ButtKicker BK-LFE Low Frequency Effects System

by Buttkicker

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 7 inches ; 10 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 11 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007P98K6
• Item model number: BK-LFE
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,440 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The only tactile transducer designed specifically to take advantage of the 0.1 and LFE (low frequency effects) channels, the ButtKicker LFE features extended low-frequency response for powerful bass and special effects. If you are looking to delight and electrify yourself and others with an affordable and easy-to-use solution, now is the time to incorporate the ButtKicker into your sound-system's design and feel what you've been missing.

The ButtKicker LFE Low Frequency Effects System utilizes a patented magnetic suspension and can be used in couches, theater seating, platforms, and any type of structure. Different from other shakers or tactile transducers that use voice coil technology, the ButtKicker is much more powerful, more musical (linear), and offers true infrasonic, or low-frequency response with a resonant frequency of 9 Hz. The ButtKicker LFE utilizes a small, linear motor, which reacts to an audio signal sent by an amplifier.

The system is similar to a loudspeaker, but instead of moving a cone and transferring sound waves through the air, it attaches to seats and floors, and sends low-frequency sound directly into the listener's body to accurately reproduce the "feeling" range of many natural and man-made sounds, such as earthquakes, thunderstorms, sound effects, and all styles of music. One ButtKicker LFE will easily replace two, four, or more voice coil-type shakers, and it is virtually indestructible and maintenance free. The ButtKicker LFE is used in everything from theme-park attractions and specialty theaters, to car-stereo systems, and custom home theaters.

The ButtKicker LFE Low Frequency Effects System is small and unobtrusive, but powerful. Measuring only 5.375 x 5.5 x 5.375 inches (WxHxD), the ButtKicker weighs 11 pounds, and has a frequency range of 5 to 200 Hz. This unit has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms, and a power handling that ranges from a minimum of 400 watts to a 1,500-watt maximum.

Product Description

Low Frequency Effects ButtKicker version for Home Theater use - 4 ohm

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Buttkicker vs Clark Synthesis Tactile Transducer, May 12, 2007

By 

mbw (Rockville, MD USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ButtKicker BK-LFE Low Frequency Effects System (Electronics)

I am not sure you can make a comparison between the two products. What must seem like two different products that in essence do the same thing to some, turns out to be two products that approach the idea of tactile transducing from two different design goals. The Clark is if anything, more refined, providing fast response throughout the frequency range it was designed to reproduce. The Buttkicker could best be described as brutal, slaming home its intended effect. My recommendation is to buy both to mix and match under a platform or below a floor to get the best of both worlds.

**EDIT**
A year or more later and I have almost retired the BK-LFE. I could never get it to stop bottoming out on extreme lfe movie segments. And when it bottoms out you know it! ...Very distracting and what I considered untenable. Turning the amp down only dimished the effect to the point where it became a negligible tactile sensation at best. On the other hand, I have nothing but praise for the Buttkicker amp! I started experimenting with it using one and now have it powering two Clark Synthesis Platinums, (CSPs) in parallel and WOW...this works in spades. Yes, a CSP is twise the money but is a no compromise piece of work. Is it worth twice the money? Well, when one sort of works some of the time and not well the rest of the time and the other offers endless effect that you can dial in to suit, it all comes down to budget. Buy the Buttkicker LFE but be prepared to adjust your expectations, not the equipment.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Considering a ButtKicker? Read this first!, February 1, 2011

By 

Ken Rob - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ButtKicker BK-LFE Low Frequency Effects System (Electronics)

The ButtKicker is capable of adding a new dimension to your home theater but it has to be installed correctly to realize it's maximum potential. As I found out through my own experience, there are two important factors to a successful installation.
First of all the the ButtKicker has to be mounted securely to the seats you are going to use it with. For my installation on a dual recliner, I used 12 gauge perforated angle steel that is available in the home stores. After cutting the pieces to size, I bolted them to the angle steel frame that connects both recliners together and then bolted the ButtKicker to that.
At this point I thought the installation was complete, so I wired it up to the ButtKicker BKA-1000-4A power amp and picked out a DVD with some LFE`s on it. Well right away I experienced the tactile sensations that I was promised but as soon as the LFE effects level increased, the ButtKicker would start to bottom out hard and this was very distracting.
I decided to call customer support and I would like to aknowledge the incredible customer support that is available from The Guitammer Co and is only a phone call away. I talked to Mark, a very knowledgeable enthusiast and he explained to me that my installation was not complete and why it wasn't. The ButtKicker can create an incredible amout of shake and transfer it to whatever it's bolted to. But here's the second factor- whatever it's bolted to has to be able to move. All of you have seen subwoofers in action, the large cone has suspension around it so it can move freely. The same logic has to be applied to your ButtKicker installion.

If you check out the Buttkicker website, you will see that they sell rubber isolation feet. Installing the appropriate size and number of these feet will complete your installation. After I installed a suspension system under my recliner, I was amazed at difference. My recliner is sitting on a concrete floor and the reason my ButtKicker was bottoming out is because it was trying to move something it wasn't designed to. Now, with the suspension system in place I can turn down BK amp and enjoy abundant shake with no bottoming out.

The ButtKicker LFE is truly an impressive addition to my home theater and my only regret is that I didn't add it sooner. The ability of it to respond to frequencies below 10hz is outstanding and I am actually able to turn my subwoofers off and still have a very involved audio\tactile experience. Still, my favorite moments occur when watching the face of guests the first time they are watching a movie and an explosion or other LFE rich segment occurs, sometimes they will jump out of the seat not sure what just happened!

5.0 out of 5 stars great stuff, November 12, 2011

By 

hcfreak - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ButtKicker BK-LFE Low Frequency Effects System (Electronics)

I purchased this product to realise force feedback in my Game Race chair (from Open wheeler (UK) and pedals and steering wheel from Fanatec (germ)). It does a great job together with the 1000 watt amp.
It is of added value in terms of your experience if you play Forza, GT5 with Playstation or Xbox 360 consoles.