Deaf Bonce Machete Lite 60 Review: Budget Machete Midrange That Reaches 17 kHz
Updated: Oct 6
The Deaf Bonce Machete Lite 60 is a pair of 6.5-inch midrange drivers from Deaf Bonce's Machete range, with paper cones, ferrite magnets, cloth surrounds and 1-inch CCAW voice coils, rated at 80 W RMS (160 W max) into 4 Ω with 92.7 dB SPL and a 90 Hz–17 kHz response. At an MRP of ₹8,490 it's the lowest-priced Deaf Bonce midrange pair on our store and the entry point to the Machete mids. It suits a loud three-way front stage built on a budget, with an amplifier, super tweeters and a subwoofer. Today's offer is on our Deaf Bonce Machete Lite 60 product page.
Key points
A dedicated midrange for an amplified three-way system, not a drop-in replacement for factory coaxials.
On Deaf Bonce's figures it out-specs the pricier Hannibal HM-6E: 92.7 dB against 90.9 dB, a 17 kHz top end, and 80 W against 70 W on the HM-6E's product page, though that model's manuals print 80 W too.
The manual asks for a high-pass at 150–250 Hz (24 dB/oct) or 250–350 Hz (12 dB/oct) and a low-pass at 8–12 kHz.
It needs a 149.7 mm cut-out, 68.1 mm of mounting depth and a sealed, damped door.
Deaf Bonce Machete Lite 60 specifications
Specification | Deaf Bonce Machete Lite 60 |
|---|---|
Type | 6.5-inch (165 mm) Machete midrange, sold as a pair |
Power handling | 80 W RMS / 160 W max |
Impedance | 4 Ω |
Frequency response | 90 Hz – 17 kHz |
SPL | 92.7 dB |
Voice coil | 1 in, CCAW wire |
Cone and surround | Paper (pressed paper in the manual), cloth |
Magnet and frame | Ferrite, steel (stamped steel basket in the manual) |
Fs / Qts / Vas | 86 Hz / 0.66 / 12.74 L |
BL | 4.48 T·m |
Mounting depth | 68.1 mm |
Cut-out diameter | 149.7 mm |
Recommended filters | High-pass 150–250 Hz at 24 dB/oct or 250–350 Hz at 12 dB/oct; low-pass 8–12 kHz at 12 dB/oct |
Warranty | 12 months per Deaf Bonce's published terms; confirm India terms with us |
India MRP | ₹8,490 (pair) |
Specifications come from Deaf Bonce's Machete Lite 60 page, which our listing matches. The filters, amplifier list and warranty come from the Lite 60 and Lite 80 manual.
Where a midrange like this fits
A loud build splits the job three ways. A subwoofer handles the bass, a super tweeter takes everything above about 8 kHz, and a sensitive 6.5-inch mid in each door carries the vocals, guitars and snare that cut through road noise. The Lite 60 is that middle driver. Deaf Bonce's high-pass advice of 150 Hz or higher tells you it isn't meant to make bass, so plan for a subwoofer from the start.
Its figures are tidy for the money. A Qts of 0.66 and a BL of 4.48 T·m point to a better-controlled motor than the Hannibal HM-6E's 0.91 and 3.60, and Deaf Bonce's low-pass window for the Lite 60 runs up to 12 kHz rather than the HM-6E's 10 kHz, which gives more freedom in where you hand over to the tweeter.
Amplifier, filters and tweeters
Deaf Bonce's manual lists nine MLA amplifiers for the Lite 60. Of those, we stock the compact MLA-80.4XS, rated at 80 W x 4 into 4 Ω to match the Lite 60's rating, and the MLA-160.4 at 160 W x 4, twice the speaker's rating, so its gain needs setting with care.
Both amplifiers' filters are listed at 40–400 Hz with 12 dB/oct slopes. That covers Deaf Bonce's 250–350 Hz high-pass option but not the 8–12 kHz low-pass. For that you need a DSP with filters that reach that high, or an amplifier that offers them. Deaf Bonce's M8-DSP brings speaker-level inputs for a factory head unit, but its manual shows only default filter settings, not the adjustable range, so check that before relying on it. The manual's gain advice, head-unit volume no higher than 80% and amplifier sensitivity at 50%, is only a starting point; a test tone does the job better.
For the top end, the Machete MFT-25 super tweeter is rated at 35 W RMS and 106 dB SPL with a recommended 8 kHz high-pass, and the MFT-25 Mini at 30 W. Either is far more sensitive than the Lite 60, so its channel will run at lower gain.
What owners and reviewers say about the Deaf Bonce Machete Lite 60
We found no owner or reviewer feedback on the Lite 60 when we checked in October 2026. There are no reviews on Deaf Bonce's product page, a search of the Steve Meade Designs SPL forum for Machete mids returned nothing, and the model wasn't in the speaker list of Deaf Bonce's authorised US dealer as far as we could see. Amazon India, Flipkart, Team-BHP, Reddit and DIYMobileAudio blocked our requests, so we can't rule out feedback there.
Deaf Bonce's description promises a balance of clarity and volume, with crisp vocals and punchy midrange; that's the maker's pitch, not an independent verdict. If you've run a pair, tell us how they've held up and we'll add your notes here.
Machete Lite 60 vs HM-6E, Fight 60 and the component sets
Against the Hannibal HM-6E (₹8,990), the Lite 60 is ₹500 cheaper, quoted 1.8 dB more sensitive, with a wider top end, and rated 10 W higher than the HM-6E's product page, though that model's manuals print the same 80 W. Step up to the Machete Fight 60 (₹10,990) for 100 W RMS, 94.9 dB SPL and a lower 0.48 Qts, if you have the amplifier power to use it.
If you'd rather not build a three-way system, Deaf Bonce's Machete two-way component sets are the alternative. The MLC-60 (₹9,990) includes tweeters and plays down to 65 Hz at 89.7 dB SPL; the MFC-615 (₹11,990) reaches 55 Hz at 91.7 dB. Both go lower and need no separate tweeter, but neither is quoted as sensitive as the Lite 60.
Who should buy it, and who shouldn't
Buy the Lite 60 if you want the lowest-cost route into a loud three-way front stage, you'll run it from an amplifier with proper high-pass filtering, and you plan to add super tweeters and a subwoofer.
Look elsewhere if you want one set of speakers that does everything (a component set suits you better), you intend to run high power (the Fight 60 is rated at 100 W), or you hoped to drive it from the head unit.
Installation notes for Indian cars
Doors make or break a midrange like this. Seal the service holes, damp the outer skin and trim panel, and give the speaker a rigid spacer ring cut for the 149.7 mm opening; our damping guide covers the damping materials and order of work. Factory openings differ between cars, so measure the 68.1 mm depth against the window glass, or ask us to check fitment for your car.
Keep the paper cones out of the path of monsoon water inside the door. With the AC running at idle, system voltage can sag, so sound power wiring and a healthy battery help the amplifier deliver its rating, and an amplifier needs airflow in an Indian summer wherever it's mounted. VA3 Car Studio in Ghaziabad offers professional installation and can make door baffles or speaker pods.
Price and where to buy
The Deaf Bonce Machete Lite 60 carries an MRP of ₹8,490 for the pair on our store listing. VA3 Car Studio often sells below MRP; see the current offer on the Machete Lite 60 product page. Every pair we sell is a genuine Deaf Bonce product.
The bottom line
On Deaf Bonce's own numbers, the Machete Lite 60 is our lowest-priced Deaf Bonce 6.5-inch mid, yet it is quoted with more sensitivity and top-end reach than the Hannibal HM-6E, and with more power than that model's product page gives (its manuals print the same 80 W). It still needs the full kit around it: an amplifier, a DSP or filters that reach 8–12 kHz, super tweeters and a sealed door. With no reviews to lean on yet, treat it as a well-specified budget mid rather than a proven one.
Deaf Bonce Machete Lite 60 FAQ
Is the Deaf Bonce Machete Lite 60 a mid-bass or a midrange speaker?
Deaf Bonce lists it as a midrange. Its response starts at 90 Hz, but the manual asks for a high-pass at 150–250 Hz (24 dB/oct) or 250–350 Hz (12 dB/oct), so bass below that belongs to a subwoofer.
Which tweeter suits the Lite 60?
A super tweeter crossed in at about 8 kHz. In the Machete range that's the MFT-25, rated at 35 W RMS and 106 dB SPL with a recommended 8 kHz high-pass, or the 30 W MFT-25 Mini.
Can I use the MLA-80.4XS's crossover for the Lite 60?
Partly. Its 12 dB/oct filters span 40–400 Hz, which covers Deaf Bonce's 250–350 Hz high-pass option. The recommended 8–12 kHz low-pass needs a DSP or an amplifier with filters that reach that high.
Buy Deaf Bonce Speakers in India
Check the Deaf Bonce Machete Lite 60 6.5-Inch Midrange Speakers 80W price in India, browse more Deaf Bonce speakers or compare all midrange and midbass speakers in India. Want it fitted properly? Book a speaker upgrade at our Ghaziabad studio.
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