Deaf Bonce MFA-1.500 Review: A Compact 500 W Monoblock with Steep Filters
Updated: Oct 6
The Deaf Bonce MFA-1.500 is the smallest of four Machete MFA-1 monoblocks: a mono Class D subwoofer amplifier rated at 500 W RMS into 1 ohm, 360 W into 2 ohm and 210 W into 4 ohm at 14.4 V, with 24 dB/oct low-pass and subsonic filters. Its Indian MRP is ₹23,990, the entry point to a four-model range topped by the MFA-1.1500. It suits someone adding one modest subwoofer who wants a small amplifier with proper bass controls. See the current offer on our Deaf Bonce MFA-1.500 product page.
Key takeaways
500 W into 1 ohm, 360 W into 2 ohm and 210 W into 4 ohm, all at 14.4 V, so your subwoofer's wiring decides how much you get.
Steep filters: low-pass 50–250 Hz and subsonic 10–55 Hz, both at 24 dB/oct, plus bass boost and a phase switch.
RCA input only, so a factory head unit needs a line output converter or a DSP with high-level inputs.
No owner reviews or independent tests turned up; the case rests on Deaf Bonce's figures and a compact 161 × 152 × 55 mm chassis.
Deaf Bonce MFA-1.500 specifications
Specification | Deaf Bonce MFA-1.500 |
|---|---|
Type | Mono (1-channel) Class D subwoofer amplifier |
RMS power at 1 ohm (14.4 V) | 500 W |
RMS power at 2 ohm (14.4 V) | 360 W |
RMS power at 4 ohm (14.4 V) | 210 W |
Minimum load | 1 ohm |
Frequency response | 10–250 Hz |
Low-pass filter | 50–250 Hz, 24 dB/oct |
Subsonic filter | 10–55 Hz, 24 dB/oct |
Bass boost | 0–12 dB at 45 Hz |
Input and sensitivity | RCA, 0.4–6 V |
Damping factor | At least 160 |
Signal-to-noise ratio | At least 88 dB |
Operating voltage | 9–15 V |
Terminals | 4 AWG power, 8 AWG speaker |
Dimensions | 161.4 × 151.8 × 54.7 mm |
Packed weight | 1.53 kg |
In the box | Amplifier, bass remote control, mounting kit, manual, warranty card |
India MRP | ₹23,990 |
Figures come from Deaf Bonce's MFA-1.500 product page and the MFA-1 series owner's manual, which covers all four models.
Power at each load, and the subwoofers it suits
The MFA-1.500 reaches its full rating only into 1 ohm, so the useful question is what load your subwoofer presents, not the headline figure.
A dual-voice-coil sub sets that load by how its coils are wired: a dual 2-ohm driver gives 1 ohm in parallel or 4 ohm in series, and a dual 4-ohm driver gives 2 ohm or 8 ohm. The Machete ML-12R D2, wired to 1 ohm, is rated at 500 W RMS, an exact match on paper. The 8-inch MF-08S D2 is rated at 600 W, so it has headroom at the same load. With a 300 W sub such as the ML-12S D2, wire it to 4 ohm rather than 1 ohm.
Those ratings assume 14.4 V, roughly what a healthy charging system gives with the engine running. Deaf Bonce doesn't publish 12 V figures or say the power supply is regulated, so expect less output when voltage sags in slow traffic with the AC on full. That's a reason not to buy right at the limit of what your subwoofer needs.
Controls, inputs and the factory head unit question
Gain covers 0.4–6 V of input signal, the low-pass runs from 50 to 250 Hz and the subsonic filter from 10 to 55 Hz, both at 24 dB/oct. That's twice the 12 dB/oct listed for the MLA-500.1XS, MLA-800 and Atom PRO monoblocks we sell, so less upper bass leaks through above the crossover point and the sub is harder to locate in the boot. Bass boost adds up to 12 dB at 45 Hz, the phase switch flips polarity by 180°, and a bass remote in the box lets you trim the bass from the driver's seat.
The catch for many Indian cars is the input. There's only a pair of RCA jacks; the manual lists no speaker-level input and no RCA pass-through. If you're keeping a factory touchscreen, its speaker-level output has to be converted first. Our Deaf Bonce M6C converter does that and can switch the amplifier on automatically, while the M8-DSP adds high-level inputs and software-set crossovers.
What owners and reviewers say about the Deaf Bonce MFA-1.500
When we checked in October 2026, we couldn't find owner reviews, forum threads or independent bench tests of the MFA-1.500. Deaf Bonce's product page and manual carry specifications only. The online store of Deaf Bonce's listed US dealer, alphardaudio.us, shows it with no customer reviews, and the big retailer and forum sites we tried had nothing on it or couldn't be reached.
So the evidence is Deaf Bonce's own figures, which are promotional rather than independent measurements. If you run an MFA-1.500, we'd like to hear which subwoofer you paired it with and how it copes with long summer drives.
How it compares with the MLA-500.1XS and AAP-800.1D
The MLA-500.1XS (₹27,990 MRP) is rated almost identically, at 500 W, 360 W and 200 W into 1, 2 and 4 ohm, but in a far smaller 151 × 83 × 35 mm case, with higher listed damping (at least 180) and signal-to-noise (at least 100 dB). Its filters are 12 dB/oct. Pay the extra ₹4,000 if space is genuinely tight; otherwise the MFA-1.500 gives you steeper filters for less.
The AAP-800.1D is the awkward one. It has the same ₹23,990 MRP, lists more power at every load (790 W, 480 W and 270 W) and adds a 12 V rating of 700 W at 1 ohm. The MFA-1.500 answers with 24 dB/oct slopes and a low-pass that reaches down to 50 Hz, where the AAP-800.1D's starts at 80 Hz. For output per rupee, the AAP-800.1D wins on paper. Within the range, the MFA-1.800 adds 300 W at 1 ohm for ₹5,000 more, in a case about 30 mm longer.
Who should buy it, and who shouldn't
Buy the MFA-1.500 if you're driving one subwoofer rated around 500 W at 1 ohm, or a smaller one wired to 4 ohm, and you want steep filtering and a bass remote in a chassis that's easy to hide.
Look elsewhere if you want the most power for the money, expect to add a second subwoofer, or need speaker-level inputs built in. The AAP-800.1D and the bigger MFA-1 models answer the first two; for the third you'll need the M6C or a DSP whichever of these amplifiers you choose.
Installation notes for Indian cars
The manual puts the fuse holder within 40 cm of the battery's positive terminal, and the power terminal is sized for 4 AWG cable. Deaf Bonce publishes no fuse rating, so size the fuse to protect the cable you run; our Tchernov 4 AWG power cable review covers one option. A short ground to bare chassis metal matters as much as the positive feed.
The amplifier is small enough to consider under a seat or behind a boot side panel, but measure first and leave air around it. Deaf Bonce gives no operating temperature range, and a closed boot in May gets very hot, so don't bury it under carpet or against the sub enclosure. Keep RCA cables away from the power cable. VA3 Car Studio in Ghaziabad offers professional installation and can build a custom subwoofer box for the driver you pair with it.
Price and where to buy
The Deaf Bonce MFA-1.500 has an MRP of ₹23,990. VA3 Car Studio often sells below MRP, so check today's price on the MFA-1.500 product page. Every unit we sell is genuine Deaf Bonce stock, and we can check your subwoofer's wiring options before you order.
The bottom line
The MFA-1.500 has steeper filtering than the MLA-500.1XS, MLA-800 and AAP-800.1D we sell near its price, and it comes with a 45 Hz bass boost, phase control and a bass remote, in a compact case. Its 500 W at 1 ohm suits one mid-power subwoofer. Against it are RCA-only inputs, no published 12 V rating and an in-house rival, the AAP-800.1D, with more power for the same MRP. Choose it for control and size rather than outright output.
Deaf Bonce MFA-1.500 FAQ
Can the Deaf Bonce MFA-1.500 work with a factory head unit?
Not directly. Its only signal input is a pair of RCA jacks, and the manual lists no speaker-level input. With a factory head unit you need a line output converter such as the Deaf Bonce M6C, or a DSP with high-level inputs, between the head unit and the amplifier.
What subwoofer impedance should I use with the MFA-1.500?
For full power, present 1 ohm, for example a dual 2-ohm subwoofer with its coils in parallel. At 2 ohm the amplifier is rated at 360 W and at 4 ohm at 210 W, which suits lower-powered subwoofers. Match the sub's RMS rating to the power at the load you choose.
Does the MFA-1.500 come with a bass remote?
Yes. Deaf Bonce's manual lists a remote control in the box, along with a mounting kit, and the amplifier has a REMOTE input for the bass remote. It lets you adjust the bass from the driver's seat without opening the boot.
Buy Deaf Bonce Amplifiers in India
You can buy the Deaf Bonce Machete MFA-1.500 Mono Class D Amplifier 500W online from VA3 Car Studio with pan-India shipping. See more Deaf Bonce amplifiers, compare other mono amplifiers, or book amplifier installation in Ghaziabad.
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