there is a relatively small company that easily beats the Buttkicker imo. Crowsontech
www.crowsontech.com
they make the tes-100 which is more accurate and has a better rumble. AH should try and ask to give a review. It is more expensive, but easily worth it.
probobly around 1000 bucks for the couch set up plus the amp. compared to buttkickers $700. but yeah, id recommend anyone giving them the 30 day trial.
i tested them both and it was a pretty easy decision, either company will add to your HT, but the TES-100 is much more realistic. the buttkicker just uses the older vibrating technology, but the crowson is extremely accurate, and you can feel so many different motions. Ive had them about a year now, and still get surprised that the things only move up and down.. i swear it feels like its going back and forth during certain spots.
my friend that introduced them to me told me they had a demo at some huge audio show where you could sit on a real harley motorcycle. people would think it was really running, but then the representative would show them that it was just the crowson hooked up to the frame, with some speakers playin the audio