Mission 778X Integrated Amplifier - Black

Mission Built the 778X Small on Purpose

Mission is known today for loudspeakers. In the early 1980s it built the whole chain, amplifiers included. One was the 778, an affordable integrated in a half-width case. The 778X revives that idea for a system that handles vinyl and streaming at once.

It delivers 45 watts per channel into 8 ohms. Into 4 ohms that rises to 65 watts. The case measures 236 x 98 x 380mm and weighs 6.3kg, so it sits where a full-width component will not. Black and silver finishes are available.

Eight Inputs, One of Them for Your Turntable

Count them up and the 778X takes eight sources. Two optical and one coaxial digital input. One USB Type-B port. Two line-level AUX inputs. One RCA moving-magnet phono input. Bluetooth 5.0 makes eight.

The outputs are just as complete. A preamp output feeds a bigger power amplifier later. Coaxial and optical digital outputs pass a signal to a separate DAC. A stereo 6.3mm headphone jack sits on the front panel.

Where the Digital Side Earns Its Keep

Conversion runs through an ESS Sabre32 ES9018K2M DAC, a long-serving chip with a real track record. What matters more is which socket you use, because the 778X does not treat them all alike.

Use the USB Port for Your Hi-Res Files

The USB Type-B input carries PCM up to 384kHz, and DSD256. The optical and coaxial inputs stop at 192kHz. A laptop of hi-res files belongs on USB. A CD transport or a TV is well served by optical or coaxial.

The phono input uses a JFET circuit with precise RIAA equalisation, voiced for moving-magnet cartridges. The headphone stage presents a 4.7-ohm output and drives 20 to 600 ohm loads, so most full-size headphones are in range.

What Reviewers Are Saying

What Hi-Fi? reviewed the 778X on December 8, 2023 and scored it five out of five for sound, build and features. It praised a "wonderfully even-handed and unobtrusive presentation" and called this "a tidy-sounding product; one that digs up plenty of detail."

Ed Selley reviewed it for AVForums on July 12, 2023, scoring 9 out of 10 with a Best Buy. He wrote that "it's a handsome, well made amp that has a socket for pretty much any occasion and that sounds extremely good across all of them," and concluded it is "a fantastic affordable amplifier that heads to the top of the pecking order."

Selley listed one operational gripe among his cons: there is no direct input selection, so you step through sources rather than jumping straight to one.

Who Is This Integrated Amplifier Best For?

• You are short on shelf space — the half-width case fits where a full-size integrated cannot, and gives up no sockets.
• You have a lot of sources — eight inputs cover digital, analog, USB and Bluetooth at once.
• You play vinyl on a moving-magnet cartridge — the built-in JFET phono stage replaces a separate preamp.
• You listen on headphones after hours — the front-panel 6.3mm jack has its own amplifier stage.
• If you run a moving-coil cartridge, look elsewhere for the phono side — the 778X's stage is MM only, so add Cambridge Audio's Alva Duo MM/MC phono preamplifier to cover both cartridge types.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Speakers go to the binding posts, your turntable to the phono input. Two AUX inputs take analog sources. A laptop goes to USB Type-B, a CD transport or TV to optical or coaxial. Bluetooth pairs straight from a phone.

Headphones plug into the front. If the system grows, the preamp output feeds a larger power amplifier and the digital outputs feed a separate DAC, so the 778X becomes your preamp instead of being replaced.

Then it is two dials and a remote.

Pairs Well With

Building around the 778X? Here are some good companions:

• Turntable: Put the phono stage to work — see our Turntables.
• Speakers: 45 watts suits an efficient standmount pair — see our Bookshelf Speakers.
• Headphones: The 6.3mm jack drives 20 to 600 ohm loads — see our Headphones.
• Cables: Good interconnects finish the system — see our Interconnect Cables.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much power does the 778X deliver?

45 watts per channel into 8 ohms, rising to 65 watts per channel into 4 ohms.

Does it have a phono stage for my turntable?

Yes, a JFET-based circuit with precise RIAA equalisation, voiced for moving-magnet cartridges. Moving-coil cartridges need an outboard preamplifier.

What kind of headphone output does it have?

A stereo 6.3mm jack on the front panel with its own amplifier stage, presenting a 4.7-ohm output and handling 20 to 600 ohm loads.

Does it support Bluetooth?

Yes, Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX and AAC codecs.

What warranty does it carry?

One year parts and labor as standard. Register the 778X within 90 days of purchase and that extends to three years, parts and labor.

What comes in the box?

A remote control, a power cord, the Bluetooth antenna and the user manual. Mission does not include the remote's CR2025 button cell, so pick one up separately.

See It in Action

A British Audiophile reviews the 778X and asks whether the mission is accomplished:

Taps Das calls it a small king and explains why the half-width format won him over:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about integrated amplifiers, phono stages, or building a compact two-channel system? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.