Are Mission subwoofers good? (buy or avoid?)
For many audiophiles, no ride is complete without a good subwoofer in the back seat, enhancing your favorite songs’ bass. While Kicker and JL are relative household names, not many know about Mission subwoofers. So the question comes in: are Mission subwoofers worth giving a try?
Mission subwoofers have an efficient and versatile design. They integrate well with speakers, with top-notch performance and sound quality. Typically presenting a 35Hz to 120Hz frequency range, these subs have an impressive response, thanks to being fitted with a robust Class D amplifier and a long-throw bass driver. That said, customers have complained of an irritating “pop” sound when Mission subwoofers automatically shut off upon signal loss.
Clearly, there is a lot to know about Mission subwoofers. What range of power can you expect from them? What is their frequency range? Are they expensive? And lastly, do Mission subwoofers come with a warranty cover?
Read on to find our thoroughly-researched answers to these questions.
Who produces Mission Subwoofers, and where?
Mission Electronics originally owned Mission Subwoofers. The former was founded by Farad Azima, with Mission Electronics quickly establishing itself as a force to reckon with in the European acoustic engineering space.
In 2003, International Audio Group (IAG) acquired Mission subwoofers. By 2005, the bulk of production for Mission subwoofers was transferred to IAG’s factories in Shenzhen, China.
While material sourcing and production have been centralized in Asia, Mission subwoofers operate an extensive distribution network in the United Kingdom and globally.
Power
Power was one aspect where Mission subwoofers impressed us. The Mission MS-200 sub revealed how powerful Mission subs are.
This sub has a maximum power output of 450W. This can add a luxurious bass enhancement to your home stereo or your car.
Notably, the MS-200 is fitted with a balance-drive Class D amplifier. Compared to the more conventional class AB amplifiers, the former boasts superior efficiency.
Commonly, this means the MS-200 has a longer battery life, albeit with some distortion in the sound. This is especially if your MS-200 has to sync with repetitive bass.
The MS-200 also comes with an advanced developed long-throw bass driver. This greatly improved the sub’s response.
Indeed, this translates to higher output, making your listening experience more enjoyable.
Frequency range
Mission subwoofers have a frequency range of 35Hz to 150Hz. This is best seen in the Mission MS-200. This makes it more accommodating (easy to integrate) with your existing musical stack.
Sensitivity and versatility
Mission subwoofers are versatile. Most come with a low-pass filter slope facility. This is flexible, allowing you to modulate the frequency as high as 120Hz.
The sensitivity of Mission woofers is also worth commending. This manufacturer’s bulk of the subwoofers come with a custom LFE output, reduced level inputs, and output connecting facilities.
More specifically, the premium sensitivity of Mission subwoofers can be traced to the auto-power sensor.
With this instrument in place, Mission subwoofers can identify incident signals, regardless of how tiny they are.
Price
Price is understandably a critical aspect of choosing subwoofers. You want to hit that sweet spot between affordability and functionality.
Compared to the existing subwoofers with similar sophistication, Mission subwoofers are a bit on the high side in the speaker market. This is particularly when you consider cheaper brands like BIC America.
Generally, the Mission subs we saw had a price range of $250 to $600. As of the time of writing, the famed Mission MS-400 goes for around $450.
The Mission QX12 Black can set you back by $627, while the Mission LX-10SUB (Walnut) goes for $500.
Do Mission subwoofers have warranty cover?
In 2021, the customers saw Mission roll out an extended 3-year for its subwoofers. Specifically, any subwoofer purchased from Jan 1st, 2021, to date is protected by this warranty.
Mission subwoofers purchased before this period are not eligible for this policy.
This warranty covers registered Mission subwoofers against damages arising from manufacturing defects. As said, registration is a core requirement for eligibility for this warranty cover.
Can you register your subwoofer just anytime?
No. Mission requires you to register your subwoofer (purchased on or after Jan 1st, 2021) within 90 days after buying them.
The good news is that registration can be done remotely on the internet. Simply visit this dedicated Mission warranty registration page to register.
You will be required to present genuine evidence of subwoofer purchase, like model purchased, date of purchase, and the authorized dealer with which the purchase was transacted.
Mission representatives may request your original invoice (or purchase receipt) as further documentation to verify your warranty claims.
If you don’t register online within the stated interval, Mission only offers a limited 12-months warranty – depending on your country of residence.
Best Mission Subwoofers review
Mission has been in the speaker market for almost four decades. Within this window, they have rolled out a bevy of subwoofers.
Our team got our hands on some to test them out. We were particularly enchanted by two subwoofer models. These are the Mission MS-200 and ZX-12 Sub Subwoofer.
Let us talk about them.
MS-200 Sub
The MS-200 is an excellent addition to your existing stereo stack. Particularly, we loved the rich bass this subwoofer introduces, say to your home cinema setup.
This subwoofer had a peak output of 250W. So we couldn’t complain much.
A lot of this MS-200’s performance can be attributed to its amplifier and driver design. This model is fitted with class D power amplifiers.
We couldn’t ignore this sub’s frequency control system. Featuring a variable model, the MS-200 enjoys rare integration capacities.
Such a variable crossover frequency control facility goes a long way in ensuring your subwoofer blends in with the speakers you already have – delivering premium clarity and accuracy in sound.
The MS-200’s phase switch also contributes to this subwoofer’s compatibility with any amplifier or home cinema loudspeaker you choose.
One issue we commonly experience with subwoofers is poor room coupling. This makes sound distribution even more irritating at lower frequencies.
Therefore, we were relieved when we found the MS-200 girded with a forward-firing bass unit. This dramatically improved the low-frequency room coupling.
Ultimately, there was a more uniform and enjoyable sonic distribution through the space we used the subwoofer.
Lastly, on the positives, the speaker was easy to set up.
What didn’t we like about the MS-200?
Well, we feel Mission still has substantial work to do on the longevity of this subwoofer. Some users we came across complained about components falling off too quickly.
ZX-12 Subwoofer
The Mission ZX-12 is more streamlined toward a double-channel application. In such systems, it is one of the best extensions you can get from your home theatre system if you need more bass.
Before we go into the technical side of things, we must first applaud how eye-catching the ZX-12’s design is.
It features a high-grade gloss paint finish, which brings an aura to your space.
Quite customary to Mission’s subwoofers, the ZX-12 comes fortified with a long-throw bass driver. This 12-inch driver was impressive in enhancing the sub’s bass impact.
We were cool with the bass response overall. It was strong and fast – thanks to the box being sealed. This sub also comes with a variable crossover frequency control.
Lastly, we loved this sub’s vent design. Girded with copper, these vents were outstanding at suppressing magnetic distortion. We also appreciated how well they spread the heat around.
Ultimately, the sub could go on jamming sweet bass for long without excessively heating up.
Generally, you don’t readily see subwoofers with the speed and intensity of the ZX-12 at the ZX-12’s low cost.