Alpine HDA-M80 Review: The Status Mono Amp, Sub Pairings and the RUX-KNOB.2
Updated: Oct 6
The Alpine HDA-M80 is the mono subwoofer amplifier in Alpine's Status range, rated at 500 W RMS into 4 ohms and 800 W into 2 ohms from a compact Class D chassis with a 24 dB/oct low-pass filter, a subsonic filter and bass EQ. Its Indian MRP is ₹76,999, which makes it the most expensive Alpine mono amplifier we sell, though not the most powerful. It suits a sound-quality Status system with a subwoofer load of 2 or 4 ohms. This review also covers the RUX-KNOB.2 remote bass knob (₹2,799 MRP), which Alpine lists as compatible. See the current offer on our Alpine HDA-M80 product page.
Key takeaways
500 W at 4 ohms or 800 W at 2 ohms, rated at 14.4 V; Alpine publishes no 1-ohm rating.
Proper sub controls: a 50 to 400 Hz low-pass at 24 dB/oct, an 8 to 40 Hz subsonic filter and 0 to 12 dB of bass EQ at 50 Hz.
Its published distortion and damping figures are the best of the Alpine monos we sell, but the S2-A120M and R2-A150M make more power for less money.
The RUX-KNOB.2 adds bass-level control from the driver's seat; owner feedback on both is positive but limited.
Alpine HDA-M80 specifications
Specification | Alpine HDA-M80 |
|---|---|
Type | Class D mono amplifier |
Power at 4 Ω (14.4 V) | 500 W RMS |
Power at 2 Ω (14.4 V) | 800 W RMS |
1 Ω rating | None published |
Frequency response | 8 Hz – 400 Hz (+0/−3 dB, 1 W, 4 Ω) |
THD+N | 0.02% or less (10 W, 4 Ω) |
S/N ratio | More than 107 dB |
Damping factor | More than 1,500 (10 W, 4 Ω, 100 Hz) |
Low-pass filter | 50 – 400 Hz, 24 dB/oct |
Subsonic filter | 8 – 40 Hz, 24 dB/oct |
Bass EQ | 0 – 12 dB at 50 Hz |
RCA input sensitivity | Hi 0.4 – 10 V; Low 0.1 – 4.0 V |
Pre-amp output | 4 V maximum |
Remote bass control | RUX-KNOB2 compatible (sold separately) |
Dimensions (W x H x D) | 291 x 53.5 x 189.5 mm |
Weight | 3.7 kg |
India MRP | ₹76,999 (RUX-KNOB.2: ₹2,799) |
Figures are from Alpine UK's HDA-M80 page and match our listing. Alpine USA's 2022 launch release quoted 600 W at 4 ohms and 900 W at 2 ohms; we use the UK figures that our listing also carries.
Matching subwoofers at 4 and 2 ohms
With no published 1-ohm rating, the HDA-M80 is a 2-ohm or 4-ohm amplifier, and the OnlineCarStereo listing states 2 ohms as the minimum. That shapes your subwoofer choice. A dual-4-ohm sub wired in parallel presents 2 ohms and can draw the full 800 W; a single 4-ohm load gets 500 W. A dual-4-ohm R2-W12, for example, wired to 2 ohms would get up to 800 W against its 750 W RMS rating, a close match.
The Status HDZ-110 is the awkward partner. Its two 2-ohm coils wire to 1 ohm or 4 ohms, so with this amplifier it runs in series at 4 ohms, where 500 W is more than its 400 W RMS rating. That works if the gain is set carefully with a test tone and the subsonic filter is used, but the amplifier's full output stays off-limits.
Filters, bass EQ and the pre-amp output
The low-pass filter runs from 50 to 400 Hz at 24 dB per octave, a steep slope that keeps the sub out of the midrange. The subsonic filter (8 to 40 Hz, also 24 dB/oct) protects drivers in ported boxes from over-excursion below the box tuning. The bass EQ adds up to 12 dB at 50 Hz; use it sparingly, because every 3 dB of boost asks for double the power.
Our listing mentions a buffered pre-amp output that passes the input signal through, and Alpine quotes a 4 V maximum, so you can feed a second amplifier from the HDA-M80. Alpine also quotes distortion of 0.02% or less at 10 W and a damping factor above 1,500, the best published figures among the Alpine mono amplifiers we sell.
The RUX-KNOB.2: what it does and whether you need it
The RUX-KNOB.2 is a small wired remote that plugs into compatible Alpine amplifiers so you can adjust bass level from your seat, and our listing gives a 5-metre cable in the box. Alpine UK lists RUX-KNOB2 compatibility on the HDA-M80, the HDA-F60 and the HDA-V90, where it works on the subwoofer channel, and Alpine lists it for the R2-A75M and S2-A120M as well. The OnlineCarStereo knob listing adds that it works from 0 dB down to minus 20 dB, uses RJ-14 plugs at both ends, and comes with mounting flanges and screws for fitting on or under the dash.
Because the range tops out at 0 dB, the knob trims bass below the level set at the amplifier rather than adding to it. You don't need it for the system to work. Its value is everyday convenience: recordings vary a lot in bass content, and turning the sub down for a bass-heavy track without reaching into the boot is the reason to buy one.
What owners and reviewers say about the Alpine HDA-M80
When we checked in October 2026, the OnlineCarStereo HDA-M80 listing had one customer review, from 2024. The owner rated its quality above other amplifiers they had tried, found the bass boost and filters very responsive, and liked its compact size and power. Price was the only reservation, and they felt the performance justified it. One review is not a consensus.
The knob has a longer track record. The OnlineCarStereo RUX-KNOB.2 listing, which covers the knob rather than this amplifier, carried four positive reviews dated 2023 and 2024. Owners liked adjusting bass on the move, the smooth rotary action and the real-time control, and one confirmed it works with an S2-A55V. Alpine's 2022 Status launch release is promotional and rated the HDA-M80 at 600 W and 900 W, above the current UK figures. We found no independent bench test.
Alpine HDA-M80 vs R2-A75M, S2-A120M and R2-A150M
The R2-A75M (₹55,999) makes the same 500 W at 4 ohms and 750 W at 2 ohms, has the same 0 to 12 dB bass EQ at 50 Hz, works with the RUX-KNOB.2 and sits in a smaller 282 x 165 mm chassis. The HDA-M80's extra ₹21,000 buys 50 W more at 2 ohms, lower quoted distortion (0.02% or less against 0.04% or less at 10 W) and a damping factor above 1,500 rather than 250.
If raw power matters more, the S2-A120M (₹55,999) is rated at 600 W at 4 ohms and 1,200 W at 2 ohms or 1 ohm, and the R2-A150M (₹61,999) at 700 W, 1,200 W and 1,500 W at 4, 2 and 1 ohm. Both cost less and both handle 1-ohm loads, but both chassis are larger, at 352 x 210 mm and 341 x 185 mm.
Who should buy it, and who shouldn't
Buy the HDA-M80 if you're completing a Status system, want a compact mono with strong published figures for a sound-quality sub at 2 or 4 ohms, and like the matching 291 x 189.5 mm chassis shared with the HDA-F60 and HDA-V90.
Look elsewhere if you want the most power for the money or need a 1-ohm load, where the S2-A120M or R2-A150M makes more sense, or if you want the same 4-ohm output for less, where the R2-A75M does it.
Installation notes for Indian cars
At 291 x 189.5 mm and 53.5 mm tall, the HDA-M80 fits under a seat in some cars or on a boot side panel in others. Give it airflow, since a parked car's boot gets very hot in an Indian summer. Mount the knob within the driver's reach, ideally under the dash, and route its cable away from power wiring.
An 800 W amplifier draws heavy current. Follow Alpine's manual for the main fuse and cable gauge (the OnlineCarStereo listing mentions three 30 A fuses on the amplifier), and use a short, clean earth. Long idling with the AC on drags voltage down, so have the battery and alternator checked if you plan to run it hard. VA3 Car Studio in Ghaziabad offers professional installation, and our sound damping guide helps with the boot rattles a strong sub reveals.
Price and where to buy
The Alpine HDA-M80 has an MRP of ₹76,999 and the RUX-KNOB.2 ₹2,799, both in the Indian price list effective 1 June 2026. VA3 Car Studio often sells below MRP; check today's offers on the HDA-M80 product page and the RUX-KNOB.2 listing.
The bottom line
The HDA-M80 is a compact, refined mono with the cleanest published figures among the Alpine monos we sell and the right filters for a sound-quality sub. It isn't the value pick: the R2-A75M matches it at 4 ohms for less, the S2-A120M and R2-A150M out-muscle it, and Alpine publishes no 1-ohm rating for it. Add the RUX-KNOB.2 for everyday bass adjustment, and plan your subwoofer wiring around 2 ohms as the lowest listed load.
Alpine HDA-M80 FAQ
Can the Alpine HDA-M80 run at 1 ohm?
Alpine publishes ratings only for 4 ohms (500 W) and 2 ohms (800 W), and the OnlineCarStereo listing gives 2 ohms as the minimum. Plan your subwoofer wiring for 2 or 4 ohms.
Is the RUX-KNOB.2 included with the HDA-M80?
No. It's sold separately at ₹2,799 MRP. Alpine lists it as compatible with the HDA-M80, HDA-F60 and HDA-V90, and it lets you adjust bass level from the driver's seat over a 5-metre cable.
Which subwoofers suit the HDA-M80?
Subs that present 2 or 4 ohms. A dual-4-ohm R2-W12 wired to 2 ohms would get up to 800 W against its 750 W rating; the HDZ-110 runs in series at 4 ohms, where the gain must be set carefully because 500 W exceeds its 400 W rating.
Buy the Alpine HDA-M80 Status Mono Amplifier 500W RMS in India
You can buy the Alpine HDA-M80 Status Mono Amplifier 500W RMS online from VA3 Car Studio with pan-India shipping. See more Alpine amplifiers, compare other mono amplifiers, or book amplifier installation in Ghaziabad.
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