Compact Mission Center Channel M2S **Reduced**

Farad Azima, who Stereophile says had been a UK pro-audio importer, founded Mission in England in 1977. Its first range was three speakers, the 710, 720 and 730, and the 770 followed in 1978. His brother Henry took on a design role from 1979.

The 700 and Cyrus. The original 700 of 1980 put its tweeter below the mid/bass driver, and What Hi-Fi calls it one of the first speakers to do so. In the mid 1980s Mission's engineers developed its first CD player and the Cyrus amplifiers, and Cyrus later became a separate company.

New owners. In the 1990s Mission was part of the listed Verity Group, alongside Quad and Wharfedale. Its directors bought it back in 2000, with design staying in Britain while manufacturing moved to Asia, and in 2005 International Audio Group (IAG) bought the business and the brand.

Today. IAG runs Mission from Huntingdon, England. It reissued the 770 in 2022, made in the UK, followed it with a re-engineered 700, and returned to amplifiers with the 778X.

The first speakers (1977 to 1980): the 710, 720 and 730, the 770 of 1978 and the original 700 of 1980.

The 7-series families (1980s to 1990s): such as the 70x MkII, the 73x (including the 731 and 731i of the mid 1990s) and the 75x.

m70 series (2001): the m71, m72, m73 and m74, the m7c1 centre and the m7ds surround.

m3 series (2004): the m30 to m35, the m3c1 and m3c2 centres and the m3ds surround.

Elan, MS and MX (2006 to 2010): the Elan e-series, such as the e34 tower, the MS subwoofers such as the MS-8, and the MX series of 2010.

Today: the QX, LX and ZX ranges, and the 770 and 700 reissues.

Driver layout. The 700, the m71 and the MX-1 and MX-2 put the tweeter below the mid/bass driver on purpose, so don't flip them on their stands.

Surrounds on early models. Owners report rotted foam surrounds on 1970s and 1980s Missions such as the 700, 720 and 730. Inspect every surround and budget for re-foaming.

Tweeters. Check that both tweeters play and match. Original tweeters for the 75x series are no longer made, and substitutes need adapting.

Original 700 grilles. Owners report that the grille is not removable, so don't try to pry it off.

Powered subwoofers. Owners and repairers report failed capacitors and loud hum on MS8 amplifier boards. Play any Mission sub at volume, and listen for hum with nothing playing.

Everything we list is inspected, tested and serviced as required here, and comes with our warranty.