Полочная акустика — Mission QX-1 MKII

The QX-1 MKII is the smaller of the two standmount models in the QX MKII range from Mission, the British brand owned by IAG. The series went on sale in September 2021 with six passive models and one active subwoofer, and the QX-1 MKII opened it at GBP 299 per pair, below the QX-2 MKII. Development was based on long listening sessions led by acoustic director Peter Comeau, combined with computer-aided optimisation, crossover modelling and laser interferometry, and the brief was to evolve the earlier QX line rather than replace it.

Key specs that matter

A 135 mm long fibre composite cone hands over to a 38 mm textile ring dome tweeter at 2.4 kHz in a bass reflex enclosure. Response is quoted as 55 Hz to 24 kHz within 3 dB, with the -6 dB point at 48 Hz. Mission rates sensitivity at 87 dB for 2.0 V at 1 m, a peak SPL of 95 dB and a nominal 4 ohm impedance that it also calls 8 ohm compatible, with a minimum of 3.9 ohm. The enclosure holds 8.1 litres and measures 280 mm high on its plinth, 195 mm wide and 250 mm deep plus 10 mm for the terminals. Each speaker weighs 6.2 kg, and it comes in walnut veneer or in black oak and white matte surfaces.

Engineering and use context

As in earlier Mission designs, Inverted Driver Geometry places the tweeter below the mid/bass unit to equalise the path length of the two drivers at seated head height. The DiaDrive woofer cone is a seam-free curvilinear piece of fibre composite with acrylic fibres for stiffness, without a separate dust cap, which improves the contact between voice coil and diaphragm. The woven tweeter dome is held fixed at its middle and the voice coil drives it part way down, forming two rings, while a visible phase plug prevents high-frequency waves from cancelling across the centre axis. A twin rear cavity behind the dome is designed not to reflect energy back. Driver surrounds carry serrations developed through air-flow analysis to scatter reflections, the reflex port is slot shaped with serrated flares, and aluminium plates at top and bottom add mass and rigidity to the cabinet.

Pairing

Mission recommends 25 to 100 W of amplifier power. The low impedance minimum and modest efficiency favour a transistor integrated amplifier with good current delivery over a very low-powered design, and the compact cabinet suits stands or a shelf in a smaller room.

Alternatives

Mission also offers the QX-2 MKII as the bigger standmount in this line, with a 165 mm woofer in a 13.5 litre cabinet.