Are 'Mission' speakers avail in the US?

[Turbota]

Hello folks! ... I am interested in a set of Mission M66i floor standing speakers and a set of matching Mission M60i bookshelf speakers.

Looking at the Mission website http://www.mission.co.uk/ , I don't even see a distributer in the US. A Google search don't help either ... I have checked the "reviews" section of this message board, but the M99i and M60i are not listed.

For any of you here that have purchased these UK manufactured Mission audio speakers in the US, where did you buy them from?

Any anone in particular that has a set of either the M66i or the M60i, I would like to hear what you think of them, and what you paid for a pair ... Good or bad

Here are a couple of photos of both the M66i floor standing and the M60i bookshelf speakers were talking about:

Ron,




_______________________________________


BTW ... Here is the matching center speaker (M6ci) for anyone interested in a HT speaker system:

[Ajani]

I know Mission pretty muched dropped out of the North American Market a few year ago... a few US sites still have up a Mission logo but they don't seem to have many Mission speakers for sale... but you can always give them a call to confirm...

http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.sto...serTemplate/30

&

http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/

Also, I owned a pair of Mission V63... they were the model just before the M66i... they looked exactly the same (except the back of the speaker wasn't narrower than the front) also they cost just a bit more money since they had real wood veneer, while the M66i use Vinyl (If I remember correctly)... Assuming the M66i sound like the V63, then they should be good value for money... I liked the sound, but you really would need to audition for yourself.....

[Turbota]

Ajani ...

Thank's for the fast reply. I sent Mission in the UK this email. They responded back real fast:
_____________________________________________

To: nikki@iaguk.co.uk

Subject: Mission dealers in the US and Philippines

I am wanting to purchase a pair of Mission M66i floor standing speakers and a pair of Mission M60i Bookshelf speakers. I spend half my time in the USA and the other half in the Philippines. The problem is ... I can't find on the internet anyone in either the USA or the Philippines that sells Mission speakers ... And it really suprises me that there are no dealers in the US that I am aware of ! Can you give me a list of merchants in both the US and the Philippines that can access these speakers for me. Also, your website does not say what the suggested retail price is for your speakers. Can you also tell me the price for a pair of both the M66i and M60i speakers. Thank's so much for any help.

Ron ...
_____________________________________________

The reply:

Dear Ron
I'm afraid that we do not currently distribute to the US and Philippines. The only route I can think for you to take would be to contact our distributor in Canada. We do not have the prices on the website due to them being diiferent all over the world.

Regards,
Nicki

[Ajani]

Ajani ...

Thank's for the fast reply. I sent Mission in the UK this email. They responded back real fast:
_____________________________________________

To: nikki@iaguk.co.uk

Subject: Mission dealers in the US and Philippines

I am wanting to purchase a pair of Mission M66i floor standing speakers and a pair of Mission M60i Bookshelf speakers. I spend half my time in the USA and the other half in the Philippines. The problem is ... I can't find on the internet anyone in either the USA or the Philippines that sells Mission speakers ... And it really suprises me that there are no dealers in the US that I am aware of ! Can you give me a list of merchants in both the US and the Philippines that can access these speakers for me. Also, your website does not say what the suggested retail price is for your speakers. Can you also tell me the price for a pair of both the M66i and M60i speakers. Thank's so much for any help.

Ron ...
_____________________________________________

The reply:

Dear Ron
I'm afraid that we do not currently distribute to the US and Philippines. The only route I can think for you to take would be to contact our distributor in Canada. We do not have the prices on the website due to them being diiferent all over the world.

Regards,
Nicki

Based on the UK price for the M66i and what i paid for the V63s back in 2005 (In Canada), I'd expect the M66i to be priced around $1K for the pair...

Keep in mind that you have a lot of good alternatives available around that price point, in case you don't feel like crossing the border to get the Missions...

[RoadRunner6]

http://www.techradar.com/products/au...i-98666/review

http://goods.ruten.com.tw/item/show?11080517460767

[Ajani]

I finally relegated my turntable to the basement. My vinyl will follow soon.

Thanks

Ummmm.... Yeah.... Ummmm

What???

[Turbota]

Well, I called around some high-end audio shops in Manila, and found 2 companies that can get me the Mission speakers here in the Philippines.

Here is the cost quote to me:

M66i Floor Standing (per pr)
35,000 pesos = $752 USD

M60i Bookshelf (per pr)
13,300 pesos = $286 USD

Now, I have no idea if this is a fair price or not since the the Mission website does not give a suggested retail price, but based on UK prices, I guess it's a good deal. Even the Philippines audio dealer that I talked to stated that Mission's prices have dropped since the manufacturing of these speakers has been moved to mainland China.

What suprises me (from the email that I recieved from Mission) is that Mission isn't even aware of the fact that these speakers can be bought over here in the Philippines.

FYI ... Mission has now been bought by a Chinese company called International Audio Group (IAG). The companies main headquarters is in Shenzhen, China but it also has offices in Hong Kong and the UK ... This Chinese company has also bought out Wharfendale, Quad, AudioLab and Castle Audio. These speaker lines are now being made in AIGs 1 million square foot factory in the "Special Economic Zone" of Shenzhen, China ... Building custom yachts is another one of IAGs projects.

Here is the companies UK website: http://www.iaguk.co.uk/index.php

Link to "International Audio News" report on the Mission sale to IAG by Ken Kessler (scroll down): http://www.stereophile.com/images/ne.../705Bstph.html

[PDN]

I believe I just saw a new pair of Mission speakers at the Sound Exchange, Somerville, NJ. I was there recently and I could swear I saw them in their new product display area and demo area. They also sell a ton of CD's, DVD's, etc. A great store. You can look them up on google.