The Official Bass Shaker, Buttkicker, Tactile Transducer Thread

[Big Daddy]

Please post comments and pictures about your experience with the above in this thread.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactile_transducer

A tactile transducer or "bass shaker" is a device which is made on the principle that low bass frequencies can be felt as well as heard. A shaker transmits low-frequency vibrations into various surfaces so that they can be felt by people. This is called tactile sound. Tactile transducers may augment or in some cases substitute for a subwoofer.

A bass-shaker is meant to be firmly attached to some surface such as a seat, couch or floor. The shaker houses a small weight which is driven by a voice coil similar to those found in dynamic loudspeakers. The voice-coil is driven by a low-frequency audio signal from an amplifier; common shakers typically handle 25 to 50 watts of amplifier power. The voice coil exerts force on both the weight and the body of the shaker, with the latter forces being transmitted into the mounting surface.

Tactile transducers may be used in a home theater, a commercial movie theater, or for special effects in an arcade game, amusement park ride or other application.

Related to Bass Shakers are a newer type of Tactile Transducer referred to as "Linear Actuators." These piston-like electromagnetic devices are said to transmit motion in a direct and lossless fashion. Linear Actuators directly and physically lift home theater seating in the vertical plane rather than transferring vibrations (by mounting within a seat, platform or floor). This technology is said to transmit a high-fidelity sound-motion augmentation, whereas "Shakers" may require heavy equalization and/or multiple units to approach a realistic effect.

There are other products now on the market which employ hydrualic (long-throw) linear actuators and outboard motion processors for home applications as popularized in "virtual reality" rides. These products differ radically from tactile transducers in that they require the manual composition and synchronized playback of motion signals, in addition to the standard soundtrack that the motion is meant to accompany.

http://www.baudline.com/erik/bass/tactile_faq.html
http://www.practical-home-theater-gu...s-shakers.html
http://hometheater.about.com/cs/loud...bwoofera_3.htm
http://www.baudline.com/erik/bass/clark_update.html


See the effect of these wonderful gadgets on cheese heads.

Buttkicker LFE DEMO - YouTube

List Of Manufacturers:

1. Aurasound Bass Shakers
   
2. Buttkicker
   
3. Boom Chair
   
4. Clark Synthesis Tactile Transducers
   
5. Crowson Technology
   
6. Dayton Audio Sound Exciters
   
7. D-Box
   
8. Earthquake Sound Tactile Transducers
   
9. Messina GSS, http://www.etronics.com/m-3355-messina.aspx
   
10. Rockford Fosgate's I-Beam Tactile Transducer
    
11. Vidsonix Tactile Transducer
    
12. Woon/K-Woon/DOT2SR Bass Shakers

Advantages of Bass Shakers, Buttkickers, or Transducers over Subwoofers

1. These are sometimes referred to as Silent Subwoofers. Although you may not substitude them for subwoofers, they should definitely be considered as complentary products that can increase the enjoyment of the lower frequencies. After all, good bass is meant to be felt and not only heard.
2. They will give you most of the enjoyment of good bass without making you deaf and forcing you to wear hearing aids.
3. They are a very good and cost effective alternative to buying a better or a second subwoofer.
4. Placement is generally easier as you don’t worry about standing waves and/or using the Subwoofer Crawl technique. Their proper placement is under your a$$.
5. They are ideal for people who live in apartments/condominiums or have small children who need to sleep or have nagging WAFs. An easier solution to a nagging WAF is . . Just kidding.

Connecting Multiple Transducers/Buttkickers/Bass Shakers to a Single Mono Amplifier:

If you plan to connect multiple Transducers/Buttkickers/Bass Shakers to a single amplifier, it is very important that you pay close attention to the net impedance of the speakers. Most subwoofer amplifiers can handle 8-ohm or 4-ohm speakers easily. However, the vast majority of amplifiers will have difficulty with 2-ohm speakers.

I believe the impedance of each Transducer/Buttkicker/Bass Shaker is 4 ohms. You cannot connect them in parallel as the impedance will drop to 2 ohms and most amplifiers cannot handle that kind of a load. However, if you connect them in series, the net impedance will rise to 8 ohms and the amplifier can handle it.

Series Loudspeakers:

This connection would give a final impedance of 8 ohms.

Parallel Loudspeakers:

This connection would give a final impedance of 2 ohms.

If you wnt to connect four Transducers/Buttkickers/Bass Shakers to a single amplifier, you can use Series/Parallel connection.

Series/Parallel Connection: In the following diagram, the net impedance of the top two speakers connected in series is 8 ohms. The net impedance of the bottom two speakers connected in series is also 8 ohms. Two series of 8 ohms each that connected in parallel will yield a net impedance of 4 ohms.

This connection would give a final impedance of 4 ohms.

For more information, read Impedance and Sensitivity of Speakers

My Scientific Recommendation: At night when you want to watch a movie, turn the master volume down, turn the powered subwoofer(s) off, and turn the bass shaker/buttkicker/transducer up. You can turn the subtitle on. By doing this, you can still enjoy the movie and feel the bass without disturbing anyone. Most new movies have a lot of action, plenty of low frequency bass, a lot of sex, horrible dialog and language, and very bad acting. Fortunately, you won’t be missing anything. You will still enjoy over 90% of the movie without the cops showing up at your door. The best or the worst part is that your marriage will be saved. That is why I refer to these gadgets as MARRIAGE SAVERS.

Where to Buy:

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...l_5b8oeexf8n_b
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...sl_6k2tzuvyy_b
http://www.parts-express.com/wizards...TOKEN=76228419
http://www.htmarket.com/audio-video-...e-theater.html
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...l_47kq2dydlg_e
http://www.gamechairstore.com/IVG2/N...=3-gmc50062-10
http://www.av-outlet.com/en-us/dept_463.html
http://shop.ebay.com/items/aura+bass...=229191_229196
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_kw=tact...ducer&_rusck=1
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_kw=clar...ducer&_rusck=1
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=bas....c0.m270.l1313