Kickstart Project: DIY Audio Transducer (Silent Subwoofer)

Hey everybody got a project I am going to be starting that was kick-started with a viewer donation for my tech channel on YouTube.

This is something I was wanting to do for a while, originally I wanted to review the buttkicker gamer unit but it was never sent to me for review (even after promised) keeping the idea in mind later on I found that doing this yourself can be both much cheaper and more tailored to your needs. In very short summary a audio transducer is a silent subwoofer that transfers the LFE (low frequency effects) directly to you via vibration rather than through the air via sound.

This means its quiet, and also much more pronounced. Less damaging to your hearing and easier on the wallet to boot.

I feel that NBR will find this applicable mostly because using something like this is is possible to view movies, play games, or do other things on a LAPTOP with HEADPHONES but still get that FEEL of a subwoofer. High end headphones are more than capable of playing the frequencies you would here from a dedicated subwoofer but they can never shake you and thus is causes a feeling of disconnection. Now you can get that feeling back both cheap and without disturbing anybody next door or in the house.

Midnight gamers unite, this is my DIY audio transducer project stay tuned to my channel for the full series of videos to follow and details on picking parts, installing them, and putting it to use.

My first video introducing the project and thanking the viewers.

Watch on YouTube:
Kickstart Project: DIY Audio Transducer for Viewer Donations - YouTube

Watch Here:



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Second Video Up

Watch on YouTube: http://youtu.be/hMAeLIfMj2o


Watch Here:



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So after spending 2 days doing a ton of research on products I picked what I need.

I decided to go to parts express as the store, they had the best prices and best selection.

For the bass shaker I went with the Aura AST-2B-4 Pro Bass Shaker Tactile Transducer: Aura AST-2B-4 Pro Bass Shaker 299-028
For the amp to power it I went with Dayton Audio SA70 70W Subwoofer Plate Amplifier: Dayton Audio SA70 70W Subwoofer Amplifier 300-784

Total Cost: $98.60 w/ Free Shipping

Later today I plan to make a video going over all my transducer and amp choices and why I picked the ones I did as a final decision. The other amps and devices maybe better for your particular needs if your following this project so the video will compress my 2 days of research into something easy to understand.

 

I will be following this. I still remember the days of hacking apart 12" subs, epoxying a rod or PVC pipe to the voice coil setup and then mounting them to the underside of the cushon of a Lazy boy recliner for auto racing games. ( circa 1988 to 1995)

DIY Article - Tactile Transducers

 

If I didn't know you were doing that for tactile feedback it sounds like you could have been making something rather interesting that we should not talk about at NBR lol

 

This is interesting, thanks!

 

Got my main components ordered, here is that video that goes over the ordering decisions and talks about what you may want to know if considering doing this yourself.

Watch on YouTube:
DIY Tactical Transducer Project - Part #1 Buying Parts - YouTube

Watch Here:
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Parts are due in today! I have a ton to do though so probably wont get it mounted and tested, will try to get that done in the next couple of days.

 

Very interested in the results. I could have alot of fun with doing something like this to my movie chair.

 

Yes it will be great for your furniture in the movie room.

A tip if your willing to go so far as to do it, put your furniture on a "pedestal" and attach this to that so that your feet feel the vibration as well this gives a more realistic effect to the body for "feeling the bass"

Parts are here BTW came in 2 days ago, the Aura is much bigger and beefier than I imagined I bet its going to really get that chair of mine moving, now to find the time to get it up and going. I am moving to a new home at the end of the week >.>

 

Man I just saw this, you've given me something to do in the next month.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

Awesome project! I'm considering small donation soon, but I don't have money in my PayPal linked bank account right now. What would you suggest for a PlaySeat? It's a DIY one, but anyway.

 

This same build I went with will be great for a playseat, if you think that you need more than get 2 shakers instead of just 1. The amp I have can handle 2 Auras in series or spend a bit more and get a 2 channel amp that pushes 40w+ RMS.

 

Thanks for the input I've checked it out and the same setup would be more than OK. The transducer would fit perfectly underneath the seat attached directly to the chassis. This way (I guess) it would shake the whole thing. The amp would be next to the seat, below the shifter. The problem with it is that, it seems to be 120V only, where I need 220V one. I hope that I would be able to find one, just like it, but 220V. I have plenty of time, since I'm not going to do it next couple, or more, months (money ).

 

You can get transformers and stuff to convert but it would be best you just find a comparable amp that runs on your 220v source.
It does not have to be exactly like this amp I chose just get a power range similar and keep in mind cross over features.

 

Thanks, there are pretty cheap 220V->110V 100W converters over eBay. I like those parts as they'll fit perfectly. The problem is that I can't find similar products around here, and the shipping is like $150 without custom duties... I'll leave it for now

 

Cheap 220V-110V converters, in my experience, are no good for long-term use. They'll charge your electric razor as many times as you want, but a constant 40W draw would kill many cheap converters pretty quickly. If the amp's got an external power supply, you'd be much better off buying a 220V power supply with the same output and connector head.

 

So do not think I have posted anything on NBR only on my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ViciousXUSMC?ref=hl

But starting a new job and also moving to a new residence. Myself and Miss Vicious got an apartment together.
The move has been hard on me and of course means that I have had a hold on my reviews & projects till I get my equipment back together in the new place.

I just got service today so have phone, tv, internet but need to build myself a new computer desk and get all my recording equipment and things back in order.

Thanks to everybody following the project I look forward to recording in the new place, have more space than I did before

 

Now that I am settling in a bit more getting a (small) amount of time to work on things further.

Got video #2 up for you now.

YouTube: DIY Tactical Transducer Project - Part #2 Build & Setup - YouTube

Watch Here:



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