Buttkicker Alternative Under $100 for Sim Racing

This is an awesome alternative to a Buttkicker for sim racing for under $100. Unboxing, full hardware installation, and pc configuration for iRacing in this video with the use of SimHub.
Project hardware list:
Dayton Audio BST-1 Bass Shaker - $50
www.amazon.com...
Nobsound Amp - $35
www.amazon.com...
Speaker Wire - $10
www.amazon.com...
(Optional) Velcro for mounting the amp if needed - $15
www.amazon.com...
SimHub Software
www.simhubdash...
Area 51 Alien Factory Facebook Group
/ area51alienfactory
Area 51 Alien Factory facebook page link
Area51A...
Majors Garage Setups Affiliate Link
majorsgarage.c...
Edwards Setup Shop (free setups)
edwardssetupsh...
Old School Racing (free setups)
osracing.net/
Maconi Setup Shop Affilliate Link
www.maconisetu...
10% discount promo code - Area51

[@barryspurlock3048]

Just installed one on the seat. I believe just 1 is enough. Brings the rig alive. Thanks for the tutorial.

[@Area51AlienFactory]

I am glad you got one and like it. I picked up a second one for under my pedal plate. I am thinking about doing an updated ultimate 2 bass shaker 2024 video.

[@RO1a346]

@@Area51AlienFactory Please do! It would be much appreciated

[@TheFifaddict]

@@Area51AlienFactoryI'm thinking of putting BST-1 under my seat and BST-2 under the pedal plate? Or do you think BST-2 under both would suffice? Thanks!

[@samgendler]

I would bet that the difference in feel between a ziptie-to-spring attachment versus bolting to a piece of metal which is firmly bolted to the rig will be stark. You are going to lose a lot of fidelity to both the play in the zipties and movement of the springs, causing you to miss out on higher frequency and lower amplitude vibrations.

[@Area51AlienFactory]

Yeah I am not sure if I am missing out on any frequencies, but it is super powerful. I had to turn it way down. I currently getting good vibrations from 30hz to 60hz I am not sure if I could get a better frequency range if I mounted it to the 8040 rig frame.

[@MIMCKMedia]

First video i watched of this channel and i didn´t expect that actual Alien at 0:11 turn up

[@Area51AlienFactory]

lol, yeah guess I do have the big round bald head that looks like the alien head logo. Good stuff.

[@MIMCKMedia]

@@Area51AlienFactory 😅👌

[@kenlipper874]

I have used both in a 4-channel configuration. If the cost of Buttkickers is prohibitive, go with the Daytons. From my experience, the Buttkickers are next-level, blow the Daytons away. I was shocked when I upgraded to the Buttkickers.

[@Area51AlienFactory]

I agree the buttkicker transducers have a higher fidelity than the Dayton Audio tansducers. That means you can probably put I higher number of different effects through the buttkickers and still feel the difference in viberations. However, I don't care much for the amps provided with the Buttkickers, they are prone to overheating, at least they used to be and they didn't save the volume settings when turning them off and back on again. Also I only use about 4 effects and the Daytons can handle those just fine for a 3rd of the cost. Thank you for the feedback I think you are right.

[@toolanddie9789]

Great video!just ordered this setup. Thank you

[@Area51AlienFactory]

I hope you like it. It is really impressive for the price. I think they are better than buttkickers and the fact that they are so much cheaper is just amazing. I just ordered a second one yesterday to put under my pedal tray.

[@doubleHLabs]

How well did it work for you?

[@BenFreedmanRacing]

This is awesome, definitely going this route

[@Area51AlienFactory]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@roadi7]

I never had to manually set the path for each game ~ I just clicked and it worked

[@Area51AlienFactory]

right, this is how it is supposed to work, but every once in a while it doesn't. Especially if you install games to non default locations.

[@kevin_m]

Great job on this. I have all this on my rig and you provided a really good tutorial here.

[@Area51AlienFactory]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[@rugbyguitargod]

2 of their 2.1 audio amplifiers would be sick. It would let you run 4x smaller shakers (L/R front and rear) and two of the bigger bass shakers mounted center under pedal plate and under seat. Obviously a little pricier of a setup, but probably a LOT better feedback

[@Cereal_Killr]

I knew there had to be other options...without paying for the butt kicker logo! Thanks...these are exactly what Ive been looking at. It's just a driver without sound...many companies make these...much cheaper too! just gotta get creative with mounting...whcih aint hard

[@Area51AlienFactory]

Yeah I just mounted a second one under my pedal tray to simulate the front wheels yesterday. It is great. Now I have 2 bass shakers seperating the front and rear for $150 all in. That is way better that a single buttkicker for $300.

[@Cereal_Killr]

@@Area51AlienFactory exactly...I'm in process of building a new rig. Trying to decide but think I'm going GTR with the triple mount...then adding 15 dollar wall mount arm so monitor will pull in closer. Selling my trusty old GT lite foldable

[@Area51AlienFactory]

I highly recommend the GT Omega Prime. You can't beat the value on an 8040 Aluminum rig.

[@Cereal_Killr]

@@Area51AlienFactory thx...looking into it as we speak! ...It's nice but not what im looking for. Price is high for what you get I feel.

[@sonyx5332]

@@Area51AlienFactory Are you using one amp or two amps for the two bass shakers (front and rear) that you added?

[@W.Eric.Anderson]

Great work!....thanks for this info...

[@Area51AlienFactory]

Thanks, I need to do a new video on my current setup as like an Ultimate Buttkicker Alternative 2023 for under $200. I added a second one to my pedal plate and I remounted the rear one to my rig frame but was still able to isolate the vibrations to the seat only. Not sure when I will get around to it, but its on my list of stuff to do.

[@Tj930]

Thanks for making this video. I've seen a number of them now, but always great to get another perspective to pick up on a particular nuance. Yours was primarily the gamma - the curve or amplitude rate - and the "one at a time" method 🙂 I'm with you about the speed & effectiveness over feelings and immersion (as nice as they might be)... So, had the thought about speed, road rumble, gamma and pulling them all together for greater effectiveness... I remember Nico Rosberg (former F1 World Champ) talking about how, in a downforce car, as the speed drops, so does the downforce, and so one has to come off the brakes to avoid locking (ie hold it at maximum braking threshold)... Bearing in mind that drag and downforce goes up with the square of the speed, could tune that rumble to let you know when you're now in danger of locking? 🤔 Just a thought!

[@Tj930]

So, you could have some high-pitched whine at high speed... If you can't hear it, be a little more tentative on the brakes?

[@Area51AlienFactory]

I appreciate the suggestion, I will see if I can get something like that going.

[@Area51AlienFactory]

right, I think that is what he is getting at.

[@bigmarkdarula]

I set this up on mine as well - great info here - works very nicely.

[@Area51AlienFactory]

Thats awesome, great to hear we helped you out.

[@michaelmonstar4276]

I wonder if I could hook this up to a headphone-amplifier that also has output-options for speakers. - I'm just not sure about both whether or not I can get an output-signal while also using the headphones, AND, even if it does do it simultaneously, if it's enough power. - If that would work, I could potentially leave out buying an amp, if I'd get into this method. - I need things to be streamlined anyway, because I need to be able to set up my rig onto my regular desk. I simply have the wheel ready to go, apart from the USB-cable, to be mounted to the desk. - It's just those additional two or three wires, though... AND another power-brick... or two... But perhaps it could be doable with some streamlining.

[@Area51AlienFactory]

The issue is you need to have a seperate sound card for this application. The great thing about this solution is the usb sound card is built into the amp.

[@redmak3849]

Hello guys, I’m confused this bass shaker. I’m playing with ps5 and connected directly to my tv in that case if connect one bst1 + amplifies connected to ps5 is it work without downloading simhub? Please give me a solution before I buy it. Thank

[@banjoqc]

Im using an ASR6 with a car seat, how would you compare this 100$ alternative versus the buttkicker gamer PRO ?

[@zipwcgc]

Aloha can I use this for home theater?

[@rock3rd]

great detailed video

[@Area51AlienFactory]

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback.

[@ranakirti]

Well explained. Good effort

[@Area51AlienFactory]

Thanks, appreciate the feedback.

[@AndreBGS]

Very nice!

[@Area51AlienFactory]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Goryglory0209]

But no software to control it. Will it not effect the telemetry data that comes from software

[@Area51AlienFactory]

Right

[@bullzeyes23]

Thank you

[@Area51AlienFactory]

Your welcome, Robert Cook on our team has had a buttkicker for a couple years now and kept telling me I should get one, but I just didn't like it was worth $300. So I found this solution and was like $100 now that is more like it. Plus from talking to Robert I really think these bass shakers are actually better than the buttkickers. I made the video because I figured a bunch of you guys would be interested in this for under $100.

[@JebKJ21]

do you know if this works with microsoft flight sim?

[@GW2Vids1]

Does it somehow work with non racing games like FPS, flight sim etc?

[@Area51AlienFactory]

It could but you would have to have software like sim hub to run the effects through. Sim Hub has a large list of games it works with and not all are sim racing titles.

[@michaelmonstar4276]

I wonder what a clustertruck this would be to set up under Linux...

[@Area51AlienFactory]

Um, I am not sure about linux. You would have to have simhub or sim commander running to control it. I use linux myself for different purposes. I have Linux on my steam deck and I am also running a linux server at my house, but I have never tried sim racing on linux. Sounds like a lot of work.

[@FineVisionz]

Can something like this be used for music/cinema as well? If just using for music/movies, would I still need to use simhub or how would that work? Thanks!

[@Area51AlienFactory]

Yes, I can absolutely be used for home theater use. Instead of using simhub, you just need to split your subwoofer output and send it to the AUX input of the nobsound amp. You wouldn't use the USB input in that situation.

[@theomakriyannis]

@@Area51AlienFactory Based on your comment above, I am assuming I can use this for a console setup? Right?

[@michaelmonstar4276]

What if I hang it up to the mesh of the seat of my chair?... 😏

[@Area51AlienFactory]

I am not sure how that would work. The main thing is you want to have it tight to your chair somehow or your rig. But you also want to isolate the vibrations as much as possible.

[@Largallama]

sorry i am late to your video but i have only just decided to go for this kind of set up. My question is, with attaching the shaker to the seat springs, when sitting in the seat the springs bend downward and obviously stretch a little, could this damage the shaker in any way as its a solid object attached to a movable object. Hope that makes sense lol, cheers.

[@Area51AlienFactory]

It worked great, no damage to the bass shaker. However, I got a new seat and did not have the springs exposed to I had to come up with a different solution to isolate the bass shaker to the seat only for vibrations. I ended up using a another piece of aluminum profile and rubber washer and attached it to my rig where the seat slider rails connect on each side.

[@Largallama]

@@Area51AlienFactory That`s great, thanks so much for the reply, think i am going to go for that set up, cheers 👍

[@mikegrissom55]

does the seat still move back and forward with the speaker mounted to the seat?

[@Area51AlienFactory]

Michael, no but there is a good deal of vibration in the seat that you can really feel.

[@rickeyrice5060]

CAN ANYONE TELL ME how to use these on ps5. i was told u can even use simhub if u run through ur laptop 1st PLEASE HELP

[@Area51AlienFactory]

You would need to somehow get rca audio out to the amp and add a low frequency cross over filter and it should work. However, it would just produce vibration for all low frequencies instead of specific effects like Sim Hub produces. Some people use these in there home theaters like that to give a tactial feeling for bass sounds.

[@roadi7]

that metal thing is a seat spring

[@Area51AlienFactory]

right

[@ddsracingfl]

Awesome, jusr question, how you connect amp to pc, 3.5mm to 3.5mm pc souncard, or usb, or…? Thanks

[@Area51AlienFactory]

I connects to the pc via USB. It is actually a usb sound card and amp all in one.

[@ddsracingfl]

@@Area51AlienFactory thank you, technically I can plug in my buttkicker 3.5mm jack to this sound card, correct? What do you think? My idea: I have already buttkicker on a back of my cockpit and I ordered on aliexpress this amplifier and daytonaudio to front of my cockpit… so what do you think?

[@Area51AlienFactory]

@@ddsracingfl This amp does have a 3.5mm jack. I think it is an input jack not an output. However, I am sure there is a way to get this working with your exsisting buttkicker. Buttkickers usually come with there own amps. You could probably just remove the buttkicker amp and just take the speaker wire straight out of the new amp into the buttkicker transducer.

[@ddsracingfl]

@@Area51AlienFactory true, in simhub as far as I remember you can choose different, multiple outputs, because I know some people using 4 corners shackers, it’s mean minimum 2 amplifier’s, I am worry about connecting to PC internal sound card

[@allantotti]

I love the option to ButtKicker but the SimHub software doesn't have the flight sim I use (DCS). Is there another alternative to it?

[@Area51AlienFactory]

Yes there is another software that can run them but it costs a little more. It is called Sim Commander. I am not sure if it is compatible with DCS or not.

[@allantotti]

@@Area51AlienFactory Thanks mate. I went into a forum and found out a compatible software called Sim Shaker. I ordered the parts, can't wait to get it up and running.

[@ripcity2869]

Does this setup work with ps4/5?

[@Area51AlienFactory]

You would need to somehow get rca audio out to the amp and add a low frequency cross over filter and it should work. However, it would just produce vibration for all low frequencies instead of specific effects like Sim Hub produces. Some people use these in there home theaters like that to give a tactial feeling for bass sounds.

[@youtubegarbage7876]

That amp is not powerful enough. You would want a 100w amp. (need overhead)

[@Area51AlienFactory]

I have had this setup for about 5 months now and I even added a second bass shaker about 3 months ago. I can personally say this amp has been more than enough power for both my bass shakers. In fact, I have to turn the power gain on the amp down to 60-75% or it vibrates waaaaay too much. Sometimes I even turn it down to 50%.

[@davidvincent380]

great, the real Buttkicker thing is so ridiculously expensive it's a scam

[@Area51AlienFactory]

agreed, I added a second bass shaker for front and back wheels now and I am $150 all in. Plus I think it is better than a single buttkicker for twice the price.

[@ViaticalTree]

This video could have been SOOO much shorter.

[@Area51AlienFactory]

Yeah, I try not to ramble too but still be as informative as possible. Definitely a fine line.

[@johnmac2525]

Would this work on a Xbox X set up??

[@Area51AlienFactory]

The bass shaker should work fine with an xbox. But you might want to get a different amp that can filter out the mid and high range and only send the very low frequencies to the bass shaker. The amp that comes with the buttkickers can you that out of the box. So short anwser Yes! Just get a different amp with the low frequency crossover cabability.

[@LeMamour]

@@Area51AlienFactory Interesting, do you have a exemple of a amp on amazon that might do the job on a xbox console?

[@efrainarchilla4942]

@@Area51AlienFactory can you point out an amp that will work? I’m on PS5 and would love to add this! Tks!

[@sonyx5332]

@@efrainarchilla4942 Did you found an amp?

[@efrainarchilla4942]

@@sonyx5332 hi! I bought the nobsound na-10g and it’s working great with one Dayton DST-1! I ordered another DST-1, I think I would need the 24v power supply!