The Buttkicker wireless

[bigboss]

Even if the seller says he won't accept returns, the item does not work as described. So he will have to accept returns and refund you the money. You can open a case with eBay & generally, this goes in favour of the buyer. Make sure all correspondence with the seller is via eBay only (& not privately via email) so they ave a record that you complained about the problem as soon as you received the item.

 

[bigboss]

Check the manufacturer's website:

http://www.thebuttkicker.com/faq.php

The ButtKicker Power Amplifier (BKA1000) needs to have a signal source, we recommend using your AV Receiver's "Subwoofer Output" (which will include the .1 or LFE channel, and possibly the low frequencies of all the other channels). Most Subwoofer Outputs are a standard RCA connection. In this case simply run an RCA cable from the output to the Line Level Input on the BKA1000-4A. If a subwoofer is currently connected to the Subwoofer Output an RCA "Y" splitter can be used to run the one signal to both the subwoofer and the BKA1000.

If you are using the BK-Link follow the above instructions but run an RCA cable to the back of the BK-Link "Send" unit. The BK-Link "Receive" unit will connect via RCA to the BKA1000-4A's Line Level Input.

If your A/V receiver uses speaker wire connections for the subwoofers and/or speakers you can use the Speaker Level Interface Adapter to connect to the receiver. The Speaker Level Interface Adapter connects to the subwoofer output at one end with speaker wire and leads into an RCA "male" jack at the opposite end. From this point refer to the above instructions regarding connection to the BKA1000-4A.

If your A/V receiver does not have a subwoofer output (because of a proprietary cable being used for the subwoofer) you can still connect the center channel speaker or other speakers. In this case ensure that low frequency sound is being sent through the selected channel so that the ButtKicker transducer receives signal. If a speaker channel is unavailable some A/V receivers may have a line level output to connect to. If no such connections are present (this occasionally occurs on low-end "home theater in a box" type systems) there is unfortunately no way to connect to the A/V receiver. In this case please contact the manufacturer for suggestions on connecting external audio devices.

A recall was issued a number of years ago for the BKA-1000 amplifier for this serial number range:
BKA1000-4A-A0005570 --- BKA1000-4A-A0005815

 

[bigboss]

Shaker Centre generally gets its supplies from them, & contact them for technical issues:

http://www.networkmusic.biz/

It may be worth calling them.

 

[lxd55]

Hi BB,

as always many thanks for responding

the amplifier in the wireless is a bka300-4 and not the bka1000. Not that this should make any difference I believe.

i tried a number of configurations

1, used the y-splitter to connect into sub and rf transmitter first, the y splitter goes into sub output on my da5400es.. Result :sound through sub but nothing received at buttkicker.

2, checked the transmitter and receiver were synced. Believe they are, repeated test 1 no difference.

3, swapped the cables on the y-splitter, ie to prove no issues on the y splitter. Got sound through sub on both connections, nothing at buttkicker

4, decided to eliminate the wireless and wire direct to bka300-4. Again didn't work?

that said I do see some feedback, quite literally e.g you know if you hold the end of the RCA into a powered sub and it booms, on the transmitter for the buttkicker there is a left & right socket, the manual doesn't state which input to connect the sub to. At one stage I discounted from the left socket to plug into right. In doing so, when the connector nearly out the buttkicker vibrated immensely, similar to sub booming when you hold the end. So it indicated that the wireless if does work. But if you push the connector in fully nothing, in either socket?.

can you think of anything else for me to try?

 

[bigboss]

Bear in mind that the buttkicker doesn't kick in all the time, only when the frequency is low enough. Test first scene of The Dark Knight.

 

[lxd55]

Hi BB,

result :dance:

Tried it again with Dark knight - works!!

observations, the only difference was that I had switched all my kit off over night. The dark knight was key since when I re-tested against the av test tone the test tone barely registers, so the frequency mustn't be ideal for the bk?

So this morning, reconnected on a wired set up and it worked . I had originally tried saving private Ryan, again there are some rumbles but nothing what you would expect. The dark knight and Star Trek truly kick butt .then tried the wireless, no problems - worked as well??? Can only assume switching all the kit off unlocked any gremlins?going to try out a few movies this week to put it through its paces, do you have any other reference movies/scenes to try it out?

 

[bigboss]

:cheers:

1) The first scene in I am Legend, where Will Smith is hunting deer and driving his SUV.

2) The train crash scene in Super 8.

3) The fight sequences in Lord of the Rings - Return of the King.

 

[lxd55]

Hi bigboss,

assume you have watched Prometheus? Now that is a film that shakes the couch!! :bounce:

had to take the intensity down since it bottoms out especially at the beginning. Currently feeling every judder of the ship landing- absolutely mental

one issue I do seem to have are that shaker centre are refusing to transfer the warranty to me? They state that it is not transferable?

but I have supplied the original electronic sales order plus the serial numbers of the kit. Given it's only 4weeks old I think this is v.poor.

told them that the original seller had not registered the kit, so if I hadn't been so honest how would they stand with it being a gift and me registering the kit even though I wasn't the buyer??

just hope it doesn't break!

 

[bigboss]

Well, as long as Shaker Centre haven't noted any details down, you should be ok, as long as you have the receipt with you. I haven't had any problems with my buttkicker yet, it's been 4 years now.

Oh yes, I forgot to add Prometheus to my list of recommendations!

Finally, someone other than me on this forum appreciates the difference that a buttkicker makes to home cinema experience!

 

[matengawhat]

Ordered one over the bank holiday wend as was bored and thought could be some fun - delivery from shaker centre was quick with no issues

very well packaged and the unit itself seems very well built - bolted it to the underside of my corner sofa with very little hassel and had up and running i minutes

ran a bit of dark knight through it earlier and was very impressed - not sure if my sofa is going to hold up, bit concerned its going to shake it to bits

moved onto sky hd and started knocking through the loud seens, think that the lfe from skyhd must be a bit louder - have had to keep tweeking depending on which movie I watch as there seems to be no standard sound levels set by the movie studios or across different audio codes so sometimes needs turning up and down - zometimes wish louder during the quiet bits and quiter during the noisy bits - any advice on how to strike a subtle balance

did the rubber feet make a big difference to controlling the vibrations - i didn't have enough so have ordered some extras in hope of isolating it a little from the floor

 

[bigboss]

Even if the butkicker shakes my sofa quite a bit (sometimes to the extent that it feels it'll fall to bits), the sofa is still intact after 4 years of use. My buttkicker "volume" is set at 50-60%, and only kicks in when there is a significant low frequency signal, like an explosion (the best bits of the film). It doesn't kick in all the time. I found that gives the best experience.

Mine is on rubber feet on a carpet, so doesn't vibrate much. You can put some extra rubber underneath to dampen it further.

 

[matengawhat]

Just watched jack reacher and sometimes when i felt i should be able to feel it nothing then wallop - one prob with the wireless kit is the volume no guide so never sure where its set. Been trying to find out online if it resets when powered off to like zero gain and then can move +/- 1db with each click forward or back

My sofa is against staircase and bookcase so get odd sound every so often

 

[Alantiggger]

I'm thinking of getting this..... they have one for the wife ? :clap:

 

[lxd55]

Hi matengawhat,Have to agree that the lack of an actual visual indication (led, display, dial) is one of the main weaknesses I have of the design, ie you're never sure if it's at full max or full min when you're pressing the up/down buttons. So it tends to be a suck it and see approach to adjust when you're watching a movie.I didn't have enough rubber feet either, but my room is carpeted and I don't think having the feet would make a big difference. Doesn't impact the couch too much since the carpet is new and quite thick.Have got to say I'm loving the kit, has made me re-watch a lot if films I'd not watched in a while, on Friday night, omg, I thought I was on Omaha beach in SPR :bounce:Have also started to test it on music - find that I need to turn it onto it's lowest setting, but again it adds to the enjoyment I find.For the price I paid (eBay) I've got to say I'm very impressed and would recommend.

 

[lxd55]

Hi Alantiggger,

wife was threatening me with buttkicker responses when I told her had ordered one, now we have one she has warmed to it, but the kids love it - it's a fight to get on the couch to watch the films now

 

[Alantiggger]

Hi Alantiggger,

wife was threatening me with buttkicker responses when I told her had ordered one, now we have one she has warmed to it, but the kids love it - it's a fight to get on the couch to watch the films now

Cool, I'm going to see how the monies are as it does sound like a great thing to get... glad you guys are all enjoying it :clap:

 

[CnoEvil]

Once you experience the buttkicker, you'll want to buy it!.....

......I married mine in 1988! 8)

 

[bigboss]

Once you experience the buttkicker, you'll want to buy it!.....

......I married mine in 1988! 8)

See, I told you.....once you experience it, you'll want it!

 

[bigboss]

That makes it silver jubilee this year!! :cheer:

Congratulations for having your butt kicked for 25 years! :cheers:

 

[CnoEvil]

That makes it silver jubilee this year!! :cheer:

Congratulations for having your butt kicked for 25 years! :cheers:

Thx!

 

[matengawhat]

just wondering if anyone else has any issues with their butt kicker waking up with everything else turned off and randomly vibrating every once in a while

always had an issue with the volume control on this and could never quite get the control of the butt kicker as i wanted with it sometimes vibrating to loudly and hitting the casing but tonight dropped a -10db attenuator in the line and since then seems to be far far better - currently watching fast furious 6 and had no issues so far in what i think would be classed as a bass heavy movie

 

[matengawhat]

just thought would bump this

 

[bigboss]

My understanding is, whenever there's a low frequency sound, the buttkicker kicks in. Occasionally, even the subwoofer doesn't rumble but the sofa shakes a bit. It always seemed appropriate to the scene.

 

[lxd55]

Hi matengawhat,

just seen your update. Occasionally I had the transducer maxing out (solid thud on the casing) - tended to be when it was just switched on and we weren't actually watching anything specific??

i have a more fundamental problem, the amp appears to be broke, just stuck in standby mode (red light on, won't switch on and turn green). Have been in touch with the shaker centre and gone through basis debug, ie checking the fuses etc - no joy. I had watched blu ray of oblivion and it was superb, next day just wouldn't turn on?.

per my previous posts, since I purchased off eBay, within the 1yr warranty period - they originally stuck to their t's & c's ie warranty is only valid for original purchaser, not transferable. However, we have managed to agree that if I can get the original purchaser to raise the claim I can send it back under the warranty. I have posted to the guy via eBay but I've not had a reply yet

 

[matengawhat]

hi bigboss - what i meant was everything is turned off - i'm in bed it's 4am - I hear a thud come down stairs and the unit has turned itself back on everything else turned off