I do not have a sim, I’ve only just gotten into the sim racing world but I’ll watch everyone one of your videos as long as you keep the production like this. It reminds me of the old top gear and I love it.
This video helped convince me to try the Simucube 2 Pro to replace my Fanatec GT DD which I wasn't happy with. OMG. Night and day. The SC2 is so good. Thanks for dramatically improving my sim racing experience.
I got into sim racing earlier this year....with GTR 2 though ($250 laptop, keyboard control)....I'll keep watching your videos until I can afford a simple wheel. You're awesome Chris.
Chris easily has the some of the best sim racing content imo. The production value is fantastic and he puts some much thought and time into what he says and how he shows it. Keep up the great work!
Your videos are very professional and detailed without fluff good job thank you keep it up. I enjoyed your commentary on the Spa 24 hours SimGrid coverage also.
hey, its me again! great video you put out there! its great to see you grow even more every video, and i feel so glad to be part of your journey as a videomaker. keep it up, i allready cant wait for the next one!
Great video! Production quality is mindblowing. Also, I really like that you are super cautious while expressing your opinion, specifying it's not backed by any data, or that the feel can be very different depending the settings. Really great job!
Have been sim racing on a high end direct drive ds4 controller;) the last two years. I’ve always wanted to upgrade straight into a direct drive wheel. I stuck with it for a long time on a controller to make sure I could justify the price, and that it wasn’t just a short term hobby for me. I’ve been scouring the internet about the 2 pro for awhile now. Can’t help but think that this might just be the sign I need to pull the trigger on it! Awesome video!
I recently tried one at a friends house and ordered one later that day. Best I can describe it is: authority. This base is very fast, very strong, very accurate, precise. But butter smooth. It almost feels organic.
Just got an SC2 Pro as my first direct drive. It's crazy how instantly, even just in the pits, I felt more of the road then I ever had before on my CSW 2.5.
After using my new simulator for a year with cheap wheel while I researched the hell out of wheels I chose this one. IMO if you’re going to buy anything for your simulator buy this. Nothing will add to the experience more than this. Worth every penny. Not one hitch, solid dependable easy to use and virtually indestructible. The only CON, watch your thumbs and wrists but that’s exactly what you have to do in a real car! The next best thing I purchased was a NExt Level motion seat. Also outstanding and worth every penny. Oh and the quick release ( although not safe in a real car) is as brilliant as it gets.
You’re definitely my favourite youtuber right now. I look forward to any and every of your videos. But dang, wish I had the money for this DD wheel. One day perhaps.
Great video, Chris (as per usual)! It's been a while since I've watched this channel as I went on a bit of a break from sim racing - but I'm well and truly back into it now and this is my first stop for high-quality content. Been here since 3,000 and will be here at 3 million ;) Keep it up!
amazing video chris im so glad i finally got time to watch. bathhurst took all my mental focus this week. your presentation is some of if not the best on the platform, i need a class from you 😂😂
In my country, all hardware is worth twice as much as in the USA or Europe. For that reason I plan to buy the VRS DirectForce Pro, apparently very similar to the Simucube 2 Pro, costing half the price. Because of the costs, for years I have been building a decent simulator, in your channel I learned several key aspects. Thanks a lot. Greetings
Hey Julio - yeah, regional pricing for sim racing gear is total madness - I've seen some truly terrifying examples. The VRS setup is very similar to the old MiGE based system I was using, it's a great piece of kit and I'm sure you'll be more than happy with it, I know I was!
I hear you mate. I felt sick after buy the Clubsport base and pedals. Some of the money I have seen spent on some of this gear is ridiculous. Coming from real cars and bikes sim racing cost stunned me. Not so much the wheel bases but pedal sets are insane. Real world off the shelf parts are not that expensive.
Oh man.. really looking into making the step up from my first wheel (G29) to my first direct drive and this one is looking better and better.. it's a lot of money so I'd better not tell my wife or I won't hear the end of it.. what a dillema. Aaaaaaaand I bought it.
Awesome review mate!! The SC2 pro v2 is scheduled to be at my door in three days' time... Thanks UPS and a big thanks to DemonTweek for shipping to Canada. All other options were on backorder
Amazing video mate, thanks for the deep diving into the wheel base and for your honest opinion. Video format is wonderful, your content is always pleasant to watch (even for someone like me who isn't interested in upgrading my old gear)
I have heard many times that "snappy-ness" is something DD2 and DD1 just don't produce at the same level. And that "Micro-corrections" are more intuitive on Simucube. So I made up my mind some time ago. When I do upgrade my wheel I'm going to simucube.
You hit the nail on the head of where the difference is. Too many people focus on the specs and numbers rather than being able to differentiate where the advantages are.
@@Klooney9mm I had an oportinity to try Simucube (the best/pricier one). It REALLY delivers where 2cm more/less rotation is important when catching the slides. I'm now actively looking how to squeeze 1.5K in our home budget. Wife will not be happy...
Great article. You have relayed the feeling well. I believe it comes down to resolution like monitor and response times. You know like how many subtle inputs in can react to in a given amount of time. Maybe thats why the more powerful wheel bases appear to give a better feel. Just a thought.
@@ChrisHaye I've never experienced any type of DD. I'm trying to understand if it's the motor type or how the base firmware/software that makes the difference. Blind testing would be an awesome video but I have no idea how such a test could be done. So many questions. Anyway love your work and great podcast with Boonatix.
@@untrainedprofessionals2374 hey as an engineer I can confirm this is a hardware thing. Torque ripple and magnetic cogging is usually fixed using simulations while designing the hardware. It’s caused by the mechanical design. It’s not because fanatec use an out runner motor like some you tubers suggest. Outrunners are just one type of servo motor and it’s possible to be smooth using outrunners. Fanatec has to do this to leave space for their electronics to connect the wheel in the center of the base. SC doesn’t need this space in the middle as they use a true wireless solution and so they are able to use a good off the shelf motor inrunner motor which is also much more compact. I suspect (not sure) it’s from Lenze on the pro. The cogging is from poor mechanical design. Poor is a bit harsh. I would say it’s truly excellent for Fanatec but compared to some other manufacturers like lenze who just make motors for various applications. The low speed low force cogging is always there. It’s mild and it wouldn’t bother you until someone told you about it or you tried another base. To be honest I felt the clubsport was smoother than the DD at low speeds. You experience this only if the wheel is at slow speeds AND there is less force coming from the game, like in a slow corner or a chicane. So not for most of the lap. Hard to tell the difference between the two at most times, except for the faster response speed of the SC2 which you can notice too. Basically the faster the wheel rotated the lesser you feel the cogging unlike on gears where you always feel it. If you turn the wheel really slow you can feel the wheel jump in between the magnets and it feels properly like steps. If you rotate it’s smooth as it just glides from step to step through the magnetic field. There is no contact like in gears. It is because of the force of the magnets. The improvement fanatec made was add an interpolation filter which makes the games’ FF smoother by increasing the number of data points artificially. This is the same as Simucubes reconstruction filter. They may be able to improve the cogging a little more in the motor firmware if they can somehow tweak the flow of current through the coils and optimize. This approach is like fixing a mistake sort of and might require more processing which the fanatec doesn’t have. I am almost certain it’s not possible to get to SC2 levels. They also have another issue where if you use the display on the DD to display any information on it you get random sudden clunks that are not from the game. They are aware of it and I suspect this has something to do with lack of processing power on the base to handle it. But yeah I really hope Fanatec can prove me wrong. They definitely have some real experts working for them who are far more knowledgeable than me
Every new product Chris tries it's "amazing" and the same set of superlatives he always uses. He's alright but it's hard to get a clear picture of the product at times.
I was considering this for awhile. This video did it for me. Put in the order a few days after this video. I have the wheelbase now. It's incredible, so much detail, so fast. I had an accuforce DD but this is next level!! Edit: I'll add that the speed of it was a game changer for me. I feel MUCH more confident catching slides. And this is coming from a DD prior as well.
I've been using a DD1 now for 4-5 months and without a doubt the biggest issue for me has been the QR.... to put it bluntly its just bollocks. everything else in the video i can pretty much match, the damping and oscillation i can almost certainly get exactly like you have it in the video... even the speed of the wheel and how it reacts, i often find the ''stock'' setup of the DD1 has settings on that simply make the wheel a bit slower, for example the game damper effect strength is set default at 100, turning this down always results in a faster wheel for me but there is certainly a balancing act with it, with the DD wheelbases i just love being able to tweak it while driving, i don't think i could ever go back comfortably to tabbing out to make minor adjustments, however rarely it needs to be done. yeh for me the biggest negative is that quick release, its taken me so long just to get the play out of the QR system, the day i discovered it was the day i could not race anymore without it in my mind, using the securing screw basically solves the issue but the QR should be far better without that, i tried 3 different z rings, still there was a bit of movement without the screw, nothing worse than racing and wondering if a bump you feel was from game or the QR moving a little, eventually i realised what the wording of the instructions were telling me, the idea being the rubber of the quick release needs compressing, so i thought well how much compression does it really need, if my QR does not fit on very snug maybe i need to compress it more, so i tightened it up as tight as i could by hand knowing i am quite deliberately crushing the rubber a little inside and i tightened it until i could not anymore by hand and there it was, no more movement at all, no screw needed, no z ring mod required, rock solid... to get there was way too much effort but it worked, but it is by far the worst part of the fanatec DD system in general, for me its a requirement they come up with a new solution and with the incoming BMW rim it seems they have but my gosh i hope they sell that QR seperate.
They will sell that separately, and yes a lot of people are really looking forward to it evenasmuchas the M4 might be out of reach. Not all rims will be compatible though, but will be worth it.
Very happy with my DD1 and no problems at all with the quick release......And i'm not getting payed to say this ! I put some silicone lubricant on the shaft so no problems with the QR . The fact that my wheels are compatible with my DD1 and clubsport is what makes this a good product.
Brilliant video. Clearly explained and edited very well. I definitely have my eye on Simucube. If only I had the space for a solid sim rig. Until then, I’ll have to settle for what I can mount to a playseat. Unless I can convince my wife to swap our sofa for a driver’s seat...hmm...
Cogging only absent when the wheel in on. Off, it will ALWAYS present cogging. All DD wheels do. It is in the nature of the motor. If you are feeling this on any DD wheel when in use, clear the motor calibration and recalibrate the motor. Job done!
I had both the DD2 and the SC2 Pro for some time - to be able to decide if I stay in the Fanatec ecosystem (for close to 10 yrs up until then) or make the switch to Simucube. After a few weeks my answer to myself was clear: Simucube is superior in terms of fidelity, slightly more responsive, has easier-to-use and more stable software and a MUCH better QR release (stiffer as well as easier to use). Best thing: I basically lost not a dime on selling the DD2 as they raised the price in the meantime so I basically sold it for more than I paid new! The only con: I had to purchase massively more expensive wheels (Ascher and SRS GT3).
Minor issue I noticed, music volume was a bit overpowering while trying to listen to your voice during the 60s breakdown. Appreciate the vid though! Thanks bud, keep up the great work!
The only motors I've felt this smooth are simucube and simagic. Both use 5 pole servo motors unlike other brands using 15+ pole servo motors. So these are the fastest most reactive bases on the market. Doesn't matter if you use low or high settings it's gonna be extrmeely fast and snappy. Catching slides have never been easier. Also as you see they practically catch themselves! As you proved in iracing.
Great video Chris. Actually I went the opposite direction. Sold my Simucube 2 Pro and bought a Podium F1. No doubt the Simucube 2 was smoother, but lack of console compatibility and the wheels being super expensive was a turnoff.
0:55. The simcube came with deluxe analbeads for that proper rumblestrip feedback.. Anyway, after using the G29 (which is a great toy to intro yourself into simracing) Im going all out on this hobby. Direct drives look hella fun.
Great video Chris, might also be worth doing a safety type video as the SC2 hands off wheel detection is great just before a crash, as far as I know the dd2 does not have this feature and when you let go of the wheel it thrashes around at the full NM you have been driving with
The issue you described with iRacing's FFB is what i also felt, to the point where i felt like maybe i was misunderstanding what the FFB was telling me. iRFFB totally solved that. Previously i couldn't really feel the car, could never catch slides because i was reacting too late. Apparently iracings FFB only simulates the steering column, IRFFB uses all the telemetry and feeds it through the wheel. I'm no expert by any means, just a casual... but iRFFB is a game changer
@@orioltr8387 Yes but since my comment I've actually stopped using irffb. I realised my force feeback settings in iracing were completely wrong, hence why when i switched to irffb i felt such a drastic change
Im upgrading from a g929 and im very undecided on what i want. But the longer i research the more money i save and more im convinced i should just jump straight to simucube.... i just need more money haha
I was racing on Assetto Corsa with an Xbox controller for about a year and then I bought a Simucube Pro, and I had no fucking clue how much detail could be transmitted from the game to real life. This shit is insane along with all the money I lost as a result.
@@zethyuen8859 😂It was such a huge jump but I was really into video games and I had already played racing games and sims for a few years so I just decided to go all in.
Nils did a quick review of the DD1 and recommended quite different settings to that which I am using. I need to try those and see if I notice any difference.
Just centering and speed is on the side of the DD1. I have both bases and DD1 in this parameter is at the SC2 Ultimate level. The SC2 Pro accelerates three times slower
@7:45 I had the OSW aswell and it did the same. Tbh, iam pretty sure that the new Simucube DD‘s are the same as the old one, they just put the DD Motor in a aluminium box thats it. And the „a bit more sharper“ feel comes from the newer Motor. These motors get updated multiple times a year... The motor is made by a chinese company and has nothing to do with the Sim Racing stuff. They just buy the needed pieces, put them together and sell it EXACTLY how it was done in the OSW. Thats the reason why you cant buy the Simucube „directly“, it goes through a middle man who puts the pieces together (so you are also paying from him which is completely unnecessary cause you can do that on your own).
@Chris Haye How would you rank the DD bases you have tried, in your opinion - VRS, SC1, DD1, DD2, SC2. I understand it depends on a lot of things, but just your personal opinion.
I finally could upgrade to an SimuCube last November. I stoot between the Sport and Pro, and was nearly buying a Sport. Then Black Friday came and in Germany, both Motors were just 50€ apart, and since i spent more then i wanted on the Rest of the Rig (Needed everything new, cause my old rig was a G920 boltet to a Desk), i thought "Meh, that 50€ more doesn't kill you" and i am glad i made it. Yes, the Extra Torque for me might be unnessesary (I drive between 6 and 10NM in iRacing, depending on the Car), but i really like the feel and from what i heard, the sport sometimes comes a little short to ffb (can't measure it empiricly, just what i hear from Teammates). The only Thing i really don't like is the standard-Sessting for ACC, which is a pity. Chris, could you maybe share your Settings for the SC2 Pro? I really think that i just Suck at setting the FFB up for the Game.
I actually like the ACC setting - I use it both on AC and ACC. Remember to turn the FFB down to about 30 in-game, and run the base at the highest torque you can handle.
try irffb with the dd1 and you will be blown away at the difference in terms of seat of the pants effect. especially in iracing. the diffrence seems to be more software than hardware between the two.
Yeah, that's the main use case for my Fanatec wheel. Being quick to change between both systems was like 70% of the reason I bought it in the first place :)
@@SURG3NT I have the Cronusmax-plus dongle. It supports all of the Fanatec wheels, but not anything like the Simucube, Simagic, Accuforce or any other direct drive wheel
I've tried iRacing after 1,5 years of a break the first time with my SC2 Pro this week and feels quite improved, but could be iRacing as well. But AMS2 is FFB-king for me with much better physics. The feel when the diff kicks in on exit is completely missing in iRacing and even with my motion rig I will not get a great connection to this title ever I guess.
I still prefer AC and Rf2 to AMS2, but completely agreed with you on the self-alligning force. Save for the most expensive of direct drive wheels, it's just nonexistent in iRacing no matter what settings you try. I know people who struggled to transition to other sims from iRacing because they were using visual clues to detect yaw at the rear rather than the self-allgining force in the FFB.
@@robcampbell6099 I've tried irFFB this week and certainly was better with the Ferrari GT3, but not so much with the Porsche Cup (which is horrible anyway). Also won a P2 in the Radical (one split) yesterday and finally I like that car. I also like the tyre model from it's feeling and finally decent grip, but iRacing don't simulate weight properly, no brake temps simulation, no rain. You get better in iRacing by practicing other games and AMS2 is IMO better in almost all regards on the physics. The Newton laws of physics are better simulated in AMS, Raceroom, rF2, AC, DR2 and even pCars 3 simulates weight better despite much more grip (if it's not raining) and a safety net. Don't get me wrong and iRacing might become my second favorite sim overall, but the physics are overrated.
@@Leynad778 did you ensure that you selected 360hz from the drop down menu in irffb? I ran a couple porsche cup races today and tried the native iracing ffb vs irffb. I much prefer irffb but that's just my opinion. as for other games. I have only spent very little time in others vs Iracing and ACC. Maybe it's because I have spent the most time playing iRacing. I find I can feel the movement of the car and grip levels leaps and bounds over the other sims. AMS2 is good, but I have probably played it the least. ACC has never felt great to me. it feels numb until the rear end breaks loose then the wheel goes light. otherwise it fells like you are just floating
@@robcampbell6099 Just tried the Spec Racer Ford with irFFB and my SC2 Pro feels like a G25 (I guess), so back to the iRacing-FFB. You are IMO right with ACC and AC is so much better in many aspects. Since ACC was absolutely awful from the performance in the early EA-builds I guess they went some shortcuts to spare CPU-cycles. I do feel that with the motion even more. The suspension is much smoother and natural in any other title I know and best example is when driving over sausage curbs. ACC is overrated apart from the visuals.
Great video/opinion piece. Slight suggestion tho, it seems like your audio is not normalized for your background sound i.e. engine noise/music, thus making hearing you a bit harder when these sounds are present. Maybe if you just lower the volume of these background audio will enhance the viewing experience even more.
Love your videos. The Simucube mount to your rig looks awesome with the bolts through that THICK plate for a rock solid stable attachment. Which cockpit system are you using in this video?
How about an open wheeler in AC at night, still ironing out a few kinks but its operational and should be on RD soon, will send it if you want to test, will need to tell me for which open wheeler though, i currently have it working for the rss 4 but can easily attach to almost any other
Using a Simucube 1 since 2018 and I'm still more than satisfied. Many SW features from the SC2 also are released for the SC1, which is great. The SC1 already was superior to the DD1, the SC2 is just king. /fanboy mode off
Great review, just ditched my v3 pedals to the simtrecs mind blown. Now i am fully prepared to sell my DD1 and debating on Simmagic Alpha U , or this? Anyone wiyh opions would love some feedback
I just got SC2Pro in the mail and testing it in ACC (only racing sim I play these days) and am kinda.... unimpressed? I'ts my first DD wheel, coming from craigslist logitec TMX and I was expecting it to be a bit more... realistic I guess. I have spent appreciable time in a variety of actual race-cars and it just seems like there is some kind of disconnect between ACC and the wheel. I've only spent 2-3 hours tweaking settings and trying settings from some forum posts... maybe I just need some time to get used to it, but I'm sitting here thinking I could do better with an O-drive and some BLDC servos lol
Have you had a chance to test simucube 2 pro r1? because the r2 that is currently sold and that you are testing. The power supply has been replaced by 1x450 watt adapters instead of 2x280. I wonder if there is a difference between them? Everyone is contradictory. I wish you had an opinion on that issue as well?
I'm stuck between a SC2 Pro and a DD2 at the moment--a fortunate dilemma, to be sure, but an agonizing one nonetheless. (I presently have all Fanatec hardware, but I'm worried that I may be seriously missing out on the legendary FFB of the SC2)
I was stuck between DD1 and Sc2s, I went with Sc2s and am very happy. Given all the things I have heard about the DD1 and 2, I would avoid fanatec for highend.
@@thesign6879, that's what I'm beginning to think. I have a Clubsport V2 now, and it's a gem for the money, but Fanatec's value really seems to be in their mid/low range equipment.
I too went from fanatec clubsport to the SC2 pro and very happy with it. What puts me off fanatec is the their QR system. It needs to be solid and I don't think fanatec QR system was ever intended for direct drive.
Great video, thank you for sharing your opinion. May I ask what wheel that is you are using on this video? Looks like one that I might like. Thank you.
I do not have a sim, I’ve only just gotten into the sim racing world but I’ll watch everyone one of your videos as long as you keep the production like this. It reminds me of the old top gear and I love it.
Thanks dude - that's really lovely to hear. :)
Hi have u got a sim yet just wondering
Awesome that you liked the Pro! There is more coming your way later this year. On HW and SW
Wireless module upgrade?
@@anupjsebastian That too!
I’m about to order the Pro (R2) should I wait??? I don’t necessarily need a wheel right this second as I’m only upgrading from a DD2.
@@simucube ordered my simucube 2 pro, can't wait for it guys! 🔥💪🔝
@@riderofthemark6661 Ordered mine yesterday as well as the SimCore UM1-ALN. Now I just need a the Gold HRS Xero-Play V3 and I’ll be ready to roll.
Wow, crazy how you got Jimmy to do a comment at 4:33
chopped my dd2 back and bought a sc2 pro and love it!! never regretted it.
This video helped convince me to try the Simucube 2 Pro to replace my Fanatec GT DD which I wasn't happy with. OMG. Night and day. The SC2 is so good. Thanks for dramatically improving my sim racing experience.
I got into sim racing earlier this year....with GTR 2 though ($250 laptop, keyboard control)....I'll keep watching your videos until I can afford a simple wheel. You're awesome Chris.
Thanks dude. Keep at it... if you can drive GTR2 with a keyboard, you'll be an alien by the time you get your wheel!
@@ChrisHaye Why, though? :D For a keyboard, you won't find any better than gMotor-based simulators.
Chris easily has the some of the best sim racing content imo. The production value is fantastic and he puts some much thought and time into what he says and how he shows it. Keep up the great work!
Man I really miss you bringing out new content. So well spoken, such professional quality in your videos. Hope you are doing well Chris.
Your videos are very professional and detailed without fluff good job thank you keep it up. I enjoyed your commentary on the Spa 24 hours SimGrid coverage also.
hey, its me again! great video you put out there! its great to see you grow even more every video, and i feel so glad to be part of your journey as a videomaker. keep it up, i allready cant wait for the next one!
Great video! Production quality is mindblowing. Also, I really like that you are super cautious while expressing your opinion, specifying it's not backed by any data, or that the feel can be very different depending the settings. Really great job!
Have been sim racing on a high end direct drive ds4 controller;) the last two years. I’ve always wanted to upgrade straight into a direct drive wheel. I stuck with it for a long time on a controller to make sure I could justify the price, and that it wasn’t just a short term hobby for me. I’ve been scouring the internet about the 2 pro for awhile now. Can’t help but think that this might just be the sign I need to pull the trigger on it! Awesome video!
I love the production quality on your videos. Really well done.
I recently tried one at a friends house and ordered one later that day. Best I can describe it is: authority. This base is very fast, very strong, very accurate, precise. But butter smooth. It almost feels organic.
Just got an SC2 Pro as my first direct drive. It's crazy how instantly, even just in the pits, I felt more of the road then I ever had before on my CSW 2.5.
Yeah, it's a big step up in terms of feel. I jumped from a T300 to my first Simucube OSW setup, which was a pretty crazy change in feel!
Dammit, the high end gear makes me not wanna get the mid tier 😂
I went from a G27 to an SC2 Pro - properly mindblowing difference 🤯
@@AttilaSzabadkai I'm thinking about getting csw 2.5
Thanks for using my Racing Team Nederland livery for the LMP2 in iRacing. I feel honoured 😁
Hallo Jumbo
Your production values just keep getting better and better. This is excellent work.
After using my new simulator for a year with cheap wheel while I researched the hell out of wheels I chose this one. IMO if you’re going to buy anything for your simulator buy this. Nothing will add to the experience more than this. Worth every penny. Not one hitch, solid dependable easy to use and virtually indestructible. The only CON, watch your thumbs and wrists but that’s exactly what you have to do in a real car! The next best thing I purchased was a NExt Level motion seat. Also outstanding and worth every penny. Oh and the quick release ( although not safe in a real car) is as brilliant as it gets.
You’re definitely my favourite youtuber right now. I look forward to any and every of your videos. But dang, wish I had the money for this DD wheel. One day perhaps.
Great video Chris. Loving my Sc2 pro.
When you roll over the video thumbnail, Chris looks like he's singing his heart out :D
Great video, Chris (as per usual)! It's been a while since I've watched this channel as I went on a bit of a break from sim racing - but I'm well and truly back into it now and this is my first stop for high-quality content. Been here since 3,000 and will be here at 3 million ;)
Keep it up!
amazing video chris im so glad i finally got time to watch. bathhurst took all my mental focus this week. your presentation is some of if not the best on the platform, i need a class from you 😂😂
In my country, all hardware is worth twice as much as in the USA or Europe. For that reason I plan to buy the VRS DirectForce Pro, apparently very similar to the Simucube 2 Pro, costing half the price. Because of the costs, for years I have been building a decent simulator, in your channel I learned several key aspects. Thanks a lot. Greetings
Hey Julio - yeah, regional pricing for sim racing gear is total madness - I've seen some truly terrifying examples. The VRS setup is very similar to the old MiGE based system I was using, it's a great piece of kit and I'm sure you'll be more than happy with it, I know I was!
I hear you mate. I felt sick after buy the Clubsport base and pedals. Some of the money I have seen spent on some of this gear is ridiculous. Coming from real cars and bikes sim racing cost stunned me. Not so much the wheel bases but pedal sets are insane. Real world off the shelf parts are not that expensive.
Oh man.. really looking into making the step up from my first wheel (G29) to my first direct drive and this one is looking better and better.. it's a lot of money so I'd better not tell my wife or I won't hear the end of it.. what a dillema.
Aaaaaaaand I bought it.
Awesome review mate!! The SC2 pro v2 is scheduled to be at my door in three days' time... Thanks UPS and a big thanks to DemonTweek for shipping to Canada. All other options were on backorder
You're in for a real treat - it's simply an awesome wheel base!
How much did you pay? Im also in Canada and looking for a Simucube 2
@@hachirokumedia2195 it was $1900 after conversion then $393 for duty, taxes and broker fee…
jimmy loves braking his arms with this wheel
Amazing video mate, thanks for the deep diving into the wheel base and for your honest opinion. Video format is wonderful, your content is always pleasant to watch (even for someone like me who isn't interested in upgrading my old gear)
I have heard many times that "snappy-ness" is something DD2 and DD1 just don't produce at the same level. And that "Micro-corrections" are more intuitive on Simucube. So I made up my mind some time ago. When I do upgrade my wheel I'm going to simucube.
You hit the nail on the head of where the difference is. Too many people focus on the specs and numbers rather than being able to differentiate where the advantages are.
@@Klooney9mm I had an oportinity to try Simucube (the best/pricier one). It REALLY delivers where 2cm more/less rotation is important when catching the slides. I'm now actively looking how to squeeze 1.5K in our home budget. Wife will not be happy...
Great article. You have relayed the feeling well.
I believe it comes down to resolution like monitor and response times. You know like how many subtle inputs in can react to in a given amount of time. Maybe thats why the more powerful wheel bases appear to give a better feel. Just a thought.
It's certainly possible. Though, I've used 30Nm wheelbases in the past and not had quite the same experience. So... pass!
@@ChrisHaye I've never experienced any type of DD. I'm trying to understand if it's the motor type or how the base firmware/software that makes the difference. Blind testing would be an awesome video but I have no idea how such a test could be done. So many questions.
Anyway love your work and great podcast with Boonatix.
@@untrainedprofessionals2374 hey as an engineer I can confirm this is a hardware thing. Torque ripple and magnetic cogging is usually fixed using simulations while designing the hardware. It’s caused by the mechanical design.
It’s not because fanatec use an out runner motor like some you tubers suggest. Outrunners are just one type of servo motor and it’s possible to be smooth using outrunners. Fanatec has to do this to leave space for their electronics to connect the wheel in the center of the base. SC doesn’t need this space in the middle as they use a true wireless solution and so they are able to use a good off the shelf motor inrunner motor which is also much more compact. I suspect (not sure) it’s from Lenze on the pro. The cogging is from poor mechanical design. Poor is a bit harsh. I would say it’s truly excellent for Fanatec but compared to some other manufacturers like lenze who just make motors for various applications.
The low speed low force cogging is always there. It’s mild and it wouldn’t bother you until someone told you about it or you tried another base. To be honest I felt the clubsport was smoother than the DD at low speeds. You experience this only if the wheel is at slow speeds AND there is less force coming from the game, like in a slow corner or a chicane. So not for most of the lap. Hard to tell the difference between the two at most times, except for the faster response speed of the SC2 which you can notice too.
Basically the faster the wheel rotated the lesser you feel the cogging unlike on gears where you always feel it. If you turn the wheel really slow you can feel the wheel jump in between the magnets and it feels properly like steps. If you rotate it’s smooth as it just glides from step to step through the magnetic field. There is no contact like in gears. It is because of the force of the magnets.
The improvement fanatec made was add an interpolation filter which makes the games’ FF smoother by increasing the number of data points artificially. This is the same as Simucubes reconstruction filter. They may be able to improve the cogging a little more in the motor firmware if they can somehow tweak the flow of current through the coils and optimize. This approach is like fixing a mistake sort of and might require more processing which the fanatec doesn’t have. I am almost certain it’s not possible to get to SC2 levels.
They also have another issue where if you use the display on the DD to display any information on it you get random sudden clunks that are not from the game. They are aware of it and I suspect this has something to do with lack of processing power on the base to handle it. But yeah I really hope Fanatec can prove me wrong. They definitely have some real experts working for them who are far more knowledgeable than me
@@anupjsebastian Mate. Thankyou so much for taking the time to explain this. Nothing beats knowledge.
loving this high quality content man!
Honestly one of the best reviews I’ve seen with these type of products, defiantly gonna be watching some more of your content!
Every new product Chris tries it's "amazing" and the same set of superlatives he always uses. He's alright but it's hard to get a clear picture of the product at times.
I'm happy with my g29 for the moment but still enjoy these video. Chris could review a toaster and i would watch it.
I was considering this for awhile. This video did it for me. Put in the order a few days after this video. I have the wheelbase now. It's incredible, so much detail, so fast. I had an accuforce DD but this is next level!!
Edit: I'll add that the speed of it was a game changer for me. I feel MUCH more confident catching slides. And this is coming from a DD prior as well.
Now you've made my OSW20 sulk..... i'm going to have to give it some proper attention tonight ;)
Great video!
Best be bringing home some flowers tonight lol
I've been using a DD1 now for 4-5 months and without a doubt the biggest issue for me has been the QR.... to put it bluntly its just bollocks. everything else in the video i can pretty much match, the damping and oscillation i can almost certainly get exactly like you have it in the video... even the speed of the wheel and how it reacts, i often find the ''stock'' setup of the DD1 has settings on that simply make the wheel a bit slower, for example the game damper effect strength is set default at 100, turning this down always results in a faster wheel for me but there is certainly a balancing act with it, with the DD wheelbases i just love being able to tweak it while driving, i don't think i could ever go back comfortably to tabbing out to make minor adjustments, however rarely it needs to be done.
yeh for me the biggest negative is that quick release, its taken me so long just to get the play out of the QR system, the day i discovered it was the day i could not race anymore without it in my mind, using the securing screw basically solves the issue but the QR should be far better without that, i tried 3 different z rings, still there was a bit of movement without the screw, nothing worse than racing and wondering if a bump you feel was from game or the QR moving a little, eventually i realised what the wording of the instructions were telling me, the idea being the rubber of the quick release needs compressing, so i thought well how much compression does it really need, if my QR does not fit on very snug maybe i need to compress it more, so i tightened it up as tight as i could by hand knowing i am quite deliberately crushing the rubber a little inside and i tightened it until i could not anymore by hand and there it was, no more movement at all, no screw needed, no z ring mod required, rock solid... to get there was way too much effort but it worked, but it is by far the worst part of the fanatec DD system in general, for me its a requirement they come up with a new solution and with the incoming BMW rim it seems they have but my gosh i hope they sell that QR seperate.
They will sell that separately, and yes a lot of people are really looking forward to it evenasmuchas the M4 might be out of reach.
Not all rims will be compatible though, but will be worth it.
EDIT: i sold the DD1 and got a simucube 2 pro... i was wrong.
Very happy with my DD1 and no problems at all with the quick release......And i'm not getting payed to say this ! I put some silicone lubricant on the shaft so no problems with the QR . The fact that my wheels are compatible with my DD1 and clubsport is what makes this a good product.
Great video, Chris
Brilliant video. Clearly explained and edited very well. I definitely have my eye on Simucube. If only I had the space for a solid sim rig. Until then, I’ll have to settle for what I can mount to a playseat. Unless I can convince my wife to swap our sofa for a driver’s seat...hmm...
Cogging only absent when the wheel in on. Off, it will ALWAYS present cogging. All DD wheels do. It is in the nature of the motor.
If you are feeling this on any DD wheel when in use, clear the motor calibration and recalibrate the motor. Job done!
I had both the DD2 and the SC2 Pro for some time - to be able to decide if I stay in the Fanatec ecosystem (for close to 10 yrs up until then) or make the switch to Simucube. After a few weeks my answer to myself was clear: Simucube is superior in terms of fidelity, slightly more responsive, has easier-to-use and more stable software and a MUCH better QR release (stiffer as well as easier to use). Best thing: I basically lost not a dime on selling the DD2 as they raised the price in the meantime so I basically sold it for more than I paid new! The only con: I had to purchase massively more expensive wheels (Ascher and SRS GT3).
i feel you
Minor issue I noticed, music volume was a bit overpowering while trying to listen to your voice during the 60s breakdown. Appreciate the vid though! Thanks bud, keep up the great work!
The only motors I've felt this smooth are simucube and simagic. Both use 5 pole servo motors unlike other brands using 15+ pole servo motors. So these are the fastest most reactive bases on the market. Doesn't matter if you use low or high settings it's gonna be extrmeely fast and snappy. Catching slides have never been easier.
Also as you see they practically catch themselves! As you proved in iracing.
Great video Chris. Actually I went the opposite direction. Sold my Simucube 2 Pro and bought a Podium F1. No doubt the Simucube 2 was smoother, but lack of console compatibility and the wheels being super expensive was a turnoff.
0:55. The simcube came with deluxe analbeads for that proper rumblestrip feedback.. Anyway, after using the G29 (which is a great toy to intro yourself into simracing) Im going all out on this hobby. Direct drives look hella fun.
Love my SC Pro 2
I have herd others say that some top Sim drivers turn off force-feed back?
Great video Chris, might also be worth doing a safety type video as the SC2 hands off wheel detection is great just before a crash, as far as I know the dd2 does not have this feature and when you let go of the wheel it thrashes around at the full NM you have been driving with
The issue you described with iRacing's FFB is what i also felt, to the point where i felt like maybe i was misunderstanding what the FFB was telling me. iRFFB totally solved that. Previously i couldn't really feel the car, could never catch slides because i was reacting too late. Apparently iracings FFB only simulates the steering column, IRFFB uses all the telemetry and feeds it through the wheel. I'm no expert by any means, just a casual... but iRFFB is a game changer
are you using direct drive for IRFFB?
@@orioltr8387 Yes but since my comment I've actually stopped using irffb. I realised my force feeback settings in iracing were completely wrong, hence why when i switched to irffb i felt such a drastic change
Cheers for driving as me in the McLaren Chris! Love that livery, glad you do too!
Used mine for soon a year. Even tho i had to prio that over food a while. It was WORTH IT !;)
Food is overrated!
"it's weight reduction, bro"
@@vsm1456 True :D
Ive been lookin at that Ascher Racing button box for myself. Looks great here! 👌
Im upgrading from a g929 and im very undecided on what i want. But the longer i research the more money i save and more im convinced i should just jump straight to simucube.... i just need more money haha
I was racing on Assetto Corsa with an Xbox controller for about a year and then I bought a Simucube Pro, and I had no fucking clue how much detail could be transmitted from the game to real life. This shit is insane along with all the money I lost as a result.
Wow that's the biggest jump I've heard! If you try a low-end wheel the difference is also night and day.
@@zethyuen8859 😂It was such a huge jump but I was really into video games and I had already played racing games and sims for a few years so I just decided to go all in.
Nils did a quick review of the DD1 and recommended quite different settings to that which I am using. I need to try those and see if I notice any difference.
Yeah, there's a lot you can tweak in Fanalabs... which is one of the real strengths of the Fanatec system TBH.
Just centering and speed is on the side of the DD1. I have both bases and DD1 in this parameter is at the SC2 Ultimate level. The SC2 Pro accelerates three times slower
NICE VIDEO 👌AND I HOPE ONE DAY I'LL HAVE THIS BAD BOY AT HOME
@7:45 I had the OSW aswell and it did the same.
Tbh, iam pretty sure that the new Simucube DD‘s are the same as the old one, they just put the DD Motor in a aluminium box thats it.
And the „a bit more sharper“ feel comes from the newer Motor. These motors get updated multiple times a year...
The motor is made by a chinese company and has nothing to do with the Sim Racing stuff. They just buy the needed pieces, put them together and sell it EXACTLY how it was done in the OSW. Thats the reason why you cant buy the Simucube „directly“, it goes through a middle man who puts the pieces together (so you are also paying from him which is completely unnecessary cause you can do that on your own).
OSW typically built with Chinese Mige, SC2 uses a motor made by Austrian company - Lenze.
@Chris Haye How would you rank the DD bases you have tried, in your opinion - VRS, SC1, DD1, DD2, SC2. I understand it depends on a lot of things, but just your personal opinion.
Chris, At 10:55 in the video it shows your Fanatec wheelbase displaying telemetry, how did you enable this?
Can you connect the Moza Gs Wheel to a SC 2 wheel base?
Chris I have a Turn 320 rim and have just switched from Fanatec DD1 to Simucube. What I the button module you have on your turn wheel? Jim
I'm quite happy with my VRS DD, although I have no experience with other DD wheels... and I believe IRacing is way more enjoyable with a DD too!
Thanks Chris, great vid. Would you mind charing your settings for IR? Thanks again.
Love that video
Gracias dude!
I finally could upgrade to an SimuCube last November. I stoot between the Sport and Pro, and was nearly buying a Sport. Then Black Friday came and in Germany, both Motors were just 50€ apart, and since i spent more then i wanted on the Rest of the Rig (Needed everything new, cause my old rig was a G920 boltet to a Desk), i thought "Meh, that 50€ more doesn't kill you" and i am glad i made it.
Yes, the Extra Torque for me might be unnessesary (I drive between 6 and 10NM in iRacing, depending on the Car), but i really like the feel and from what i heard, the sport sometimes comes a little short to ffb (can't measure it empiricly, just what i hear from Teammates).
The only Thing i really don't like is the standard-Sessting for ACC, which is a pity. Chris, could you maybe share your Settings for the SC2 Pro? I really think that i just Suck at setting the FFB up for the Game.
I actually like the ACC setting - I use it both on AC and ACC. Remember to turn the FFB down to about 30 in-game, and run the base at the highest torque you can handle.
It’s really hard to believe that such a soothing voice comes from such an innocent face 😀
try irffb with the dd1 and you will be blown away at the difference in terms of seat of the pants effect. especially in iracing. the diffrence seems to be more software than hardware between the two.
Except the DD intrinsically has cogging that is not present in the SC, that bridge will never be gapped.
Anyone else hear some noises in the simucube 2 pro or mine is broken? The ffp is gr8 .. its just little noise that bothers me a bit
If it wasn't for the fact that I also do console racing as well, I would seriously consider getting this.
Yeah, that's the main use case for my Fanatec wheel. Being quick to change between both systems was like 70% of the reason I bought it in the first place :)
There’s a usb dongle u can but that gives full support on consoles, I have not tested this tho
@@SURG3NT I have the Cronusmax-plus dongle. It supports all of the Fanatec wheels, but not anything like the Simucube, Simagic, Accuforce or any other direct drive wheel
@@blklion100 u need the GIMX adapter mate, that works with Simcube
@@SURG3NT I'll have to look into that.
I've tried iRacing after 1,5 years of a break the first time with my SC2 Pro this week and feels quite improved, but could be iRacing as well. But AMS2 is FFB-king for me with much better physics. The feel when the diff kicks in on exit is completely missing in iRacing and even with my motion rig I will not get a great connection to this title ever I guess.
I still prefer AC and Rf2 to AMS2, but completely agreed with you on the self-alligning force. Save for the most expensive of direct drive wheels, it's just nonexistent in iRacing no matter what settings you try. I know people who struggled to transition to other sims from iRacing because they were using visual clues to detect yaw at the rear rather than the self-allgining force in the FFB.
If you aren't already, get yourself IRFFB for iRacing FFB, vastly improves the driving experience.
@@robcampbell6099 I've tried irFFB this week and certainly was better with the Ferrari GT3, but not so much with the Porsche Cup (which is horrible anyway). Also won a P2 in the Radical (one split) yesterday and finally I like that car. I also like the tyre model from it's feeling and finally decent grip, but iRacing don't simulate weight properly, no brake temps simulation, no rain. You get better in iRacing by practicing other games and AMS2 is IMO better in almost all regards on the physics. The Newton laws of physics are better simulated in AMS, Raceroom, rF2, AC, DR2 and even pCars 3 simulates weight better despite much more grip (if it's not raining) and a safety net. Don't get me wrong and iRacing might become my second favorite sim overall, but the physics are overrated.
@@Leynad778 did you ensure that you selected 360hz from the drop down menu in irffb? I ran a couple porsche cup races today and tried the native iracing ffb vs irffb. I much prefer irffb but that's just my opinion.
as for other games. I have only spent very little time in others vs Iracing and ACC. Maybe it's because I have spent the most time playing iRacing. I find I can feel the movement of the car and grip levels leaps and bounds over the other sims. AMS2 is good, but I have probably played it the least. ACC has never felt great to me. it feels numb until the rear end breaks loose then the wheel goes light. otherwise it fells like you are just floating
@@robcampbell6099 Just tried the Spec Racer Ford with irFFB and my SC2 Pro feels like a G25 (I guess), so back to the iRacing-FFB. You are IMO right with ACC and AC is so much better in many aspects. Since ACC was absolutely awful from the performance in the early EA-builds I guess they went some shortcuts to spare CPU-cycles. I do feel that with the motion even more. The suspension is much smoother and natural in any other title I know and best example is when driving over sausage curbs. ACC is overrated apart from the visuals.
what gloves do you use
Great video/opinion piece. Slight suggestion tho, it seems like your audio is not normalized for your background sound i.e. engine noise/music, thus making hearing you a bit harder when these sounds are present. Maybe if you just lower the volume of these background audio will enhance the viewing experience even more.
Hi Chris, where is your button plate from on the Turn wheel? Thanks mate!
Mmmmmm... Dat Aiologs handbrake. 🤤
I love mine!
Question: Can you install a simucube on a playseat sensation pro?
Love your videos. The Simucube mount to your rig looks awesome with the bolts through that THICK plate for a rock solid stable attachment. Which cockpit system are you using in this video?
Great video, would like to see more details on the wheel. Turn Racing and Asher Racing?
This or DD1 and why?
This Channel needs 100K Subscribers, fast! I mean, really fast.
This guy and Race Beyond Matter
Awesome video. The SC2P looked like it responded very well in iRacing. Any links to profiles or settings you used for iRacing and ACC.
7:25 "Because this isn't exactly how someone drives a Le Mans Prototype" sure I've seen worse 🤭
No test on rF2???
I have the SC2 Sport and love it
How come you got the sport? It being the last gen motor put me off for such a small difference in price, but I didn't research further than that...
How about an open wheeler in AC at night, still ironing out a few kinks but its operational and should be on RD soon, will send it if you want to test, will need to tell me for which open wheeler though, i currently have it working for the rss 4 but can easily attach to almost any other
If you had to choose between Leo Bodnar and Simucube Direct Drive which one would it be ? :)
Using a Simucube 1 since 2018 and I'm still more than satisfied. Many SW features from the SC2 also are released for the SC1, which is great. The SC1 already was superior to the DD1, the SC2 is just king. /fanboy mode off
You have any software setup tricks or advice? Just got SC2Pro and having issues falling in love with how it performs in ACC...
In the video description it says "Wheelbase (Fanated Podium DD1)" with a link to a fanatec wheel. Maybe you could've linked the reviewed product?
where can i buy one >?
Great review, just ditched my v3 pedals to the simtrecs mind blown. Now i am fully prepared to sell my DD1 and debating on Simmagic Alpha U , or this? Anyone wiyh opions would love some feedback
Simucube 2 pro
Was thinking of buying this instead of the DD1.... then I see the price of the wheels!?! Holyboloney!!
How have you managed to make a Direct Drive wheelbase Personified and adorable with two stick arms?
I just got SC2Pro in the mail and testing it in ACC (only racing sim I play these days) and am kinda.... unimpressed? I'ts my first DD wheel, coming from craigslist logitec TMX and I was expecting it to be a bit more... realistic I guess. I have spent appreciable time in a variety of actual race-cars and it just seems like there is some kind of disconnect between ACC and the wheel. I've only spent 2-3 hours tweaking settings and trying settings from some forum posts... maybe I just need some time to get used to it, but I'm sitting here thinking I could do better with an O-drive and some BLDC servos lol
Was that a DJI Pocket Camera I saw in the draw ;)
What is that dash panel you have connected to it?
Have you had a chance to test simucube 2 pro r1? because the r2 that is currently sold and that you are testing. The power supply has been replaced by 1x450 watt adapters instead of 2x280. I wonder if there is a difference between them? Everyone is contradictory. I wish you had an opinion on that issue as well?
I'm stuck between a SC2 Pro and a DD2 at the moment--a fortunate dilemma, to be sure, but an agonizing one nonetheless. (I presently have all Fanatec hardware, but I'm worried that I may be seriously missing out on the legendary FFB of the SC2)
See it this way, you can’t go wrong, both are great bases, at least in my opinion.
I was stuck between DD1 and Sc2s, I went with Sc2s and am very happy. Given all the things I have heard about the DD1 and 2, I would avoid fanatec for highend.
@@thesign6879, that's what I'm beginning to think. I have a Clubsport V2 now, and it's a gem for the money, but Fanatec's value really seems to be in their mid/low range equipment.
I too went from fanatec clubsport to the SC2 pro and very happy with it. What puts me off fanatec is the their QR system. It needs to be solid and I don't think fanatec QR system was ever intended for direct drive.
Have you seen the flexing on the Fanatec quick release? The Simucube's QR is rock solid.
How does the software compare to Fanalab for example ?
Great video, thank you for sharing your opinion. May I ask what wheel that is you are using on this video? Looks like one that I might like. Thank you.
hey i think im going to buy a simucube 2 pro, im not sure how i would connect my fanatec shifter and handbrake etc
do you know how id do it?