Mission's 778 series CD transport and music streamer could be half-width hi-fi heroes

Mission 778CDT, Mission 778X, Mission 778S

(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Who says affordable hi-fi separates are dead? Mission's 778X stereo amplifier surprised us last year not just with its relatively refreshingly sensible £549/$549 price tag, but also with its hugely enjoyable, balanced sound and good connectivity from its space-saving half-width design.

And this five-star integrated is now joined by the new additions to the 778 family. The Mission 7778CDT CD transport and 778S music streamer have been unveiled at the High End Munich 2024 show. The official launch for these new Mission separates is in autumn, so we have to wait a bit longer for the full specifications and pricing, But we have seen both products in the flesh (well, on the show floor) and there are a few details we can share now.

Mission 778CDT CD transport on wooden rack — (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Firstly, both share the same half-width chassis and visual language of the 778X amp, while the 778CDT transport is matched to partner with the stereo amp's internal DAC. There are basic buttons for playback and controls and a simple but clear display screen.

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The 778S streamer has the same display and a headphone port at the front panel, and is set to have all the popular streaming services and features expected of a modern network audio player.

We assume essentials such as Bluetooth and Tidal Connect to be on the menu alongside other wi-fi-supported protocols, but whether it uses the same DTS Play-Fi streaming platform as its sister brand Audiolab's 6000N Play and 7000N Play streamers remains to be seen.

Mission 778S streamer on wooden rack — (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Both units were on static display so we'll have to wait a few more months to get full review samples before we can get a taste of how they will sound.

When it comes to pricing, we expect – and hope – both the new CD transport and streamer will be roughly around the same level as the amplifier. Either way, we are very much looking forward to the full 778 series reveal and hearing them in action in our test rooms.

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TOPICS

Kashfia is the Hi-Fi and Audio Editor of What Hi-Fi? and first joined the brand 13 years ago. During her time in the consumer tech industry, she has reviewed hundreds of products (including speakers, amplifiers, turntables and headphones), been to countless trade shows across the world and fallen in love with hi-fi kit much bigger than her. In her spare time, Kash can be found tending to an ever-growing houseplant collection and shooing her cat Jolene away from spinning records.

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6 Comments Comment from the forums

Hifiman

I agree with the “relatively refreshingly sensible £549/$549 price tag” comment. It must be one of the very few separates to not be trying to wring larger margins from every unit sold. I paid £129 for this amp’s spiritual predecessor, the Mission Cyrus One, in 1983 which, according to the Bank of England calculator, is £422 in today’s money. That seems fair to me.
Reply
Sigyns

Hifiman said:
I agree with the “relatively refreshingly sensible £549/$549 price tag” comment. It must be one of the very few separates to not be trying to wring larger margins from every unit sold. I paid £129 for this amp’s spiritual predecessor, the Mission Cyrus One, in 1983 which, according to the Bank of England calculator, is £422 in today’s money. That seems fair to me.
Someone who clearly doesn't understand economics (I have a Masters in Applied Economics) or what actually the Bank of England's calculator compares. It simply compounds the annual average CPI. It doesn't take into account the relative purchasing power of money, nor the cost of production, distribution, marketing etc; nor retail costs for dealers, which have risen hugely in recent years (largely rent increases, and Business Rates) at the expense of margin - staple retailers' average margin has nearly halved. It is not at all a fair way to compare pricing of products over time using a CPI compound calculation. However, having spent the past couple of days in Munich (yesterday attending an industry only day), these Mission products look to be one of the stars of the show (they were not playable), together with other British (at least erstwhile British) products Arcam's SA35 and SA45, and the extraordinary (and very much British) Chord Suzi pre and power amp.
Reply
JamesDK

Sigyns said:
Someone who clearly doesn't economics (I have a Masters in Applied Economics) or what actually the Bank of England's calculator compares. It simply compounds the annual average CPI. It doesn't take into account the relative purchasing power of money, nor the cost of production, distribution, marketing etc; nor retail costs for dealers, which have risen hugely in recent years (largely rent increases, and Business Rates) at the expense of margin - staple retailers' average margin has nearly halved. It is not at all a fair way to compare pricing of products over time using a CPI compound calculation. However, having spent the past couple of days in Munich (yesterday attending an industry only day), these Mission products look to be one of the stays of the show (they were not playable), together with other British (at least erstwhile British) products Arcam's SA35 and SA45, and the extraordinary (and very much British) Chord Suzi pre and power amp.

Reply
JamesDK

The Musk is strong with this one
Reply
Fandango Andy

"Who says affordable hi-fi separates are dead?"
You did! What HiFi had an article saying exactly that (talking about amps) about six months ago.
Reply
Jasonovich

Fandango Andy said:
"Who says affordable hi-fi separates are dead?"
You did! What HiFi had an article saying exactly that (talking about amps) about six months ago.
Was it the same contributor? Still, regardless they should fact check. Politicians are prone to cross talk, essentially it's the art of making the hole deeper (yes I've been there!), it seems publications are not immune either.
Well spotted.
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