Short answer: the Audio First Cadentia 3. It ranks #7 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.7/5); the Mission LX-3 MKII ranks #138 (rated 3.6/5).
The Audio First Cadentia 3 is the more accurate, deeper-bass pick. A large three way bookshelf speaker with near textbook accuracy, a big enveloping soundstage, and deep, punchy bass that stays clean when loud. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 7.55 against 4.17 for the Mission LX-3 MKII. Its bass reaches about 43Hz before falling 3dB, against 67.4Hz for the Mission LX-3 MKII. The catch: A mild scoop through the upper midrange/lower treble slightly softens the attack of snares, hand claps, and sibilants: fixable with a single-band EQ (2.5kHz, +1dB, Q~1).
What the Mission LX-3 MKII does well: Large affordable standmount speakers with a 6.5 inch woofer, useful bass and easy to drive sensitivity. The tradeoff: On-axis smoothness of 0.217 and predicted in-room smoothness of 0.344 reveal clear response unevenness, with a -0.46dB-per-octave downward tilt.
Buy the Audio First Cadentia 3. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Mission LX-3 MKII.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A large three way bookshelf speaker with near textbook accuracy, a big enveloping soundstage, and deep, punchy bass that stays clean when loud.
Large affordable standmount speakers with a 6.5 inch woofer, useful bass and easy to drive sensitivity.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Audio First Cadentia 3 | Mission LX-3 MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7199 per pair | £249 per pair |
| Ranked | #7 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #138 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 42.5Hz (derived from ASR on-axis curve, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 67.4Hz (measured, ASR via spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 23.2” x 11.8” x 17” (590 x 300 x 433 mm) | 13.6H x 8.9W x 12.1D in |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.1 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal, 4.1 ohms minimum |
| Sensitivity | 86.4dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 88dB |
| Drivers | 1.1” tweeter, 4.5” midrange, 9” woofer | 1” microfiber-dome tweeter, 6.5” composite-fiber woofer |
| Weight | 45.9 lbs (20.8 kg) each | 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | 3-way, bass reflex | - |
| Country | United Kingdom (Cambridge) | United Kingdom (design) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 7.55 | 4.17 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.91 | 6.42 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | 2-way, bass-reflex |
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