ButtKicker Gamer Review

What is the ButtKicker Gamer?

     Ok, so by now you may be asking; What is the ButtKicker Gamer?  Simply put the ButtKicker is designed to augment your existing subwoofer or replace it completely.  Most of us are probably familiar with how low end sound works, but in more simple terms: Low end sound is transmitted in waves that are felt more than actually heard.  This makes it possible to fool your ears into thinking you are hearing deep powerful bass sound by recreating the vibrations produced by a good subwoofer.  The ButtKicker attaches to your favorite gaming chair tightly and uses a small rotating motor to recreate these vibrations with little or no sound to disturb your neighbors.

Specifications:

The Install:

     Unlike a normal Club Overclocker build the PC specifications are not as critical.  For the audio I am testing using an Auzentech HDA X-Plosion 7.1 DTS Connect sound card.  My Gaming chair of choice is a comfy generic leather unit we picked up for about $90 at the local Staples. 

     The "Easy Clamp" shown here requires an exposed section of post about 1 5/8" long to attach to.  Any chair with a sturdy section to attach to would probably do in a pinch.  Guitammer has also included the rubber shock absorber to prevent an accidental pull on the cable connections.

     Here is my chair with the ButtKicker attached to the center post firmly.  The enclosed Velcro is used to route the cables away from the wheels.  Both the cable attached to the ButtKicker and the cable that runs from the AMP to the ButtKicker are thick and sturdy to prevent damage caused by accidentally finding the cable with a chair while rolling around.  From experience, I can confirm you will definitely know you are hitting a cable before you can do any damage.

The ButtKicker Gamer Power Amplifier:

     The 100 Watt amp included with the ButtKicker Gamer is surprisingly easy to setup and use.  The front features a Low Filter Cutoff switch, a High Cutoff Frequency switch, a high frequency range knob and a volume knob.  The volume knob acts like a standard amplifier gain control.

     Both the top and the bottom of the amp share the same theme as the ButtKicker device.  With the feet installed the whole setup looks like a large external drive bay.

     The back of the amp features a standard PC power input and switch, a single mono Line Level Input, a cooling fan measuring about 60 mm and a set of Class 2 Speaker output plugs.

     Next the connecting cable is attached to the Amp and the ground loop isolator is installed on the input.  then simply connect the amp to your sound source using the Center/Subwoofer output when available. 

The amp can be placed both flat or vertical using the rubber feet or the brackets shown here. 

     The completed install is shown here.  I found the amp fits easily out of the way under my desk and there is plenty of cabling to reach my whole office while the ButtKicker is attached.  I was worried the tether would cause issues when turning or rolling the chassis but several days working and gaming only produced one sudden stop as my wheels found the cable.

The Tests:

     The ButtKicker documentation recommends the settings above as a starting place to tune the amp.  For all the tests these settings were used and only the volume level was adjusted to match the application sound output.

     To test the sound I fired up F.E.A.R. for an evening of lights out gaming.  A lot of games provide a satisfying bass but the use of sound to create an immersive mood is outstanding in F.E.A.R. I also enjoy the eerie surround sound effects employed in a delicate balance.  With some slight tuning of the volume knob I was able to get the ButtKicker to match the level of bass to my Zalman 5.1 headphones.  The resulting sound takes some getting used to.  I really have grown used to having no bass on my PC and the roaring thump of the Multi-Rocket Launcher will have me smiling for days.  After settling down for a good run the difference is astounding.  Like many other users, my "spendy" chair rattles at higher levels but that was quickly fixed with a small pillow to hold the height lever in place.  I must admit I had to make a couple of calls to get the guys to come see the difference for them selves!

      To test the ButtKickers effect on my music I loaded up the latest Underworld CD and switched the settings to those recommended for music.  After some slight settings adjustments in my sound card control panel I was thumping like a pro.  This time the line of guys waiting to try the chair was no surprise.  To get the full effect, I fired up my Blue Man Group -Audio CD in 5.1.  The ButtKicker does a fantastic job in reproducing every deep hit with clarity and no delay.  More amazingly, walking just a few feet away and I could barely hear the vibration at all.

Conclusion:

     Home and car audio enthusiasts have been using products like the ButtKicker for years to overcome space and cost issues associated with a good subwoofer system.  It is impressive to see this same technology make its way to the PC gaming experience.  The ButtKicker Gamer is perfect for LAN parties or apartment use where higher noise levels just aren't practical.  Some tweaking of my sound card settings was required to get the sound to match my personal tastes but following the suggested settings got me up in minutes. I am honestly amazed you can get one of these for close to $100, can you even buy a 100 Watt amp for that?  There is a reason the ButtKicker Gamer won the CES Innovation Award this year.  Quite simply; You don't know what you are missing.