Transducer/Amp recommendations

[Hoirtel]

I have decided to add transducers to my sim rig and after looking at the Butt Kicker Gamer 2 I think I would prefer to go down the route of getting my own amp and transducers as I think this will better fit my rig. I plan to use the simshaker software once its all going but after lots of google searches and youtube videos II am having trouble deciding and understanding what hardware I should get. I don't want to overspend, but I also don't want to feel like it needs upgrading six months in!. Most review/guides are for sim racing which I don't do at all, but I  do a mix of jets, helos and warbirds.

So currently the amp that everyone seems to be going to is the comically named nobsound mini, with 50watts per channel, however if this is purchased (uk) on amazon it comes with a power connector that will only deliver 30watts per channel. Mostly this amp gets good reviews although there are a couple of trustworthy sounding bad ones so I am wondering if anyone has experience with these, or can recommend a better one. Built in soundcard seems good but I know this is not essential as I can do this separately 

Then it comes to pairing this with two transducers. The dayton audio BST1 pros seems like they are good but are currently £100 each and go up to 50watts, what is confusing is the cheaper and lighter (according to specs) reckhorn BS200i are 100watts. Are these going to give more shake or are they just not as good.

I also understand that I will need a bigger amp to drive the bigger transducers, there are options from fosi which seem ok. I am not 100% sure I get how to much up amps and speakers yet, from what I have read its better to have more powerful amp than speakers rather than drive large speakers (like 100w transducers) with a lower power amp (like that nobsound at 30w per channel)

Any help, advice or just pointing out anything that sounds incorrect is very welcome. Thanks

[Ala12Rv-Tundra]

Reckhorn I think are the minimum. 

Take also a look at srs shakeit kit, it's a pad with 4 shakers plug and play, and of course Andre Jetseat with 8 shakers

What's your plan for attaching them? Left right? Front back? 

[Hoirtel]

2 hours ago, Ala12Rv-Tundra said:

Reckhorn I think are the minimum. 

Take also a look at srs shakeit kit, it's a pad with 4 shakers plug and play, and of course Andre Jetseat with 8 shakers

What's your plan for attaching them? Left right? Front back? 

I've looked at the jetseat, and it won't really fit on my seat, plus it's more expensive and if a shaker goes wrong I can't replace it when it's part of an all in one. I was thinking of one under my seat and one on the back, but I think left and right would be better with a stereo amp. Not sure there is space for that. 

The thing with the reckhorns is they seem flatter and apparently lighter than the Dayton 50w. There are much bigger and more expensive butt kicker units which are also 50w. Can't understand why these are cheaper and 100w. I'm missing something....

Edited February 7, 2022 by Hoirtel

[Ainuke]

I have 4 BST-1s running off a 5.1 home theater amp that somebody was discarding due to some high freq whine. Free. Using the F/C/R outputs from my Soundblaster card into the amp; I'd tried using Toslink, but that doesn't support 5.1 audio signal, oddly.

At 50 watts, the Daytons are more than powerful enough, especially with 4. (They were enough with two mounted just below my hips, but I wanted two near the feet also for driving). I have to turn them down to about half power after the kids go to bed or the whole house shakes. Isolating the rig from the floor also helps, both with the house shake, but also keeping the feels focused on the rig. I got some clothes dryer risers on amazon for about $15 that do the job. I also have a DA puck that I'm going to mount directly to my flight stick for control surface effects specifically (stall, buffet, etc), but haven't gotten to that point yet (spending too much time flying).

Be warned: you will be spoiled by the feels. Flying/driving anything that lacks vibes afterwards feels like flying a coffin.

And I don't think I spent more than $50 a piece for the BSTs; don't remember if it was from Parts Express or Amazon.

I have a fifth BST for a planned Huey door gunner controller. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

[Hoirtel]

5 minutes ago, Ainuke said:

I have 4 BST-1s running off a 5.1 home theater amp that somebody was discarding due to some high freq whine. Free. Using the F/C/R outputs from my Soundblaster card into the amp; I'd tried using Toslink, but that doesn't support 5.1 audio signal, oddly.

At 50 watts, the Daytons are more than powerful enough, especially with 4. (They were enough with two mounted just below my hips, but I wanted two near the feet also for driving). I have to turn them down to about half power after the kids go to bed or the whole house shakes. Isolating the rig from the floor also helps, both with the house shake, but also keeping the feels focused on the rig. I got some clothes dryer risers on amazon for about $15 that do the job. I also have a DA puck that I'm going to mount directly to my flight stick for control surface effects specifically (stall, buffet, etc), but haven't gotten to that point yet (spending too much time flying).

Be warned: you will be spoiled by the feels. Flying/driving anything that lacks vibes afterwards feels like flying a coffin.

And I don't think I spent more than $50 a piece for the BSTs; don't remember if it was from Parts Express or Amazon.

I have a fifth BST for a planned Huey door gunner controller. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Thanks! Very useful, yes I've come to think that the bst-1s are just priced high at the moment on UK Amazon as they are much cheaper in Europe. I am pretty sure I will go for two of these for now, with possible expansion later. Now just got to decide on an amp...