ButtKicker BK-GR Gamer
Quickly and easily attached to most center post computer or office chairs, the ButtKicker Gamer makes video gaming, computer entertainment and digital music come to life. PC and video games, movies and music have never been so realistic or intense. Explosions, crashes and impacts can now be felt; providing an experience much closer to virtual reality. The ButtKicker Gamer allows the user to feel the action without cranking the sound because the low frequency (bass) sound is transferred to and stays within the chair to which the Gamer is attached.The Gamer is awesome for gaming, computer entertainment and digital music playback. Users can now feel the low end without making the room loud. They can turn the subwoofer down and still have all the bass they want and need. It is the perfect solution for apartment or dormitory use since powerful bass can be experienced without a subwoofer, or even while using headphones.Designed to be responsive and aggressive, the Gamer answers the need for both accurate low frequency response and maximum tactile effect. Digital or analog music playback, gaming and computer entertainment have never been so realistic or intense. Designed by musicians and studio engineers; the Gamer is musically accurate, with a tight, "on-the-beat" response. With only one magnetically suspended moving part, and a thermal switch for heat protection, the Gamer provides tremendous power and is virtually indestructible and maintenance free.
The ButtKicker BK-GR Gamer is awesome for gaming, computer entertainment, and digital music playback. This device works with all computer systems and all gaming consoles, and allows you to feel the low end of sounds without making the room overly loud. With the ButtKicker you can experience powerful bass even while you're using headphones. But what is it and how does it work? The ButtKicker is a small linear motor that reacts to an audio signal sent by an amplifier (the ButtKicker Gamer comes with its own 100-watt amplifier). It is similar to a loudspeaker, but instead of a moving a cone and transferring sound waves through the air, the ButtKicker Gamer is attached to your seat and sends a low frequency sound directly into your body. The effect is amazing. 
The ButtKicker Gamer allows you to feel the big bass of your favorite video games without disturbing the neighbors. |
Attaching the Gamer is a breeze with the included Easy Clamp. View larger. | 
The BK-GR comes with everything you need. View larger. |
The human body uses two senses to perceive full-range sound. We hear sound, but we also feel it, especially low frequencies. Traditionally it takes big speakers to move a tremendous amount of air for us to feel low frequency sound. That's why so many people love loud concerts -- they want to feel the music as well as hear it. The ButtKicker Gamer reproduces the feeling range of audio in a more direct way than through air movement. The perception is actually better, plus the sound pressure disappears (forget about ringing ears!). For example, when using headphones with the BK-GR, you'll still perceive powerful, musically accurate, concert-level audio, but no one else will hear anything. The ButtKicker Gamer can take your gaming experience to an awesome level without angering your neighbors. To get the full effect of exciting, action-packed video game titles you'd normally need a huge audio entertainment system that you could pump up to a disturbing-the-peace level. The ButtKicker Gamer solves the problem and adds the big bass sound without the giant, disruptive volume. Designed to be responsive and aggressive, the ButtKicker Gamer answers the need for both accurate low frequency response and maximum tactile effect. Digital music playback, gaming, and computer entertainment have never been so realistic or intense. Virtually indestructible and maintenance free, with a patented magnetic suspension system and a thermal switch for heat protection, the BK-GR provides tremendous power and longevity. For the workplace or home, the ButtKicker Gamer easily attaches to most standard center post chairs. And with the included "Easy Clamp" mechanism hooking up the ButtKicker Gamer is a breeze. Once the ButtKicker is attached, you'll feel the low end of sound without making the room unbearably loud. Turn down or turn off your subwoofer and you'll still be able to feel all the bass you want. And remember, you'll be able to experience powerful bass even while using headphones, making this an ideal addition to any apartment, dormitory, or condominium.
What's in the Box
ButtKicker BK-GR gamer, Easy Clamp attachment mechanism, 100-watt amplifier with optional standing feet, 13.5-foot cable, RCA and mini Y adapters, five-foot RCA-to-RCA cable, five-foot RCA-to-mini cable, and two Velcro cable ties.
ButtKicker BK-GR Gamer Accessories
 Playseats Evolution Gaming Seat
Logitech G25 Racing Wheel
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote
Playseats Gearshift Holder Mount
PlayStation 3 Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller
GTR 2: Realism Redefined
Logitech Z-5500 THX-Certified 505-Watt 5.1 Digital Surround Sound Speaker System
Blade Runner (Five-Disc Complete Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray]
Playseats Seat Slider Kit
ButtKicker BK-GR Gamer Reviews
It's not virtual reality, but this device definitely raises the immersion level a little bit. I, however, hooked it up to my Playseat Evolution with Logitech G25 steering wheel. It's not for everyone, but that is something that is hard to advise. This model is made to hook up to a desk chair and it works great at that. It's just a little thing that vibrates. Install this on your couch or gaming chair (you might have to get creative) and suddenly be whisked away to the intense vibrations present in a warlike environment or FPS.
It comes with several audio adapters and makes it really easy to hook it up to anything that outputs sound. Don't like driving games. Oh, and you can also hook up your mp3 player or computer to it.
It vibrates like crazy to simulate bass sounds. For driving games, you can feel the rumble of the road underneath, and that combined with a large HDTV, 7.1 surround sound and force feedback steering wheel will make your xbox 360 or PS3 driving games come alive. If not, don't expect it to change your life.
If you think you will like this, you probably will. This thing is pretty basic. For the price, this is a cool thing, especially for an apartment or house where you can't turn up your subwoofer to get a lot of vibration.
This is a pretty nice addition to gaming. I got this to hold me over while I wait to get the full buttkicker lfe kit. pickup for sure.
"Nice to find extras". My office chair is comfy for me, but it's got some loose parts. In the office it's fine though, it helps mask the chatter. I just got it hooked up on my office chair, it's. Inevitable of course, and it's not bad, just something you gotta watch if you like to sit & spin.
It can REALLY get things vibrating, and when you have it cranked, you'll feel all of the things that are loose in your chair. :). Woulda' been nice to have the amp auto powerup on when there's sound. You'll NEED a strong heavy chair for best results. "Kinda Bummers". GOOD PURCHASE. - Switchable highpass filter with adjustable cutoff.
- NICE assortment of cable adapters and cable ties. All in all. - The amp has a constantly running fan that's kinda' loud. :). pretty cool. - There's a cable on the floor from your chair to the amp. :).
For now, I have it turned down so as to not get the passer-bys to ask "why is Mark vibrating." but even at low levels it adds a good level of fun to the whole sonic experience. - Level control on the amp. I've only tried it with tunes at this point, this should be a lot of fun for gaming. RECOMMENDED. - Switchable lowpass filter. The ButtKicker manual talks about stuffing foam into those places that vibrate, it's not a bad idea.
But if you have the z-5500's set up then bass from the Buttkicker isn't really needed. Neat toy but I coulda done without it. Set it too high and you'll drive the piston to full stroke and it'll clatter. But it works as long as you moderate the settings.
Works as advertised but had hoped to use with my PS3 and Logitech Z-5500. No problems with mine once I figured it out but do wish they would spend a bit more time on documentation. If the case was larger they could use quieter fans but then we'd complain about that too. But you have to switch from "optical" 6 to stereo setting. Amp is loud but fans will do that. My chair has a "knee" action and tends to dampen some of the vibrations but a standard desk chair should be just fine. Gotta make noise to keep things cool for a case this size. Not a huge deal and I'm not sure if there is a work around but none that I've discovered thus far.
via toslink optical sound cable. It'll work if you use the stereo leads from the PS3 to inputs for BK amp then go into tv and take output of tv to Z-5500. Guess they have enough for normal hook ups, just us abbey normal kinda folks I guess. If you live in an area where noise must be limited then this unit starts to shine.
I play mostly shooters but I think it would be fun to try with racing/flying sims. So initially I was unable to get it working properly and because I also have the Sound Blaster Xi-Fi Xtrememusic sound card like reviewer D.J. It's cool with the added feeling of the bass effects in your chair but I have a pretty powerful subwoofer already so even though the effects were pretty neat I wouldn't classify it as a must have. I paid around $50 for it when I got it on sale and it's probably worth that but I wouldn't say it's necessarily worth $100.
All that aside I would say it's a pretty cool gadget. After enabling that it's working great. I contacted the Buttkicker tech support folks and they informed me that is not true and said you need to turn on the "low frequency redirect" in your soundcard settings. All that being said I will continue using it.
This was called "enable bass redirection" in the Xi-Fi control panel. Husar I thought it didn't work with 6.1/7.1 cards as he indicated.
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