ButtKicker for Apartment?

[Cygnus]

As many of you know, I live in an apartment, so I don't use my subwoofer. I've just started thinking about getting a ButtKicker for my couch, though I'm wondering if it'll be a bad idea in my apartment. Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[j_garcia]

Why would it be a bad idea? If the vibration is an issue, might as well just get a sub

 

[Cygnus]

I don't know, I was just thinking that the BK might not vibrate as much through the bottom (which is probably a dumb assumption.) I have a sub, but it's a down-firing one, so that won't help my neighbors

 

[j_garcia]

Then what you want is a Auralex Gramma or something similar for your sub IMO. That WILL help with the vibration into the floor. Yes, BKs will enhance the vibration, and depending on your couch, probably won't be too bad with floor vibration.

 

[Grador]

Or if you're super concerned, you could put your couch on isolation pads and then the BK will be assured of not bothering anyone.

 

[Cygnus]

Then what you want is a Auralex Gramma or something similar for your sub IMO. That WILL help with the vibration into the floor. Yes, BKs will enhance the vibration, and depending on your couch, probably won't be too bad with floor vibration.

More of what I'm concerned with is sound and a massive amount of vibration from my sub, so I don't really want to use it, and I was thinking of only using a BK.

I'm now wondering if it would be odd, as it would seem as though there's something missing with just the BK, and no LFE sound to compliment it.

 

[Grador]

I'm now wondering if it would be odd, as it would seem as though there's something missing with just the BK, and no LFE sound to compliment it.

I imagine it would be quite odd, couldn't you at least run the sub at a low level.

 

[timoteo]

I run a "BK" (but an EarthquakeSound model) it actually adds a lot to movie effects. My wife & friends all love it & fight over who sets on the large couch haha!!

I would say you need to at least run the sub at a low level as mentioned above. This will let you hear some bass & your brain will tell you the vibrations are coming from the bass & not the shaker. Plus you can adjust the amount of vibration so it doesn't feel unnatural.

Getting little rubber isolation feet for the couch is a good idea & so is getting a Subdude for the sub!!!

I originally got the shaker out of curiousity but it has proven to add a lot of fun to movies!! I don't use it for TV or music, just action movies! It makes WarOfTheWorlds nerve wracking

 

[j_garcia]

I imagine it would be quite odd, couldn't you at least run the sub at a low level.

I run a "BK" (but an EarthquakeSound model) it actually adds a lot to movie effects. My wife & friends all love it & fight over who sets on the large couch haha!!

I would say you need to at least run the sub at a low level as mentioned above. This will let you hear some bass & your brain will tell you the vibrations are coming from the bass & not the shaker. Plus you can adjust the amount of vibration so it doesn't feel unnatural.

Getting little rubber isolation feet for the couch is a good idea & so is getting a Subdude for the sub!!!

I originally got the shaker out of curiousity but it has proven to add a lot of fun to movies!! I don't use it for TV or music, just action movies! It makes WarOfTheWorlds nerve wracking

Agreed. It is sort of meant to supplement a sub, not replace it.

 

[afterlife2]

Pardon my naivete, but what is a BK? Edit: Buttkicker I assume.

 

[timoteo]

Yes BK is a reference to Butt Kicker. But Butt Kicker is a name brand & yet there are other brands that make similar products. My Earthquake Sound model is MQB-1, if I just referred to MQB-1 nobody would know what I'm talking about so I called it a "BK".

Yeah the Earthquake amplifier I use to power min has, Crossover, Phase & Volume knobs to help dial it in properly. Makes it nice! What I like about the Earthquake better than the BK is that it doesn't set on the floor & under one leg of the couch. Instead, you mount it to a support beam of the couch. I turned my couch upside down, removed the bottom black fabric & mounted it to the largest wood support right in the middle of the couch under your actual butt. This makes the whole couch shake evenly. It's a little more work but you don't see anything & since I mounted the little amp to the underside, i have a mobile vibrating couch!!

 

[Soccerkid830]

I am also in an apartment and unable to use my subs.

I recently bought two of these and one of these to power them and they actually work very well.

Like Timoteo, I mounted mine directly to the frame of my couch alongside the little Chinese made amp and it's perfect. It's not the nicest stuff out there obviously but I like the little kick they add to bass without getting my neighbors angry!

The only issue I had was that the amp's manual is entirely Chinese, no English whatsoever. But an amp is an amp and pretty idiot-proof to hook up.

Just my two cents.

 

[walter duque]

Would something like this untitled3 work for you? You could build it yourself. I live in an apartment too, 3rd floor. What you have to do is train your neigbors. I run 2 powered towers with dual 8" subs in each 400 watts, 1 downfiring 12" 1000 watts, 1 front firing 12" with passive radiator also 1000 watts and I run my system at times at +6db. It took me a while for them to get used to it, but they got it.

 

[ahblaza]

Would something like this untitled3 work for you? You could build it yourself. I live in an apartment too, 3rd floor. What you have to do is train your neigbors. I run 2 powered towers with dual 8" subs in each 400 watts, 1 downfiring 12" 1000 watts, 1 front firing 12" with passive radiator also 1000 watts and I run my system at times at +6db. It took me a while for them to get used to it, but they got it.

I would think more than awhile @ +6dB

 

[brianedm]

I was really tempted to look into this for my sectional. Then I realized I'd need 12 isolation feet (4 just for my ottoman to keep everything level), 2 amps, and 4 shakers, And I realized it may be best to put it off for a little bit. It would be an awesome addition and really help make the place feel like a theater tho When I made all my choices it came to anywhere between $7-1100 before taxes. But still, customized shaking couch!!! It's enough to make me wanna reupholster it to get it even more custom!