Greetings all:

In discussions with local installers regarding audio upgrades, several have recommended Aura Bass Shakers as an alternative to a real sub. The probable setup will be Alpine 7863 HU; Alpine 1214 changer; Boston Pro components; PPI 4 x 100 Amp and the Bass Shakers.

Has anyone had any experience with the aforementioned Bass Shakers?

 

Awesome for home theater applications! Slap a couple of those under a couch or one under a recliner and you'll really enjoy the explosions! I've also heard of people mounting 6-8 of them to the subfloor via the basement to get the whole room shaking. I've got no experience with them in a car though. I would imagine that if you are simply looking for the "feel" of the bass and not actually the tone then, yes, these would be for you, but if you're looking for musicality from a sub then this isn't the answer you're looking for.

By the way, don't get robbed buying them from an audio dealer. Check online - there are a couple of different companies that make these things and you can usually find them pretty cheap on ebay. I've heard of them going as cheap as $8 each. I'll see if I can find where that price was.

Check here http://www.partsexpress.com Or here
http://www.allelectronics.com/

[Edited by RU2KREDY on 01-29-2001 at 09:45 AM]

 

I have! Though not in a personal car or in the S2000. Though I have a buddy of mine who is holding a set for me for when I get the gumption to do the install!

They are pretty cool and if done right will fool you! The biggest problem is getting the lower frequencies out of those 6.5's! If you can fit a beefie enough speaker up there to get you into the lower <120 HZ range you will love it!

I am almost tempted to setup a super small 8" sub in the tire well along with the shakers. Though its all fantasy right now.

I know we did 4 6.5's in a truck with 2 Pro Aria Bass Shakers(the ones with the fins!!!) and sounded/felt pretty good. If you did 2 right under your butt you would think there was 1-2 10's playing in the trunk. As you know its a feeling not sounding. It makes you feel that there is bass which is what your shooting for. If you do end up doing it please write me personally!

Oh yea btw: I can get those shakers/head unit check my sig.

PS: after reading above post about the 8 dollar shakers. Aria makes a PRO Series(fins) its the only ones worth while....I believe Alpine also makes them but not sure if they are still in manufacturing. The round Aria ones without the fins are...excuse my language but CRAP! Dont waste your money.

[Edited by Pinky on 01-29-2001 at 09:20 AM]

 

Pinky,

Really? The $8 ones are crappy? They've gotten rave reviews from the hometheaterforum.com folks I know. Although, they are being used in a system where most already have a kickass sub and these are just an enhancement.

BTW: No offense indended by the "don't get robbed buying from an audio dealer" - you, of course, are exempt from any blanket statements I make like that! Having dealt with you myself (and would gladly do so again) you'll always get my full recommendation.

 

>>Really? The $8 ones are crappy? They've gotten rave reviews from the hometheaterforum.com folks I know<<

You're active there? Me too, although sporadically. I taught one of my buddies about bass, subs and such and he is doing very well with it and having fun. (TV....SVS subs) Really good guy and very helpful to others.

I have played with tactiles for years and have even designed some DIY units. In my HT I use the Buttkicker tactiles with nearly 2000 watts behind them. Joist mounted, they can knock stuff over in the room. They respond very strong to below 10Hz and won one of Time magazine's Invention of the Year awards. I had the first ones in a home setting two years ago. They have a 3 - 3 1/2 pound moving mass which can travel nearly 4 inches peak to peak. Large and power hungry though. Near zero voice-in-the-butt effect.

I have many Auras laying around. They (either version) are not very strong below about 35 Hz, but are fairly efficient and are certainly cost effective. Combined with some decent bass response from the other speakers and they can certainly enhance the bass experience. Convertibles are difficult to do bass in since they are open and you don't get all the cavity gain an enclosed car enjoys. Both the Clarks and (especially) the BKs are worlds ahead though.

Stan

[Edited by E30M3 on 01-29-2001 at 11:21 AM]

 

I do not believe I said the 8 dollar ones were crappy specificly.....

Plus I hate to bring this up again though in this aspect it does have some relavance between Home Theater and Car stereo. Worlds appart though the shakers are a commonality. I just really wanted to be specific on the speaker that I believe is worth while doing.

RU2KREDY: thank you for your comments they are appreciated. I just dont want a flame fest starting around a set of 8 dollar shakers and Home VS. Car audio.

Hell for 8 bucks its worth a try! Just be prepaired like in a casino to loose your money if it dosent go your way.

 

Funny that an "audio guy" recommended a product the produces nothing audible (at least to the human ear) -- LOL!! I myself think they are a waste, but getting past that I could see them complementing a sub -- but NOT replacing one. After all, they don't produce ANY audio!!

 

Think of them as a supplement, not an alternative. They're terribly artificial without some SPL to back them up. I got a pair of the Aura Pros http://www.aurasystems.com if they're still around. Or maybe here to buy.I wouldn't put 'em in the car though, for fear of things shaking loose. Much better bolted to the couch in the living room. And I wouldn't say they make no sound; they tend to turn whatever they are mounted to into a speaker.

Once bolted mine to a cheap coffee table and made it dance around to the tunes of Bass Mekanik. Good fun.

 

>>!! I myself think they are a waste, but getting past that I could see them complementing a sub -- but NOT replacing one. After all, they don't produce ANY audio!! <<

This depends upon the tactile transducer chosen. Auras have a fair amount of actual SPL depending upon the install. Clarks can go full range. You can bolt them to a wooden deck for example and have tunes with no speakers. Buttkickers basically handle only the below 60 Hz or so range with little output above about 100 Hz.

I think that a good tactile install would really, really help the bass in a convertible. It's not difficult to get tactiles to provide the felt bass sensation of, say, a dual 12 rig which would be rather tough to fit into the S2K. They work best if they provide tactile effects along with other speakers also cover the same freq range. Do subs AND tactiles in a convertible if possible.

Remember that in a rigid, enclosed car the cavity or room gain or pressure pot effect reinforces the bass below some frequency related to the cabin size. In most cars this corner frequency is around 60-70 Hz. Lower for minivans, higher for small cars. Below that point, the lows are boosted by about 12 dB per octave, reaching a max of about 25-35 Db below 20 Hz. That is a lot of boost!!! A 3 db boost requires twice the amplifier power. Adding a second equally powered sub to a solo woof adds 6 dB. The cavity effect blows the last two factors away. Thank you Mother Nature!!!

In most homes, you will get a 3-5 db boost by 20 Hz, rising as freqs below this point. But it tends to peter out by 10-15 hz dues to flexy walls, openings, air leaks and so forth. Most music doesn't have much activity below 35-40 Hz so room gain doesn't help with tunes very much at home. My home theater is in a dedicated room which enjoys full room gain to about 6 Hz. Multiple wall layers built like a speaker enclosure, totally air tight and sound isolated.

Take the rigid top off a car and POOF, bass is much reduced. Zero cavity effect. No a fabric top won't help, too flexible. But a hardtop will work. If you think about the above, it means that if you had say one 8 inch sub in a closed car, you'd need a bunch of 10s or 12s to do the same thing in the low bass ranges in a convertible. Tactiles don't care if there is no top!!! That is why they works so well in that type of setting.

Most of the time tactiles are poorly installed and are played too loud for the best effect. Done right, they can be amazing. ALL of the military flight and battle simulators use them. Disney and all of the other other theme parks use them by the truck load, generally in those reality type attractions. Many performers such as the Back Street Boys use them onstage under the floor. They are basically mandatory in high end Home Theaters these days. Buttkicker and Clark are the creme of the crop at the moment. Women don't compain about the effect since the SPL is low too. They are also good for late night viewing or soundproofing as the subs can be turned down without losing much impact.

Stan


[Edited by E30M3 on 01-30-2001 at 06:07 AM]

 

Thanks to everyone for the great input. I have an appointment tomorrow evening to "audition" a pair of Shakers that are to be installed in a Boxster S with an audio setup similar to the one I am contemplating. Will report if I decide to go with the Shakers or if I break down and (somehow) wedge a real sub somewhere in the trusty steed.

Regards,

Phil