Mission 70 MkII (c. 1983–1986)

Documentation on the Mission 70 MkII is scattered. What survives describes a well-regarded British bookshelf speaker from the mid-1980s. A Russian hi-fi site lists a 1983 release date, while an eBay listing for original crossover boards notes "UK 1986". The truth likely sits somewhere in that range. The sources agree on the enthusiasm. It's been called "a classic of the genre" with an "energetic and composed" sound, and one Italian outlet (afdigitale.it) ran a feature comparing a pair against modern entry-level offerings from Dali and Q Acoustics, nearly forty years after release.

The driver complement is only partly documented. The tweeter is a Vifa D19TD-5 soft dome - one seller measured 6.1 ohms across it - and the crossover is a two-way design with a 3.4 kHz crossover point. The woofer exists (a parts/repair listing confirms it), but no specs for it have been traced. A YouTube refurbishment video shows a pair being re-veneered in real oak with new grille cloth. That suggests the original cabinets were veneered, but the factory finish is unconfirmed.

One odd detail: the 70 MkII shares a grille emblem with the Model 700 and 700S. It's a 2⅜" badge sold as compatible across all three. Whether the 70 MkII is a smaller sibling of the 700 line or a distinct series isn't stated anywhere in the record. The speakers were often paired with Apollo metal frame stands (total height with stands: approximately 97cm) and, per one owner, with the Mission Cyrus One amplifier.

Surviving information is thin on specifics. No frequency response, impedance, sensitivity, or power handling figures have been traced. What the record does show:

Two-way bookshelf speaker, Vifa D19TD-5 soft dome tweeter
Crossover point: 3.4 kHz
Production: c. 1983–1986 (conflicting sources)
Used prices observed: $110–$120 (condition-dependent)

A Russian roundup of "50 best vintage speakers that will outperform modern ones" (hi-fi.ru) lists the 70 MkII at position 45. A Yahoo piece noted that the site's own Hi-Fi and Audio Editor still owns a pair with a Cyrus One amp.