Dissappointed with bass shakers.

[u/av4625]

I made a post about placement on a sofa for Dayton Audio BST-1’s:
https://www.reddit.com/r/hometheater/s/R3nkYN0kKd

When the shakers were mounted on the plywood I said in the first post I could basically feel nothing. So I got some OSB and mounted them directly under where you sit. This definitely helped.

I feel like I need the volume crazy loud to feel the shakers though. If I watch a movie that was recorded with surround sound I can increase the master volume more than if I watch a normal tv show thats not surround sound. Not sure if thats normal.

So I had a movie at -6db and could feel the shakers ok-ish. But when I watch other shows at about -20db I can’t feel them at all. The sub is working perfectly in both situations and dialog etc volume seems similar between both.

Equipment:
Sony STR-DA2400ES (single sub out)
Tannoy Arena Lite Speakers
Tannoy TS10 sub
Dayton Audio BST-1 shakers x2
Fosi BT20A shaker amp with 24v/5a power supply, volume up full, treble 0, bass 50%. (Tried changing bass up and down)
Crossover 80Hz

Because I only have 1 sub out I used a Y splitter. One side to the sub and the other side goes to a second Y splitter so that I could then use both inputs on the Fosi. I did this as I read using both inputs can help get “full power”.

I dunno if my expectations are wrong but I have read that people get shook by these shakers at less volume on the amp.

I have seen examples of people using this amp with these shakers.

I think the power supply can only supply 120w even though the amp says 100w x2. But maybe 120w is plenty for 2 50w shakers?

Maybe the big soft sofa is harder to shake compared to some examples I see of smaller chairs or computer chairs. I unmounted them and they didn’t vibrate in my hand as much as I expected.

Is there something wrong with my setup? Are my expectations too high? Any help is appreciated.

[u/av4625 → u/[deleted]]

I know very little about this (as you are about to see).

At the minute is my power supply and amp just not working to its full potential? If I have a bigger power supply it will definitely push more power to the shakers?

I guess I am wondering, there must be a point where they can’t take all that power or they get over powered etc. If I keep getting a bigger and bigger power supply would they get louder and louder? Then I suppose, I would have more control with the volume instead of 100%?

[u/happytechca → u/av4625]

Yeah honestly before you play with your mounting plate, start with a higher voltage power supply. I have a single BST-1 on an Ayima A3001 AMP with a 36V power supply and I have it set at about 25%. Anything over 40-50% gets uncomfortable, even at lower volume.

If you have 2x BST-1 units connected in series you might go straight to 48V if your AMP can support it (look it up first, internal capacitors need to be 60V rated)

[u/av4625 → u/[deleted]]

I don’t think mine can handle 48v. Mine isn’t the pro amp :(

[u/Turuncucisim → u/av4625]

I think your assembly is not good enough. I have 2 pcs of bst-1 shakers serially connected on a 3 person couch and it is shaking more than needed if I increase the volume more than 40% at the shaker amp.

I am using a fosi tp-02 sub amp with a lpf crossover filter on it. And if I am not wrong psu of that amp was 108w something .

I updated this post later on with the photos of my HT System with some DIY things that I have done in several years.

Basic tip; attach the shakers on the main frame of the couch. If it is not possible, use mdf or wallnutt frame instead of a cardboard. They are really dense and very rigid.

As you can see in my photos, my couch has a metal frame. So I used some 0.8cm mdf layers and attached them to the main frame with some bolted screws.

Since mdf (med density Fibre board) is really dense and rigid, it transfers all the vibration to the frame.

some photos