Deaf Bonce MF-10S Review: 800 W in a 10-Inch Sub, and How the MLA-800 Matches It
Updated: Oct 6
The Deaf Bonce MF-10S is a 10-inch Machete subwoofer driver rated at 800 W RMS (1,600 W max), built around a 2.5-inch copper voice coil with 14 mm of linear excursion and sold in dual 2 Ω (D2) and dual 4 Ω (D4) versions. Its India MRP is ₹19,990, the least expensive of the 800 W Machete subs we list, below the 12-inch MF-12S and 15-inch MF-15S. It suits owners who want serious output but can only spare room for a 10-inch box. Check today's offer on our Deaf Bonce MF-10S product page.
Quick summary
800 W RMS from a 10-inch, with the same power rating, coil size and Xmax as the 12-inch MF-12S.
Deaf Bonce's manual recommends a 40-litre ported box with an 80 cm² port, tuned to 37 Hz.
The D2 wired to 1 Ω is almost exactly matched to the MLA-800's 790 W rating; two D4s at 1 Ω suit the MLA-1500.
No owner or press reviews were available to us, so this review works from Deaf Bonce's published figures.
Deaf Bonce MF-10S specifications
Specification | Machete MF-10S |
|---|---|
Type | 10-inch (254 mm) subwoofer driver |
Voice coils | Dual 2 Ω (D2) or dual 4 Ω (D4) |
Voice coil | 2.5-inch, copper wire |
Power handling | 800 W RMS, 1,600 W max |
SPL | D2 84.0 dB; D4 84.1 dB |
Fs | D2 36.0 Hz; D4 36.3 Hz |
Qts | D2 0.45; D4 0.46 |
BL | D2 18.0 T·m; D4 18.2 T·m |
Vas | D2 20.5 litres; D4 20.8 litres |
Xmax / Xmech | 14 mm / 28 mm |
Construction | Paper cone, foam surround, ferrite magnet, steel frame |
Mounting depth | 143.0 mm |
Cut-out diameter | 228.0 mm |
Gross weight (packed) | 7.45 kg |
Recommended box (manual) | Ported, 40 litres, 80 cm² port 35 cm long, tuned to 37 Hz |
India MRP | ₹19,990 |
The D2 figures are from Deaf Bonce's MF-10S D2 page, which lists only that version. The D4 figures and the box recommendation come from Deaf Bonce's combined MF-series manual, linked from its MF-15S page, and the D4 figures match our listing.
The 40-litre box Deaf Bonce recommends
Deaf Bonce's manual for the MF-08S, MF-10S, MF-12S and MF-15S gives the MF-10S a ported box of 40 litres (1.4 cubic feet) with an 80 cm² port 35 cm long, tuned to 37 Hz. That sits between the 23 litres it suggests for the MF-08S and the 50 litres for the MF-12S. With an Fs of 36.0 Hz and a Qts of 0.45, a smaller sealed box is also workable if space matters more than output.
The manual's setup advice is specific: set the subsonic filter 5 Hz below the port tuning, which means about 32 Hz for this box, keep the low-pass between 63 and 80 Hz, leave bass boost at zero, and run the sub in for about 40 hours at medium power before pushing it hard. That last point is worth following with a long-excursion driver like this.
Wiring the D2 and D4
Both versions have two coils, and both should always be connected. A D2 presents 4 Ω with its coils in series or 1 Ω in parallel; a D4 presents 8 Ω in series or 2 Ω in parallel. With two subs, a pair of D4s, each wired in parallel and then paralleled together, makes 1 Ω, while a pair of D2s, each in series and then paralleled, makes 2 Ω.
Amplifier pairing: the D2 and the MLA-800
Deaf Bonce's 14.4 V ratings for its Machete mono amps line up neatly with this sub:
One D2 at 1 Ω on the MLA-800: 790 W, within 10 W of the MF-10S's 800 W rating.
One D4 at 2 Ω on the MLA-1000: 680 W, a conservative 85 per cent of the rating.
One D4 at 2 Ω on the MLA-1500: 920 W, more than the rating, so the gain must be held back.
Two D4s at 1 Ω on the MLA-1500: 1,480 W, about 740 W each. Two D2s at 2 Ω on the same amp get about 460 W each.
One caution: 1 Ω is the minimum load Deaf Bonce allows on these amplifiers, so the D2-on-MLA-800 pairing works the amp at its limit. Give it good ventilation and a solid power feed, especially in summer. The ratings also assume 14.4 V; at idle with the AC on, expect less.
What owners and reviewers say about the Deaf Bonce MF-10S
When we checked in October 2026, we found no owner reviews, forum threads or press tests of the MF-10S that we could read and verify. Deaf Bonce's page and manual are manufacturer material. The product data at Alphard Audio, the online store for Deaf Bonce's US dealer, shows no customer reviews either, though it confirms both D2 and D4 versions are sold. Its promotional text describes the coil as CCAW where Deaf Bonce's page says copper; we follow the manufacturer.
That leaves no owner verdict to pass on. If you run an MF-10S, we'd like to hear how it has performed and held up.
MF-10S vs ML-10S, MF-08S and MF-12S
The ML-10S (₹12,990 MRP) is the budget 10-inch: 300 W RMS, a 1.75-inch coil and 10 mm Xmax, with a higher 85.9 dB SPL figure but far less power handling. The MF-08S (₹18,990 MRP) is ₹1,000 cheaper and needs only a 23-litre box, but it is rated at 600 W and has a higher 48.0 Hz Fs.
The MF-12S (₹23,990 MRP) shares the 800 W rating, 2.5-inch coil and 14 mm Xmax, adds a larger cone and a 2 dB higher SPL figure (86.0 dB), and asks for a 50-litre box and a 283.0 mm cut-out. If your boot can take the bigger box, the 12-inch may be worth the extra ₹4,000; if not, the MF-10S keeps the same power handling in a smaller package.
Who should buy it, and who shouldn't
Buy the MF-10S if you want 800 W-class bass in a hatchback or compact sedan, you're happy to give up around 40 litres of boot to a ported box, and you plan to pair it with an MLA-800 or similar mono amp.
Look elsewhere if you only have a small amplifier, since this sub needs real power to come alive, or if you have the space for a 12-inch, where the MF-12S offers more output on paper for the same amplifier.
Installation notes for Indian cars
The MF-10S needs a 228.0 mm cut-out and 143.0 mm of mounting depth, so the box has to be deeper than one for the ML-10S. A 40-litre ported enclosure takes a real share of a hatchback's boot; in a sedan it can sit against the rear seat back, and in an SUV it can stay low on the load floor. Keep the spare wheel reachable, and plan around a CNG cylinder if you have one.
At 7.45 kg packed, the sub makes the box heavy, so fix it down firmly for rough roads and hard braking. Run heavy-gauge, fused power cable such as Tchernov's 4 AWG, sized for your amplifier, and damp the boot lid and number-plate area. VA3 Car Studio in Ghaziabad can build the recommended box and install the complete system.
Price and where to buy
The MF-10S has an MRP of ₹19,990 for either version. We often sell below MRP; choose D2 or D4 and check today's price on the Machete MF-10S D2/D4 listing, and ask us to confirm stock of the version you want.
The bottom line
The MF-10S packs the MF-12S's 800 W rating, 2.5-inch coil and 14 mm Xmax into a 10-inch that Deaf Bonce pairs with a 40-litre box. The D2 on an MLA-800 at 1 Ω is a close match on paper, provided the amplifier is installed with cooling and wiring in mind. Independent owner feedback is still missing, and we'd welcome some.
Deaf Bonce MF-10S FAQ
Which amplifier suits the Deaf Bonce MF-10S?
For one D2 wired to 1 ohm, the Deaf Bonce MLA-800, rated at 790 W into 1 ohm, is almost exactly matched to the sub's 800 W rating. A D4 wired to 2 ohms suits the MLA-1000, rated at 680 W into 2 ohms.
What box does the MF-10S need?
Deaf Bonce's combined MF-series manual recommends a ported box of 40 litres with an 80 cm² port 35 cm long, tuned to 37 Hz. A smaller sealed box can be designed from the published parameters if space is tight.
Is the MF-10S available in a 4-ohm version?
Yes. Deaf Bonce's product page shows only the D2, but its combined MF-series manual lists both D2 and D4, and our listing offers both. The D4 wires to 2 ohms in parallel or 8 ohms in series.
Buy Deaf Bonce Subwoofers in India
Check the Deaf Bonce Machete MF-10S D2/D4 10-Inch Subwoofer 800W RMS price in India, browse more Deaf Bonce subwoofers or compare all car subwoofers in India. Want it fitted properly? Book subwoofer installation at our Ghaziabad studio.
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