A tactile transducer is a device similar to a speaker except that it produces vibrations instead of emitting sound. It can be used to either augment the effects of a subwoofer or depending on one’s personal preference, substitute a subwoofer. Another term used to refer to tactile transducers is bass shakers.

Not sure if you would benefit from installing bass shakers?

It is highly effective for those late night movie watching/gaming where you still want to feel you’re in the movie/game without disturbing people in the next room or your neighbors. It makes you feel (rather than hear) each bump and boom without disturbing others.

I still remember watching Transformers the day I got my pair of Aura Pro Bass Shakers. I could feel the footsteps of the robots and the explosions that I see on the TV screen.

A tactile transducer is ideally mounted securely onto a seat or platform for full effect. Aura Pro Bass Shakers were originally intended for use with cars, but the concept of using bass shakers has been adapted for home theater use also.

The ButtKicker® is what I would call a bass shaker on steroids. It is immensely powerful compared to the Aura Pro Bass Shaker. A single ButtKicker® can make a couch vibrate with ease whereas you need several Aura Pro Bass Shakers to achieve a similar effect.

Some downsides I see on the ButtKicker® is that it is more expensive ($172 on Amazon, but currently out of stock) compared to that of the Aura Pro Bass Shaker (around $50 per piece).  Another thing is the amplification requirement of the ButtKicker®, it’s rated at 400 watts minimum and a whopping 1500 watts maximum while the Aura Pro Bass Shaker is rated at a maximum of 75W. Some may not also like the intense shaking over long periods of time.

The ButtKicker® on the other hand also has certain advantages with regards to sizing and purpose requirements, they have products targeted for either home theater, music or gaming. Plus it also comes in mini size.

I would highly recommend trying out a piece or a pair of the Aura Pro Bass Shakers before venturing into the more expensive and powerful ButtKicker®.