ButtKicker Wireless Home Theater Kit

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ButtKicker Wireless Home Theater Kit

ButtKicker Wireless Home Theater Kit

Summary

  • Product Name: Wireless Home Theater Kit
  • Manufacturer: ButtKicker
  • Review Date: March 04, 2009 03:20
  • MSRP: $399.95
  • First Impression: Pretty Cool
Specifications
  • Offers true infrasonic, or low-frequency response
  • Attaches to seats and floors, and sends low-frequency sound directly into the listener's body
  • Accurately reproduce the feeling range of many natural and man-made sounds
  • Now with wider couch / chair mounting accessory kit
  • BKA300-4 amplifier (115v) has integrated wireless option

Executive Overview

BK-Kit-BoxOne of the things that most impresses home theater enthusiasts is the big subwoofer. You know, the one that digs down deep and rattles the dishes in the kitchen. The problem is that it rattles the dishes in the kitchen. More likely, it rattles the dishes in the kitchen in the apartment next door. So what do you do when you want that big subwoofer sound without risking the wrath of your neighbors? Call Buttkicker!

Bass shakers have been on the market in one form or another for a while. The idea is that you split the subwoofer output sending one feed to your sub and the other to the bass shaker. The bass shaker attaches to your couch and when that low frequency hit happens, it transfers the vibrations to your couch (and thus, to you) much like that big subwoofer would. All the bass, none of the neighbors.

One of the historical problems with bass shakers has been wires. The subwoofer output has to be routed to an amp which in turn powers the shaker. This means running wires back to your couch. With people having enough problems running wires for speakers, bass shakers have had a hard time finding widespread acceptance. Buttkicker is looking to cut the wires in hopes of getting you and others to take closer look at this technology.

The Buttkicker Wireless Home Theater Kit comes with a wireless RF transmitter to send the signal from your receiver (or other source) to the Buttkicker BKA300-4 amplifier, an IR remote, a universal mounting plate plus an under-leg chair/couch pad with five additional rubber isolators for the other legs, and a slew of wires including an RCA “Y” adapter, 1 m RCA male to male cable and a Speaker Level Interface Adapter for connecting to your home theater or gaming system (whether “pre-out” powered subwoofer out, “passive” subwoofer out or simply a “line-out”) and 20’ of 14 gauge speaker wire with banana connectors. This is a one stop kit that has everything you need and a few extra things you probably don't.

BK-Kit-4-4

Also on the horizon is the new Buttkicker Live! service which will integrate into television broadcasts. This specifically integrates the Buttkicker effects into your favorite shows and sporting events. As anyone that has experienced the difference between a ProLogic and Dobly Digital can attest, specifically encoded material is a significant step up from derived or calculated.

It should be noted that "wireless" means that you don't have to run wires from the receiver to the Buttkicker amp. It does not mean completely wireless. The amp still needs power and is generally pictured behind the couch though there is no reason it couldn't be placed somewhere else (like under depending on the clearance). The transducer can either be mounted to the frame of the chair or couch with the universal mounting plate or placed under the leg. The nice thing about the additional rubber isolators is that it allows the couch to shake without transmitting those vibrations to the floor (and to your neighbor's dishes).

So if you are looking for that big bass sound without all the bass, the ButtKicker Wireless Home Theater Kit might be just what the doctor ordered. Dr. Audiohoic that is!

Post Reply
stewtopia posts on March 04, 2009 07:59
I have 2 of the ButtKicker LFE's mounted in my home theater couches and I love them. These things really compliment a sub and help bring the movie's to life with that added physical element. I actually love them the most during scarey movies. They make you want to jump out of your seat.

I originally went the poor man's route using the Aura Pro's (parts-express part no 299-028)
I thought these things were great until I went to a Jordan's IMAX (IMAX in MA) and noticed they were using some sort of bass shaker. We were in the back row so I took out my cell phone as a light and poked around behind the seats. They had a ButtKicker2 (predecessor of the LFE) mounted for every 3 chairs. I went home looked them up and bought the kit and another Kicker.

The mounting kit works well enough but if you don't mind cutting open the under-belly of your couch / chair I would definately recommend mounting them directly into the couch (also conceals them). I mounted the kicker to a 2 X 6 and then mounted that onto the frame of the couch. It also made a huge difference using the rubber paws (come with mounting kit) on the bottom of the couch. Definately helped isolate the vibrations to the couch and not into the floor.

This new kit looks really cool. I was able to design my current theater from scratch so I have all the wiring under the sub floor. Before that however I had wires everywhere. It is ideal to have the kicker amp under the couch so you can turn it on/off without getting up. I would love to hear from anyone who tries out this wireless version to know what they think.
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