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Mission ZX-S is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.

Sensitivity

88dB of the Mission ZX-S is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise. Work out how loud the Mission ZX-S plays in your room →

Minimum Impedance of the Mission ZX-S

Even though the nominal impedance of the ZX-S is 8 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to Mission is 4.3 ohms Mission ZX-S so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.

What amplifier does the Mission ZX-S need?

At normal listening levels in a medium room, about 12–150 W per channel into 8 ohms. Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.

We check power, impedance safety and current delivery - not just watts.

Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $1,000, or every amplifier we cover.

Input Type

ZX-S has Binding post type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can enhance the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by using separate speaker wires for the low and high-frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping, on the other hand, involves using separate amplifiers for the high and low-frequency drivers, potentially resulting in a greater dynamic range and reduced distortion.

Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →

Mission ZX-S External Dimensions and Weight

Mission ZX-S has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 11-1/4 x 13-3/16 x 7-5/16inch (285.0 x 335.0 x 185.0mm ).

Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited. The base area of Mission ZX-S is approximately 619.8cm2 / 96.1inch2.

Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove →  ·  Work out where they should sit in the room →

Weight

The Mission ZX-S weighs 8.60kg / 18.9lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how ZX-S's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Mission ZX-S
Min
Average
Median
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $1000
Mission ZX-S
Min
Average
Max

Cabinet type and Materials

Mission ZX-S has a Acoustic Suspension type cabinet. Acoustic Suspension loudspeakers aka Sealed speakers have no openings such as ports or slots.. They can be designed smaller, the bass is more accurate and tighter compared to ported designs but doesn't go as low on the lower end in general.

Wall Mounting

ZX-S doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.

Does the Mission ZX-S come with a Grille?

ZX-S comes with grilles. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible.

Recommended Accessories

Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Mission ZX-S.

  • Speaker Cable and Connectors
    • Speaker Cables with Banana Plugs: If you know the lenght of the cable you need, this is the easier option to connect your speakers with your amp.
    • Speaker Cables without Connectors: If you are not sure about the lenght or need longer than standard cables with plugs, choose this option.
    • Banana Connectors and Plugs: If you chose the cables without connectors option or already have some cable around, pick the banana plugs separately.
  • Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find more affordable options too.
  • Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
  • Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.

Official Product Page

Official manufacturer's product page for the Mission ZX-S speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Mission ZX-S

Mission ZX-S Alternatives in Passive Bookshelf Speakers
Model Type Sensitivity Impedance Frequency
Mission ZX-1
Compare
2-way 88 dB 8 ohms 52-24k Hz
Mission ZX-2
Compare
2-way 89 dB 8 ohms 45-24k Hz
Mission ZX-4
Compare
3-way 90 dB 4 ohms 40-24k Hz
Mission ZX-C1
Compare
2-way 89 dB 8 ohms 48-24k Hz
Mission ZX-5
Compare
3-way 91 dB 4 ohms 36-24k Hz
Mission ZX-3
Compare
2-way 90 dB 4 ohms 42-24k Hz
Mission ZX-C2
Compare
3-way 90 dB 8 ohms 48-24k Hz
B&W 607 S2
Compare
2-way 84 dB 8 ohms 52-28k Hz
Frequently Asked Questions about Mission ZX-S

What amplifier do you need for the Mission ZX-S?

Mission rates the Mission ZX-S for 25-150 watts of amplifier power. It is an 8-ohm speaker, the usual nominal load, so almost any amplifier or receiver can drive it.

Is the Mission ZX-S easy to drive?

The Mission ZX-S has a sensitivity of 88 dB. That is about average for a home speaker, so it is neither hard nor especially easy to drive.

Does the Mission ZX-S need a subwoofer?

The Mission ZX-S reaches down to 120Hz (full range 120-24k Hz). That leaves the lowest octaves out, so a subwoofer will make a clear difference for films and bass-heavy music.

What drivers does the Mission ZX-S use?

The Mission ZX-S is a 2-way design using a 1.5" Ring Dome tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Aluminium woofers.

Is the Mission ZX-S sealed or ported?

The Mission ZX-S uses a Sealed enclosure. A sealed box trades some output for tighter, more even bass and is the more forgiving choice close to a wall.

Can the Mission ZX-S be bi-wired or bi-amped?

Yes. The Mission ZX-S has two sets of terminals, so it can be bi-wired or bi-amped: bi-wiring runs separate cable to the treble and bass sections, bi-amping gives each its own amplifier channel. It uses Binding post terminals.

Does the Mission ZX-S come with grilles?

Yes. The Mission ZX-S comes with removable grilles.

How big and heavy is the Mission ZX-S?

The Mission ZX-S weighs 8.60kg / 18.9lbs each and measures 11-1/4 x 13-3/16 x 7-5/16inch (HxWxD).

How much does the Mission ZX-S cost?

The Mission ZX-S has a manufacturer's list price (MSRP) of $899 per pair.


Mission ZX-S Detailed Specifications

General
BrandMission
Full Model NameMission ZX-S
Speaker Type2-way Bookshelf
Power Range25-150 watts
Sensitivity88 dB
Impedance8 ohms
Max SPL109 dB
Frequency Response120-24k Hz
Release DateNovember 2019
DRIVERS
Woofer Size5.25-inch
Woofer CompositionAluminium
Tweeter Size1.5-inch
Tweeter TypeRing Dome
Crossover freq2.7kHz

CONNECTIONS
Connector TypeBinding post
Biamp InputsYes
PHYSICAL SPECS
Height285.0mm ( 11-1/4-inch)
Width335.0mm ( 13-3/16-inch)
Depth185.0mm ( 7-5/16-inch)
Height285.0mm ( 11-1/4-inch)
Weight8.6 kg (19 lbs)
EnclosureAcoustic Suspension
GrilleYes
Moisture ResistanceNo
OTHER
Handheld RemoteNo
Parts Warranty
Labor Warranty
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