CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[wallace123456]

After reading another thread, it got me wondering about using "shakers" or "tactilce transducers" in the ht.

I have 4 of the Aura Pro Bass Shakers I purchased from Parts Express about 4 years ago. They were blowing them out for $32.00! I have amps to run them, no problem.

But for whatever reason, I haven't messed with them.

So, hence the poll. Just want to hear how many others use them, or don't. Why?

wallace

[greg_mitch]

I don't think they should be used in place of subs. I don't think you can really compare the two in my mind. The tactile feel is a different feeling. Some love it, some hate it. I love it within reason.

I do hate it when people say..."My sub is so big that I don't need tactile transducers." That may be true, but it hasn't been my experience, but I don't have $3,000 in subs either.

[garyfritz]

Hey, don't you know only Wanman is allowed to post polls!?!???

I also have 4 Aura Pro's from Parts Express's blowout. I have a hide-a-bed couch in my HT, and I bolted 2 of the shakers to the frame, and 2 to a board that is folded inside the hide-a-bed mattress. That way both the frame and the seat shake.

It takes VERY little power to drive them. I'm using an old NAD 30W receiver and it's got more than enough oomph. You have to be careful with shakers, at least ones in the seats like mine. Set them too high and they're distracting "butt buzzers." You want them to enhance the bass effects, not distract from them.

It would be MUCH MUCH better to have some heavier-duty shakers in a riser, so the whole couch and the "floor" move. But that's not an option in my setup.

The best option, of course, is to have such gonzo subs that you don't NEED shakers. But many of us can't afford or justify the kilobucks it takes to set up subs like that, nor can we usually run the HT at that kind of volume. Shakers are a poor substitute but they're better than nothing.

[Zebu Fellenz]

I don't use them, but if I found a good deal I would pickup a couple to build into my couch.

[ecrabb]

I was going to take advantage of the Parts Express closeout, but I hadn't even started building my theater yet and figured there'd be more deals down the road. Arrgghh... Wish I would have just done it. I'm planning on adding one to my chair, and maybe another one to the riser. I sat in a few chairs with transducers at CEDIA and tested it out, and I do like the effect - but only when it's subtle.

Greg, regarding your "sub is so big" comment... I've only been in one HT like that: Art Sonneborn's. The bass is indeed so massive during loud passages, that the chairs really do feel just like they have transducers in them. No sh*t. Of course, I think he was 3... Maybe 5 subs. Your $3000 figure is probably way low.

SC

[greg_mitch]

[lostmandan]

[ecrabb]