When it comes to choosing a pair of budget stereo speakers for your sound system, the Mission LX2 is definitely one of the top choices to go for. It is very affordable and has a good sonic performance for the price, the LX2s are even praised by a few discerning critics. These well-received budget bookshelf speakers when paired with a matching amp will provide even more value for the listeners.
The question now is which amp is best suited to pair with the Mission LX2 stand-mounters. To find the answer we must first learn more about this wonderful pair of budget speakers such as their sonic characteristics, strengths, and limitations. Once we have a firm grasp of how well they sound and perform, we can then share with you a list of the best amps which we can choose to pair with the Mission LX2 bookshelf speakers.
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Sonic Characteristics and Limitations of Mission LX2
It is a pair of nice-looking budget loudspeakers with the 5″ (125mm) bass driver located above the 1″ (25mm) soft dome treble unit which usually is the other way around. There is a rear-firing bass port located at the back of the speaker cabinet. You can use the rear walls to reinforce the bass response by placing the Mission LX2 nearer. With the speaker grille on, the Mission stand-mounters become more low profile and are easier to blend into the listening rooms as well as aesthetically match with most amplifiers that we have on the market.
For a small bookshelf speaker, the Mission LX2 frequency response is good, it ranges from 55Hz to 20kHz, able to reach down further to 50Hz (-6dB). The peak SPL is also quite good for a compact speaker. The speaker sensitivity of 87dB is still ain’t bad though and looking at the bright side, LX-2 nominal impedance is just 8 Ohms but does go down to a minimum of 3.8 Ohms. Looking at the recommended amplifier power of 20-100 Watts, we should probably select amps with around 50 Watts per channel, and would be best if there’s a subwoofer output too. There is a high probability that the Mission LX2 bookshelf speakers will need an active sub to supplement their bass performance.
These are enthusiastic stand-mounters who are eager to impress their listeners with big dynamic swings and sure-footed pacing. The Mission LX2 speaker do not just stumble their way through, they have the agility to handle the music confidently and have a knack for bringing out the energy from the music. It is an impressive pair of budget speakers and at this price point, it is really difficult for us to nitpick. If we must, then the very deep bass reproduction is the one that is pulling the speakers back. Still, this issue is as expected and can be easily resolved by adding in a subwoofer for low-end support.
The overall bass performance is good though, as it is fast, accurate, and taut, keeping up with the pacing of the rest of the frequencies. The music presentation is detailed as well with nice stereo separations and good imaging. The level of insights that the Mission LX2 possesses is truly one of the best in its price range. The stand-mounters highs are crisp and clear. The overall sound reproduction is cleanly delivered and with clarity but they do sound bright at times, fortunately not at the level of cringe.
They will be amazing as surround speakers in a home theater setup due to their insightful and clear-sounding nature. The Mission LX2 may be a bit bright for nearfield listening though but their compact size does make them very eligible as desktop speakers. It is quite rare for budget speakers that have such a level of sonic performance and energetic delivery, the Mission LX2 is certainly worth every penny invested. We can finally start sharing with you the best amps that you can go for, thanks to the data we have collected. The price points of these matching amps will be quite close to the MSRP of the Mission LX2 bookshelf speakers as well.
Mission LX2 Specifications
- Speaker Type: 2-Way (Rear-Firing Bass Port)
- Drive Units: 1″ (25mm) soft dome treble unit, 5″ (125mm) bass driver
- Frequency Response (+/-3dB): 55Hz-20kHz
- Recommended Amplifier Power: 20-100W
- Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms (min. 3.8 Ohms)
- Sensitivity: 87dB
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 305mm x 200mm x 258mm | 12″ x 7.9″ x 10.1″
- Weight: 6.3kg (13.9lbs)
Best Amps to match with Mission LX2
The Denon PMA-600NE is one of the best entry-level integrated amplifiers to match with your Mission LX2 stand-mounters. Firstly, it is an amp packed to the brim with features, it includes a built-in D/A converter that supports up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution, Bluetooth connectivity for music streaming, it even has a Phono preamp, and many more. The subwoofer output will come in useful when you decide to connect an active subwoofer to improve the overall bass performance. The Denon PMA-600NE neutral sound quality with a hint of warmth will be a good match with your Mission LX2 speakers too.
More Details at Amazon – Denon PMA-600NE | Bluetooth Connectivity | Built-in DAC and Phono Pre-Amp
For a warm and smooth music presentation, the Marantz PM6007 will be the ideal amp to pair up with the Mission LX2 bookshelf speakers. The PM6007 has that coveted Marantz house sound imbued into its overall sound reproduction which helps to ease off the hard edges of the LX2 speakers, enabling you to listen to them at high volumes with more pleasing sound quality. The high-quality phono stage of the Marantz PM6007 will be amazing for vinyl record playbacks. The musicality of this entry-level integrated amp will complement the Mission LX2 really well.
More Details at Amazon – Marantz PM6007 Integrated Amplifier
The NAD C 316BEE V2 is one of the best amps to be chosen to pair with the Mission LX2. This entry-level integrated amp has a power output of 45W / 60W per channel into 8 / 4 Ohms, along with its IHF dynamic power, the C 316BEE has ample muscles to drive the LX-2 stand-mounters. The overall sound reproduction of the NAD C 316BEE V2 is clean and clear. The neutral sonic characteristic and tight bass delivery of the NAD integrated amplifier is matching with the sound signatures of the Mission LX2 speakers. The only qualms we have is that it doesn’t have a subwoofer output.
The Cambridge Audio CXA61 is capable of delivering an exciting music presentation and the amp’s energetic performance makes it a really suitable amplifier partner for your Mission LX2 speakers. The rated power output of 60W / 90W per channel into 8 / 4 Ohms is more than enough to drive the Mission stand-mounters, not to mention, there is a dedicated subwoofer output for you to connect to an active sub. Other than the CXA61 punchy performance, this amp also has plenty of details including subtle music nuances which are delivered with clarity. It can be a bit too bright sounding, so it is best to hear them out first.
More Details at Amazon – Cambridge Audio CXA61 (Lunar Grey)
If your budget is tight but does not want to compromise the sound quality, you probably want to check out Yamaha A-S301. It is quite powerful for a budget amp and not to mention, it has a nicely balanced sound quality. The energetic Mission LX2 speakers complement the Yamaha amp really well, as they pump in the excitement and enthusiasm into the music delivery. The A-S301 midrange reproduction will go well with the LX2 as it provides a fuller mid and gives a full-bodied music presentation. There is also a subwoofer output if you ever want to significantly improve the overall bass performance which the Yamaha A-S301 is quite adept at when it comes to low-end delivery.
More Details at Amazon – Yamaha A-S301 Integrated Stereo Amplifier (Black)
Mission LX2 matches well with Denon amps and so when it comes to home theater setup, you probably want to match the LX2 speakers with a Denon AV receiver. You can check out Denon AVR-S960H, it is a 7.2 channel 8K AVR and supports 3D audio such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, etc. You will need to integrate an active subwoofer so to supplement the bass performance of your Mission LX2 speakers. You can go with the matching Mission LX-10 Sub or get a higher-performance subwoofer such as the SVS PB-1000 Pro. This is an entry-level ported SVS subwoofer with plenty of power and can dig really deep into the bass extension.
More Details at Amazon – Denon AVR-S960H 8K Ultra HD 7.2 Channel AV Receiver
More Details at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 Pro Subwoofer
To Conclude
There is no doubt the Mission LX2 is one of the most entertaining budget loudspeakers that you can invest in and is definitely worth pairing them with the right amps. The amps listed here are not only matching but are also some of the best in their price range. They are worthy of your time and effort to arrange an audition so as to hear them out. It is advisable to hold the amp auditions in your own listening room and do include the potential subwoofer which you will be getting during the auditioning. This will help give you a more accurate result of the sound quality.
