I love bass shakers.

Strategically placed under your chair, they add to the experience of any movie, game or piece of music. Every explosion, every car chase, every fight scene is turned into physical vibrations that rock your body right.

For many, the choice comes down to the Aura Bass Shaker or the ButtKicker. I have them both in my house – the Aura under my couch, and the BK under my gaming chair. Both are well-made, robust products, and I can't speak highly enough of them.

But if I was going to pick one, which one would it be?

It comes down to what kind of experience you want. If you want to shake your bones so hard your teeth chatter and your friends fly out of your couch, AND you're not concerned about the price-tag, go for the ButtKicker.

However, if you want to organically enhance your entertainment experience, for little cost, go the Aura.

Before we go any further, let's take a look at the stats:

Aura Bass Shaker Pro:

  • 50-Watt RMS, 100 watts max
  • 4 Ohms impedance
  • 40 Hz resonance frequency
  • 20 to 80 Hz usable frequency response
  • Dimensions: 6.2″ dia. x 2.5″ H
  • 1 year warranty
  • Price: $45 – $110

ButtKicker LFE Low Frequence Effects Shaker:

  • 400 watts minimum power handling, 1 500 watts maximum
  • 4 Ohm impedance
  • 5 to 200 Hz usable frequency response
  • Measures 5.5 inches wide (oval) and 5.375 inches tall
  • 2-year warranty
  • Extras: wireless and has a patented magnetic suspension system
  • Price: $190 – $229

How do they compare?

In many ways, the specs speak for themselves. These guys, while both awesome shakers, are as different as chalk and cheese.

Clearly, the ButtKicker has some way more grunt. Also, it's wireless, which means a tidy set-up with no wires gaffed to the walls. Given the muscle of this machine, you're going to have to do some hard yards to get the sound right, and you may have to stick some rubber feet to the bottom of your couch to stop some strange sounds happening. Once you get the sound right, however, your friends will never know what hit them when they sit down for a game of Baja Edge of Control.

So what about the humbler Aura? At a much lower price-point, you're not getting all of the added extras. You'll be dealing with wires and you won't get the extreme rumble of the ButtKicker. However, the Aura is amazingly responsive to low sounds at low volume. If you live in an apartment, next door to cranky neighbours, this is a brilliant way of increasing your “big sound” experience without actually having a big sound. The Aura subtly tricks your brain into thinking you have your subwoofer up to 11.

And the winner is?

For mammoth rumble the ButtKicker is ideal. However, my heart belongs to the Aura because it is responsive, rumbling and reasonable, and definitely holds its own against its bigger cousins.



Source by Jerry Toga