Floorstanding loudspeakers — Mission ZX-5

The ZX-5 is the senior floorstanding loudspeaker in Mission's ZX Series, the range Mission calls the most technologically advanced in its current catalogue. The ZX models have their own industrial design and follow Mission's principle that music leads and technology follows.

Key specs that matter

Rated response is 36Hz to 24kHz within plus or minus 3dB, with bass extension to 30Hz at -6dB. Sensitivity is 91dB at 2.0V/1m, the recommended amplifier power is 30-200W, and peak SPL reaches 114dB. Impedance is 4 ohms nominal, with 8 ohm compatibility and a minimum of 3.4 ohms. The three-way vented layout divides the signal at 570Hz and 2.5kHz. Two 6.5-inch (165mm) aluminium-cone bass drivers and two 5.25-inch (130mm) aluminium-cone DiaDrive midrange units work with a 1.5-inch (38mm) ring dome tweeter, and the cabinet vents through a rear slot port. Each speaker measures 1155 x 265 x 400+12mm and weighs 31.2kg. Gloss White is offered as well as Gloss Black.

Engineering and use context

The bass and midrange drivers use oversize magnet systems, and Mission developed special bracing methods so the bass diaphragms follow the signal waveform accurately. With the tweeter mounted under the midrange units, Inverted Driver Geometry makes the acoustic path lengths equal between the treble and bass/midrange drivers. Peter Comeau, who heads acoustic design at IAG, worked on driver integration so that the speaker behaves as a single coherent system. Mission says the geometry also gives a wider listening area, which suits larger rooms and varied seating positions.

Pairing

Any amplifier within the recommended power range can drive the ZX-5, provided it is specified for 4 ohm loads.

Alternatives

Mission's ZX-4 sits below this model in the same ZX Series and uses two 5.25-inch DiaDrive bass drivers instead of the larger 6.5-inch woofers, for rooms that do not need the ZX-5's scale.