Hifonics Xx-Goliath- Test Report Amplifier

ManualThe Goliath comes with a 12-page full-size manual, covering all of the Generation XX amplifiers. It gave me all the info I needed - the text and accompanying drawings explained the features and controls fairly well. There are two pages devoted to system design and setup, and a very simplified page for troubleshooting various problems. Another page allows you to compare all the specs of the Generation XX amps and look up the specifics of the one you bought. All in all, it's a pretty adequate manual that covers most issues you'd encounter during install and setup. It includes warranty info and tells you how to contact Maxxsonics, the parent company.

ConclusionThe Hifonics XX-Goliath from the folks at Maxxsonics does what you'd expect, and more. It offers good control features, the ability to add a second Goliath as a slave unit (those poor woofers!), and is a high-quality, well-built amplifier. Its prodigious power has to be experienced. There is nothing like having thousands of watts on your car's subs. Even if you don't usually "crank it," the additional headroom is there and you'll notice it. At about $5,000, this amp is not cheap, but this is an area where spending a little more dough pays off. Here's to another 20 years!

ListeningWhen it comes to evaluating the sound quality of a Class D subwoofer amplifier, many learned folks would tell you they all sound the same: bad. I don't necessarily agree with that opinion. I've got a favorite subwoofer system that I've listened to for thousands of hours and know very well. Using a couple dozen of my favorite tracks, I can readily pick out something that's "different" in my subwoofer system. I hooked up the Goliath to the system and settled in for a couple hours listening to some of my favorite tracks for evaluation of the bottom end.

Not surprisingly, the Goliath showed that it had a ton of headroom in the power department, and easily handled most tracks. Power-hungry, very dynamic tracks like the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's "Fanfare for the Common Man" and The California Projects' "I Get Around" were also handled without any signs of stress. This kind of power on your subs can be addicting.

Listening carefully to Level 42's "Physical Presence" and Don Dorsey's "Toccata in D Minor," I thought the amp lacked a bit of speed in handling the dynamics of either the synthesizer or Dorsey's pipe organ. I also noticed a bit of rolled-off response in the extreme bottom end when listening to Avril Lavigne's "Sk8er Boi." I'll admit here to usually using an amp that is flat down to 5Hz, so I think what I heard was the effect of the previously mentioned subsonic filter. Other than those small foibles, the Goliath sounded controlled and ultra strong.