Mission 751 V. Wharfedale Diamond 9.1

[matthewpiano]

Today I decided to play around a bit. I've been loving the NAD/Wharfedale combination for its soundstaging and sheer musicality but at times I've felt there has been an edge missing from the music. Consequently, I thought I'd try my Mission 751s in place of the Diamonds, having never heard them with the NAD amp.

All I can say is the Missions are in a different class. They take all the things the Wharfedales are good at and build on them considerably, with a level of definition that the newer speakers just can't provide. There is a greater sense of realness to the sound and an infectious handling of rhythm which is aided by the tighter and more defined bass. The treble sparkles that bit more without ever veering towards harshness and the Missions reveal details that the Wharfedales gloss over. Perhaps most impressive of all, however, is the way in which the Missions convey information about the acoustic in which the recording took place. The sense of atmosphere is palpable and helps to make the NAD electronics sound more involving than ever.

Strangely, I'd only really heard the Missions driven by the A400 before and thought they sounded a bit thin and confused. Driving them with the NAD just shows what superb little speakers they really are.

 

[Anonymous]

now try your kit with an old pair of IMF speakers (TLS50 or TLS80) ... you may be amazed ... here are a pair of 50's for cheap (4 way transmission design) ... cabinets need work which may cost you less than £20

 

[Frank Harvey]

matthewpiano:Consequently, I thought I'd try my Mission 751s in place of the Diamonds, having never heard them with the NAD amp. All I can say is the Missions are in a different class. They take all the things the Wharfedales are good at and build on them considerably, with a level of definition that the newer speakers just can't provide. There is a greater sense of realness to the sound and an infectious handling of rhythm which is aided by the tighter and more defined bass. The treble sparkles that bit more without ever veering towards harshness and the Missions reveal details that the Wharfedales gloss over.

To be fair, the 9.1's were about £150/170 when current, and the 751's, if I recall correctly, were around £350. Their build quality is far superior to that of the 9.1's, which goes a long way to their more accurate sound. To get a speaker built like the 751's now you're probably looking nearer the £1k mark, although speakers nowadays seem to drop a little build quality in favour of better drivers at certain price points.

Perhaps most impressive of all, however, is the way in which the Missions convey information about the acoustic in which the recording took place. The sense of atmosphere is palpable and helps to make the NAD electronics sound more involving than ever.

This more than likely down to their very well built and quite dense cabinet. Any speakers that have a more resonant, flimsier cabinet tend to gloss over those details, which in the 9.1's case is understandable given their price point. Solid cabinets are able to let the driver do what it's supposed to do, without adding anything.

Strangely, I'd only really heard the Missions driven by the A400 before and thought they sounded a bit thin and confused. Driving them with the NAD just shows what superb little speakers they really are.

Mission speakers have always been a bit thin sounding on neutral amplification, they've always preferred amplification like NAD/MF/Arcam etc to bring the bass out of them and make them sound like they have a bit of warmth.

 

[matthewpiano]

Interesting points there David. Thank you. This is all your fault actually (in a good way). I read your comment in another post about NAD amps and decided to have a play to see whether I could achieve a bit more edge by trying different speakers.

Out of interest, I still have an A400 tucked away, and some Quad 11Ls. Just for fun I might try them with the NAD CD as source.

 

[the record spot]

Yeah, and you can blame me for the 751s!

To be fair, for the money in their day (think they were £300 when I bought my pair - not sure if you had to be an extra bit for the rosewood finish, hence the £350 David suggested), they were stunning. They were delightful, terrific with Marantz and Arcam of the day, very similar to the 752 I have (same lineage, designer, etc) and for a £100 or so, you get a brilliant speaker.

No disrespect to the 9.1 but I'm not surprised you found as you did.

 

[d_a_n1979]

Good little speakers the Missions; as said above it's not a surprise they've ousted the Wharfedals a bit!

 

[Pete Shields]

Here we go again!

Been seriously considering upgrading my immaculate rosewood 751's for a set of EB acoustic EB1's, or something better for some time (so much so that I've a letter published in the mag regarding a change)

Even talked the wife around to it. Only serious house renovations preventing the purchase for now.

What worries me again is will I notice a considerable improvement bearing in mind the £1,000 at today's prices comment?

I'd harp back to a comment I made several months ago. It would be nice to see a new vs old kit comparision in the magazine. Would make good reading...

 

[matengawhat]

they were a really good little speaker - but sorry think the £1000 remark is a throw away comment or we would all just be picking up ebay bargains

 

[Messiah]

I think Dave was referring to the build quality.

The Missions are certainly not as good as a current £1000 speaker.....

 

[matthewpiano]

Pete Shields:
Here we go again!

Been seriously considering upgrading my immaculate rosewood 751's for a set of EB acoustic EB1's, or something better for some time (so much so that I've a letter published in the mag regarding a change)

Even talked the wife around to it. Only serious house renovations preventing the purchase for now.

What worries me again is will I notice a considerable improvement bearing in mind the £1,000 at today's prices comment?

I'd harp back to a comment I made several months ago. It would be nice to see a new vs old kit comparision in the magazine. Would make good reading...

With the EB 'try at home' promise what is there to lose?

If I understood correctly David wasn't suggesting that the Missions couldn't be beaten for under £1k in terms of sound. It was more a comment on the build quality than anything.

 

[matengawhat]

sorry - just re read that and think you're right - they did used to make some good looking boxes - owned a good number of mission speakers going back 15 years - shame they have faultered more recently although build quality and style has been pretty good sonically not been great

 

[Sliced Bread]

Interesting thread.

Has anyone out there compared the 751 and 780's before?

 

[dave_k]

the record spot:Yeah, and you can blame me for the 751s!

To be fair, for the money in their day (think they were £300 when I bought my pair - not sure if you had to be an extra bit for the rosewood finish, hence the £350 David suggested), they were stunning. They were delightful, terrific with Marantz and Arcam of the day, very similar to the 752 I have (same lineage, designer, etc) and for a £100 or so, you get a brilliant speaker. No disrespect to the 9.1 but I'm not surprised you found as you did.

With reference to the above comment regarding Mission being terrific with the Marantz and Arcam of the day, i've just bought a PM66SE KI Signature amp and a pair of mission 752 speakers. Is this actually quite a good set up? To me it sounds really good, but i've not much experience of listening to lots of combinations as many on here have.

 

[Dougal1331]

JohnNewman:Interesting thread.

Has anyone out there compared the 751 and 780's before?

Nope, but I recently picked up a pair of 781s and they sound way better than my 753s...

 

[Sliced Bread]

Dougal1331:
JohnNewman:Interesting thread.

Has anyone out there compared the 751 and 780's before?

Nope, but I recently picked up a pair of 781s and they sound way better than my 753s...

That is interesting.

I was looking at a speaker replacement (upgrade bug), but to me the cosmetics of the speaker is very important as it takes up so much space in the living room. For me nothing on the market for sensible money comes close in terms of cosmetics to the 78 series. Maybe the new Monitor Audio speakers but I didn't think they sounded as good.