Buttkicker "Silent Subwoofer"

Hey, I know a lot of you laptop users are generally headphone users. I love headphones myself, but they lack the kick of the bass you get when listening to music or playing games.

I found this thing online a few weeks ago, bought one and I absolutely love it. Just thought I'd post it here in case anyone wanted to check it out.

New ButtKicker Gamer - ButtKicker Gamer2

It was out of stock so I emailed them and they messaged me with some places that had it.

 

I have seen a lot of innovative sound devices in the past, they sort of phased out I guess for the last few years. For a while though you would actually see TV commercials and things for the sound vest that would thump you in the chest on bass impact, and they had chairs and rockers and stuff as well that had speakers & subs built in and some sort of impact driver.

 

From the reviews I've read on them, they do work. Never experienced one myself, but it's a novel idea.

 

Seems this product is most centered around and popular with the racing crowd, especially those with sim setups.

I have the wheel and monitors just not a cockpit I do not play racing very often though these days or use my headphones, I can usually crank up the 12" powered sub under my desk that shakes most of the house.

Id like to test this product with headphones though in other genre like say FPS games, it wont disturb the nehbors since it wont make sounds like my subwoofer but I wonder if it will disturb somebody in the same room, seems like it still makes vibration/rattle noises.

 

As would I. I keep hoping to run into one of these at BestBuy or someplace. I would really like to see it work before dropping 140 bucks on one. That's probably what I'd use it for too. Headphones. I have the Z-2300's for other stuff, and it produces quite enough bass. I really don't ever play games though. I think Bioshock II was the last one I actually played through. Or LBP on PS3. Nothing too intense, but I bet on a movie like The Dark Knight it would kick ***.

 

Id imagine BFBC2 would be a great game for it, since it has a great emphasis on bass. Since all I am playing these days is SC2 though.... well and some worms reloaded, and yes worms has some big booms but I would just feel strange using something like this for worms.

I think I ram out of electrical plugs and dont need any more wires in my setup anyways, my room will have a nuclear meltdown if I add any more things and the power bill is high enough.


Still though since this is a seat product I see why its big on the racing sim crowd, its perfect for that and would really emulate how a car rumbles and feels, but for fps catching a shotgun slug in the chest and having your butt vibrate really just doesnt do it for me. If I am going to go for this kind of product I may as well go all the way and get a vest

BTW I was not lying that they had these things so long ago, just googled and my first result was a video showcasing the interactor vest from the 90's this was back in Mortalk Kombat 2 & SNES era.

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They actually have high tech super awesome versions of this thing now that surpasses that of the buttkicker, I saw one on G4 TV not too long ago that actually used air chambers so when you got shot it felt like it


TN Games ForceWear

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Cuss. If I got something like that I don't think you could pry me away from an FPS. That's taking it to a whole different ball field.

 

I only play FPS games and a few flying sim games, and I have to say, this certainly works.

BFBC2 is out of this world if you set the audio to war tapes.

It doesn't seem to disturb people in the room, the vibration can be heard but not very much. If the system is over driven, though, it produces a rattle that (according to their online support) does not harm the unit unless prolonged.

I use it with headphones, Sennheiser HD595's, and I find it adds an excellent depth to music. I am actually interested in their slightly more expensive "drummer" model.

It's true that the effect of being shot is not easily replicated, but when a massive freaking mortar shell explodes just feet away from you or a tank blows a hole in the side of a building and it begins to collapse, this feeling is amazing.

I live with other people so subwoofers are not an option, even though I have the z-5500's.

Do they sell that ForceWear vest? Very interested. I don't think it would 'replace' the buttkicker, per se, but would compliment it quite well. One would give the massive rumbling feeling of when a tank drives by and the other would make the bullets feel real.

 

This thing is AWESOME!

I own the Gamer 2 version (smaller, quieter amp compared to the first) and it really does all that it says and more. Its NOT a "RUMBLE" pack like in game controllers...its more like a voice coil from a speaker...its like a cylinder that moves up and down...like a speaker, minus the fact that the actual device itself makes no noise. Its literally like sitting on a high powered, big speakered subwoofer...again, minus the actual noise.

Its also VERY well built...the actual Buttkicker device is COMPLETELY solid steal and aluminum...no plastic what so ever...and the amp is heavy and very nice...well worth the asking price just by itself.

Other than that, it adds A LOT to music, movies, and games...HIGHLY recommended for headphone users!

In fact, when I first got it and was using it with my headphones I kept taking them off because I was convinced that my subwoofer from my speaker set was on...nope...the Buttkicker is just that immersible...

Now that I own one (have had it for a few months) I would EASILY pay 2-3x as much for it.

If you love music, movies, and games and would like some extra "punch", you owe it to yourself to get one of these.

Plus, the Buttkicker either goes below 20hz or right at 20hz because I can feel the bass notes in music that I would have never heard with my headphones or even my actual subwoofer for that matter.

Overall, EASILY a 10 out of 10 star type product!

Also, the customer support is THE best in the industry...had to return the amp that was malfunctioned and I actually spoke to the people at the headquarters...actually spoke to the HEAD ENGINEER to describe my problem so they could better the issue in future releases...just blew me away with how nice and personable they were! Truly awesome!

 

Wow. Ok. So I might blindly purchase one of these if you guys are that blown away. So AndroidVageta, you have the Gamer 2, and Akari... which version do you have?

 

Yeah, I have the Buttkicker Gamer 2...which is the version Amazon sells and every other place as far as Im concerned. The older version in no way shape or form is better, it had major amp issues, was loud (fan), and had no wired controller.

Gamer 2 has a solid state amp so its smaller and runs completely quiet and a lot cooler...also has a wired controller so you don't need the amp in arms reach at all times.

Also, I blindly bought it and I could NOT be happier...well, Id love to have a more powerful one is all ;-)

Please please please make sure though that you keep care to not let the cable wrap around your chair or anything...only down fall of the device is that the big thick cable leading from the amp to the Buttkicker is the weakest cable Ive seen...mine got wrapped around the post of my office chair and within a couple hours of me not noticing the cable was VERY badly frayed...looks like a cougar went after it...and its not just my chair, the cable sleeve is just that cheap/weak...however, dont let this sway your decision, just make sure to keep an eye on the cable and make sure you dont roll over it or wrap it around anything and youll be OK.

 

I also bought the Gamer2. The Gamer received some pretty bad reviews due to the amp problems but they've all been fixed with the release of a new amp in the Gamer2.

I haven't been paying attention to the cable and it still looks pretty mint. I assume they would be able to replace that part regardless.

I really enjoy this product for listening to music. Some day I think I'll need to install a few of their concert versions into a floating floor when I move into my own place and build a home theater.