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Hi guys just bagged myself a mint pair of Mission 780se:eyebrows:. I had a pair along time ago when they came out but not heard them for years. Anyway I've always wanted another set so today I went for it. I'm not expecting them to sound as good as my neats but just wondered if anyone has a pair and what they think to them 20yrs or so on:)
Sorry to the admin but I think I might have put this in the wrong section.
Sorry
Jason.
The boxes look nice, paper veneer and all. You MUST listen to them either looking at the top (so set slightly low), or if they're high, try 'em upside down ;)
Covenant
03-04-2013, 19:50
I use a second hand pair on my computer Jason. Surprisingly good, amazing bass. Are you sorted for cable 'cos I know just the one....
I had a pair for sale on here, but they haven't gone and I have been using them lately. Stonking performance for their size, especially with 200w monoblocks up their jacksie:D and yea they really do bass.
Covenant
04-04-2013, 11:29
The boxes look nice, paper veneer and all. You MUST listen to them either looking at the top (so set slightly low), or if they're high, try 'em upside down ;)
I do find it odd that the tweeter is at the bottom. Mine are on low Aticama stands, just tried turning them upside down but I think the treble is a bit dominant that way so I will stick 'em back the way they are intended to be.
Thanks for the input guys, they should be here buy the weekend :) I'm also thinking of rewiring them too, I've done this with many speakers in the past and its always made a big differance. I'll add some pics soon as they arrive I think they'l look great on my partington stands :)
Thanks for the input guys, they should be here buy the weekend :) I'm also thinking of rewiring them too, I've done this with many speakers in the past and its always made a big differance. I'll add some pics soon as they arrive I think they'l look great on my partington stands :)
Definitely replace the brass jumper bars with something copper-based, like a length of the speaker cable that you're using.
I do find it odd that the tweeter is at the bottom. Mine are on low Aticama stands, just tried turning them upside down but I think the treble is a bit dominant that way so I will stick 'em back the way they are intended to be.
That's why I said to look down on them slightly :lol: Crossover design back then was minimal in the extreme I remember.
After twenty years of varied use, the treble may be tolerable by now :)
200W sorts out the bass? Careful you don't melt 'em ;)
Covenant
05-04-2013, 14:31
That's why I said to look down on them slightly :lol: Crossover design back then was minimal in the extreme I remember.
After twenty years of varied use, the treble may be tolerable by now :)
200W sorts out the bass? Careful you don't melt 'em ;)
The treble is not bad at all Dave, I just tried them upside down to hear the difference. I think I read that the SE had a better crossover than the standard, any upgrades possible?
Please post the results of the re-cabling Jason. Might try that myself. :)
Re-cabling might make you feel better but please do remember the cheap drive units used and the considerable distortion they add, as all speaker drivers do, even the best ones...
Mission usually used electrolytic caps in their crossovers, but I can't remember what went into the 780SE's. I thuoght it was deluxe finishes, but may be completely off track here since it's so long ago - and memories of our sales director's free skiing holiodays (if we sold enough Cyrus) still haunt me...
Covenant
05-04-2013, 15:20
Oh dear Dave, it's obvious that you don't like them despite most other people on this forum enjoying them for what they are. I bought them for a pittance just to replace computer speakers and I have not been disappointed, quite the reverse. No one is suggesting they have any significant sonic ability, they are just a fun listen.
Hi guy's thanks for the replies;) They arrived today and look mint I'll let you know how they sound over the weekend:)
Oh dear Dave, No one is suggesting they have any significant sonic ability, they are just a fun listen.
:lol:
Apologies... Hopefully you lot should know me by now.. Maybe I just have this thing about wee small boxes. I come from the time when Ditton 15's were miniature boxes and 1960's Goodmans Maxims were sub-miniature novelties :) The midrange of the 780SE was alright though and they did look good - perfect tonal balance for a desktop speaker I should imagine. I just couldn't get on with the treble, something that afflicted many of Mission speakers' tone over the years.
Covenant
05-04-2013, 17:42
No apology needed Dave. Just out of interest, did you ever find a small speaker you liked with a decent treble?
All versions of the Harbeth P3's are sublime in the treble and the current ESR model is so sweet toned, but never slushy with it. You know, the Wharfedale Diamonds Alex, Dave and I have been getting gooey over also have a well balanced tweeter, which, metal dome or not, never intrudes to my ears. Small Celestions used to be good as well and if memory serves, the Cyris 751's with later tweeters were better as well. They did a series with profiled silver coloured baffles around ten years ago which WTF hated, couldn't sell and these were quickly replaced with one with a wooden finished curvy baffle, which were really good as I recall. I left the industry shortly after and have no idea what happened to Mission or even if they survive (I lead a sheltered life since hifi dave never stocked them ;))
Well had the 780se's on all weekend I have to say they sound great:). I have them on my partington dreadnoughts half filled the stands are stood on thick granite too. I'm using a Sugden A21a series 2 and my ipod and there playing Miles Davis very well. I will have to try some better positioning next weekend. I'm thinking of putting some of the shot I have left over from my stands in the bottom of each speaker for weight in like a cloth bag. Anyone any thoughts on this as to whether it would make any significant difference?
The Grand Wazoo
07-04-2013, 14:17
Well, it will change the internal volume of the speaker for a start, so yes, it's likely to have an effect - how much will depend on how much volume you effectively remove, I should think!
Covenant
07-04-2013, 14:37
Personally, I don't think it's a good idea, the internal volume will be carefully calculated.
BUT-this cable works well and IMHO improves the bass:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300609273923?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
It's so cheap it's worth trying!
realysm42
07-04-2013, 14:44
Well had the 780se's on all weekend I have to say they sound great:). I have them on my partington dreadnoughts half filled the stands are stood on thick granite too. I'm using a Sugden A21a series 2 and my ipod and there playing Miles Davis very well. I will have to try some better positioning next weekend. I'm thinking of putting some of the shot I have left over from my stands in the bottom of each speaker for weight in like a cloth bag. Anyone any thoughts on this as to whether it would make any significant difference?
I never enjoyed such lovely speaker stands as you but I found my Atacamas responded differently,depending on what I filled them with.
3/4 with kiln dried sand gave a nice sound, I 'upgraded' to lead shot and overdid it whilst experimenting, 3/4 with that turned everything into a dull thud, so going to about 1/4,full with it really improved the speakers sound, especially with bass control.
If a speaker hasn't got compartments to add ballast, I wouldn't go filling them with material; instead I'd concentrate on making them connect properly with the stands (removing the gel pads on my Atacamas improved the detail retrieval of my speakers a great deal).
In the end I used that spray on rubber stuff (on the stands),which gave the speakers some grip.
Hi guys thanks for the tips that's great ;)
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