Barry is the BEST guy in this "business", no dramas, no sponsors, he is no fake, always real 100%, the dude doesn't even have to kiss anyone's ass to keep his channel #1, he is that good.
Barry, last night I fell asleep watching this video. Not because it's boring, but your voice is so calming I'd categorize your videos as Bob Ross' "The Joy of Painting" for sim racing nerds. :-)
I had the same thought. The oscillation felt a little weird to me in this review and there is way too much flex, if you compare it to the sc2. It also felt to me that Barry wasn't really happy about the product or expected more of it but didnt want to tell the honest truth, but I might be wrong.
Mine will be here tomorrow too. FWIW I still think both the DD2 and SC2 Pro are good competition for each other and both are good decisions for a buyer depending on priorities. If you are happy with Fanatec wheels then I think the DD2 is very compelling. My issue is that I got wheel lust for the significantly more expensive Precision Sim Engineering wheels. I had upgraded my Fanatec McLaren GT3 wheel with the shifters from SimRacingMachines and they were much better than stock, but also cost nearly as much as the wheel. I added magnetic upgrades to my Porsche 918 rim as well, which are also an improvement though not as dramatic. The buttons and knobs on the Fanatec rims are OK, but not great. So I finally decided I'm getting the wheels I want and a direct drive system that supports them. It may seem backwards, but in the end Fanatec's biggest asset, their huge assortment of rims is what killed the DD2 wheelbase for me. I wasn't going to spend an extra $200 for an adapter on top of the premium wheel cost for each wheel I purchased only to have to run a USB cable anyway and have a wobbly mount point. It just didn't make sense. I've gotten good service out of my Fanatec equipment and have no complaints about their products. BTW I think Fanatec missed a big opportunity. If their $200 adapter allowed for a direct USB connection from 3rd party steering wheels such that they didn't require a coiled cable Fanatec would have made their system an option for the smaller percentage of people who want upscale wheels. I know Fanatec wants people to buy their wheels, but that $200 adapter is only lip service to allowing other rims. They completely threw away their way to add a very big feature by making all of those wheels effectively wireless. Big mistake. Many people would buy a combination of rims but instead they've forced people into an either or situation.
I thought it might be worth mentioning a couple things that Fanatec got right that SimuCube 2 could improve on. I own a SimuCube 2 Pro and a Fanatec CS 2.5 wheelbase if it matters. 1. Torque key. Every time you start up a SimuCube 2 you have to let the software know that you want full torque. Many people have said they have forgotten to do this and had to complete races where everything felt bad because of it. The torque enabling key Fanatec uses is a great convenience by comparison. Have young kids coming by? Pull the plug and put it somewhere safe. Otherwise leave it in and don't worry about an extra step every single time you want to race. 2. Coiled cables. Fanatec wheels are all external cable free which is a great feature. Fanatec supports both communication AND power. The SimuCube 2's have BT support, but they've already hit limitations with some wheels in terms of buttons/input devices supported and there are a small number of wheels that support this. This module is already slated for replacement/updating so it can support more inputs. And then you get the additional failure point and weight of a battery with additional effort to keep a battery charged and then having to remember to turn your wheel on and off. I chose a coiled cable wheel for my SC2 because I didn't want to deal with any of that. It won't be a terrible hardship, but my point is that the SC2's wireless implementation is not comparable or as good. I'm not suggesting one is better than the other, but just that both have some bragging rights, neither is perfect and both have room to improve.
Unfortunately, Fanatec's implementation restricts you to Fanatec wheels (if you want wireless capability), but maybe they'll soon let wheel vendors by wheelside internal connectors.
@@whaletail935 As I've said many times, if they exposed a real USB connection in their Podium mount they would have created an advantage supporting 3rd party wheels.
Great review as always buddy. You are the only person that I ever seen that will go as far as opening up a brand new product just for the sake of making an "in-depth" review. Impressive as always.
I've had the DD1 now for around a year or so. The first one I got had a connection issue with the wheel (electronics; no wheel would power on when plugged in) and the whole repair process was horrid; I was out of a wheel for around 4 weeks. However once they sent me a new one, it was all good. It's the best wheel I've ever had and it just...feels great lol. It is nice that it works on the PS4/PS5 since I do from time to time play GTSport with friends. However I mainly use it in iRacing and rFactor 2 and it feels so incredible. Hope to god you don't have QC issues and enjoy the product!
I am big fan of your movies and your ideas of making things better. They helped me out in assembling this and that so big thank you! However I am a happy owner of a Fanatec DD2 and have absolutely zero issues with flex on stock piece of rubber. Cheers.
I am an early adopter of DD2, I need to say that I have no complains with it. I'd love the quality and the FFB fidelity. I understand perfectly that the Fanatec Podium system is an early stage of development, and I happy with that. The flex in my case in minimum, for not to say that I have no flex at all. And in my opinion it has a quick fix if Fanatec release a more stiff Rubber or a 1mm more thick. I can't compare with a Simecube or similar, because I never got that ones, but what I can talk about the DD2 and like I said, it worked flawless, plug and play in all the games that I tested and for me that it's superb. Barry should mention that, I think that Fanalab is great, but the ability to launch a game, and seconds being driving without headaches is part of the package :).
Really great that you showed the fanalab software. I was searching a long time for a Programm which is able to change the colors of the rev lights after I saw that the leds are rgb leds.
Having the best support for this base is a major selling point going forward. Needs some time to mature software-wise and the quick release flex needs to be resolved plus reliability? Will wait a bit longer but I still think it's my best bet imo. Can't beat Barry's reviews.
I don't have any play in my quick release but im using it bolted directly to the wheel, maybe because it's still really new. Excellent review as usually.
Most excellent review. Fanalab software looks friendly and good file management features. Only thing I would say is for that price, I would refer something other than plastic connectors. Circular, aerospace types with locking rings are the preferred standard.
thank you for making this video, i copied your settings and finally got my DD2 wheel feeling great for iracing....i'm kindly requesting you do a video for Assetto Corsa Competizone & F1 2019 settings......✌
Thanks for the great and honest review (as usual), Barry. It is an honour that you rated the force feedback quality of the DD2 at the level of the other new generation DDs out there and liked our package. Thank you very much :) Your critisizm on the QR is well noted but I doubt that it has any effect on the ff quality as the flex is not in the rotational direction. And hey, have you ever wondered why we made the QR on the wheel base and even on all our latest steering wheels exchangeable? ;) In case you can't wait you can also use the screw to get rid of any flex as well.
@@seattletyler I did not mention soon ;) And given the history of delayed shipments I should better not announce any date anyway :D Of course we are working on a proper solution which also does not require you to use an external cable like the QR suggested by Barry.
@Thomas Jackermeier Hi. I'm still a little unclear on what the situation is with PS4 compatibility. Is the only option to buy the PS4 specific base with included F1 style rim, do other rims work with the PS4 compatible base and will the PS4 compatible base be made available on its own? I rarely drive open wheel, so it doesn't make sense for me to pay for something I'll barely ever use. Wouldn't it have been more sensible to make a mandatory rim round? A round rim would be more versatile and could be used for any car type. On a separate note: I suspect your answer will be no, but is there any chance of legacy console support via firmware? I realise that I'm in the minority, but I still enjoy games on the Playstation 2 and 3, but keeping old wheels around is a pain and one day they'll die and won't be able to be replaced. I very much doubt Sony would care if you were to add support for consoles they no longer produce and it would be a nice selling point for people that enjoy retro gaming.
@@napalmhardcore yes the only solution for a PS4 compatible Direct Drive is the Podium Racing Wheel F1 which is bundled with the blue ClubSport Formula v2 steering wheel with the Podium Advanced Paddle Module already attached. Fanatec startet several times that there are no plans to sell either the Base or the blue formula wheel separately. And yes, ALL Fanatec steering wheels work on PS4 because the security chip is inside the base which enabled compatibility for all steering wheels.
Hi The PS4 racing wheel is indeed the only option for PS4 and there will be no standalone version. Legacy mode is also not possible as we already asked for that. Not really what you wanted to hear but let me assure you that you have a high chance of selling the blue Formula V2 wheel on eBay for a good price as it is not available standalone. Then you can mount any of our other steering wheels (incl. the Xbox wheels) on the Podium Racing Wheel and it will work fine on PS4.
@@thomasjackermeier3343 That's a shame. There are some really fun games on PS2 and PS3 and as I mentioned, one day my wheels will cease to function and I won't be able to replace them. I'm guessing it's Sony being difficult (which makes no sense as it really doesn't affect them). I'd email them, but I've contacted them in the past and they were extremely unhelpful. As for Podium, I think I'll just have to wait for something to become available where I'm not forced to buy an unneeded and unwanted accessory. I say this partially out of principle (I don't feel I should have to buy an unwanted accessory) but also because I don't want the hassle of setting myself up as a seller on Ebay, trying to recoup my losses and posting it. I live on an island and posting items can be rather expensive. Seeing how the PS5 and new XBOX are going to be released in the not too distant future, I think I'd be better off seeing what is available then. I really don't fancy buying an expensive wheel right at the end of a console generation and potentially not be able to use it when the new consoles arrive. PS: I'm not sure for the reasoning behind it, but having to buy different wheel bases that themselves cost nearly as much as or more than (depending on whether I buy a mid priced or flagship wheel/base) a console just to be able to play across different platforms NEEDS TO STOP! It is far too expensive to buy two consoles and a wheel for each in addition to the games. I shouldn't be forced to choose which platform I buy a wheel for or if I even buy a particular console based on which I think is more important to own a wheel for.
My DD2 broke after 4 months, power button on the killswitch and back of the base failed. I regret selling my simucube 1 so soon as I don't have back up wheel. edit: Don't want my comment taken the wrong way, I thoroughly enjoy the DD2, and I know Fanatec will make it right.
@@marble25 what does warranty have to do with my wheel bring broken? Yes they will repair it, but it's quite odd that it was defective/broken with 4 months of use.
@@tehgusbus2716 my comment regarding my old simucube, was referring to having a backup wheel in case the dd2 had a problem. Now while it's off for repair, I will not have a wheel to use for what I assume will take a few weeks minimum. In terms of feel I liked the DD2 over the simucube v1 I had previously. I have not personally tried a simucube 2.
Fantastic review Barry. The first thing I did after watching was to check for flex on my DD1. I didn't seem to have any, so I thought that is a bit weird. Maybe I was just lucky. Keep up the great work.
On that QR, I would suggest to Fanatec maybe replacing the rubber gasket with a conical piece of derlin. That way when you torque the thumb wheel down, it centers and removes all play.
super easy aftermarket solution to the quick release....Replace the rubber squish ring with a machined tapered conical aluminum piece. The conical tapered piece would self center and lock the wheel tightly as the lobed hand ring was tightened. If needed a thick neoprene washer between the hand ring and the tapered conical adapter to keep them locked in place for vibration resistance..
I don't have that flex on my DD1, but anyway this type of flex will not impact driving or force feedback. The flex in my real car is much more. Best wheel on the market.
Very interesting review, Berry! About the flex: I agree that it would be super nice to get another option with regards to the quick release. However, since the direction of the flex is 90° to the turning / motor axis I don't think it would make it feel more responsive or anything, i.e., I don't think it's leaving much potential on the road here. But a rock solid QR mount would feel a lot better and I'd love to see it.
For those concerned about the flex: I was very hesitant to buy the DD2 based on this one flaw. Slop in a steering component is super annoying in a rig. However, I haven't noticed ANY of this flex in the steering wheel over the last three weeks. The torque and vibrations from the DD2 have managed to loosen my rig and my steering wheel, which were both immediately noticeable. But I haven't detected any issue with QR flex. The flex IS there. It just doesn't present itself while I'm racing. I think a lot of it has to do with the direction it flexes. Its sort of a front-to-back wiggle that just doesn't appear naturally in use. It would be an absolute dealbreaker if the flex was in a circular direction around the wheel shaft, like when a steering wheel comes loose from its hub. Luckily, that's not the case. I believe most users, if not all, would be extremely satisfied with the DD2's performance. (Anti-Disclaimer: This review is my own honest opinion and not influenced by any 3rd party. But I will accept free stuff from any 3rd party that wants to send some my way!)
Hi Barry, the reason your Dynamic Dampening was less effective is that you've reduced DPR in the Tuning Menu settings. What also helps to make it more effective is to lower the starting point a bit more, for example when it only starts at 100 to increase with speed it won't be very strong at 120 already.
Simucube 2 for the win! Fanatec products have waaaay too many "issues". My V3's electronic board broke after just two hours. Yes, they sent me a replacing one, but it just sucks. I've waited 6 (!) days just to reply my my emails...
I was thinking about saving for a Podium, but atm I'll rather stick to my CSW V2.5. Too many problems and small annoyances with those Podium wheelbases at the moment.
Hi Barry. You need to do another direct drive wheel comparison with or without fellow sim racers with the updated DD systems you have access too please.
Hopefully more DD units will come forth into the mainstream in the Future, Thrustmaster could provide some good competition and as we all know competition lowers cost and increases quality.
There are better ways to control oscillations. In the Simucube 1 and 2 program (or the Granity program if you're using the non-Simucube OSW such as the IoniCube) there is a filter section called "Peaking and notch filter" divided into 3 filters: "Center frequency Hz." "Attenuation dB," and "Q Factor." These settings mean controlling/removing oscillations without having to resort to potentially adding more friction and/or damper than you personally want for regular driving. Those 3 filters also slightly influence others aspects of FFB in good ways from my experience but 90% of their effect is on oscillation removal. Another good thing about those filters is, from my experience, they hardly (if at all) need to be changed when changing game or FFB settings / power. The only time they may need some changing is when there is a firmware update (firmware updates usually change all sorts of motor-settings we users will never see). It would be nice if Fanatec had the same or similar. Those settings are very under-rated settings...even in the Simucube community they aren't given the attention they deserve.
I tested the DD1 twice in rF2 and ACC last weekend at the Expo and the alpha-model last year with the Alpha ACC that time. Actually i found the test last year was the best and when i got home, i tweaked Sim Commander to give me something similar with the Accuforce. This time I wasn't impressed at all and just driving through memorized habit, because i couldn't feel what the car was doing. I also tested the Simcube 2 Sport and Pro in Raceroom and AC. I was a bit better connected to the cars compare to the Fanatec-DD, but this could be all to sim- and setup differences, because overall they feel similar. One impression i had with all bases: My Accuforce feels better:) I had four years time to dial my sims in and i like the FFB in all of the mentioned titles plus Dirt Rally 2.0 and pCars 2 with different approaches in Sim Commander, that mostly only the Accuforce can do. In DR2, pCars 2, iRacing (mostly) AC and ACC i'm running pure foundation FFB with front-suspension-, bump- and- engine-rpm-effects and this liquid dampening is nice. In rF2 i'm running additional engine-rpm and bumps and only Raceroom is pretty default, because i'm using tweaked game-FFB-settings. I was really on the move to the Simucube 2, but after the Expo i will give the AF another time till SimXperience release an upgrade. I can confirm that those bases have a better clarity in the FFB, but when i miss telemetry-information and they all felt too smooth to be mechanical, it doesn't feel right for me.
I had been doing my research lately to find best SimRacing setups and I found Fanatec DD wheels the best. However, after having quotation for my full setup from Fanatec; I ended up buying a used Nissan 350Z and I'm happy with my decision. I'll stick with pad gaming and real car. Great video though 👍🏼
You can always get a Thrustmater T150 for like 150€ or maybe a Logitech G29. DD wheels don't make someone faster and honestly I don't find DD a requirement for a simracer these days
The Simucube 2 and Podium in-depth reviews are great and give very useful information on factual points (ergonomics, QR, software, etc). But how do they both compare performance-wise? Does one of them sets itself apart from the other or do they perform so similarly that only technical characteristics matter for a purchase decision?
Great video as usual, you mentioned that you think Fanatec should have included a spanner. I have 3D printed some so if you need one let me know and I’ll pop one in the post to you.
Hi Barry, awesome review, per usual! AC has great FFB, just a very different setup then iRacing. Try Assetto with SPr (Spring Effect) OFF, dPr (Damper Effect) OFF, ndP (Natural Damper) set to 25 or 30 and ndP (Natural Friction) set to 3 or 5 with For (Force Effect) set to 100. You will get way more road feel and detail without much oscillation. This may be a different point for you to tweak from. Then you can add a little SPr 10% to get more fake centering spring/weight in the wheel or a little dPr 10% if you want to deaden the feel/remove remaining osculation a bit... I run neither cause if feels more natural with the new settings, (as their names imply = ). AC has great self aligning torque, probably why so many use it for drifting = ). Also, in game, I do not set any of the effects higher then 16 and my gain at 60%. The cars very from 90% to 120% for individual FFB strength (I know, very subjective = ) as you said, this is all subjective = ). I run my DD1 at 70% FF (Force Feedback). If you happen to give this a try, let me know if it works out for you.
Thanks for the settings. I wasn't playing AC much since I got my DD1, because I couldn't get it to feel right. rF2, ACC, PCars2, RRRE, Automobilista, and iRacing all felt great, but not AC. Your settings have now transformed it for me. It now feels as good as rF2 to me. I was using the recomended settings from the Fanatec website for AC, which are not good. They should put your settings for the recommended ones, because they are a hell of a lot better.
@@Copef1 That is great to hear! Ya, I started with some spring and damper but then removed them cause I read or saw someplace that they were not well or fully supported in AC and my DD1 came to life. 25 (Natural Damper) and 5 (Natural Friction) are from the Fanatec forum but so are the shitty spring and damper settings. I now run 25 and 3 as going 30 or 7 did not feel like the right direction (this is subject to change as I keep farting around = ) Enjoy!
I knew the play on the shaft wouldnt go past you Barry, as it did with other reviewers. I own a DD1, and noticed that play, its a real turn off... Excellent review!
I have owned the DD1 for a year now and ive never had any issues with that flex. I dont notice it nor does it seem to cause any problems with my driving.
*_Ace!_* Great to see a pro setting up FFB. Beautiful fit and finish on this unit. Just peek 21:10 ... the indexing tabs in the washer? see how it isn't just a rectangular tab jutting out? it has those two semi-circular divots taken out? in a blade, that's to avoid stress at a 90 degree corner. Here, I'm guessing it's so there's nothing like the hard edge from a sharp 90. That's lovely. Someone put some thought into it. A number of extra operations! ^5 *_/dks_*
p.s. good of you to mention 100% silicon lube. I commented on Boosted Media's review that //possibly// there might be a case where //some// lubricant might be aggressive against the rubber bushing.
Since launch date, its very hard to buy DD2 here ( brazil ). I try on march 2020 but pandemic destroy all possibilities. So, im stay on CSW 2.5 until now. With CSL DD launch, i Will consider to buy a New base. But honestly, CSW 2.5 to CSL DD ( even with boost kit ) isnt a great upgrade. Ok, so im thinking about DD1 and finally decide to DD2. WHAT SPECTACULAR product ! Great drivers and softwares ( august, 19, 2021 ) and definitly ZERO flex on my two wheels - porsche 911 rs gt3 BME and 2021 f1 limited edition. Another world in simracing experiences. Off course, at higher prices.
The DD2 is a great Direct Drive offering from Fanatec, I'd be blowing things out of proportion in order to find something to complain about. But I am still set on getting out of the Fanatec ecosystem. They make awesome gear, I just like what I see in higher market offerings better.
Very interesting to watch review, Barry! You set your own standart in Simracing reviews! As the flex become a topic here - Great that Barry shows the flex in every base! I will share my oppinion here and guys, please accept it like subjective oppinion of one person, dont see myself like another final verdict guy! To speak that any flex is bad I will agree if the flex is on the move left and right, on the steering axis. That will be called woble , not flex also. If we speak that any flex in any way is bad - we gotta know that we have human biological sceleton. That sceleton for good is made to have joints with some biological gap in them to make our moves possible. As much as you make the mechanism without any flex - that will move that energy to your joints... we are not robots...for now Also if we speak of real cars, motorbikes etc - in some tolerances we have flex, even free move there , as I said in some factory tolerances....Now already some of you started to say T300 is more sturdy without flex...even if this was true , the comparison will be more if you sit in Ferrari and flex the steering rim and after that sit in russian LADA 2107 and feel absolute hard steering shaft without any move:) As I said this is only my opinion and it is not exactly related to this review. P.S. Also I agree that if the flex if too sensible that will give you feeling that something is not ok and faulty!;) Cheers!
Barry , thx for making another great video 👍 Btw spring and damper you can “off” , shaking on straight I got other games have the same issue , even on GTSport , but after all off those 2 , everything go fine , just set NDR , NFR and FEI
SPR and DPR are not used by iRacing, only NDP and NFR is useful to adjust. SPR is not used in any recent racing game, DPR only in a few and only in standstill.
As a bunch of people are mentioning, my DD2 quick release is race car solid!! Not all bases are affected, possibly the rubber bushing is made inconsistently, but the QR is a very good design fundamentally.
Nice, I've been patiently waiting for the software to be available before I buy. I would like to see you include Rally driving when you do your test driving, as there are a lot of aspects with Rally not covered with track driving.
I have a design for this but am now testing it for long time durability so in 2-3 months it will be released on thingiverse with step files to cnc it yourself
As much as I love your reviews, your talent is being wasted. You need to be working in an R and D department making the best sim equipment on the planet.
No, it is not wasted. He is our source to know what is what and what is the best. We really need his reviews. But come on Mr. Rowland we want a comparison.
Most often overlooked feature is if you have the whole ecosystem from Fanatec. The DD2 makes all of your peripherals operate off of one single USB cable. Freeing up computer IO, which is valuable to a Sim Racer. For example. I'm running the DD2, V1.5 Shifter, V1.5 Handbrake, V3 Inverted Pedals and the Asher Racing Rally Paddle shifter. Off of one single USB cable from the DD2.
Thats not overlook, thats simple not important. If you spend so much money on equipment you can also have a decent mainboard with more than just 3 usb ports in your pc.
It is a decent point and of course, not the only one. Fanatec wheels are relatively affordable compared to top shelf equipment as are their pedals and shifters.. I know some of these $1000 plus dollar wheels and pedals put them to shame but money is almost always a factor so I appreciate the value. I run 4 universal hubs and this allows me to have a 270mm Rim (my old G25 rim), a 300mm (OMP), a 320mm (OMP) and a 350mm (Momo), all round (in VR matching the diameter is more important them matching the wheel shape) so round rims can be formula rims and rally rims, all in the eyes of the beholder (can't see my actual wheel anyway = ) and as stated by Mikey all while using less USB ports.
@@chickeng0d800 I'm running a powered USB Hub already. It controls USB Lighting, 2x Derek Speare Boxs, TrackIR, SRS Blowers and a XBox Controller. Multiple Hubs aren't a great idea, especially controlling your main driving equipment that has a slightly higher power draw, even with a powered Hub. Having the peripherals going through the base allows you to use one Controller program for all peripherals. Which is less running background applications. But I get it. People are going to hate on Fanatec no matter what. I've never had any issue with my equipment, and I am rough with it. Of course there is better gear out there, but at a cost that isn't worth it to me. And I am coming from a OSW DD. My MOBO has my Mouse, Keyboard, USB Hub (stated above), HTC Vive Pro (Cant use Hub), DD2 System, NLR Motion. That's all 6 USB's used.
your comment about wanting a wrench to tighten the nut on the shaft sounds like an easy fix Coil over suspension has notched collars you tighten with a special wrench. Would be perfect for this scenario to make a similar setup
What I took from the review, this is a good wheel but behind the competition. Probably a match for the first Gen Simucube (SC1), but behind the newest Gens. While Fanatec is generally at the forefront in cost in the midrange wheels, its pulling up the rear to midrange compared to the leaders in the DD world. So that said, it probably shouldn't out-do the Bodnars, OSWs, and Simucubes as it seems many thought. I'm still thinking of it, but will likely wait till the next Gen. But it's still the only way to get a Direct Drive wheel with native console support. Additionally, the rims and other accessories available from Fanatec are pretty good.
Wow, its like we watched two different reviews. What I heard Barry say is that this wheel base is a good as any on the market when it comes to force feedback, and that he really liked the Fanalab software. The only real negative I heard Barry talk about was the flex in his quick release mount.
@@Copef1, I agree that he didn't say anything negative, but I didn't feel like the positive comments had any conviction. The whole time he's saying it feels good, he's having trouble getting the wheel to do what he wants. Additionally, it seemed that most of the references to the performance were after thoughts and almost came across forced. Not forced to inaccurately sway opinions, but more to keep people from thinking it had poor performance. I'm assuming he isn't a fan of the style of motor Fanatec used, but he stayed neutral on it because he couldn't find a fault. Overall, I think neutral is the best descriptor for the wheel. However, if he goes on the record saying it's a match to the Simucube 2, I'll see it differently. But it seemed like he pulled up short of saying that on purpose. Maybe it was at the request of Fanatec (not to compare it directly), maybe he simply didn't think of it... IDK, but I just didn't get that warm and fuzzy feeling I normally sense when he likes a product.
@@mikejackson9585 Couldn't agree more Mike. If we watch his SC2 Pro review, his positive comments seemed natural and unforced, much like most of his other reviews we've come to see him do of premium products he likes. I did not get this vibe from anything he said with the DD2, perhaps besides his positivity towards the Fanalab software. Been holding out for this review for forever like many, with my most current thoughts leaning fairly heavily towards a SC2 Pro, particularly after his review. I waited for this review to tell me otherwise, but to no affair. I feel Barry chose his words wisely on this one for good reason, because at the end of the day, I'm sure he knows many people will hear what they want to hear if they really want to like something anyway. With that said, it sounds like the flex complaint is a minimal issue for most people and I think the DD2 looks like a solid option for many looking to use cross platform. I'm sure with time it will get even better via software & wheel mounts too, but for a bunch of reasons more applicable/important to me, I think I'll be going the SC2 Pro route. :) Edit: Thanks so much for the review Barry! Love ya work mate.
@@mikejackson9585 Like I said before, its like you and me watched two different reviews. I've watched almost every video on Barry's channel, especially the reviews, and if he thought what you have said, he would have said it out right. He's not one to not say what he means.
As an owner of a Podium Wheel (the DD1 compatible to PS4, so to speak) I benefit from this review also. As always, great review and I‘m looking forward to getting the Fanalab Software as I‘ve made my transition from GT Sport to iracing and am now member of the PC world again 😜 Edit: Now that Fanalab is released I found your setup values very helpful in order to find my own settings. Thanks a lot!
I bought the DD1 Formula v2 bundle and I was expecting to troubleshoot the play in the quick release, but to my surprise there was zero play. I don't know if they fixed the problem or I just got lucky but my DD1 did not have play in the quick release.
I'm usually ok watching you take apart and analyze sim rig components...but today it felt like an autopsy. (Cringe, lol) My DD1 is on a fedex truck and will be delivered today. So excited!
I was going to preorder this DD2 around one year ago, but Fanatec surprisingly delayed available date again and again and I felt this company has no integrity at all so I switched to Simcube 2 and now I feel so glad that I did not but this thing.
MPS Auto is set to constant IF the game supports it (like iRacing and ACC). If the game doesn't support this advanced function, then it will switch to Encoder mode.
Barry is the BEST guy in this "business", no dramas, no sponsors, he is no fake, always real 100%, the dude doesn't even have to kiss anyone's ass to keep his channel #1, he is that good.
This comment need to be pinned and get a gold award!
Completely agree. He's absolutely the best on TH-cam
Here after utilising the black friday half price on DD2 - Might be late but this wheel base is a tried & tested solid piece of engineering!
Same here! Base just arrived 2 weeks ago now waiting for wheel to ship.
You have no idea how much I've been waiting for your review on this, you make the best sim gear reviews!
Great review, I'll probably get a SimuCUBE though.
agreed, whenever i need a review i always come here
Barry, last night I fell asleep watching this video.
Not because it's boring, but your voice is so calming I'd categorize your videos as Bob Ross' "The Joy of Painting" for sim racing nerds. :-)
„Oh, there‘s bumps there, let’s make those birds!“ 😂
@@Urufu-san "No T1 carnage, just happy little accidents."
I was at least awake enough to order my SimuCUBE 😂
Me too hahaha
Yeah really, the voice is so soft. hahaha
More anticipated than the actual podium release
Fanatec left the chat when Barry mentioned the quick release flex LOL
And they disliked it,. shame on them !
The flex is huge and ridiculous. A no-go on such a high fidelity ffb machine.
Just double checked my DD1 and I have 0 of that play....
@@2Old4Forza Same here, no flex with the F1 2019 and the 918 a much larger diameter.
Got no flex on my dd1, and no bolt being used
Still the best sim wheel review on youtube🥰🥰🥰
Thanks Barry.
My Simucube 2 pro shows up tomorrow. I feel like I made the right choice.
Christiono Rollinetti Batch 3?
I had the same thought. The oscillation felt a little weird to me in this review and there is way too much flex, if you compare it to the sc2. It also felt to me that Barry wasn't really happy about the product or expected more of it but didnt want to tell the honest truth, but I might be wrong.
@@akeem127 Yes from Simracingbay.
Mine arrives tomorrow as well. Cheer!
Mine will be here tomorrow too. FWIW I still think both the DD2 and SC2 Pro are good competition for each other and both are good decisions for a buyer depending on priorities. If you are happy with Fanatec wheels then I think the DD2 is very compelling.
My issue is that I got wheel lust for the significantly more expensive Precision Sim Engineering wheels. I had upgraded my Fanatec McLaren GT3 wheel with the shifters from SimRacingMachines and they were much better than stock, but also cost nearly as much as the wheel. I added magnetic upgrades to my Porsche 918 rim as well, which are also an improvement though not as dramatic. The buttons and knobs on the Fanatec rims are OK, but not great. So I finally decided I'm getting the wheels I want and a direct drive system that supports them. It may seem backwards, but in the end Fanatec's biggest asset, their huge assortment of rims is what killed the DD2 wheelbase for me. I wasn't going to spend an extra $200 for an adapter on top of the premium wheel cost for each wheel I purchased only to have to run a USB cable anyway and have a wobbly mount point. It just didn't make sense. I've gotten good service out of my Fanatec equipment and have no complaints about their products.
BTW I think Fanatec missed a big opportunity. If their $200 adapter allowed for a direct USB connection from 3rd party steering wheels such that they didn't require a coiled cable Fanatec would have made their system an option for the smaller percentage of people who want upscale wheels. I know Fanatec wants people to buy their wheels, but that $200 adapter is only lip service to allowing other rims. They completely threw away their way to add a very big feature by making all of those wheels effectively wireless. Big mistake. Many people would buy a combination of rims but instead they've forced people into an either or situation.
I thought it might be worth mentioning a couple things that Fanatec got right that SimuCube 2 could improve on. I own a SimuCube 2 Pro and a Fanatec CS 2.5 wheelbase if it matters.
1. Torque key. Every time you start up a SimuCube 2 you have to let the software know that you want full torque. Many people have said they have forgotten to do this and had to complete races where everything felt bad because of it. The torque enabling key Fanatec uses is a great convenience by comparison. Have young kids coming by? Pull the plug and put it somewhere safe. Otherwise leave it in and don't worry about an extra step every single time you want to race.
2. Coiled cables. Fanatec wheels are all external cable free which is a great feature. Fanatec supports both communication AND power. The SimuCube 2's have BT support, but they've already hit limitations with some wheels in terms of buttons/input devices supported and there are a small number of wheels that support this. This module is already slated for replacement/updating so it can support more inputs. And then you get the additional failure point and weight of a battery with additional effort to keep a battery charged and then having to remember to turn your wheel on and off. I chose a coiled cable wheel for my SC2 because I didn't want to deal with any of that. It won't be a terrible hardship, but my point is that the SC2's wireless implementation is not comparable or as good.
I'm not suggesting one is better than the other, but just that both have some bragging rights, neither is perfect and both have room to improve.
Unfortunately, Fanatec's implementation restricts you to Fanatec wheels (if you want wireless capability), but maybe they'll soon let wheel vendors by wheelside internal connectors.
@@whaletail935 As I've said many times, if they exposed a real USB connection in their Podium mount they would have created an advantage supporting 3rd party wheels.
Great review as always buddy. You are the only person that I ever seen that will go as far as opening up a brand new product just for the sake of making an "in-depth" review. Impressive as always.
I've had the DD1 now for around a year or so. The first one I got had a connection issue with the wheel (electronics; no wheel would power on when plugged in) and the whole repair process was horrid; I was out of a wheel for around 4 weeks. However once they sent me a new one, it was all good. It's the best wheel I've ever had and it just...feels great lol. It is nice that it works on the PS4/PS5 since I do from time to time play GTSport with friends. However I mainly use it in iRacing and rFactor 2 and it feels so incredible. Hope to god you don't have QC issues and enjoy the product!
Yeah - I've read way too many horror stories like yours to even think about buying one of these.
I am big fan of your movies and your ideas of making things better. They helped me out in assembling this and that so big thank you! However I am a happy owner of a Fanatec DD2 and have absolutely zero issues with flex on stock piece of rubber. Cheers.
I am an early adopter of DD2, I need to say that I have no complains with it. I'd love the quality and the FFB fidelity. I understand perfectly that the Fanatec Podium system is an early stage of development, and I happy with that. The flex in my case in minimum, for not to say that I have no flex at all. And in my opinion it has a quick fix if Fanatec release a more stiff Rubber or a 1mm more thick. I can't compare with a Simecube or similar, because I never got that ones, but what I can talk about the DD2 and like I said, it worked flawless, plug and play in all the games that I tested and for me that it's superb. Barry should mention that, I think that Fanalab is great, but the ability to launch a game, and seconds being driving without headaches is part of the package :).
Thank you so much! you just saved me 1700 bucks! I was considering replacing my OSW wheel but that wiggle in the quick release gave me nightmares!
Really great that you showed the fanalab software. I was searching a long time for a Programm which is able to change the colors of the rev lights after I saw that the leds are rgb leds.
Having the best support for this base is a major selling point going forward. Needs some time to mature software-wise and the quick release flex needs to be resolved plus reliability? Will wait a bit longer but I still think it's my best bet imo. Can't beat Barry's reviews.
ok Frank lol
I don't have any play in my quick release but im using it bolted directly to the wheel, maybe because it's still really new. Excellent review as usually.
Ah! Been waiting for this review ever since the DD2 was announced!
I have seen a lot of TH-cam Videos but none compare with the EXCELLENT Presentation that you give! Thanks
Most excellent review. Fanalab software looks friendly and good file management features. Only thing I would say is for that price, I would refer something other than plastic connectors. Circular, aerospace types with locking rings are the preferred standard.
thank you for making this video, i copied your settings and finally got my DD2 wheel feeling great for iracing....i'm kindly requesting you do a video for Assetto Corsa Competizone & F1 2019 settings......✌
Thanks for the great and honest review (as usual), Barry.
It is an honour that you rated the force feedback quality of the DD2 at the level of the other new generation DDs out there and liked our package. Thank you very much :)
Your critisizm on the QR is well noted but I doubt that it has any effect on the ff quality as the flex is not in the rotational direction. And hey, have you ever wondered why we made the QR on the wheel base and even on all our latest steering wheels exchangeable? ;) In case you can't wait you can also use the screw to get rid of any flex as well.
@@seattletyler I did not mention soon ;) And given the history of delayed shipments I should better not announce any date anyway :D
Of course we are working on a proper solution which also does not require you to use an external cable like the QR suggested by Barry.
@Thomas Jackermeier Hi. I'm still a little unclear on what the situation is with PS4 compatibility. Is the only option to buy the PS4 specific base with included F1 style rim, do other rims work with the PS4 compatible base and will the PS4 compatible base be made available on its own? I rarely drive open wheel, so it doesn't make sense for me to pay for something I'll barely ever use. Wouldn't it have been more sensible to make a mandatory rim round? A round rim would be more versatile and could be used for any car type.
On a separate note: I suspect your answer will be no, but is there any chance of legacy console support via firmware? I realise that I'm in the minority, but I still enjoy games on the Playstation 2 and 3, but keeping old wheels around is a pain and one day they'll die and won't be able to be replaced. I very much doubt Sony would care if you were to add support for consoles they no longer produce and it would be a nice selling point for people that enjoy retro gaming.
@@napalmhardcore yes the only solution for a PS4 compatible Direct Drive is the Podium Racing Wheel F1 which is bundled with the blue ClubSport Formula v2 steering wheel with the Podium Advanced Paddle Module already attached. Fanatec startet several times that there are no plans to sell either the Base or the blue formula wheel separately. And yes, ALL Fanatec steering wheels work on PS4 because the security chip is inside the base which enabled compatibility for all steering wheels.
Hi
The PS4 racing wheel is indeed the only option for PS4 and there will be no standalone version. Legacy mode is also not possible as we already asked for that.
Not really what you wanted to hear but let me assure you that you have a high chance of selling the blue Formula V2 wheel on eBay for a good price as it is not available standalone. Then you can mount any of our other steering wheels (incl. the Xbox wheels) on the Podium Racing Wheel and it will work fine on PS4.
@@thomasjackermeier3343 That's a shame. There are some really fun games on PS2 and PS3 and as I mentioned, one day my wheels will cease to function and I won't be able to replace them. I'm guessing it's Sony being difficult (which makes no sense as it really doesn't affect them). I'd email them, but I've contacted them in the past and they were extremely unhelpful.
As for Podium, I think I'll just have to wait for something to become available where I'm not forced to buy an unneeded and unwanted accessory. I say this partially out of principle (I don't feel I should have to buy an unwanted accessory) but also because I don't want the hassle of setting myself up as a seller on Ebay, trying to recoup my losses and posting it. I live on an island and posting items can be rather expensive.
Seeing how the PS5 and new XBOX are going to be released in the not too distant future, I think I'd be better off seeing what is available then. I really don't fancy buying an expensive wheel right at the end of a console generation and potentially not be able to use it when the new consoles arrive.
PS: I'm not sure for the reasoning behind it, but having to buy different wheel bases that themselves cost nearly as much as or more than (depending on whether I buy a mid priced or flagship wheel/base) a console just to be able to play across different platforms NEEDS TO STOP! It is far too expensive to buy two consoles and a wheel for each in addition to the games. I shouldn't be forced to choose which platform I buy a wheel for or if I even buy a particular console based on which I think is more important to own a wheel for.
I have zero flex with my f1 wheel and a small amount with my bmw rim (nothing I’m worried about). Great review Barry 👍
Same
My DD2 broke after 4 months, power button on the killswitch and back of the base failed. I regret selling my simucube 1 so soon as I don't have back up wheel. edit: Don't want my comment taken the wrong way, I thoroughly enjoy the DD2, and I know Fanatec will make it right.
@@marble25 what does warranty have to do with my wheel bring broken? Yes they will repair it, but it's quite odd that it was defective/broken with 4 months of use.
marble89 You serious?
@@marble25 cool? I wasn't saying it wasn't, just sharing my bad experience with a fanatec product failing.
So they fix it for free right? And is simcube superior?
@@tehgusbus2716 my comment regarding my old simucube, was referring to having a backup wheel in case the dd2 had a problem. Now while it's off for repair, I will not have a wheel to use for what I assume will take a few weeks minimum. In terms of feel I liked the DD2 over the simucube v1 I had previously. I have not personally tried a simucube 2.
Fantastic review Barry. The first thing I did after watching was to check for flex on my DD1. I didn't seem to have any, so I thought that is a bit weird. Maybe I was just lucky. Keep up the great work.
On that QR, I would suggest to Fanatec maybe replacing the rubber gasket with a conical piece of derlin. That way when you torque the thumb wheel down, it centers and removes all play.
@ArmchairWarrior, thank you for the Wiki cited correction. Delrin.
Man, I'm totally not in the market for a dd Wheel, I am just watching this because your voice is so soothing...
super easy aftermarket solution to the quick release....Replace the rubber squish ring with a machined tapered conical aluminum piece. The conical tapered piece would self center and lock the wheel tightly as the lobed hand ring was tightened. If needed a thick neoprene washer between the hand ring and the tapered conical adapter to keep them locked in place for vibration resistance..
A good idea
I don't have that flex on my DD1, but anyway this type of flex will not impact driving or force feedback. The flex in my real car is much more. Best wheel on the market.
th-cam.com/video/P-rCt9dIMJ4/w-d-xo.html& also hardly no flex. So Barry is maybe unlucky with this particular one.
@@joggelweekend hahaha it's not the best wheel base* on the market
Very interesting review, Berry! About the flex: I agree that it would be super nice to get another option with regards to the quick release. However, since the direction of the flex is 90° to the turning / motor axis I don't think it would make it feel more responsive or anything, i.e., I don't think it's leaving much potential on the road here. But a rock solid QR mount would feel a lot better and I'd love to see it.
For those concerned about the flex:
I was very hesitant to buy the DD2 based on this one flaw. Slop in a steering component is super annoying in a rig. However, I haven't noticed ANY of this flex in the steering wheel over the last three weeks. The torque and vibrations from the DD2 have managed to loosen my rig and my steering wheel, which were both immediately noticeable. But I haven't detected any issue with QR flex.
The flex IS there. It just doesn't present itself while I'm racing. I think a lot of it has to do with the direction it flexes. Its sort of a front-to-back wiggle that just doesn't appear naturally in use. It would be an absolute dealbreaker if the flex was in a circular direction around the wheel shaft, like when a steering wheel comes loose from its hub. Luckily, that's not the case.
I believe most users, if not all, would be extremely satisfied with the DD2's performance.
(Anti-Disclaimer: This review is my own honest opinion and not influenced by any 3rd party. But I will accept free stuff from any 3rd party that wants to send some my way!)
23:30 you had it the wrong way Barry lol. nice way to correct it without saying lol. Great video as always
Hi Barry, the reason your Dynamic Dampening was less effective is that you've reduced DPR in the Tuning Menu settings. What also helps to make it more effective is to lower the starting point a bit more, for example when it only starts at 100 to increase with speed it won't be very strong at 120 already.
Simucube 2 for the win!
Fanatec products have waaaay too many "issues". My V3's electronic board broke after just two hours. Yes, they sent me a replacing one, but it just sucks. I've waited 6 (!) days just to reply my my emails...
OMG they should put this at the cinema in IMAX
God Damn! I love that Quafe gearbox you have.
Appreciating the detail in this review! I wanted one badly, now I want one badly and then some lmao
That intro car sound is epic, you have a professional anchor mans tv voice
I was thinking about saving for a Podium, but atm I'll rather stick to my CSW V2.5. Too many problems and small annoyances with those Podium wheelbases at the moment.
I have had none... love mine and has improved my driving moving from csw v2
No issues whatsoever on mine either.
Hi Barry. You need to do another direct drive wheel comparison with or without fellow sim racers with the updated DD systems you have access too please.
Hopefully more DD units will come forth into the mainstream in the Future, Thrustmaster could provide some good competition and as we all know competition lowers cost and increases quality.
Competition is essential for free market and consumer's sake
There are better ways to control oscillations. In the Simucube 1 and 2 program (or the Granity program if you're using the non-Simucube OSW such as the IoniCube) there is a filter section called "Peaking and notch filter" divided into 3 filters: "Center frequency Hz." "Attenuation dB," and "Q Factor." These settings mean controlling/removing oscillations without having to resort to potentially adding more friction and/or damper than you personally want for regular driving. Those 3 filters also slightly influence others aspects of FFB in good ways from my experience but 90% of their effect is on oscillation removal. Another good thing about those filters is, from my experience, they hardly (if at all) need to be changed when changing game or FFB settings / power. The only time they may need some changing is when there is a firmware update (firmware updates usually change all sorts of motor-settings we users will never see). It would be nice if Fanatec had the same or similar. Those settings are very under-rated settings...even in the Simucube community they aren't given the attention they deserve.
I tested the DD1 twice in rF2 and ACC last weekend at the Expo and the alpha-model last year with the Alpha ACC that time. Actually i found the test last year was the best and when i got home, i tweaked Sim Commander to give me something similar with the Accuforce. This time I wasn't impressed at all and just driving through memorized habit, because i couldn't feel what the car was doing. I also tested the Simcube 2 Sport and Pro in Raceroom and AC. I was a bit better connected to the cars compare to the Fanatec-DD, but this could be all to sim- and setup differences, because overall they feel similar. One impression i had with all bases: My Accuforce feels better:)
I had four years time to dial my sims in and i like the FFB in all of the mentioned titles plus Dirt Rally 2.0 and pCars 2 with different approaches in Sim Commander, that mostly only the Accuforce can do. In DR2, pCars 2, iRacing (mostly) AC and ACC i'm running pure foundation FFB with front-suspension-, bump- and- engine-rpm-effects and this liquid dampening is nice. In rF2 i'm running additional engine-rpm and bumps and only Raceroom is pretty default, because i'm using tweaked game-FFB-settings. I was really on the move to the Simucube 2, but after the Expo i will give the AF another time till SimXperience release an upgrade. I can confirm that those bases have a better clarity in the FFB, but when i miss telemetry-information and they all felt too smooth to be mechanical, it doesn't feel right for me.
Thanks Barry as always, but I will stick with my Augury OSW.
I had been doing my research lately to find best SimRacing setups and I found Fanatec DD wheels the best. However, after having quotation for my full setup from Fanatec; I ended up buying a used Nissan 350Z and I'm happy with my decision. I'll stick with pad gaming and real car. Great video though 👍🏼
You can always get a Thrustmater T150 for like 150€ or maybe a Logitech G29. DD wheels don't make someone faster and honestly I don't find DD a requirement for a simracer these days
@@Valenfield98 Agreed! I've had bought Thrustmaster TMX Pro and currently using it. It is a fair deal honestly.
Barry thank you once again, you make the best vids for all of us 👍 keep the hair long 😉
The Simucube 2 and Podium in-depth reviews are great and give very useful information on factual points (ergonomics, QR, software, etc).
But how do they both compare performance-wise? Does one of them sets itself apart from the other or do they perform so similarly that only technical characteristics matter for a purchase decision?
Barry’s a coward when it comes to saying what gear is better for your buck. Doesn’t want to step on companies toes (ie Tommy boy Fanatec).
Great video as usual, you mentioned that you think Fanatec should have included a spanner. I have 3D printed some so if you need one let me know and I’ll pop one in the post to you.
Hi Barry, awesome review, per usual! AC has great FFB, just a very different setup then iRacing. Try Assetto with SPr (Spring Effect) OFF, dPr (Damper Effect) OFF, ndP (Natural Damper) set to 25 or 30 and ndP (Natural Friction) set to 3 or 5 with For (Force Effect) set to 100. You will get way more road feel and detail without much oscillation. This may be a different point for you to tweak from. Then you can add a little SPr 10% to get more fake centering spring/weight in the wheel or a little dPr 10% if you want to deaden the feel/remove remaining osculation a bit... I run neither cause if feels more natural with the new settings, (as their names imply = ). AC has great self aligning torque, probably why so many use it for drifting = ). Also, in game, I do not set any of the effects higher then 16 and my gain at 60%. The cars very from 90% to 120% for individual FFB strength (I know, very subjective = ) as you said, this is all subjective = ). I run my DD1 at 70% FF (Force Feedback). If you happen to give this a try, let me know if it works out for you.
Thanks for the settings. I wasn't playing AC much since I got my DD1, because I couldn't get it to feel right. rF2, ACC, PCars2, RRRE, Automobilista, and iRacing all felt great, but not AC. Your settings have now transformed it for me. It now feels as good as rF2 to me. I was using the recomended settings from the Fanatec website for AC, which are not good. They should put your settings for the recommended ones, because they are a hell of a lot better.
@@Copef1 That is great to hear! Ya, I started with some spring and damper but then removed them cause I read or saw someplace that they were not well or fully supported in AC and my DD1 came to life. 25 (Natural Damper) and 5 (Natural Friction) are from the Fanatec forum but so are the shitty spring and damper settings. I now run 25 and 3 as going 30 or 7 did not feel like the right direction (this is subject to change as I keep farting around = ) Enjoy!
I knew the play on the shaft wouldnt go past you Barry, as it did with other reviewers. I own a DD1, and noticed that play, its a real turn off... Excellent review!
There is no play in every unit that's the reason. Mine has zero
1, 2 , 3, 100 wheels is enough to say it’s a bad design and needs to be changed.
@@zaneislandd4650 you are not pushing it enough, its a design flaw. try it with a BMW gt2 rim and it'll be easy to see...
@@WhiteHawk77 did you move it around like Barry did? at 6:27
Just double checked. No play in mine.
Finally! Woohoo Ima take a mandatory break to watch this lol
Love this channel can't wait to get my dd2
I have owned the DD1 for a year now and ive never had any issues with that flex. I dont notice it nor does it seem to cause any problems with my driving.
It's a tolerance issue - some wheel bases/rims are fine, others aren't. Its practically a lottery when you buy a Fanatec.
*_Ace!_* Great to see a pro setting up FFB.
Beautiful fit and finish on this unit. Just peek 21:10 ... the indexing tabs in the washer? see how it isn't just a rectangular tab jutting out? it has those two semi-circular divots taken out? in a blade, that's to avoid stress at a 90 degree corner. Here, I'm guessing it's so there's nothing like the hard edge from a sharp 90. That's lovely. Someone put some thought into it. A number of extra operations!
^5
*_/dks_*
p.s. good of you to mention 100% silicon lube. I commented on Boosted Media's review that //possibly// there might be a case where //some// lubricant might be aggressive against the rubber bushing.
Always the BEST!! Thank you.👍
Very good reveiw Barry
Thank you again
Since launch date, its very hard to buy DD2 here ( brazil ). I try on march 2020 but pandemic destroy all possibilities. So, im stay on CSW 2.5 until now. With CSL DD launch, i Will consider to buy a New base. But honestly, CSW 2.5 to CSL DD ( even with boost kit ) isnt a great upgrade. Ok, so im thinking about DD1 and finally decide to DD2. WHAT SPECTACULAR product ! Great drivers and softwares ( august, 19, 2021 ) and definitly ZERO flex on my two wheels - porsche 911 rs gt3 BME and 2021 f1 limited edition. Another world in simracing experiences. Off course, at higher prices.
This DD2 has more flex than every other base i've seen from fanatec.
I hope this problem is only a issue with Barry's base.
The review Alien. man always good work
The DD2 is a great Direct Drive offering from Fanatec, I'd be blowing things out of proportion in order to find something to complain about. But I am still set on getting out of the Fanatec ecosystem. They make awesome gear, I just like what I see in higher market offerings better.
"The shaft itself is solid as a rock - you can see when I did that video."
Very interesting to watch review, Barry! You set your own standart in Simracing reviews!
As the flex become a topic here - Great that Barry shows the flex in every base! I will share my oppinion here and guys, please accept it like subjective oppinion of one person, dont see myself like another final verdict guy!
To speak that any flex is bad I will agree if the flex is on the move left and right, on the steering axis. That will be called woble , not flex also. If we speak that any flex in any way is bad - we gotta know that we have human biological sceleton. That sceleton for good is made to have joints with some biological gap in them to make our moves possible. As much as you make the mechanism without any flex - that will move that energy to your joints... we are not robots...for now
Also if we speak of real cars, motorbikes etc - in some tolerances we have flex, even free move there , as I said in some factory tolerances....Now already some of you started to say T300 is more sturdy without flex...even if this was true , the comparison will be more if you sit in Ferrari and flex the steering rim and after that sit in russian LADA 2107 and feel absolute hard steering shaft without any move:)
As I said this is only my opinion and it is not exactly related to this review.
P.S.
Also I agree that if the flex if too sensible that will give you feeling that something is not ok and faulty!;)
Cheers!
Barry , thx for making another great video 👍
Btw spring and damper you can “off” , shaking on straight I got other games have the same issue , even on GTSport , but after all off those 2 , everything go fine , just set NDR , NFR and FEI
Another amazing review with some very important recommendations to Fanatec. Nonetheless, great wheel, great hardware.
SPR and DPR are not used by iRacing, only NDP and NFR is useful to adjust. SPR is not used in any recent racing game, DPR only in a few and only in standstill.
As a bunch of people are mentioning, my DD2 quick release is race car solid!! Not all bases are affected, possibly the rubber bushing is made inconsistently, but the QR is a very good design fundamentally.
My DD1 has no flex also and feels very solid.
Nice, I've been patiently waiting for the software to be available before I buy. I would like to see you include Rally driving when you do your test driving, as there are a lot of aspects with Rally not covered with track driving.
Thank you, Barry!
You can side and front mount the DD2 in addition to bottom mounting it, so more solid mounting options are available.
you can NOT front-mount the DD2, if you do so, you immediately lose your warranty.
You cannot front mount the Fanatec DD units...The bolts holes on the front are for mounting accessories only.
Been waiting long time for this. #hitlikethenplay
oh my god. his voice is so calming
Thanks for the review Barry!
For me it’s clear that I will order the Simucube 2 pro instead of the DD2.
Just the review i been w8ting for!:) awesome thx!
One Hell Of A Review Barry
I have a design for this but am now testing it for long time durability so in 2-3 months it will be released on thingiverse with step files to cnc it yourself
Amazing job as always very objective Ty Barry
1:30:44
Yeah! V8 Supercars nice mate. 😁👍
Perfect review, thank you👍
There is No excuse for that play in the quick disconnect at this price point.
They COMPLETELY LOST ME when Barry did that. My q1r qr is SOLID on my accuforce. Without that I cant imagine using a dd wheel
Is it actually a common issue? Mine doesn't have any even without tightening the ring down (mine is an EU unit if that matters)
Mine don't have any flex whatsoever. Not sure why his does.
I don't have this flex on mine. Rock solid.. .
@@J_SAMa Ok thats good to know. Maybe the unit is ok.
Thank you Barry.
Awesome video btw! love your way of doing these!
As much as I love your reviews, your talent is being wasted. You need to be working in an R and D department making the best sim equipment on the planet.
No, it is not wasted. He is our source to know what is what and what is the best. We really need his reviews. But come on Mr. Rowland we want a comparison.
Here it is! thanks Barry :)
Fiiiinnaaaallllllyyyyyyy!!!!!! What we've all been waiting for;) #thankyou
My Leo Bodnar 54 wheel arrives tomorrow
Thanks Barry for the review. No flex at all here on my DD1. Tested on both Formula Carbon and Porsche wheels.
Most often overlooked feature is if you have the whole ecosystem from Fanatec. The DD2 makes all of your peripherals operate off of one single USB cable. Freeing up computer IO, which is valuable to a Sim Racer.
For example. I'm running the DD2, V1.5 Shifter, V1.5 Handbrake, V3 Inverted Pedals and the Asher Racing Rally Paddle shifter. Off of one single USB cable from the DD2.
Thats not overlook, thats simple not important. If you spend so much money on equipment you can also have a decent mainboard with more than just 3 usb ports in your pc.
A usb hub makes this irrelevant and you would be able to get better equipment than what fanatec eco system offers.
It is a decent point and of course, not the only one. Fanatec wheels are relatively affordable compared to top shelf equipment as are their pedals and shifters.. I know some of these $1000 plus dollar wheels and pedals put them to shame but money is almost always a factor so I appreciate the value. I run 4 universal hubs and this allows me to have a 270mm Rim (my old G25 rim), a 300mm (OMP), a 320mm (OMP) and a 350mm (Momo), all round (in VR matching the diameter is more important them matching the wheel shape) so round rims can be formula rims and rally rims, all in the eyes of the beholder (can't see my actual wheel anyway = ) and as stated by Mikey all while using less USB ports.
@@chickeng0d800 I'm running a powered USB Hub already. It controls USB Lighting, 2x Derek Speare Boxs, TrackIR, SRS Blowers and a XBox Controller. Multiple Hubs aren't a great idea, especially controlling your main driving equipment that has a slightly higher power draw, even with a powered Hub. Having the peripherals going through the base allows you to use one Controller program for all peripherals. Which is less running background applications.
But I get it. People are going to hate on Fanatec no matter what. I've never had any issue with my equipment, and I am rough with it. Of course there is better gear out there, but at a cost that isn't worth it to me. And I am coming from a OSW DD.
My MOBO has my Mouse, Keyboard, USB Hub (stated above), HTC Vive Pro (Cant use Hub), DD2 System, NLR Motion. That's all 6 USB's used.
Most of the laserscanned tracks are pretty much smooth as IRL. I can't think of a bumpy track on AC. You could try Mosport maybe
your comment about wanting a wrench to tighten the nut on the shaft sounds like an easy fix Coil over suspension has notched collars you tighten with a special wrench. Would be perfect for this scenario to make a similar setup
What I took from the review, this is a good wheel but behind the competition. Probably a match for the first Gen Simucube (SC1), but behind the newest Gens. While Fanatec is generally at the forefront in cost in the midrange wheels, its pulling up the rear to midrange compared to the leaders in the DD world. So that said, it probably shouldn't out-do the Bodnars, OSWs, and Simucubes as it seems many thought. I'm still thinking of it, but will likely wait till the next Gen. But it's still the only way to get a Direct Drive wheel with native console support. Additionally, the rims and other accessories available from Fanatec are pretty good.
Wow, its like we watched two different reviews. What I heard Barry say is that this wheel base is a good as any on the market when it comes to force feedback, and that he really liked the Fanalab software. The only real negative I heard Barry talk about was the flex in his quick release mount.
@@Copef1, I agree that he didn't say anything negative, but I didn't feel like the positive comments had any conviction. The whole time he's saying it feels good, he's having trouble getting the wheel to do what he wants. Additionally, it seemed that most of the references to the performance were after thoughts and almost came across forced. Not forced to inaccurately sway opinions, but more to keep people from thinking it had poor performance. I'm assuming he isn't a fan of the style of motor Fanatec used, but he stayed neutral on it because he couldn't find a fault. Overall, I think neutral is the best descriptor for the wheel. However, if he goes on the record saying it's a match to the Simucube 2, I'll see it differently. But it seemed like he pulled up short of saying that on purpose. Maybe it was at the request of Fanatec (not to compare it directly), maybe he simply didn't think of it... IDK, but I just didn't get that warm and fuzzy feeling I normally sense when he likes a product.
@@mikejackson9585 Couldn't agree more Mike. If we watch his SC2 Pro review, his positive comments seemed natural and unforced, much like most of his other reviews we've come to see him do of premium products he likes. I did not get this vibe from anything he said with the DD2, perhaps besides his positivity towards the Fanalab software. Been holding out for this review for forever like many, with my most current thoughts leaning fairly heavily towards a SC2 Pro, particularly after his review. I waited for this review to tell me otherwise, but to no affair. I feel Barry chose his words wisely on this one for good reason, because at the end of the day, I'm sure he knows many people will hear what they want to hear if they really want to like something anyway. With that said, it sounds like the flex complaint is a minimal issue for most people and I think the DD2 looks like a solid option for many looking to use cross platform. I'm sure with time it will get even better via software & wheel mounts too, but for a bunch of reasons more applicable/important to me, I think I'll be going the SC2 Pro route. :) Edit: Thanks so much for the review Barry! Love ya work mate.
@@mikejackson9585 Like I said before, its like you and me watched two different reviews. I've watched almost every video on Barry's channel, especially the reviews, and if he thought what you have said, he would have said it out right. He's not one to not say what he means.
Agree with vagueness of AC 😉
As an owner of a Podium Wheel (the DD1 compatible to PS4, so to speak) I benefit from this review also. As always, great review and I‘m looking forward to getting the Fanalab Software as I‘ve made my transition from GT Sport to iracing and am now member of the PC world again 😜 Edit: Now that Fanalab is released I found your setup values very helpful in order to find my own settings. Thanks a lot!
I bought the DD1 Formula v2 bundle and I was expecting to troubleshoot the play in the quick release, but to my surprise there was zero play. I don't know if they fixed the problem or I just got lucky but my DD1 did not have play in the quick release.
The position of your head versus the car's side mirror make you look like a child is driving. :D
I'm usually ok watching you take apart and analyze sim rig components...but today it felt like an autopsy. (Cringe, lol) My DD1 is on a fedex truck and will be delivered today. So excited!
I was going to preorder this DD2 around one year ago, but Fanatec surprisingly delayed available date again and again and I felt this company has no integrity at all so I switched to Simcube 2 and now I feel so glad that I did not but this thing.
Good choice, the SC2 also uses better power supplies.
If you replace that rubber in the quick connect with a 2 piece tapered and split alloy bush it would be solid as a rock
MPS Auto is set to constant IF the game supports it (like iRacing and ACC). If the game doesn't support this advanced function, then it will switch to Encoder mode.
What a huge legend
Man, that’s a beast of a wheel base! One day I hope to buy that very Fanatec setup. Have you tried or reviewed their F1 Elite Wheel?