Bass Shaker & Power Amp Equipment

[Bob1943]

Very interested in getting a bass shaker setup for my home cockpit chair. It sits on a wooden box, picture attached.

 

Rather than just buying one of the pre-packaged "Buttkicker" kits, I was thinking that one might be able to get a better quality and lower priced setup by shopping around and buying the bass transducers and power amp separately.

 

How does this combination look for $245 delivered:

 

1. Dayton Audio BST-1 High Power Pro Tactile Bass Shaker 50 Watts ($70)

 

2. Dayton Audio BSA-200 200W Bass Shaker Bridgeable Stereo Amplifier with Remote ($175).

Anyone using either one of these components?

 

By comparison the ButtKicker BKA-130-C Power Amplifier ($180), paired with the ButtKicker mini LFE ($120), totals $300.

Edited July 15, 2020 by Bob1943
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[The_Nephilim]

Well to be Honesst it looks like your setup could use a B.O.S.S system.. you ask what is this well basically it is a Buttkicker but from what I read on Steroids massively..

 

Here iss the thread over at AVS. I was in the process of building one for my Home Theater but Civid hit and everything shuttdown.. I sstill look forward to when I can fire mine up..

 

If you have any questions you could post over there or I can help with what I know.. but it has rave reviews and I think it would be something to work perfect with your setup.. it may be a bit more but so is the Buttkicking you would probally recieve.. :)

 

 

https://www.avsforum.com/forum/19-dedicated-theater-design-construction/2991522-hideaway-theater.html

[Snake122]

That will probably suit you well. The BST-1 would still probably give you the effects you want. Honestly I've never played with a ButtKicker because over the years there has been cheaper DIY options, the Dayton stuff being one of them. Note see the BST-1 for only $39USD at Parts Express. Two of them would give you more shake and SimShaker Sound Module would give you stereo effects.

 

Currently I use the Dayton Bass Pucks with a cheap Lepai LP2020 amp. I just got two more pucks to mount close to the sides of my center mount T-50CM2 base. I do it this way because I can position the pucks for specific zones. When I was specifically flying just the Viper on the other sim, I had one puck where my heels would rest on floor for the the rudder and one an armrest for the stick hand. Now I've moved that extra puck to the floor board for left and right channels (helps in the SimShaker Sound Module for G effect sides and other details). My heels now rest on these pucks. The other two pucks I'm hopefully mounting today will maybe be felt through the stick a little and definitely my legs. I also used to use an Aura Interactor bass shaker for larger effects but don't anymore due to the JetSeat.

 

I like the zone/stereo effects the Dayton Pucks give me and are pretty quiet especially when you use Andre's "Limiting Compressor" in SimShaker Sound Module. The previous Aura bass shaker I used was loud and higher sounds bleed through (but may have been before that setting option). The two pucks mounted under the seat came close to the overall effect with L/R channels but I shortly transitioned then to the JetSeat for seat effects. If you are interested in zone effects you could also pick up a couple pucks and will probably have room to drive them with that amp you have picked out.

[Bob1943]

That will probably suit you well. The BST-1 would still probably give you the effects you want. Note see the BST-1 for only $39USD at Parts Express. Two of them would give you more shake and SimShaker Sound Module would give you stereo effects.

 

Currently I use the Dayton Bass Pucks with a cheap Lepai LP2020 amp.

 

So I assume the Dayton Bass Pucks just don't have quite the acoustic punch that the bigger BST-1 has? Do you think just one BST-1 would suffice, being attached under the top panel of the plywood box that my chair is bolted onto?

 

Would 2 of the Pucks give an equivalent vibration effect at just a single BST-1?

 

I would not want any sound to be coming from the transcucer, just vibration. Sounds like the Aura model you referenced bleeds some sound.

[Snake122]

So I assume the Dayton Bass Pucks just don't have quite the acoustic punch that the bigger BST-1 has? Do you think just one BST-1 would suffice, being attached under the top panel of the plywood box that my chair is bolted onto?

 

Would 2 of the Pucks give an equivalent vibration effect at just a single BST-1?

 

I would not want any sound to be coming from the transcucer, just vibration. Sounds like the Aura model you referenced bleeds some sound.

I have no experience with the BST-1. But I know Dayton's pucks are 15w RMS and the BST-1 is 50w RMS and is beefier. So with your 200watt amp planned it will be better suited to that with enough overhead to run two in stereo too if you wanted. The pucks are more for zone effects but I do know some people mount them to chairs for home theater and I did for a short time. But really it was a stopgap until the JetSeat got here. The Aura I have is a super old model (late 90s) so they probably have improved since then.

[Bob1943]

I would have to get a separate sound card to use with the SimShaker software. I was hoping that one of the inexpensive, external USB sound cards would work. I see that the BSA-200 200W amp has a USB port. So, I assume that I would just plug that USB sound card into the USB port on the amp and the other end into my powered USB hub and we would be all set up?

 

Do you use an external sound card?

 

Also, I assume that there would be no problem connecting just one bass shaker to the amp, i.e., any special connections to make that work properly? Guess I would just select the "bridge mode" for use with a single shaker.

Edited July 15, 2020 by Bob1943

[Snake122]

I would have to get a separate sound card to use with the SimShaker software. I was hoping that one of the inexpensive, external USB sound cards would work. I see that the BSA-200 200W amp has a USB port. So, I assume that I would just plug that USB sound card into the USB port on the amp and the other end into my powered USB hub and we would be all set up?

 

Do you use an external sound card?

 

Also, I assume that there would be no problem connecting just one bass shaker to the amp, i.e., any special connections to make that work properly? Guess I would just select the "bridge mode" for use with a single shaker.

 

Probably, but I'm not familiar with that amp since I'm using 5 year old stuff.

 

I generally use my Logitech USB headphones which have their own soundcard for normal sound. I use my motherboard down Realtek sound card with typical 3.5mm jack to the amp to drive the bass pucks via SimShaker Sound Module. I still have my HDMI out sound coming from my 1080Ti for traditional speakers when I need them.

[Bob1943]

Thanks for the replies. I'll do a little more online research. I see there is quite a difference in the frequency response of the "Aurasound AST-2B-4 Pro Bass Shaker" compared to the "Buttkicker mini LFE" (huge price difference reflects that). Need to educate myself a little more on the best frequency response for flight sims with the SimShaker software.

 

The Aurasound shakers have a 20 to 80 Hz frequency range. Is that all we need to get the full experience from the SimShaker software, i.e., is there any need to go below 20 Hz?

Edited July 16, 2020 by Bob1943