Massive Audio HIPPOXL84V2

Massive Audio HIPPOXL84V2

When Massive Audio designs a subwoofer, they start with a performance goal. Every time, we surpass that goal with the end result. The goal for the entire Hippo subwoofer line up is to make the best high all-around, high output subwoofer for musical installs. How can they call a subwoofer that has an 8” cone, an XL?

Well, let’s check out the award winning HippoXL84. Not just your average 8” subwoofer, but one of power and precision in a compact package. At the heart of HippoXL84 is a stout 2.5” coil that can take plenty of heat and power from the most demanding installs. The voice coil is wrapped on an anodized aluminum former, for strength and weight savings. They even added kevlar spunlace for additional durability under extended use. Rated for 700 watts to stay ahead of the pack.

They mated an oversized, high strength, double stack motor to control that voice coil. To help with all that power and heat, is a vented back plate, to keep the bass cool for years to come. On the face of things, the HippoXL84 has a Kevlar Fiber reinforced, non-pressed paper cone, which provides a natural tone and great cone rigidity for clean bass notes. Keeping that sweet cone in check is up to the dual Nomex spiders that we have in a mirrored stack, as well as a high roll surround. Addressing rigidity between the moving cone and the motor itself, is a strong, but lightweight, cast basket.

For those who care about the show as well as the go, there is red stitching to increase cone-to-surround connection strength. The cast aluminum basket has a great textured finish, and the front and center dust cap is a fiberglass woven showpiece that can take a hammering.

In the end, what makes the HippoXL84 so special, is how well all the precision parts come together to work as a musical subwoofer in a small package for those who need premium performance, but space is at a premium. For those ultra tight spaces, where you really want to hit the low notes, few 8” subwoofers can match the all-around performance of the Massive HippoXL84 The Massive Audio HippoXL84 should be at the top of your list when it comes to a well made, well designed, and competitively priced 8” subwoofer.