I am about to get the Buttkicker wireless kit from SmartHome and use it with a new subwoofer. I read about a line of sight from the transmitter to receiver requirement for the wireless kit and I wonder why it is necessary since it is RF.

Any ideas?

P.S. Any low cost subwoofers with Auto Save power control ideas?

If I were installing "butt-massagers", I'd use an inexpensive FM-stereo transmitter and an unused regular stereo receiver, just as I've suggested for wireless surround use.

You have an RF receiver with amp built in, and you can use your own speakers. Easily more powerful and better-sounding than purpose-built wireless surround systems.

Problem with Larry's idea here, is that after sending a low frequency subwoofer signal over a FM link, all you'll get at the other end is noise! FM because of the bandwidth limitation has horrible low frequency response.

I thought you had a better handle on things than this Larry.

My bad. I've never actually done this, and I did not realize that FM is bass-limited.

Just how high is the cutoff? And is there a suitable wireless link?

Larry,

Obviously you must be... In your 50's, Have Used Headphones at High Levels for Extended Periods, or Have a Tin Ear! ;-)

I always thought it was easy to hear the difference between the same song on FM, and on a CD.

Here's an article I found after doing a Google search, it's talking about how Stereo AM is achieved, but in doing so discusses the Audio Spectrum of FM as well.

[Link: geocities.com]

Note that below 50Hz the Audio Spectrum rolls off at roughly 50 dB in one decade! Note that nearly the same thing happens above 15KHz. This effect is present because without it, one station would interfere with the other if they are spaced apart the minimum allowed amount. (This happens very often, the channel spacings are fully allocated by the FCC.) So, you're not going to find an FCC approved modulator that will give 20Hz-20KHz audio frequency range using FM or AM modulation.

This can be done, just not legally in the AM/FM radio bands.

I think the best bet for audiophile quality transmission is to transmit the signal digitally, and amplify at the Sub. I've not seen a solution meant for this. Has anyone else seen such a device?

I think part of the issue of not noticing is that most music really doesn't task the lower frequencies, anyway. And most that does go low is that fakey processed crap.

But it is bass beeoooooitch.
Seriously, my Mahler's third in SACD hits low, and I love it.
ELP's moog in Lucky Man in DVD-Audio is fakey but I really appreciate my system pulling that off also.
99% percent off the stuff out there does not "task" as you say and 99% of the people could really care less.
So I guess I have no really no point.

"I thought you had a better handle on things than this Larry."


You should hear his theories on inductors...