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Design
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The Buttkicker itself is a small linear motor that attaches to whatever
chair you happen to use at your console of choice. Where most speakers
transfer the vibrations we translate as noise to the air, the Buttkicker
transfers to a physical object - in this case the chair. A large speaker
system can replicate this by achieving a high Sound Pressure Level (SPL),
which means that the speakers are actually changing the pressure in the
room. The technology itself is not new…it’s been used in both IMAX and high
end home theatres for years.
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Of
course, to do all that movement you need power. The Buttkicker Gamer comes
with a power amplifier to provide the needed juice. There are a few controls
on the front of the amplifier, including volume and adjustable crossover
points. The rear of the amp has the various inputs and a power switch. The
controls allow you to cut off low frequencies below 10Hz, and adjust the
high end from 40Hz to 110Hz.
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One interesting addition that Buttkicker has included in the package is a
Ground Isolator Loop. This device will eliminate the buzzing that can occur
from the differing grounds, and is certainly a thoughtful and useful
addition to the package.
Performance
With a little bit of tinkering, I was able to attach the
Buttkicker Gamer to my office chair on the hydraulic. One thing to keep
in mind is that you’ll lose about two inches of travel distance when you put
this device on your chair…so if you like your chair bottomed out you’ll have
to get used to it sitting a little higher. The cable connecting the
Buttkicker to the amplifier is pretty thick…about the size of a standard
Coax. This cable is secured to the chair using two Velcro wraps. I didn’t
have any problems with it getting tangled up in the wheels, although the
base tended to rotate after a while and put strain on the cable.
I’ve spent the last week or so playing both Far Cry and Unreal Tournament
2004, and listening to more than a few MP3s. I am very impressed with the
extra dimension that the Buttkicker Gamer added to this material. Everything
seemed louder and more forceful, although I knew this was not the case
because I hadn’t touched the volume. Everything from Redeemer hits to ‘Fat
Boy’ Trigens became a whole lot more entertaining!
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