ButtKicker Gamer PLUS vs PRO | MUST HAVE for Sim Racing!

In this video, I'm gonna break down how to use a ButtKicker device to amp up the haptic experience in your Sim Racing Setup. It's become an absolute must-have for me, something I can't race without anymore. But which one should you go for, the Gamer PLUS or the beefier Gamer PRO? Well, I've put both to the test, and I'm here to give you the lowdown and help you figure out what's right for you. Let's dive in!
ButtKicker Gamer PLUS: geni.us/M1fEOSu
ButtKicker Gamer PRO: geni.us/1vhB3a
Trak Racer ButtKicker Mount: geni.us/EA1mv2Z (Affiliate Link)
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[@busterbrown1686]

After owning 4 under a home theatre platform, it was a must for my office racing chair and Omega GT stand . Glad the plus was sold out as I needed the pro in conjunction with my Logitech z906 surround sound, with signal degradation with RCA connection . Waiting on my Moza R12 to arrive. Awesome!!!!!!!!

[@garysmith8455]

Thank YOU for your presentation and review. Buttkicker has been a favorite to the home theater industry for many years. I just finished building my very FIRST flight sim rig. I saved my funds to go first rate, from custom flagship computer (14 gen iNTEL i9 CPU and Invidia 4080 Super driving THREE 55" screens in 4k) and the Next Level PRO seat and flight deck. All made of 16th and 8th inch STEEL !, very heavy. I have selected the BK Pro. Currently they are building them once again and should be released later this month (July 2024). Next Level cockpit rigs come WITH a post for the Buttkicker which is mounted to the frame under the seat at the rear. Can't wait to get it and install it. Thanks again!

[@simracingden]

Sounds incredible! Have fun!

[@preyes333]

Nicee review. I purchased the Gamer Plus at launch with the isolators for my Playseat and it’s amazing. It literally made my seat come alive. Aside from a load cell brake pedal a haptic transducer is a MUST have.

[@simracingden]

Great to hear!

[@toniohz]

I can recommend looking into a SubPac (originally purchased it for music, but now its installed on my rig), if you had trouble differentiating between the two buttkicker devices. It will rest against your back and vibrate your body directly, whereas the buttkicker would vibrate the entire rig. Only downside is that you will have to adjust your seating position slightly. Anyways great video!

[@billgulker6187]

Great review as usual. I definitely agree 4 shakers is crazy overkill on a stiff and heavy rig. My experience with a front and pack BK were different from your experience. I thought a front and rear unit was perfect and each could be tuned for the location. In general, the mounting design for the units is key for the transfer to your feet and back side. USB and Simhub is much better than a sound card and the BK software.

[@joshuabduck4986]

I upgraded my Buttkicker plus to a pro for my SIMFAB rig (for DCS World). Night and day between the two.

[@simracingden]

Exactly it's way better

[@wetmog]

Thanks for the comparison, this has been on my list for awhile now. I picked up the Trak Racer buttkicker mount when I first bought it knowing that I'd grab one of these eventually, so it was good to hear your feedback on how you mounted it.

[@simracingden]

Glad I could help!

[@edteach3r]

Thanks for the review and excellent advice. I have only one ButtKicker Gamer 2 on my homemade rig (directly attached to my seat) and simply cannot get by without it. I use it only to detect rear-wheel slip and has improved my consistency immensely. It took me quite a while to set up in Simhub for each car I like to drive, but now it progressively increases in velocity as the rear as the car breaks away. No longer do I have that floaty effect in AMS2 and ACC. Unfortunately, the amp of the Gamer 2 is sub-par and I have gone through no fewer than 3 units in four years (each time under warranty by ButtKicker). I am now going to buy the Pro as the amp is reportedly much more reliable.

[@simracingden]

Thanks for the comment. The gamer PRO has been excellent thus far, with no issues. I also had problems with the Gamer2 amps. I believe it was replaced once.

[@AaronAndino]

Thanks for the thoughtful comparison and sharing your experience. It was helpful.

[@simracingden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Mikee-pb1sv]

great video and full of useful content.. I was going to order the Gamer Plus, but decided that the Pro would be the best for my GT Omega Prime rig. So thats what I have coming and the fact you liked the Pro better on your rig... is a plus for me... Many thanks for video ... Mike in the UK

[@simracingden]

Glad I could help! You won’t be disappointed

[@janes-e378]

I have a next level racing ring on wheels and it is a hollow square tubing rig but later I used black expanding spray foam and filled every tube and there is no hollow mis reading vibration feedback no more and no more echo which was more annoying..Good trick to dampen noises in tunes etc..

[@chuongsullivan-kemple6617]

Great review! After my initial enjoyment of the buttkicker gamer plus, I was super disappointed with the amp and the amount of output. It overheats after like an hour if it’s higher than 25 but you can only REALLY feel the buttkicker at like 25-28 so pretty disappointed. I thought I had broken it when I first got it bc it overheated and wouldn’t work for a bit but I literally just capped it out and burnt it for a bit. Also I notice with the Gamer Plus it gets weaker as you keep using it in one session, maybe it’s just me. Looking to get a Gamer Pro as I’ve heard it’s a night and day difference!

[@nathancarpenter8543]

Awesome review mate. Got plus about 6 weeks ago and can’t drive without it. Am returning my plus soon and going Pro! Cheers

[@simracingden]

Enjoy it!

[@duanemari11]

Thanks! My BK pro arrives today! Please share your Iracing and amp settings please? Love your content!

[@albertorama8262]

Hi! Great video. I have the BK Pro under my seat for engine vibration and the Slip-Angle kit for tires and suspension effects and they make a great combo. Congrats for all the effort and work on every video!!

[@simracingden]

Thanks! How do you like the slip angle kit? it’s on my list of things to try.

[@albertorama8262]

@@simracingden in my opinion is totally worth it. Quite easy to setup and it provides great info about what the car is doing. And as you said about the but kicker, less is more. Will wait to see your opinion and the configuration you use with it.

[@francopego]

Excellent review, I would like to install 2 pros under the seat and have right and left effects but I don't know which amplifier to mount, can you advise me?

[@simracingden]

They come with their own amplifier.

[@ajayster]

Recently put a Gamer PRO on my ASR6 rig -- amazing device -- cannot drive without out. Since switching from ACC to iRacing, I no longer use SimHub with the Gamer PRO -- I just use the iRacing in-game LFE options to set the effects. Seems to send direct telemetry as opposed to the SimHub using the "audio feed". Perhaps someone can correct me!

[@simracingden]

I think you've got it correct that's the difference and it's certainly noticeable iracing in game lfe feels much better.

[@oliverwiley6267]

Could you share the settings you use for assetto corsa? Just got my buttkicker gamer pro installed and want a good baseline tune to try out

[@banjoqc]

Super helpful! I use an ASR6 with a car seat on it and my friend gas a buttkicker GAMER 2 and was wondering if the pro is bettee than the G2? Ill install only one under the seat or attached to the seat

[@Sim_Wheel]

Super helpful. Thank you.

[@simracingden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@simsportgadget]

Great video Mike!

[@simracingden]

Thanks!

[@antbear_zot]

Great video! Could you show where you’ve mounted?

[@simracingden]

Thanks for watching! It's mounted under the seat on a middle piece of profile on the chassis. Watch my latest setup tour. There is footage of this.

[@antbear_zot]

Thank you!

[@damiengvideos4337]

This is good to know..I have the Gamer Plus on a GT7 PSVR 2 rig I built and it's ok but sounds like the Pro is the way to go. Nothing like my Gen5 D-Box but at least it gives GT7 some feeling. Like you without haptics the drive just feel kinda dead :)

[@ripcity2869]

Hey how do u have it hooked up to the ps? Wanna purchase one but dont understand if it worth it for ps. U kno if i can hook it my gamer laptop to use the haptic software thru my ps?

[@vivid_clarity]

Great Video, any tips for reducing noise to the floor in an apartment?

[@simracingden]

Maybe try isolating pads on each corner of your rig or a thick mat?

[@rukaiw5933]

Been watch your videos for a little while, knowing you obviously a car guy, curious what you drive?

[@simracingden]

Thanks for watching! I don't drive anything too exciting mostly practical cars right now, My wife and I share both a 2017 Audi A4 and 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

[@rukaiw5933]

@@simracingden nice cars, I love your den by the way, it’s a perfect man cave

[@simracingden]

Thanks! Wait until you see the new sim racing den coming soon!

[@rukaiw5933]

@@simracingden can’t wait

[@xUSAFWolfman]

What if you use wheels vs feet/rubber on your rig? Will the buttkicker work or will it be limited or can I lock wheels to improve the feel or anyone test this yet?

[@sskhaliq]

Great informative video. Very insightful. A couple of questions: Are you using Simhub licenced version which works with higher frequency? The auto power on/off with Buttkicker pro, is that using USB connection to pc (I assume it is)? I have Buttkicker plus connected via USB which doesn't power on when I turn the pc on. Thank you

[@simracingden]

Thanks, I'm glad to hear it was useful! Yes, I'm using the licensed version of Simhub. You're right, it's connected via USB, and normally, the amp should automatically turn off after a few minutes. However, I suspect that your PC's BIOS settings might be configured to not fully power down, thereby continuing to supply power to the USB ports even when it's turned off. To disable this in most BIOS, look for the ERP S4+S5 setting.

[@sskhaliq]

​@@simracingdenoh of course! That must be it! 😊 Thank you

[@ssrt807]

Can you share your Iracing setup. I have the pro. Just got it and have no clue how to configure unit once installed

[@simracingden]

I Use the default LFE settings in iracing except impacts is turned off and then adjust gain as you see fit. Set amp settings as per manual. 30 gain on amp I believe

[@GridWhisperer37]

Based on your experience with the TR8 rig, what's best place to mount the buttkicker?

[@simracingden]

There really aren’t a lot of mounting spots other than the outside side of the rig where the seat is which is what their mount is intended for which was still adequate in my experience.

[@andrewbristow4993]

Can simhub separate left side effects and right side effects if we were to run 2 kickers, one on each side?

[@simracingden]

Yes

[@robo3412]

I just ordered the Butt Kicker Game pro for my Trak Racer TR8 Pro and I have a question before the hardware arrives. I have my gaming PC connected to an AV Receiver that powers my 7.2.4 surround sound setup. Is it correct to assume that I will only be required to connect the Butt Kicker amp to my PC via usb and adjust the settings/configurations within the haptic connection software to continue to get my normal gaming surround sound from all the correct speakers while the proper frequencies are sent to the butt kicker for its proper function?

[@simracingden]

You are correct. Connect to USB, and your PC will recognize it as another output source. Then you would either use simhub and select the buttkicker as the output for haptics or use hapticonnect or other software, etc.

[@bpoling7]

I have the TR8 Pro and just got the BK Pro also. Mind sharing how you mounted yours?

[@simracingden]

@@bpoling7 I use the Trak racer butt picker mount and attached to the side of the tr8

[@robo3412]

@@bpoling7 Yes. Trak Racer sent me some seat brackets that I didn’t use at first. However, when I got the BK, I installed the horizontal bracket allowing me to “rig” the BK directly understand the seat.

[@dirtyjerz32]

I have the Plus but thinking of getting the Pro for a second one. Not sure which to put under my P1X seat and the other under my pedal deck.

[@simracingden]

If it were me I’d put the PRO under the seat and PLUS under pedal deck.

[@dirtyjerz32]

Might just do that.

[@dirtyjerz32]

pro was delivered today. Looking forward to installing and feeling the power of this beast. @@simracingden

[@benkraus3]

@@simracingden in this configuration, what would you put on the PLUS vs the PRO. Would you run LFE for certain telemetry bc it's direct and SimHub for others that are driven by audio? LFE to the PRO and SimHub to the PLUS?

[@christopherkarlsson5714]

Great review! 👍🏻 Could someone that have the Buttkicker gamer PRO let me know the dimensions of the amplifier remote control, L/W/H?. I will do a 3D-printed case for it.

[@simracingden]

collabs.shop/38zpiw

[@rukaiw5933]

How do you like the buttkicker mounted on the TR8 pro just one side? Do you feel any uneven feedback at all?

[@simracingden]

It was fine never felt uneven too me.

[@Eskoxo]

I had the pro for like a year now biggest issue i have is no matter how much i tighten it it always becomes undone... today i had enough of it and put medium loc-tite on it will see how it goes... as far the remote its range is so bad that i end up just getting out of the rig to do it on the box. Also newest wrc game no telemetry data and it feels just bad something missing with no buttkicker...

[@simracingden]

Thats too bad; I haven't had that issue. What are you using to mount the buttkicker to your rig? I use a Trak Racer mount, and it has been OK with no movement. I returned the WRC game for this reason, too, and the lack of triple-screen support makes no sense for a sim title to be missing these key features in this day and age.

[@Eskoxo]

@@simracingden I have Next level racing f-gt elite aluminum profile that came with a buttkicker mount looks pretty standard post hopefully loc-tite works out i think its more of a buttkicker clamp issue as i tighten it so much feels like any more and might break it or something as that bolt is not exactly thick.

[@KenSyRacing]

Heya, any idea on how LFE mini compares to these?

[@simracingden]

Sorry I don't have any experience with the LFE mini.

[@leafhype]

ive had a buttkicker pro for 3 months and have been able to get it to actually work 3 times... this thing is a mess

[@simracingden]

That’s strange as I’ve had quite the opposite experience. Sorry to hear that did you reach out to them for support? What was the feedback?

[@mqt5]

That's the best version pf fouseytube

[@lexlux777]

Buying the Pro in Sweden it amounts to ca $600. Jeez.

[@simracingden]

Oh, really, wow. For me, the buttkicker is so worth it. I think I paid roughly the same in Canada. I honestly can't live without now unless I had some other form of haptics. I can't sim race without some form of feedback on the road surface or suspension. It is always hard to explain to people who haven’t tried it.