Mission 778X Integrated Amplifier at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The Mission 778X is a Class AB integrated amplifier and DAC from Mission (Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom), available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Designed by IAG and first introduced as a spiritual successor to the original Mission 778 of 1983, the 778X revives Mission's legacy in electronics with a fully contemporary specification inside a compact half-width chassis. It delivers 45W per channel into 8 ohms (65W into 4 ohms), houses an ESS Sabre32 ES9018K2M Reference DAC supporting up to 384kHz PCM and DSD256, and incorporates a JFET-based MM phono stage, Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX and AAC, a dedicated headphone amplifier, and a full suite of digital inputs, making it one of the most comprehensively equipped integrated amplifiers at its price point.

ESS Sabre32 DAC and High-Resolution Digital Compatibility

At the centre of the Mission 778X's digital section is the ESS Sabre32 ES9018K2M Reference chip, a 32-bit converter using ESS Technology's HyperStream architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator. This combination delivers class-leading ultra-low noise digital audio conversion with a THD figure below 0.001% at 1kHz. Via its USB Type B input, the 778X accepts PCM files at up to 384kHz and native DSD at DSD64, DSD128, and DSD256 resolution. The optical and coaxial inputs handle up to 192kHz PCM. This level of digital compatibility is exceptional at the amplifier's price point and ensures the 778X is a capable long-term partner for high-resolution streaming services, dedicated music servers, and computer audio sources. What Hi-Fi? awarded the 778X five stars, noting its DAC performance as a key strength of the package.

JFET MM Phono Stage and Bluetooth 5.0

The Mission 778X includes a dedicated moving magnet phono stage built around a JFET input circuit with precise RIAA equalisation. Its input sensitivity of 2.5mV and 47K ohm input impedance with 100pF capacitance are optimised for a wide range of MM cartridges, and the low-noise design eliminates any need for an external phono preamplifier. With a phono gain of +47dB, the stage is quiet enough to reveal the fine dynamics of vinyl without adding noise or coloration. Complementing the analog inputs, the 778X features Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX and AAC codec support, enabling CD-quality wireless streaming from smartphones, tablets, and computers. AAC support ensures Apple devices stream at their native highest Bluetooth quality, while aptX provides equivalent performance for Android sources.

Class AB Power Amplifier and Headphone Stage

The 778X's power amplifier section is a Class AB design rated at 45W per channel into 8 ohms and 65W per channel into 4 ohms, delivering a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 108dB (A-weighted, referenced to 45W) and a THD figure below 0.005% at 30W into 8 ohms. Frequency response is flat within ±0.5dB from 20Hz to 20kHz. The headphone amplifier is a dedicated circuit rather than a simple tap from the main output stage, offering a 4.7-ohm output impedance and compatibility with headphones from 20 to 600 ohms. AVForums awarded the 778X a Best Buy, with reviewer Ed Selley describing it as heading to the top of its price category. The headphone stage's high slew rate enables dynamic, detailed performance with a wide range of headphone types, a distinction What Hi-Fi? specifically highlighted as unusual for an amplifier at this level.

Key Features

• ESS Sabre32 ES9018K2M Reference DAC: 32-bit HyperStream architecture with Time Domain Jitter Eliminator supports 384kHz PCM and DSD256 via USB, and up to 192kHz PCM via optical and coaxial inputs. THD below 0.001%.
• Class AB Power Amplifier: 45W per channel into 8 ohms and 65W into 4 ohms, with SNR greater than 108dB (A-weighted) and THD below 0.005% at 30W.
• JFET MM Phono Stage: Precise RIAA equalisation optimised for moving magnet cartridges at 47K ohm input impedance, with +47dB gain and no need for an external phono preamplifier.
• Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX and AAC: CD-quality wireless streaming from smartphones, tablets, and computers, compatible with both Android (aptX) and Apple (AAC) devices.
• Dedicated Headphone Amplifier: Separate circuit with 4.7-ohm output impedance, compatible with headphones from 20 to 600 ohms, and THD below 0.01% at 50mW.
• Comprehensive Connectivity: 1 x coaxial digital input, 2 x Toslink optical inputs, 1 x USB Type B, 1 x Bluetooth, 2 x RCA line inputs, 1 x RCA MM phono input. Digital outputs include 1 x coaxial and 1 x optical. RCA pre-out included.
• Half-Width Compact Chassis: At 236 x 98 x 381mm and 6.3kg, the 778X fits alongside Mission's 700 series speakers in compact and half-width rack configurations.
• Large Tactile Controls with LED Level Indicators: Volume and source selection knobs with LED readout for quick visual feedback, with full remote control included.

Technical Specifications

Awards and Critical Recognition

• What Hi-Fi? Five Star Review, 2023
• AVForums Best Buy Award, 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Mission 778X?

The Mission 778X is a Class AB integrated amplifier and DAC from Mission, rated at 45W per channel into 8 ohms and 65W into 4 ohms. It includes an ESS Sabre32 ES9018K2M Reference DAC supporting 384kHz PCM and DSD256 via USB, a JFET-based MM phono stage, Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX and AAC, a dedicated headphone amplifier compatible with 20 to 600-ohm loads, and a full complement of digital and analog inputs. It is a revival of the original Mission 778 integrated amplifier first introduced in 1983, updated for the demands of modern high-resolution digital and analog sources.

How does the Mission 778X compare to the Rega Brio and the Arcam A5?

The Mission 778X competes directly with the Rega Brio and the Arcam A5 in the compact integrated amplifier category, with each product offering a distinct set of strengths. The Rega Brio is a primarily analog design known for its musical timing and phono stage, but it lacks digital inputs and a DAC. The Arcam A5 offers stronger amplifier performance measured by output power and carries its own award recognition, but at a higher price than the 778X. What Hi-Fi? noted that the 778X's digital compatibility and all-in-one specification make it a genuinely competitive alternative, particularly for listeners who need USB high-resolution audio, DSD support, and Bluetooth in the same unit. The 778X's aptX and AAC Bluetooth and 384kHz USB input are rare at its price point and give it a breadth of connectivity that neither the Brio nor the A5 match.

Can the Mission 778X play DSD audio files?

Yes, the Mission 778X supports native DSD playback via its USB Type B input at DSD64, DSD128, and DSD256 resolutions. DSD256 represents 11.2896MHz sampling and is among the highest resolution formats in consumer audio. The ESS Sabre32 ES9018K2M DAC chip handles DSD conversion with THD below 0.001%, making the 778X a capable partner for listeners with DSD libraries or who subscribe to services offering DSD downloads. Optical and coaxial digital inputs are limited to 192kHz PCM and do not support DSD; DSD playback requires connection via the USB Type B input from a computer running compatible playback software.

What is the ESS Sabre32 ES9018K2M and why does it matter?

The ESS Sabre32 ES9018K2M is a 32-bit stereo DAC chip from ESS Technology, part of the Sabre reference family used in high-end DAC components and amplifiers. Its HyperStream architecture uses noise-shaping and oversampling to achieve very low noise floors, while the Time Domain Jitter Eliminator reduces the timing errors that cause digital audio to sound harsh or imprecise. In the Mission 778X, this chip supports PCM at up to 384kHz and DSD at up to DSD256 via USB, with THD below 0.001% at full scale. It is the same DAC platform found in dedicated reference-class digital converters, and its presence in the 778X contributes significantly to the amplifier's high-resolution digital performance relative to its price.

Where can I buy the Mission 778X in Toronto or Canada?

The Mission 778X is available at Vinyl Sound, an authorised Mission dealer in Toronto, Canada. Vinyl Sound carries the full Mission electronics range and can provide expert guidance on pairing the 778X with Mission's 700 series loudspeakers, including the Mission 750, Mission 700, and Mission 770. Customers across Canada are welcome to contact Vinyl Sound directly for availability, purchasing options, and listening demonstrations.

Does the Mission 778X have a pre-output for a subwoofer or power amplifier?

Yes, the Mission 778X includes an RCA pre-output capable of a maximum level of 2.1Vrms. This output can be used to drive a power amplifier for a bi-amplification setup, connect a subwoofer with a high-level or line-level input, or feed an external headphone amplifier or other downstream component. The pre-output follows the volume control and reflects the same signal processed by the 778X's preamplifier section, which has a THD figure below 0.003% and an SNR greater than 110dB (A-weighted), making it a clean and low-noise source for any secondary component.

What speakers pair well with the Mission 778X?

The Mission 778X pairs naturally with Mission's own 700 series loudspeakers, including the Mission 750, Mission 700, and Mission 770. Peter Comeau identified the 778X and Mission 750 as a specifically intended system partnership. The amplifier's 45W into 8 ohms and 65W into 4 ohms output is well matched to the sensitivity ratings of the Mission 750 (86dB, 6-ohm nominal), Mission 700 (86dB, 8-ohm nominal), and Mission 770 (88dB, 8-ohm nominal). Beyond the Mission range, the 778X's stable output into lower impedances and broad input suite make it suitable for most bookshelf and standmount loudspeakers in the same price tier. Vinyl Sound in Toronto can demonstrate the 778X in combination with Mission speakers and advise on other compatible pairings.

Does the Mission 778X work with a turntable directly?

Yes, the Mission 778X connects directly to a turntable with a moving magnet cartridge via its built-in JFET MM phono stage. The stage provides +47dB of gain with a 47K ohm input impedance and 100pF capacitance loading, which suits the vast majority of MM cartridges currently available. Its RIAA equalisation is precisely implemented to accurately restore the bass and treble balance of vinyl recordings, and the low-noise JFET circuit design ensures the quiet floor needed to hear fine low-level detail on vinyl. No external phono preamplifier is required, making the 778X a single-component solution for turntable-based systems at Vinyl Sound in Toronto.