The main problem is that if he wants to upgrade later with say aura 50 watt base shakers and he wants to run 4 of them he will likely have overheating problems with the amp unless he runs it at a very low setting. Why buy an amp and then have to buy another one if he decides to run more powerful shakers? I had 4 aura's in chassis mode and couldn't run the amp at the settings I wanted to without it overheating and I wasn't running it near max settings.
Numerous people on the iRacing forums also had that problem while running SimVibe setups. I bought a used Adcom 4 channel amp after I sold the 304 four or five years ago and have never had an overheating problem.
I just hate to see someone make a mistake and have to buy another amp later on and my comments are based on my experience and the experience of others. I know you don't like Simvibe or Berney at SimXperience, but he also warned people about using that amp as they had tried it and had overheating problems with it.
Mmmmmmmmmm
It seems you assume the Aura Pro via CM would be an upgrade for someone to get in the future after trying the exciters?
A Typical CM installation can waste a lot of the energy from the units and this includes lost detailing too with higher frequencies. People with CM installations are more likely to crank the volume to compensate for the lost vibrations. These are vibes that are freely able to move over connected/adjoining surfaces and to sections of a rig the user won't even feel them. So with many peoples CM installations, the seat/pedals is only getting a partial amount of the best energy/detail based on the users installation used.
Do not underestimate what the exciters installed as shown can achieve. Having units directly installed working in pairs/groups bring several advantages to typical or popular CM installations. Just because the recommended exciters appear tiny or are only 40w. I expect most people to be quite impressed with the punch and detail they bring. They certainly impressed me and I am soon going to be testing having 8 of them on the back of a seat for improved multi-effect distribution. I will use 2x EPQ304 amps to do this and will report on any issues but with this approach, we use so little wattage anyways, so these units are not going to working the amps that hard. Other 4 channel amps are available anyways.
Keep in mind, there is nothing stopping people combine with the exciters, "larger units" for improved low bass. These can be installed to the base of the seat/pedals and applying whatever level (price range / performance) they want to go with.
Multi exciters let a person enable better representation of using more effects at once. We can split effects over whatever channels we want to the bodyzones we desire. On top of that we have the benefits from their improved detailing. When you do this over several body zones then its a big upgrade to having 2 units (eg like Aura Pro) bolted to the seat frame that a CM installation would bring. It is also a big compromise trying to have a single unit output multiple effects at once.
Simvibe Chassis Mode - Aura Pro - Upgrade Or Downgrade?
Actually I'd say compared to the (exciter concept) that has been shared here. Installing these exciters directly brings finer detailing, with less requirement of higher wattages, simply because the user gets not only the ideal force/smack from the unit with little energy being wasted but we also can place it to the specific body zones we want. Tactile for Shoulders, Spine and Sides with direct units will easily outperform units installed in the typical approach of CM with units like the Aura Pro or other sub $50 models.
A user can easily start with a couple and then expand but you discover the benefits of bringing smarter effects distribution and will want more, bringing improved stereo effects as well as maybe having certain effects separated, like engine or speed based sensations from others. This is much better than effects all crammed onto single units, (make no mistake about it). Simvibe and CM/EM is not close, no not anymore is it the best way to approach this (imho).
Save money rather than paying $90 for Simvibe, give a nice donation toward Simhub Shakeit.
Ask anyone thats tried it. As it has become the way to go, much nicer UI, easier and better than any other tactile software solution. It also brings more effects, better controls and configurations we cannot achieve from the alternatives.
