There's a problem that every drummer eventually faces: the louder the band, the more you have to turn up your monitor to hear yourself — and the more damage you're doing to your hearing in the process. In-ear monitors help, but they isolate you from the room. Wedge monitors compete with the PA. Neither solution is perfect.
Porter & Davies have a different answer. Instead of sending your bass frequencies to your ears, they send them to your body — through a specially engineered drum throne that vibrates in precise response to your kick drum and bass guitar. You feel the groove rather than hearing it. Your ears stay protected. And your sense of timing and pocket improves in ways that are difficult to describe until you've experienced it.
It sounds like a gimmick. It absolutely isn't. Porter & Davies thrones are used by some of the world's most respected professional drummers — and once you've played on one, it's very difficult to go back.
How Does a Porter & Davies Throne Work?
The system is elegantly simple. A tactile transducer — a precision vibration device — is built into the seat of the throne. This transducer is connected to a dedicated amplifier unit, which receives a signal from your bass drum trigger, a DI feed from the bass guitar, or a mix of both.
When your kick drum hits, the transducer fires — and you feel it through the seat, in your legs, and through your entire lower body. The sensation is remarkably close to what you'd feel standing next to a large PA system, but entirely private and completely controllable. You set the level you want, the band plays at whatever volume they need, and you stay locked in to the low end without any of the hearing damage that comes from cranking a monitor.
The key to why it works so well is latency — or rather, the lack of it. The Porter & Davies system operates with near-zero latency, which means the vibration you feel is in perfect sync with the note being played. This is critical: even a few milliseconds of delay would make the system feel disconnected and unusable. Porter & Davies have engineered this out entirely.
Why Do Drummers Use Them?
The benefits go beyond hearing protection — though that alone would justify the investment for any drummer who plays regularly at volume.
Improved pocket and timing. Feeling the bass frequencies through your body engages a different sensory pathway than hearing them through your ears. Many drummers report that their timing tightens significantly when playing with a Porter & Davies throne — particularly their relationship with the bass player. You're not just hearing the groove, you're physically feeling it.
Reduced monitor volume. When you can feel the low end, you don't need to hear it as loudly. This means you can run your in-ears or wedge at a lower level, reducing ear fatigue over long sets and protecting your long-term hearing.
Consistency across venues. Every venue sounds different. Monitor mixes vary. But the Porter & Davies signal is consistent regardless of the room — you always have the same tactile reference point, which makes it easier to play consistently night after night.
Isolation-friendly monitoring. If you use in-ear monitors, a Porter & Davies throne is the ideal complement. IEMs give you a clean, isolated mix in your ears; the throne gives you the physical sensation of the low end that IEMs cannot replicate. Together, they create a monitoring setup that is genuinely superior to anything a wedge monitor can offer.
The Porter & Davies Range
Porter & Davies produce three throne models, each targeting a different level of player and use case. All three use the same core tactile transducer technology — the differences are in build quality, features, and the amplifier unit that drives the system.
Porter & Davies BC-X — £795.00
The entry point into the Porter & Davies range — and it's worth being clear that entry point here means a professional-grade product, not a budget compromise. The BC-X delivers the full Porter & Davies tactile monitoring experience: the same transducer technology, the same near-zero latency, and the same physical sensation that has made the brand famous among touring professionals.
The BC-X is the right choice for drummers who want to experience tactile monitoring for the first time, players who gig regularly and want hearing protection without sacrificing feel, and anyone who has been curious about the technology but has not wanted to commit to the higher-end models. It is a serious piece of equipment at a price that reflects that.
Best for: Regular gigging drummers, studio players, anyone new to tactile monitoring who wants the full experience without the flagship price.
Porter & Davies BC Gigster — £999.00
The BC Gigster is designed specifically for the working gigging drummer — the player who loads in and out of venues regularly, plays a wide variety of rooms, and needs a monitoring solution that is both reliable and adaptable. The Gigster builds on the BC-X with enhanced build quality and a more refined amplifier unit, giving you more control over the tactile signal and a more robust throne for the rigours of regular touring.
The name says it all: this is a throne built for the gig. If you play live regularly — whether that's pub gigs, theatre shows, corporate events, or touring — the Gigster is the model that has been engineered with your workflow in mind.
Best for: Working gigging drummers, touring musicians, players who need a durable, adaptable tactile monitoring solution for regular live use.
Porter & Davies BC2 — £1,249.00
The flagship Porter & Davies throne — and one of the finest pieces of drummer-focused technology we stock. The BC2 represents the full expression of the Porter & Davies system: the most refined amplifier unit in the range, the highest build quality, and the most precise tactile response available.
The BC2 is the choice of professional touring drummers and session players who demand the best. It offers greater control over the tactile signal, a more premium throne construction, and the kind of reliability that matters when you're playing night after night on a major tour. If you're a professional drummer and you want the definitive tactile monitoring experience, this is it.
Best for: Professional touring drummers, session musicians, players who want the absolute best tactile monitoring system available.
Which Porter & Davies Throne Is Right for You?
All three models deliver the core Porter & Davies experience — the question is how much control, build quality, and refinement you need.
If you're new to tactile monitoring and want to experience what the technology can do, the BC-X at £795 is the natural starting point. It's a full professional system, not a stripped-down version — you'll get the complete Porter & Davies experience at the most accessible price in the range.
If you gig regularly and need a throne that's been specifically engineered for the demands of live performance, the BC Gigster at £999 is the one built for you. The additional investment over the BC-X buys you enhanced durability and a more adaptable system for varied live environments.
If you're a professional drummer who wants the best available — or if you're investing in a long-term solution that you won't need to upgrade — the BC2 at £1,249 is the definitive choice. It's the model that professional touring drummers reach for, and the quality difference is audible and tangible.
Porter & Davies FAQs
What signal do I feed into a Porter & Davies throne?
The most common setup is a trigger from your bass drum pedal or a DI feed from the bass guitar — or a blend of both. The amplifier unit accepts a standard line-level input, so it integrates easily with most live and studio setups. Our team can advise on the best signal routing for your specific rig.
Will it work with in-ear monitors?
Yes — and this is one of the most popular combinations. In-ear monitors handle your full mix in your ears; the Porter & Davies throne handles the physical sensation of the low end that IEMs cannot replicate. Together they create a monitoring setup that is genuinely superior to a wedge monitor for most applications.
Is there any latency?
Near-zero latency is one of the defining features of the Porter & Davies system. The vibration you feel is in sync with the note being played — any perceptible delay would make the system feel disconnected, and Porter & Davies have engineered this out entirely.
Can I use it in the studio as well as live?
Absolutely. Many session drummers use Porter & Davies thrones in the studio as a way of feeling the low end of the track without needing to run a monitor at volume. It's particularly useful when tracking with headphones, where the physical sensation of the kick and bass is otherwise completely absent.
How does it help with hearing protection?
By giving you a physical reference for the low end, a Porter & Davies throne allows you to run your monitors at a significantly lower volume — because you no longer need to hear the bass frequencies loudly to feel them. This reduces overall SPL exposure and ear fatigue, particularly over long sets or multi-night runs.
Can I try a Porter & Davies throne before buying?
Yes — visit our showroom in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, where we stock the Porter & Davies range. Playing on one is the only way to fully understand what the technology does. Call us on 01507 526517 to check current availability before making the trip.
Shop Porter & Davies at Into Music
We stock the full Porter & Davies throne range — from the BC-X through to the flagship BC2. As one of the UK's leading independent drum retailers, we carry genuine stock and can offer expert advice on which model is right for your setup and how to integrate it into your existing monitoring rig.
- Porter & Davies BC-X Tactile Drum Throne — £795.00
- Porter & Davies BC Gigster Tactile Drum Throne — £999.00
- Porter & Davies BC2 Tactile Drum Throne — £1,249.00
Not sure which model is right for your setup? Visit us in our Horncastle showroom or call us on 01507 526517 for expert advice, or order online with UK next day delivery available.