ButtKicker BK-LFEKit Low Frequency Effect Kit with Amplifier for Home Theater

Other products by Buttkicker

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 25.5 x 17.5 x 11.4 inches ; 47 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 45 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0006FK42S
• Item model number: BK-LFEKit
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,296 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: December 14, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
Ideal for movies, music, and gaming, the ButtKicker LFE "silent subwoofer" lets users experience realistic special effects and concert-quality music without waking the kids or disturbing the neighbors. Rather than emitting loud rumbling sounds during each explosion or heavy bass passage, the ButtKicker simulates the "feeling" of the effect through your couch, chairs, and other furnishings, letting you sense the low without the excessive volume. The device accurately mimics the sensation of many natural and manmade sounds, such as earthquakes, thunderstorms, rocket launches, waves, explosions, tornadoes, volcanoes, dinosaurs, sound effects, and all styles of music.

The Buttkicker installs easily, including under chair or couch mounting to create a tactile experience.

The ButtKicker LFE (low frequency effects) functions similar to a loudspeaker, but instead of moving a cone and transferring sound waves through the air, it uses a patented magnetic suspension system to attach to seats and floors, thus sending the low frequency sound directly into the listener's body. Listeners can decrease the sound pressure level from the subwoofer to where the kids upstairs can't hear it, yet still feel all the bass they want. And as compared to other shakers or tactile transducers that use voice coil technology, the ButtKicker is more powerful and more musical (linear), with a true low frequency response of 9 Hz and a range of 5 to 200 Hz.

To make it easy to connect your ButtKicker, the company included several other items to this LFE bundle, including a 2,100-watt amplifier that connects to your receiver's subwoofer out, a cable package, and a chair/couch mounting accessory kit. Simply place the mounting plate under one leg of a piece of furniture and attach the ButtKicker to the other side. The kit also includes rubber isolators that sit under the furniture's other legs. Listeners can even install the ButtKicker under the floor to enjoy a full-room tactile experience.

To top it off, the ButtKicker LFE is virtually indestructible and maintenance-free. It's so reliable, in fact, that dozens of theme park owners, specialty theaters, virtual reality operators, and arcade owners are using a commercial version of the ButtKicker to boost their bottom line. So if you're looking to delight and electrify your guests with an affordable and easy-to-use full-body experience, it's time to incorporate the ButtKicker into your home theater system.

What's in the Box

ButtKicker LFE, BKA 1000-4 amplifier, ButtKicker LFE cable kit (with 20 feet of 14-gauge speaker wire, RCA cable, RCA "Y" adapter, and speaker level interface adapter), chair/couch mounting accessory kit (with mounting plate, 5 rubber isolators, 4 carriage bolts, 4 star washers, 4 locking nuts, 5 #10 screws, and 1 wrench), user's manual.

Product Description
1 BK-LFE, 1 BKA-1000-4A, 1 BK-CMAK and wiring kit. 120V version, for North American use only.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of Breed, October 8, 2005

By	-TMcN- (Snohomish, WA United States) - See all my reviews

The Buttkicker is a "tactile transducer", meaning it turns sound into shaking. It's just one of four players in that niche; the others are Clark Synthesis, Aura Bass Shaker and Crowson. But the Buttkicker is the best; the Clarks are less intense and less concentrated in the low frequencies, the Auras are $20 units with all that entails (such as lack of shake and lack of finess) and the Crowsons are purely under-couch devices.

The Buttkicker adds a bit of shake to your home theatre. It doesn't replace the subwoofer, but sort-of turns the floor into a lower subwoofer. And I love it. But there are some things you should know.

It needs a LOT of power, so this LFE Kit (with Amp) is probably the best choice to start with because you can't drive it from your receiver.

Second, one LFE Kit will do a sofa nicely, but if you, like me, mount it under your floor, you're gonna need two. Possibly more, but probably two. Because that's a LOT more mass to shake, and otherwise they'll be maxxing out and making a loud knocking noise. (You can drive up to four Buttkickers with a single Buttkicker Amp.)

Third, it's not like riding a rollercoaster. You'll feel the floor shake from loud sound effects, bombs, etc., but don't expect magic. It makes the movie more real, but it doesn't toss you around.

All that said, it's a great addition. If you can afford the cost-of-entry, you'll be amazed how shallow the system feels with it off.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A real kick in the pants!, May 26, 2006

By	Roomba (USA) - See all my reviews

I'm a gadget guy with a decent home theater set up, so when I learned about the buttkicker, I figured "why not"? and ordered the kit with the wireless connection unit.
The equipment is of good quality and easy to set up. The "buttkicking" effect is awesome and syncs perfectly with sub (the bass signal is simply split between the sub and buttkicker amp).
You'll be amazed at how much more in tune you'll be with a movie's bass signal. Occasionally, you'll feel some bass that doesn't quite feel right because you don't hear it in the movie, but it is there. You'll quickly become addicted to the buttkicker. I have two rows of seating in my theater set up and only the second row has the buttkicker installed. We never sit in the 1st row any more!
If you really want to give the buttkicker a test run, I highly recommend any of the Matrix movies- insane amounts of bass!
My only complaint is with the wireless unit. Be forewarned if you go that route that the wireless RF unit can pick up noise fairly easily. The end result is that the buttkicker will jump and jerk when it isn't supposed to. It took me some time to tweak the wireless unit to work properly. It's nice not to have to run a wire the whole way back to your seating, but you may find more frustration in trying to use the wireless connection.

In conclusion, this is a great product and a must buy to complete a home theater set up.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Felt like I was in the spaceship with Luke Skywalker!, December 27, 2005

By	B. Lemaire "The good wife" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just bought this for my husband for a holiday gift. Personally I thought it was ridiculous and couldn't even believe I would buy something called a "buttkicker". Husband was thrilled to get it and installed it very quickly--said it was easy--that very night we watched Star Wars. WOW--it really works and it felt like I was in the spaceship!!!! The next day we watched Lilo and Stitch with our 2 small kids--they loved it! It really does give you the being at the movies effect. My ony regret??? I'm not sure that I will be able to get my husband out of the home theater room!!!!!!! Arrggghhh!!! Serioulsy--I highly recommend!