http://www.bassaware.com/products/the-holster-aka-the-drop

The surprisingly awesome bassAware system (named “The Drop”) that I wrote about being Kickstarted (is it a proper verb? I feel old) a while back has arrived for retail sale! It’s coming in at approximately the same price as the kickstarter, a little less if you were late to the game. Just in case you thought I was kidding, it’s totally bass on your body. From the item description:

The device uses a tactile transducer placed on your upper back – this is a special type of audio driver creating vibration rather than sound. These sensations travel through your body to the inner ear where your nervous system translates these felt vibrations into “heard” sounds. The result is an immersive bass experience that no one but you can hear or feel.

One of the points that the inventor brings up that I think is important to note, is its utility for touring DJs. There’s very poor monitoring in the vast majority of venues, and the bass/sub-bass is even worse. Using this, a DJ can get a sense of what’s coming out of his outputs, without obliterating their hearing or lugging studio monitors on the road.