Immersion? Useful Sim Racing Feedback? Buttkicker Gamer Plus Review

00:00 - Introduction / Overview
00:52 - Disclaimer
01:02 - Buttkicker Gamer Plus Transducer
02:17 - Buttkicker BKA Plus Amp
04:29 - Testing, Installation & Driving
06:12 - Telemetry Based Feedback Effects
09:06 - HaptiConnect Software
11:44 - Final Thoughts

I’ve always been curious about bass shakers and other haptic feedback devices like the Buttkicker. Are they just a tool to increase immersion when you’re driving, or do they provide genuinely usable feedback? Guitammer sent me the new Buttkicker Gamer Plus kit which is aimed at the sim racing market, so I got some answers!

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===== S O C I A L ======

Business Mail: chrishayesimracing AT gmail DOT com

#ChrisHaye #SimRacing

[phillheth]

I'm just getting into SIM racing and have found your videos head and shoulders above many others. It might just be that your soothing English tones chime with my own hello from Chester. Cheers for the vids

[OhItsThat]

It’s great that they have a wireless remote now. What I really want from Buttkicker is a single amp that can power 4 or 5 of these suckers with a control panel that can be mounted to my rig with volume dials for each transducer.

Also I just need to say. Dealing with Buttkicker has always been a pleasure in the past. I had amps go bad, Gamer2 mounting bracket brake and those guys send out new replacements the same day they received my email. In both cases was the next day. No “send us in your broken stuff so we can can place blame on you so we can charge you” or ask for a credit card or anything. Three times this happened to me I had my new replacement product and return box within 5 days of the response to my email. Fantastic product support and customer service.

[TheCameltotem]

Transducers are like the best thing after my simucube 2. It really gives you a life to the sim, that physical connection. I love it

[Kefuddle]

Great review Chris! The quality of your presentation and delivery of the info is second to none, has to be said.

[franklinnash]

Back b4 sim racing was as serious as it is these days, I discovered that if I stuck my subwoofer under my chair I got some great haptic feedback. I've continued this practice ever since. Sure it probably doesn't offer me the subtlety of feedback that the Buttkicker does, but it definitely makes my setup just that little bit more immersive. Sticking a desk fan on each side of your monitor is another v. cheap upgrade too.

[edteachr]

Thanks for another excellent video, Chris. I bought a ButtKicker two years ago to assist with indicating loss of traction at the rear of the car, particularly the hyena-lame rear-end in ACC (which has improved significantly since then). It took quite a while to get the BK dialed in, eliminating unwanted rumbles. Now I only use it to indicate rear-end slip and to provide a hefty clunk when I change gears but, boy, is it ever amazing! It has helped me to be much more consistent, catching excessive slides much earlier, and steering the car more effectively with the gas pedal. RF2 and R3E are simply outstanding. I am not an immersion junky as I play purely for the enjoyment of racing; so; with the BK working so well, I truly cannot see the need for a motion rig (all that bouncing around seems a bit goofy, to be honest).

[scottbedford]

It's interesting to see someone actually mount it directly to the Aluminium profile, rather than using a bracket or trying to put it directly on the seat. It's helpful to hear the vibration effect is still good, even on such a rigid rig.

[SpatialDragon]

I have used my Buttkicker 2 for 12 years on console and PC. My first one did break the mount and they sent me a new transducer with mount and I sent my broken one back to them with included shipping label. The replacement from the first year works great still. I added a Buttkicker LFE transducer with a cheap amplifier and it does work just fine. I really do not drive w/o my Buttkicker going.

[OrganizationalEngineering]

Does your amp make noise when it is turned off with the remote but still has the physical power switch turned on? My plus makes a noise louder than my computer fans and it is super annoying. They sent me a replacement amp and it does the same thing and they said it's normal.

[mrb]

Fantastic review Chris, as always. 🙂🏁

[alpenmerlin]

Nice review. As they are compact, I would consider buying one or two for my rig. However, would you please provide some information regarding the introduced noise level? I live in an apartment and don't want to annoy my neighbors or cause them not to be able to sleep when having these installed on my P1-X. Thanks a lot!

[henryjames]

Got a plus for Xmas and your video help a lot thanks

[EvilCreedy]

Can you do a review with this on a PS5 playing GT7?

[stefandenninger]

I have BK Gamer plus and i use it via USB and SimHub without the extra audio connections. Works well.

[ttitojb]

How do I setup my PC audio settings to use the Game Connect? When I select the Speakers BK-Plus option, I loose my Razer Wireless headset connection, it's either the BK or the headsets, but not both.

[angryginger]

Great timing, Chris! I had a bad experience a few years ago when I tried a DIY transducer setup. I gave up on it and just recently starting looking into it again. I really wanted a no BS, plug-n-play solution, and here you are. And while I'm throwing out compliments, have you lost weight? You look good, man! If I had to guess, I'd say it's from chasing the little one around. Cheers, mate!

[DuckReconMajor]

Do you think the buttkicker can offer the same level of useful feedback as a motion rig? I've heard people say a motion rig would eliminate the need for a direct drive wheel and I wonder where buttkicker would fit in that scale. I of course mean this in the "driving better/more consistently" way not the immersion way

[danielhass]

So is there a benefit to hapticonnect standard over base if you only use iracing?

[kevinmurray]

Great video again Chris keep up the good content. What monitor are you running in this video?

[mattvs]

I'm looking to get the Buttkicker Pro for use with DCS. I've been trying to do research and what I've found is that the Hapticonnect doesn't support DCS and I've looked at SimHub and didn't see DCS there. Is buttkicker something I can use with DCS and if so is it going to be a huge pain to get working? Anyone please chime in!!