Need advice on Tactile Transducers

I don't think that will work. You are attempting to power ther shakers using the "high level" outputs from your sub. First, in order for those high level outputs to function, you have to be feeding the sub through the high level inputs. If you are running your sub through the RCA jack inputs, the speaker jacks should not be active.

Second, even if the high level outputs were active, they would be outputing a signal above the set crossover level, which is the opposite of what you want for a shaker. You want shakers to play the low notes similar to the sub. Actually, in my set up, I have the crossover set lower for the shakers (50hz) than I do the sub (80hz).

The preferred set up is to run a separate amp for the shakers. I have an Onkyo that has 2 sub outs. I use one for the sub and one for the shaker amp. If you only have one sub out, you can use an RCA Y splitter to run both the sub and shaker amp from a single output.

Hope that helps.

depends on which amp you use to to power the shakers. I am using a Dayton APA-150, which has an adjustable low pass filter that allows me to set the crossover for the shakers. Most subwoofer amplifiers have some sort of adjustable crossover built in.

Also, note that 50hz is a personal preference. If you are using the sub out from your Denon, the signal will already be crossed at whatever level is set for the sub (typically 80hz). Some people prefer (or at least are content with) an 80hz xover for the shakers as well. I wanted a little more subtle implementation with the shakers, which is why I dialed my down to 50hz, but it is not a huge difference.

If you find that you do need an additional filter, then yes, you can get an inline 50hz filter. I believe parts express sell these in pairs, search for FMOD.

You already have your answer about using the speaker-level outputs of the sub. If you use a Y-splitter, you'll still need an amp to drive the shakers. Depending on the amp you get, you may or may not need a 50 Hz filter. Some amps have that functionality built in, (Buttkicker BKA-1000, Dayton SA-1000, Crowson C-602, etc.) Others do not. Select your amp first, then decide if you need the filter(s).

However, I'll throw another wrinkle at you. If you use a Y-splitter for the shakers, and your receiver has any flavor of Audyssey, (or any other room correction), the signal to the shakers will contain the room correction EQ that Audyssey sets for the subwoofer. Certainly the shakers don't need room correction EQ. They would be much better off getting an uncorrected, "native" signal.

To work around this problem, I have my system set up so that I use the analog subwoofer output from my BluRay player as the signal to the amp for the shakers. In most BluRay players, the analog subwoofer output is active, even if you're using the HDMI output for the audio signal to the receiver. In the BluRay player, I set the Bass Management to: Subwoofer = Yes, all "Small" speakers, the lowest crossover available, the shortest Distance setting possible, (while leaving the speakers at the longest Distance setting possible), and the output level to "0". These settings redirect all the bass from the main channels to the subwoofer output, pre-filter it before the shaker amp, and insert a delay that closely matches the delay of the rest of the signals through the receiver. (Note that these settings only apply to the BluRay players analog outputs. They have no effect on the HDMI signal, and the Bass Management you set in the receiver will be applied to the speakers and sub.)

You now have an uncorrected signal for the shakers. There are a couple of downsides to this scenario: 1. The Master Volume Control does not control the level of the shakers.; 2. the shakers only shake when you're playing BluRays. I don't find either of these to be significantly problematic. I always listen to BluRays at fairly high levels and I don't really need to adjust the shaker level to compensate for lower sound levels. I don't really need my transducers with cable TV, which is the only other source I have.

Good luck with your shaker system.

Craig

With no room correction, you can simply split off the receiver's subwoofer output. That simplifies the shaker connection, but I would not want to give up room correction for that simplicity. Oh well... it is what it is.

Craig

This is a brilliant idea craig john...

Thank you so much for posting this!

I hope it works out for you. You can read about my implementation of it here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...8#post21096088
Also scroll down a few posts to see pics of the install.

Craig

My apologies to the OP...

I have the Oppo 83 and I have set the Sub to Yes and all of the speakers to Small with trim levels to "0"...I am not sure on the distance setting for the sub and speakers.

Do I use a distance setting of "0" for the sub and the highest allowable for all speakers?

TIA

The Oppo 83 has limited options for Distance settings. Please see Pages 64 and 65 of your manual. You can only set the CC, surround speakers and subwoofer Distances based on the L/R distances, and you can only set them equal to or less than the L/R speaker Distances. Set the subwoofer Distance to as large a distance as possible that makes the subwoofer "closer" than the speakers. I don't have my 83 anymore, but IIRC I think the largest Distance difference is 4 or 5 feet. Set it to as big a differential as possible.

Craig

Craig, do you know if audyssey applies room eq to both sub outs in a .2 system? Would it be possible to eq the sub on one of the channels first, then connect the shaker amp to the second sub channel after audyssey has done it's thing?

In an Audyssey system with 2 subwoofer outputs, the EQ is applied to both channels equally. There is no way to separate the 2 channels and have one Eq'd and the other not EQ'd. Hence, if you run your tactile transducer(s) off the subwoofer output, they will be exposed to the Audyssey room correction of the subwoofer channel. This is precisely why I set my system up as I did.

Craig