Some important points that maybe should have been included: 1. 'Conkers' is an old-timey schoolyard game that used to be played round these parts where you'd smash chestnuts on a piece of string together until one of them broke, the winner would be the one that was still intact. Just google it. 2. 3 Year warranty on the wheelbase AND on the VRS wheel, so whilst it might be somewhat basic, it has a longer warranty than most (and genuinely feels like you won't need it)
Never in my life did I think that anybody would need to explain what "Conkers" is - it's such an ingrained British childhood thing, at least from my generation, that it seems like everybody would know it. But you're right, not everybody is British, and elf and safety probably means it's banned in school playgrounds these days.
I've had this VRS wheelbase for the past 1.5 years. It has been a great experience so far. No fuss, and don't know where the "complicated" comments come from. Also, I combine it with gear from different manufacturers. I don't feel locked into a branded eco system. In general, it is highly recommended.
Yea I noticed this too! So I landed a VRS wheel base unit and I just purchased the Ascher McLaren Artura Pro to run with my 5" Ascher dashboard! Right now I'm still running my GT-DD Fanatec with a CS 2.5 with added Podium paddles. But I added VRS Pedals and they are superb!! While I was researching the world over for a wheel base, one person told me he has both Simucube 2 Pro and a VRS and he said in his opinion he could blind fold me and he didn't think I'd be able to tell the difference. And that Ascher wheel I got is a new release and I went with the USB wired right cause I have a VRS, but Ascher included a mini USB cable cause it can also connect inside to run with a SC2 or Asetek. I'm gonna upgrade my system so I don't have it put together yet, but it's coming along and this VRS is very impressive in the box. It's gonna be very nice! To me it wasn't just about the price difference. I can run with a SC2 if I want. Maybe I'll still land one. But I really like the VRS custom Meanwell 400Wt power supply! Heavy duty cables that will work well with my desk set up as my ASR4 Chassis sits under it a bit.
Great review, as always, Danny! I've had the VRS wheelbase for almost 4 years at this point, and it's been completely rock solid. That's also with near daily use. It was my first DD base, and I dont feel a reason to change!
For someone looking to buy the vrs bundle (vrs hub is included). What more do i need to be able to use moza ks wheel? Having a hard time figure out the hub, shaft and qr World. I just want something costeffective that lets be swap between moza ks wheel and moza rs v2 wheel for when i go rallycross 🙂
@johanandersson-v7s I don't use a moza wheel(I'm using a simagic gt neo), but I think you just need to buy their universal hub kit so you can use a usb cable to connect to your PC.
Bought my VRS Wheelbase 3 years ago, I just love this rock solid beast. It is absolutely high industrial quality and working like a charm with so much power!
I've had my VRS DFP & pedals for just over 2 years now. Reliability and performance been rock solid. I'm one of those mentioned who prefers the thick cables and segregated components. With decent cable management it compliments the alluminium profile frame to produce a no nonsense industrial aesthetic. It makes similarly priced wheel bases appear like toys. I love it.
There's certainly a segment of people that find the 'ruggedisation' of things super appealing in itself, even including the cosmetic 'cost' that such an approach comes with
Had the base and pedals for years now, very high quality industrial spec, will survive for years to come, reliable plus the software has everything you need.
I was an early adopter of the VRS DFP and have been using one without fuss for a few years now, with a couple of Fanatec rims I already had thanks to 3rd party modders. The software was weak when it first came out but it’s a lot better with more adjustments possible. I’d still argue it’s not as polished as those from some other brands but I’ve never had the urge to get anything else. And the ability to change a single component if it goes bad as you mentioned is an awesome ability should it ever happen. 10 out of 10 as far as I’m concerned for value and performance.
I had the VRS DFP for quiet some time now more than 2 years if I remember right, I replaced it with the SC2 Pro but kept it rolling on my other demonstration sim cockpit. This how much I vouch for the system, showing it to people actually I would easily say that any any OSW based project is great when it comes to ffb sensation compared to the modern DD's. Especially if you are a guy who wants all the raw effects sent to your hands without any filtering. My opinion and it has never shifted throughout the years, if you have deep pockets go for the SC2 pro for its wireless capability when it comes to rims or if you are a person with money that does not want to tinker with the settings and rely mostly on community generated profiles. The other big option and I have sold many to my consultancy customers the VRS DFP, because simply it can do all what the SC2 does minus few things that you maybe don't need for a lot less money. BTW both motors either the SC2 or VRS or even the SC1 rely heavily on the 130ST model of motors from Mige company the difference is in the software and sometimes filters.
Had my VRS base and pedals for a while and love it. Been solid coming from Fanatec eco system. I’ve got a pogo pin connection on my base to interface between the wheel and PC so I can swap wheels without swapping USB cables. Love the flexibility the base gives to use any hardware on it.
Bought mine a couple years ago and thought I’d upgrade to an SC2 at some point. Zero desire to upgrade it at all. Feels awesome, has great power, settings are nice and easy to use and I prefer the open ecosystem for wheels 100%. You can just do so much more with it. I don’t see myself upgrading until some sort of generational leap occurs (similar to the active pedals) and drops in price. There is a good community of users too.
I chose VRS DD just a few months ago. I bought it because you never hear about problems with mige OSW style bases. They are rock solid. It's the same DNA as Simucube essentially. This wheel doesn't skip out on the important internal mechanisms that make Simucube and VRS my choice.
So those cannon plug style connectors and heavy duty DIN connectors are what we use in the defense industry. We use them for a reason. They are bomb proof, and I mean that almost quite literally. You won't find a stouter connector.
Good review, I completely agree with your points. I’ve had my VRS wheelbase and pedals for about 9 months and tested the Asetek Forte and Simucube Sport and Pro before going to Apex and getting the VRS. I like the fact they only make one base, all their efforts have gone into refining the one product and the filtering algorithms. I haven’t got the wheel as I prefer to use a Momo rim and either H pattern or stick sequential, or a wheel button box occasionally. The price point does feel too high but for those of us who don’t like RGB lighting and screens all over a wheel it’s a solid option. Just as a bit of extra info, the ‘Torque key’ RJ45 plug can be wired as a remote Torque off button and also remote power switch.
It's all generic "my pick was" words. What about actual difference to Forte and SC PRO that may help others? With all those "fullforce2.0" and fast-enough slew-rates of this world, people still care about best FF in first place. SimuCube stated as king, Asetek on same level (same IP). Fanatec may leap ahead with extra telemetry in future. So, where VRS stands and why?
@@nlmda101 as I said, I did test the Forte and the SC Sport and Pro bases. All were very good and I would probably have been happy with either of the Simucube bases. The VRS was tested at Apex Racing and they not only supply the hardware but also provide coaching and the whole experience was great, a well setup rig with good settings and an explanation from someone who lives and breathes the product rather than is just trying to shift boxes made a bigger impact on my buying decision than buying on the spec sheet alone, because to be perfectly honest they all felt excellent and a big step up from my CSL DD. Despite feeling good in use the Asetek was my least favourite for some very superficial reasons, it’s not exactly easy on the eye, but that is just a personal preference, but the ribbed case seemed to have a slight offset where the two halves joined and a similar thing with the plastic moulded front and rear end caps. The QR with pass through is a good design but expensive as at the time they included extra shaft extensions in the kit with no option to just have the QR itself, the USB hub on the rear is a nice feature but it’s all USB-C and all of my accessories are standard USB-A style plugs and there didn’t seem like enough space for 5 A to C adapters. The RGB LED strips, I’m not a fan of them and at the time they couldn’t be set to do anything useful but at least they could be turned off. The final thing was the front mount holes are offset compared to any of the other MiGE or OSW style so you had to get their own front mount which wasn’t a problem as such but it seemed like trying to lock you into their system and I had enough of that from Fanatec. In use it was fast, detailed and strong but a little bit harsh which I now understand was just the way it was setup for the demo. The SC Sport and Pro were great, I genuinely think if they were on identical settings at 12Nm you couldn’t tell the difference between the Sport and Pro, what stopped me dropping the cash there and then on the Sport was that I know I would have regretted or rather questioned myself later if I had made the right choice so I decided to save for a few more months and get the Pro and a wireless wheel. The Ultimate was never on my radar as I just can’t justify that level of spend at the moment. A lot was made of the software, which is good, but the profile sharing wasn’t particularly interesting to me, they loaded in 2 different setups for a Porsche Cup with very different setup and they did indeed feel very different, they were trying to sell that as a great way to quickly try setting and find something you like but to me I was just astounded that 2 people could have such different ideas of what the same car should feel like. By comparison the VRS software has none of that but as the guy explained to me the way the software works and how little I would need to adjust settings, they were absolutely right and I only change the smoothing type between sim titles with almost no other filters in use, the only time I’m really changing settings is for older titles like AMS1 where it doesn’t automatically match the rotation angle. I’m using the filters in device mode rather than game mode so it feels consistent across titles or at least that the best way I can describe it. I know you would like me to quantify the differences between them in an understandable way but as they were tested separately, on different rigs, different sims and with no possible way to standardise the settings between them you just can’t compare them that way, or at least that’s better left to the TH-cam channels that can do side by side tests. What I can say is that since getting the VRS I’m enjoying sim racing more than ever, I feel way more connected to everything I drive and it’s the first time in a decade or more that I’m not constantly thinking about upgrades. I would encourage anyone looking to upgrade to find a sim centre or hardware supplier that will do a demo or try before you buy session even if it costs you to do so.
@@lugs118 that reply alone gave more info than many of "dedicated" youtube channels. Much appreciated. A subjective "no big difference in FF" is enough. Most of reviewers on youtube sort wheel bases in this order: Moza < Simagic < Fanatec < Asetek=SimuCube. Assuming most of them OK in many titles, and only pro-enthusiastic comparison reveal less cogsiness, rich details and flexibility in terms of configuration. There is very little info on VRS. I assume it is close to top two brands and might fight for #1 in terms of reliability. I wish there was a table of all technical measurments. But "no bad reviews" is enough for those who want to save money and got no ambition to spend huge amount of money on a fancy wheel from Asetek or Fanatec. I am sending email to VRS guys with couple of questions. If all goes well - I am in.
@ spec wise Asetek, Simucube and VRS all use a ‘modified’ MiGE servo motor and a 22 bit BiSS C encoder. The VRS is the least modified in terms of the internals and case design and is in many ways a more refined version of the original OSW and Simucube 1 wheelbases. The development has been largely on the smoothing algorithms, the hardware is well understood but extracting the best from it for sim racing applications is mainly down to controller firmware and algorithms. In addition to the usual filters like Damper, Friction, Inertia etc., they have a smoothing selection that is a bit of a black box in that none of the settings within are exposed or adjustable. They have names like Legacy, Responsive, Soft, Optimal etc., and levels 1, 2, 3 for most, as a general rule they are tuned for the ffb frequency. iRacing has a fairly coarse 60Hz rate and the Optimal and Responsive work well as they have what feels like a lot of interpolation or reconstruction depending on what term you prefer. A sim like ACC with a 400Hz ffb rate would work better with Soft 3 or Soft 2 as this feels like it has very little interpolation but a good amount of high pass filter to remove some of the high frequency noise from the signal. As for slew rate, you can choose from 3 settings, Quiet, Balanced and Performance. Personally I really like the Quiet mode as I drive a lot of road cars and classic sport cars, it is still full of detail and the response does not feel slow in any way but it does have some ‘give’ to it and feels like the wheel is truly connected to rubber tyres, it’s the best way I can describe it. On balanced it loses a little of this rubbery feel but the signal definitely sharpens up and is my choice when doing league races with the RSS GT-M cars as it gives me that extra responsive feel without feeling fake. The Performance mode is just a bit harsh for me but I can see why people would choose it as you are never in doubt about what’s going on but I find it physically exhausting over a full session and feels a little unnatural to me. This is just based on my own testing so I could have it all backwards. What do know is that whatever is tucked away inside these settings works so well I no longer want to adjust them. Asetek did a deal with Granite Devices who are the parent of Simucube and own the IP. That probably explains much of why they feel so similar in terms of the smoothing and filtering of the ffb signal. I really didn’t get enough time with either of them to state this as fact. The Asetek is the most modified of the MiGE motors with the shaft fully bored to allow the cables from the QR to pass through the shaft to the slip ring connection to the main board. It’s rated for millions of rotations but it does have a life span and will fail at some point and just think of the amount of movement you have around the centre 30° on any sim wheel every time you use it. They did have plans for the wheelbase to be user reparable and upgradable from the LaPrima to the Forte but we are a few years on and still no word on the upgrade kits. As to the league table of brands I would put Fanatec, Moza and Simagic together but won’t rank them. Then I would put Asetek, Simucube and VRS together, in terms of ffb quality I think it’s so close that you don’t need to worry about it. In terms of value you would have to say VRS wins followed by Asetek then Simucube.
I have been using mine for 8 months now, basically every day and I hadn't had any real problems with it whatsoever. The two things I've noticed is that the wheelbase will receive some kind of signal when the PC is turned off, but the control module is still on. When it's very quiet in the room you will hear a silent tick coming from the motor, like from a clock on the wall or something. Nothing to worry about though and it reminds me to turn the module off when the PC is not running, which is actually a good thing. Another thing is that my PC will not boot if the control module is turned on before I start the PC. Turning the module on after starting the PC solves that issue. I must add though that I haven't heard anybody else having had this "bug". Other than that, the base works flawlessly and preforms grate. One more thing, because I heard it being mentioned from people who don't own the base and obviously just like to bash on it because of it's looks (which is completely subjective) There is no sound whatsoever coming from the control module or the motor when the base is running.
@@JR-cm9sh Like I said, I don't know from anybody else who has the issue and I know two other guys who have the base. Besides, it turns on fine, I just have to turn on the wheelbase after I started the PC, so I'm not quite sure where you're going with your comment.
I have had the VRS for over three years, and also have a Simucube 2 Pro. Both are good bases, but the VRS is the best buy out of the two in my opinion.
I have a VRS wheel base and rim, i upgraded from a simagic alpha after it failed, it really is rock solid, and one thing people don't seem to talk about is the Slew rate, which is where it shines over the Alpha. It's also easy to hide the control box, i have mine mounted to my 4080 rig behind the monitor.
I only race in VR.... This looks up my alley and I have been considering an upgrade. I really like the simplicity of that wheel and the bomb proofness of the base. I've heard nothing but good things about the pedal too.
I’ve had mine for over a year now and it is rock solid, military grade connectors, heavy shielded cables, and user friendly software. Their Discord is also very helpful. Only two things that I think could be better. The data cable connectors are frequently mid-orientated by some users. And the control box power switch is not quite up to the standard of the rest of the gear. Most users opt for an external heavy grade in line power switch so that the control box switch is never cycled. And if you pay really close attention to plugging the cables, you won’t make a mistake. The wheel is expensive and sort of basic, but it is just one pwb and has no wires, everything board mounted and should last a long time.
Ive tried pretty much every wheelbase now and the top 3 go to asetek, simucube and vrs. My favorite is asetek and its responsiveness as we all know we gel with certain wheelbases more then others. I hope peoppe realize this. Not all brains or signals are the same. We don't all pick up on things the same way. Sometimes some things click with what we feel more then others. Vrs seems to be the base that does that with you. The top3 dogs are all so so good you can't go wrong with any. But I am surprised by what vrs was able to do on there last update. It was a pretty big change in ffb. Very nice wheelbase with amazing feeling of what the car is doing. I still believe asetek is still a bit more responsive in the way its telling you the suspension and tires but vrs has a mix of like simucube and asetek. Very good wheelbase for sure. There is a reason why pepople like grayze likes vrs mlre then anyone else you do also. But people like me will dave and others like asetek more then vrs when comparing side by side. But thats the point you get ans use what you like. We all have feelings we search for. Some like certain things over others. We all like what we like.
This was a really interesting review - not because I'm looking for a VRS Pro but I just swapped out my Asetek Invicta with a VNM Xtreme base, and some of your comments sound very similar to my experience! The VNM seems more communicative, smoother, more natural and just straight up nicer to drive with than the Asetek. I don't truly believe there is more information being transferred, but I do feel more confident with the VNM. During the first weekend I was already beating lap records, and I'm mostly running around 101% in ACC which is my sim of choice so I'm past the "newbie gains" phase.
Two years ago I ended up going Simucube, but everything I've ever heard about the VRS wheelbase gave this little itch in my head that's says "what if", "should I have done", if you know what I mean. Great review.
@@thesign6879 You're very likely right, but I've only ever heard positive things about VRS, and while I'm happy, if I had to do it all again I would probably go VRS.
I have this mindset about most things in my life. It's terrible and I'm doing my best to avoid thinking like that. It sucks out ANY pleasure of life...
Love! I absolutely love my vrs and essentially it's a Simucube 1. I wouldn't feel bad about owning a Simucube 2 pro It's a very refined piece of kit with incredible software... Best in class
The main reason the VRS wheelbase gets its flowers is because of the non premium price paired with premium performance. If you have an SC2 pro, it is objectively the better wheel base in pretty much all departments so it would only be a step down if you were to go for that.
Fascinating that you found the FFB on this to be preferable to that of the asetek Invicta. I did not see that coming from other reviews. To each their own I guess. Hopefully simagic and simucube will send you a base or two to try soon!
It's interesting to hear you prefer this over the Asetek as that company seems to have a greater presence in the industry. Sometimes I wonder how my VRS stacks up against newer offerings. I have nothing but great things to say about the Direct Force Pro. I've had mine for about two years now and I love it. I use it in combination with the now discontinued Simagic GT4 USB version of their wheel and also a Momo drift wheel I nabbed from my autocross car. The Momo has a DSD Fobster attached and both wheels are constantly active. It's super easy to remove one wheel and grab the other. No fuss. Cabling is not an issue.
The urge to have the newest thing is often a fair and valid driver behind our decisions, so seeing products pop up regularly can leave you wanting more. I can tell you, you're all good if you're on a VRS base. It's going to take some other vital innovation (built-in haptics or something) to really change the game and make it worth your time upgrading.
Personally I'm very happy with my Moza gear, but good to see that the choice in Direct Drive gear is growing and growing since it keeps all manufacturers sharp.
That's the thing - this wheelbase has been around before Moza stepped one foot into sim racing! It's been so far under the radar for most people that it's basically underground
VRS has been around for years, with it's gear remaining low key because the company caters to people who primarily use iRacing. Moza IS the growth in the market. It's the latest brand to hit and remained mostly under the radar until they heavily marketed their gear through sim racing streamers and youtubers. It's become the cheaper Chinese alternative to Fanatec's ecosystem. I think it's great that people are enjoying it because like VRS before it, I thought it was a cheap gimmick... but I've loved my VRS setup over the years, and their support is great as well.
I would always prefer an europe brand over a chinese. Therefore for me it is Simucube but if I would be more on a budget side, then it definitely would be VRS. Even esport pros like Nils Naujoks are at the top of the top in their league using the VRS base. This means something!
I hope to see a Simagic Alpha U review in the future. A comparison of the VRS DFP vs Alpha U, both with their updated software, would really help me decide which one i want. Please simagic send this man an Alpha U 😂
I actually thought it was a good review, I have tried all of the wheel bases and agree with most of your assessment. It is very subjective though and you like what you like. I reach for my Simucube 2 pro more than my VRS or my Invicta but do agree that the VRS has the most raw feeling out of the 3. Always going to get criticized when you are a paid partner, to be expected, but the most comical thing for me was none of the comments that people make but when you said at 14:43 that you weren't expecting much on the wheelbase to begin with, how can you be a partner if you didn't expect much of their product to begin with? Edit that out LOL. Otherwise good review. love your stuff. Keep up the good work.
The control module itself is/was pretty expensive (they don't sell it separately anymore if I'm not mistaken) and(!) the encoder on the back of the motor is VRS specific. If you can find a module (which is unlikely) you will still have to buy the Motor and pay for the shipping from china, and this thing is HEAVY. So, even if you somehow can make it work, you won't save that much money and you won't have warranty.
Would love a comparison of this and the Asetek, been saving for a Forte and I'm not sure how much force feedback integrity I'd be sacrificing for the extra dollar, handy snazzy quick release and those shiny shiny lights.
I consider the VRS to be much better value for money (top of the table on that front), but Asetek's system is neater overall, and of course the wheelbase lights are sometimes handy (even if they're a bit garish). I'd choose the VRS, but that's because I don't really NEED the QR data integration and I'm happy to use cabled wheels
Ah amazing, thank you for the detailed response Danny, I appreciate it! I guess I'll see closer to the time, but your review has put the VRS firmly on my radar as a solid option so thank you! :)
I have this base and love it. But i have a question: What did you mean when you talked power level in iracing You said 4 for porcshe cup? Is that ffb in the black box menu in iracing? I have much the same settings in VRS software, but in my black box, the numbers are in the 30's and 40's. Im always trying to understand ffb settings
That's the Force level in the iRacing F9 black box, I use around 10.0 for Porsche Cup, and more like 6-7 for other cars. If your numbers are in the 30's or 40's then I honestly can't work out how you might have it set up! What's your force limit set to in the VRS base?
Hi Danny, you mention VRS is from The Netherlands in this video and I heard you say it live at some point too I think. Since the product looks great and I'm Dutch as well I was looking into VRS but I can't seem to find any reference to them being Dutch. Can you explain?
I hope you watched the whole video through before commenting - I accept that some will perceive me as biased the moment affiliate links are involved, all I can do is stand by my words and hope you listen to them in full - that's why I leave comments wide open and encourage current owners to leave their experiences, for if I'm totally off the mark then that will reveal it. I will always share my criticisms if they are fair (there are numerous in this very video), and likewise I will always give praise if something is good. Affiliate links do support me in a big way and I always disclose their presence, but I am careful to select products that I think are actually good, and I try to avoid products that are bad otherwise you end up with this: th-cam.com/video/jsr7GB87r3g/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ep4A4P4w5-ECj9Vz
@@dannyleeracing @dannyleeracing I did. And I feel like you skipped over this thing being Frankenstein monstrosity with the excuse that it's "industrial" and "rugged". But that's just my opinion. I am not saying you intentionally misrepresent the product, I do believe in your integrity but I think it's hard to remain completely impartial when you are getting a cut... And you were spot on for the Asetek colour kit, it's a disgrace.
@@swordfishfogel4988 Yeah, how is it a "Frankenstein monstrosity"? It's a matter of taste and some people actually prefer something that looks and feels like it's built to industrial standards. It's confidence inspiring, seeing cables which are literally used in military applications, and not a flimsy USB connection. Again, it's subjective. You're mad because he doesn't share your opinion? This thing looks grate in a front mounting bracket and if you fancy colorful LED lights to stroke your inner child, pay twice as much and go Asetek, you clown. That's my opinion.
thats the strange thing… the most important thing with the VRS is you might think that this company doesnt exist anymore haha. And i dont know many ppl using it but the one who own a vrs base seem just to use it for years withöut complaining or speaking about. its somehow amazing… that base is like a myth… 😅 And great review! Very good one!
I would certainly say they rely far more on word of mouth that direct advertising. I only approached them off the back of recommendations for the Pedals, the wheelbase was just going to be a 'While I'm on the topic' kinda thing, but little did I know I'd be smitten with it. The price is great - if it was £1,000 then it wouldn't be so clear cut.
Just ordered the bundle with the lite Formula Wheel and the hub adapter. Will the hub adapter be enough for the usb cable on the wheel to not interfere with the wheelbase? Or do i need an additional spacer?
@@im_an_eagle2209 You can mount any wheel that has a hard USB cable. You need a quick release system though. I run my VRS with the Buchfink Q1R system but there are cheaper alternatives out there. If you want to use the GT NEO, you need to buy Simagics Mag link kit for the wheel.
Do you still use the wheel base on Responsive 1 and performance, i feel like its grainy feeling and rough, verses some of the other filters, which to me feel smoother, do you feel what im talking about?
Yeah I do, but ultimately if your settings feel good to you, then that's what matters. It's possible the buttkicker vibrations are masking some of the grainy feeling of the unfiltered signal, I know what you're talking about though! When I turn my buttkicker off, I do feel that resonance when slew rate is set to performance
The pedals will be, certainly. The base would be compatible if you used the optional mounting bracket, but I don't have the Titan to hand to double check.
Have you already VRS Upgradable Torque Wheel Base heard about, do you think you will have to pay for the upgrade for the price difference?I mean, to switch to 15Nm from 9Nm you will have to pay 200 euros?
Hey mate its a MiGE 130ST-M10010 with 10nm holding and 20nm peak. So not quite up there with 15nm holding bases actually. Which makes me wonder if the cs dd or Alpha actually feels weaker than this, or stronger?
I'm not sure unfortunately - but all I do know is that I'm not even close to increasing it above that 70% torque limit yet. I'm not one to delve into tech specs too much, I just judge it by the drive!
@@dannyleeracingyeah i just edited my comment after doing some digging. Apparently a small mige is capable of causing serious injuries... Enough said 😂
@@GregoryShtevensh All the other wheelbases out there are advertised in peak torque and some manufacturers will use the term peak and holding torque interchangeably but provide the same value no matter if you search for one or the other. VRS are the only ones where the specs of the motor are actually really provided. I can tell you one thing. I've been lifting heavy weights since I'm a teenager. I'm 40 yo now and still work out on a regular schedule. I run the VRS on 70% in the software and go depending on the car, further down in game. This thing will brake my thumb if I'm not careful and it already hurt my once so badly that I had to pause for a week. I remember when I got it, I was actually shocked, and thought to myself, who TF will ever need more power than that.
@@SIMRIG412 Been using this „outdated“ motor since 2018 (not with VRS Controller but with the old simucube) and it feels so much better than any Moza or Fanatec equipment I‘ve tested so far.
@@mika-racing and @lucasvillafuerte613 Ignore that SIMRIG guy, he comments on many sim hardware reviews and they are always negative, he is absolutely clueless and has no idea what he is talking about
I bought this base, based strongly on this review. Coming from a 10+ year old T500RS to say I am underwhelmed is an understatement. Very disappointed. Probably settings related, but where is all the extra detail DD is supposed to provide? I get nothing when the rear end loses grip, so I’m not sure how people say they can feel what each tyre is doing. Tried in AC, ACC, iRacing, AMS2, looked at several config videos, nothing is transforming the experience.
@@doifeellucky Are you sure you've set it up correctly? There's absolutely no question that it should be night and day. Join the VRS discord (or my discord and I can direct you to VRS's too) and you'll get the help you need.
@@dannyleeracingYes it’s odd. I bought it from Apex in the UK and am on their and the VRS discord. Apart from the additional strength there is fundamentally no difference.
@@dannyleeracingMainly GT3. I’ve just started iRacing again after a long break, and before that it had mainly been AC, with some ACC and AMS2. I’ve heard many comments regarding it being a night and days difference and being able to feel it when the back end steps out but even if I floor it as an extreme I get nothing at all. iRacing is a brand new installation so it can’t be it’s retaining settings from my old wheel. I appreciate the comments though. Just frustrating.
@@doifeellucky I get the frustration, but you would be in a vanishingly small minority if you seriously didn't find it to be a massive upgrade in being able to feel weight transfer etc. There simply has to be something wrong. Which GT3 are you using? The Porsche for example feels kinda numb and floaty, whereas the Ferrari is very tough and direct
Fun fact! The VRS DFP's motor is just the Simucube 1 as I understand it. That's why there's no data connection to the shaft itself. If I remember correctly, the motor is from a conveyor belt? The ecosystem aspect of other brands is exactly why I went with Simucube. I didn't want to be locked into a particular maker's world or need some other product to make a wheel work with the base.
Simucube 1 is a software, not a motor, so you are right but not exactly. VRS went the safest way and picked a bombproof equipment, that yes, is used in conveyor belts, lifts and CNC machines. Also the VRS is an open ecosystem, you can even choose your own QR, so you def were misinformed.
@@lucasvillafuerte613 I know VRS is open ecosystem, I didn’t make it clear that I was responding to when he was talking about you’re locked into Asetek’s ecosystem.
@@TractionCircleSimRacing It's not only used in conveyor belt systems. It's used everywhere in the industry where a powerful, quality servo motor is needed. It's just a solid piece of equipment that is known to work reliably for hours on end over years in heavy industrial applications. So I don't really get your point there. You say you went with Simucube, because you didn't want to be locked into a particular makers world...? I'm sorry but that makes no sense to me. Btw. Simucube used the same MIge 130 motor platform as VRS.
I have a VRS and a Simucube 2 Pro, the VRS is the best buy out of the two in my opinion. I had the VRS for over three years before buying the Simucube, so I guess one could say I am long time reviewer.
My reviews are reviews, not ads. I know I'm expected to say that, but I will anyway. If I like something, I'll tell you, and if I don't, I'll also tell you. What specifically would you like to know that isn't touched upon in the video? As I can respond here
My settings are in the vid, but in summary: Force: 70% Inertia, Spring, Damper and Friction: All set to 0% Smoothing Filter: Responsive 1 Slew Rate: Performance iRacing Force level: 10 for cars like Porsche Cup with lighter steering, between 6 and 9ish for cars with stronger steering (GT3, Formula)
He's probably a bit younger And only understands hyped products... I'm not hating It's just the reality these days. They want new flashy but the reality is a lot of these newer style bases have a lot of issues. The vrs mige osw style shares the same DNA Simucube With higher slew rates and resolutions. Military grade connections. The things dang near bomb proof.
VRS looks like a good company but the wheel looks a bit more like a toy than a real steering wheel... hopefully they can improve it and add some LED lights in the next version... an extra control box for the wheel is also a bit of a drawback, more clutter... 😈
It’s the reasons the price was kept down at launch. When people complain for sake of it in a nutshell. Wheel was overpriced and now isn’t…they also have best value pedals Again the internet being the internet 🙄
I think the looks can be easily transformed and I may explore that in the actual wheel review. The wheel has a 3 year warranty which, to be fair, is really long!
Overpriced for outdated tech! Not only that all those thick wires for no reason and you need to buy a wheelbase mount. Also have to deal with an overpriced external psu that makes noise and takes up unneeded space! VRS is way behind 😂
Laugh out loud what an ass clown. It actually shares the same Tech as Simucube. It's fundamentally built better than moza Fanatec and Simagic. It's built to last
The Mige 130 patform is the same as Simucube uses. Do I understand you correctly, that you prefer a Usb cable over something that is literally used in military applications? Some people are brain damaged beyond repair. BTw. It makes no noise whatsoever. Why would you even claim something like that?
Every single 20+Nm wheelbase has a huge brick of a power supply. The Simucube 2 pro has a huge power supply. The Fanatec DD 2 has a massive power supply and they are all made of plastic and look as random as can be. Just look it up. So what are you talking about? The VRS has literally the best looking power supply on the market and it doesn't make any noise whatsoever. The thick cables are military grade and they are better and more durable than anything else in the sim racing industry. Besides, you need to buy a wheelbase mount for a number of wheelbases out there. You're delusional.
Some important points that maybe should have been included:
1. 'Conkers' is an old-timey schoolyard game that used to be played round these parts where you'd smash chestnuts on a piece of string together until one of them broke, the winner would be the one that was still intact. Just google it.
2. 3 Year warranty on the wheelbase AND on the VRS wheel, so whilst it might be somewhat basic, it has a longer warranty than most (and genuinely feels like you won't need it)
Never in my life did I think that anybody would need to explain what "Conkers" is - it's such an ingrained British childhood thing, at least from my generation, that it seems like everybody would know it. But you're right, not everybody is British, and elf and safety probably means it's banned in school playgrounds these days.
I've had this VRS wheelbase for the past 1.5 years. It has been a great experience so far. No fuss, and don't know where the "complicated" comments come from.
Also, I combine it with gear from different manufacturers. I don't feel locked into a branded eco system.
In general, it is highly recommended.
Yea I noticed this too! So I landed a VRS wheel base unit and I just purchased the Ascher McLaren Artura Pro to run with my 5" Ascher dashboard! Right now I'm still running my GT-DD Fanatec with a CS 2.5 with added Podium paddles. But I added VRS Pedals and they are superb!! While I was researching the world over for a wheel base, one person told me he has both Simucube 2 Pro and a VRS and he said in his opinion he could blind fold me and he didn't think I'd be able to tell the difference. And that Ascher wheel I got is a new release and I went with the USB wired right cause I have a VRS, but Ascher included a mini USB cable cause it can also connect inside to run with a SC2 or Asetek. I'm gonna upgrade my system so I don't have it put together yet, but it's coming along and this VRS is very impressive in the box. It's gonna be very nice! To me it wasn't just about the price difference. I can run with a SC2 if I want. Maybe I'll still land one. But I really like the VRS custom Meanwell 400Wt power supply! Heavy duty cables that will work well with my desk set up as my ASR4 Chassis sits under it a bit.
Great review, as always, Danny! I've had the VRS wheelbase for almost 4 years at this point, and it's been completely rock solid. That's also with near daily use. It was my first DD base, and I dont feel a reason to change!
Nice - thanks for adding your viewpoint
For someone looking to buy the vrs bundle (vrs hub is included). What more do i need to be able to use moza ks wheel?
Having a hard time figure out the hub, shaft and qr World. I just want something costeffective that lets be swap between moza ks wheel and moza rs v2 wheel for when i go rallycross 🙂
@johanandersson-v7s I don't use a moza wheel(I'm using a simagic gt neo), but I think you just need to buy their universal hub kit so you can use a usb cable to connect to your PC.
Bought my VRS Wheelbase 3 years ago, I just love this rock solid beast. It is absolutely high industrial quality and working like a charm with so much power!
I've had my VRS DFP & pedals for just over 2 years now. Reliability and performance been rock solid. I'm one of those mentioned who prefers the thick cables and segregated components. With decent cable management it compliments the alluminium profile frame to produce a no nonsense industrial aesthetic. It makes similarly priced wheel bases appear like toys. I love it.
There's certainly a segment of people that find the 'ruggedisation' of things super appealing in itself, even including the cosmetic 'cost' that such an approach comes with
Had the base and pedals for years now, very high quality industrial spec, will survive for years to come, reliable plus the software has everything you need.
I was an early adopter of the VRS DFP and have been using one without fuss for a few years now, with a couple of Fanatec rims I already had thanks to 3rd party modders. The software was weak when it first came out but it’s a lot better with more adjustments possible. I’d still argue it’s not as polished as those from some other brands but I’ve never had the urge to get anything else. And the ability to change a single component if it goes bad as you mentioned is an awesome ability should it ever happen. 10 out of 10 as far as I’m concerned for value and performance.
I had the VRS DFP for quiet some time now more than 2 years if I remember right, I replaced it with the SC2 Pro but kept it rolling on my other demonstration sim cockpit. This how much I vouch for the system, showing it to people actually I would easily say that any any OSW based project is great when it comes to ffb sensation compared to the modern DD's. Especially if you are a guy who wants all the raw effects sent to your hands without any filtering. My opinion and it has never shifted throughout the years, if you have deep pockets go for the SC2 pro for its wireless capability when it comes to rims or if you are a person with money that does not want to tinker with the settings and rely mostly on community generated profiles. The other big option and I have sold many to my consultancy customers the VRS DFP, because simply it can do all what the SC2 does minus few things that you maybe don't need for a lot less money. BTW both motors either the SC2 or VRS or even the SC1 rely heavily on the 130ST model of motors from Mige company the difference is in the software and sometimes filters.
Had my VRS base and pedals for a while and love it. Been solid coming from Fanatec eco system. I’ve got a pogo pin connection on my base to interface between the wheel and PC so I can swap wheels without swapping USB cables. Love the flexibility the base gives to use any hardware on it.
I’m curious to find out more about your setup for the pogo pin connection. Do you mind sharing more details?
Bought mine a couple years ago and thought I’d upgrade to an SC2 at some point. Zero desire to upgrade it at all. Feels awesome, has great power, settings are nice and easy to use and I prefer the open ecosystem for wheels 100%. You can just do so much more with it. I don’t see myself upgrading until some sort of generational leap occurs (similar to the active pedals) and drops in price. There is a good community of users too.
I chose VRS DD just a few months ago. I bought it because you never hear about problems with mige OSW style bases. They are rock solid. It's the same DNA as Simucube essentially. This wheel doesn't skip out on the important internal mechanisms that make Simucube and VRS my choice.
So those cannon plug style connectors and heavy duty DIN connectors are what we use in the defense industry. We use them for a reason. They are bomb proof, and I mean that almost quite literally. You won't find a stouter connector.
Good review, I completely agree with your points.
I’ve had my VRS wheelbase and pedals for about 9 months and tested the Asetek Forte and Simucube Sport and Pro before going to Apex and getting the VRS.
I like the fact they only make one base, all their efforts have gone into refining the one product and the filtering algorithms.
I haven’t got the wheel as I prefer to use a Momo rim and either H pattern or stick sequential, or a wheel button box occasionally. The price point does feel too high but for those of us who don’t like RGB lighting and screens all over a wheel it’s a solid option.
Just as a bit of extra info, the ‘Torque key’ RJ45 plug can be wired as a remote Torque off button and also remote power switch.
Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate customer viewpoints SO much
It's all generic "my pick was" words.
What about actual difference to Forte and SC PRO that may help others?
With all those "fullforce2.0" and fast-enough slew-rates of this world, people still care about best FF in first place.
SimuCube stated as king, Asetek on same level (same IP). Fanatec may leap ahead with extra telemetry in future.
So, where VRS stands and why?
@@nlmda101 as I said, I did test the Forte and the SC Sport and Pro bases. All were very good and I would probably have been happy with either of the Simucube bases. The VRS was tested at Apex Racing and they not only supply the hardware but also provide coaching and the whole experience was great, a well setup rig with good settings and an explanation from someone who lives and breathes the product rather than is just trying to shift boxes made a bigger impact on my buying decision than buying on the spec sheet alone, because to be perfectly honest they all felt excellent and a big step up from my CSL DD.
Despite feeling good in use the Asetek was my least favourite for some very superficial reasons, it’s not exactly easy on the eye, but that is just a personal preference, but the ribbed case seemed to have a slight offset where the two halves joined and a similar thing with the plastic moulded front and rear end caps. The QR with pass through is a good design but expensive as at the time they included extra shaft extensions in the kit with no option to just have the QR itself, the USB hub on the rear is a nice feature but it’s all USB-C and all of my accessories are standard USB-A style plugs and there didn’t seem like enough space for 5 A to C adapters. The RGB LED strips, I’m not a fan of them and at the time they couldn’t be set to do anything useful but at least they could be turned off. The final thing was the front mount holes are offset compared to any of the other MiGE or OSW style so you had to get their own front mount which wasn’t a problem as such but it seemed like trying to lock you into their system and I had enough of that from Fanatec. In use it was fast, detailed and strong but a little bit harsh which I now understand was just the way it was setup for the demo.
The SC Sport and Pro were great, I genuinely think if they were on identical settings at 12Nm you couldn’t tell the difference between the Sport and Pro, what stopped me dropping the cash there and then on the Sport was that I know I would have regretted or rather questioned myself later if I had made the right choice so I decided to save for a few more months and get the Pro and a wireless wheel. The Ultimate was never on my radar as I just can’t justify that level of spend at the moment. A lot was made of the software, which is good, but the profile sharing wasn’t particularly interesting to me, they loaded in 2 different setups for a Porsche Cup with very different setup and they did indeed feel very different, they were trying to sell that as a great way to quickly try setting and find something you like but to me I was just astounded that 2 people could have such different ideas of what the same car should feel like. By comparison the VRS software has none of that but as the guy explained to me the way the software works and how little I would need to adjust settings, they were absolutely right and I only change the smoothing type between sim titles with almost no other filters in use, the only time I’m really changing settings is for older titles like AMS1 where it doesn’t automatically match the rotation angle. I’m using the filters in device mode rather than game mode so it feels consistent across titles or at least that the best way I can describe it.
I know you would like me to quantify the differences between them in an understandable way but as they were tested separately, on different rigs, different sims and with no possible way to standardise the settings between them you just can’t compare them that way, or at least that’s better left to the TH-cam channels that can do side by side tests. What I can say is that since getting the VRS I’m enjoying sim racing more than ever, I feel way more connected to everything I drive and it’s the first time in a decade or more that I’m not constantly thinking about upgrades.
I would encourage anyone looking to upgrade to find a sim centre or hardware supplier that will do a demo or try before you buy session even if it costs you to do so.
@@lugs118 that reply alone gave more info than many of "dedicated" youtube channels. Much appreciated.
A subjective "no big difference in FF" is enough. Most of reviewers on youtube sort wheel bases in this order: Moza < Simagic < Fanatec < Asetek=SimuCube. Assuming most of them OK in many titles, and only pro-enthusiastic comparison reveal less cogsiness, rich details and flexibility in terms of configuration.
There is very little info on VRS. I assume it is close to top two brands and might fight for #1 in terms of reliability.
I wish there was a table of all technical measurments. But "no bad reviews" is enough for those who want to save money and got no ambition to spend huge amount of money on a fancy wheel from Asetek or Fanatec.
I am sending email to VRS guys with couple of questions. If all goes well - I am in.
@ spec wise Asetek, Simucube and VRS all use a ‘modified’ MiGE servo motor and a 22 bit BiSS C encoder.
The VRS is the least modified in terms of the internals and case design and is in many ways a more refined version of the original OSW and Simucube 1 wheelbases. The development has been largely on the smoothing algorithms, the hardware is well understood but extracting the best from it for sim racing applications is mainly down to controller firmware and algorithms. In addition to the usual filters like Damper, Friction, Inertia etc., they have a smoothing selection that is a bit of a black box in that none of the settings within are exposed or adjustable. They have names like Legacy, Responsive, Soft, Optimal etc., and levels 1, 2, 3 for most, as a general rule they are tuned for the ffb frequency. iRacing has a fairly coarse 60Hz rate and the Optimal and Responsive work well as they have what feels like a lot of interpolation or reconstruction depending on what term you prefer. A sim like ACC with a 400Hz ffb rate would work better with Soft 3 or Soft 2 as this feels like it has very little interpolation but a good amount of high pass filter to remove some of the high frequency noise from the signal.
As for slew rate, you can choose from 3 settings, Quiet, Balanced and Performance. Personally I really like the Quiet mode as I drive a lot of road cars and classic sport cars, it is still full of detail and the response does not feel slow in any way but it does have some ‘give’ to it and feels like the wheel is truly connected to rubber tyres, it’s the best way I can describe it. On balanced it loses a little of this rubbery feel but the signal definitely sharpens up and is my choice when doing league races with the RSS GT-M cars as it gives me that extra responsive feel without feeling fake. The Performance mode is just a bit harsh for me but I can see why people would choose it as you are never in doubt about what’s going on but I find it physically exhausting over a full session and feels a little unnatural to me. This is just based on my own testing so I could have it all backwards. What do know is that whatever is tucked away inside these settings works so well I no longer want to adjust them.
Asetek did a deal with Granite Devices who are the parent of Simucube and own the IP. That probably explains much of why they feel so similar in terms of the smoothing and filtering of the ffb signal. I really didn’t get enough time with either of them to state this as fact. The Asetek is the most modified of the MiGE motors with the shaft fully bored to allow the cables from the QR to pass through the shaft to the slip ring connection to the main board. It’s rated for millions of rotations but it does have a life span and will fail at some point and just think of the amount of movement you have around the centre 30° on any sim wheel every time you use it. They did have plans for the wheelbase to be user reparable and upgradable from the LaPrima to the Forte but we are a few years on and still no word on the upgrade kits.
As to the league table of brands I would put Fanatec, Moza and Simagic together but won’t rank them. Then I would put Asetek, Simucube and VRS together, in terms of ffb quality I think it’s so close that you don’t need to worry about it. In terms of value you would have to say VRS wins followed by Asetek then Simucube.
I have been using mine for 8 months now, basically every day and I hadn't had any real problems with it whatsoever. The two things I've noticed is that the wheelbase will receive some kind of signal when the PC is turned off, but the control module is still on. When it's very quiet in the room you will hear a silent tick coming from the motor, like from a clock on the wall or something. Nothing to worry about though and it reminds me to turn the module off when the PC is not running, which is actually a good thing. Another thing is that my PC will not boot if the control module is turned on before I start the PC. Turning the module on after starting the PC solves that issue. I must add though that I haven't heard anybody else having had this "bug". Other than that, the base works flawlessly and preforms grate. One more thing, because I heard it being mentioned from people who don't own the base and obviously just like to bash on it because of it's looks (which is completely subjective) There is no sound whatsoever coming from the control module or the motor when the base is running.
the comment that your pc won't turn on puts me off. nice try VRS !
@@JR-cm9sh Like I said, I don't know from anybody else who has the issue and I know two other guys who have the base. Besides, it turns on fine, I just have to turn on the wheelbase after I started the PC, so I'm not quite sure where you're going with your comment.
I have had the VRS for over three years, and also have a Simucube 2 Pro. Both are good bases, but the VRS is the best buy out of the two in my opinion.
We have 10 of these VRS bases at my sim center, work flawless and simply feel fantastic! The motors feel like they will work for years to come.
Good to know, thanks for contributing
I'm one of those who loves ruggedized industrial look and finds it even stylish
I have a VRS wheel base and rim, i upgraded from a simagic alpha after it failed, it really is rock solid, and one thing people don't seem to talk about is the Slew rate, which is where it shines over the Alpha. It's also easy to hide the control box, i have mine mounted to my 4080 rig behind the monitor.
4080 and 4090 owners are a bit like vegans,...They will tell you.
I only race in VR.... This looks up my alley and I have been considering an upgrade. I really like the simplicity of that wheel and the bomb proofness of the base. I've heard nothing but good things about the pedal too.
Looking forward to your views on the pedals too
I’ve had mine for over a year now and it is rock solid, military grade connectors, heavy shielded cables, and user friendly software. Their Discord is also very helpful. Only two things that I think could be better. The data cable connectors are frequently mid-orientated by some users. And the control box power switch is not quite up to the standard of the rest of the gear. Most users opt for an external heavy grade in line power switch so that the control box switch is never cycled. And if you pay really close attention to plugging the cables, you won’t make a mistake. The wheel is expensive and sort of basic, but it is just one pwb and has no wires, everything board mounted and should last a long time.
Ive tried pretty much every wheelbase now and the top 3 go to asetek, simucube and vrs. My favorite is asetek and its responsiveness as we all know we gel with certain wheelbases more then others. I hope peoppe realize this. Not all brains or signals are the same. We don't all pick up on things the same way. Sometimes some things click with what we feel more then others. Vrs seems to be the base that does that with you. The top3 dogs are all so so good you can't go wrong with any. But I am surprised by what vrs was able to do on there last update. It was a pretty big change in ffb. Very nice wheelbase with amazing feeling of what the car is doing. I still believe asetek is still a bit more responsive in the way its telling you the suspension and tires but vrs has a mix of like simucube and asetek. Very good wheelbase for sure.
There is a reason why pepople like grayze likes vrs mlre then anyone else you do also. But people like me will dave and others like asetek more then vrs when comparing side by side. But thats the point you get ans use what you like. We all have feelings we search for. Some like certain things over others. We all like what we like.
This was a really interesting review - not because I'm looking for a VRS Pro but I just swapped out my Asetek Invicta with a VNM Xtreme base, and some of your comments sound very similar to my experience! The VNM seems more communicative, smoother, more natural and just straight up nicer to drive with than the Asetek. I don't truly believe there is more information being transferred, but I do feel more confident with the VNM.
During the first weekend I was already beating lap records, and I'm mostly running around 101% in ACC which is my sim of choice so I'm past the "newbie gains" phase.
I do believe I just this second finished reading your Reddit post 🍻
@@dannyleeracing That was me yes 😊 So little info on the VNM out there so I thought I would contribute my experience.
Maaaaan the opportunity to be able to try these high end products has to be a dream!! I would love to have the ability to have this bundle
Two years ago I ended up going Simucube, but everything I've ever heard about the VRS wheelbase gave this little itch in my head that's says "what if", "should I have done", if you know what I mean.
Great review.
If you have the SC2, you are not missing out at all.
@@thesign6879 You're very likely right, but I've only ever heard positive things about VRS, and while I'm happy, if I had to do it all again I would probably go VRS.
I have this mindset about most things in my life. It's terrible and I'm doing my best to avoid thinking like that. It sucks out ANY pleasure of life...
Love! I absolutely love my vrs and essentially it's a Simucube 1. I wouldn't feel bad about owning a Simucube 2 pro It's a very refined piece of kit with incredible software... Best in class
The main reason the VRS wheelbase gets its flowers is because of the non premium price paired with premium performance. If you have an SC2 pro, it is objectively the better wheel base in pretty much all departments so it would only be a step down if you were to go for that.
0:25 Cable management has left the chat 🤣🤣🤣
Seriously, I bought a VRS Direct Force Pro 4 months ago, and I’m very satisfied 🔥
DON'T LOOK AT IT 🍝🍝🍝🍝🍝
😂 I’m kidding bro. Thanks for your videos 🙏
@@VDK.Racing There's truth in every joke and you've got me bang to rights. That corner is just a pit of sadness
@@dannyleeracing 🫣🫣😂
Happy with my Asetek Invicta, now that the base RGB shows ABS, I'm sold
Fascinating that you found the FFB on this to be preferable to that of the asetek Invicta. I did not see that coming from other reviews. To each their own I guess. Hopefully simagic and simucube will send you a base or two to try soon!
It's all in the brains of the hardware, I'm sure - the smoothing settings in the config make a difference
@@dannyleeracing for sure! There are so many fine intricacies to FFB that can make a difference.
It's interesting to hear you prefer this over the Asetek as that company seems to have a greater presence in the industry. Sometimes I wonder how my VRS stacks up against newer offerings. I have nothing but great things to say about the Direct Force Pro. I've had mine for about two years now and I love it. I use it in combination with the now discontinued Simagic GT4 USB version of their wheel and also a Momo drift wheel I nabbed from my autocross car. The Momo has a DSD Fobster attached and both wheels are constantly active. It's super easy to remove one wheel and grab the other. No fuss. Cabling is not an issue.
The urge to have the newest thing is often a fair and valid driver behind our decisions, so seeing products pop up regularly can leave you wanting more. I can tell you, you're all good if you're on a VRS base. It's going to take some other vital innovation (built-in haptics or something) to really change the game and make it worth your time upgrading.
Personally I'm very happy with my Moza gear, but good to see that the choice in Direct Drive gear is growing and growing since it keeps all manufacturers sharp.
That's the thing - this wheelbase has been around before Moza stepped one foot into sim racing! It's been so far under the radar for most people that it's basically underground
VRS has been around for years, with it's gear remaining low key because the company caters to people who primarily use iRacing. Moza IS the growth in the market. It's the latest brand to hit and remained mostly under the radar until they heavily marketed their gear through sim racing streamers and youtubers. It's become the cheaper Chinese alternative to Fanatec's ecosystem. I think it's great that people are enjoying it because like VRS before it, I thought it was a cheap gimmick... but I've loved my VRS setup over the years, and their support is great as well.
Brother this base has been around for much longer than even Moza as a company has existed lmao
I would always prefer an europe brand over a chinese. Therefore for me it is Simucube but if I would be more on a budget side, then it definitely would be VRS. Even esport pros like Nils Naujoks are at the top of the top in their league using the VRS base. This means something!
@@fns58 Maybe Moza Racing but Moza themselves (camera accessory company) has existed since 2012 where as VRS was founded in 2016
I hope to see a Simagic Alpha U review in the future. A comparison of the VRS DFP vs Alpha U, both with their updated software, would really help me decide which one i want.
Please simagic send this man an Alpha U 😂
I actually thought it was a good review, I have tried all of the wheel bases and agree with most of your assessment. It is very subjective though and you like what you like. I reach for my Simucube 2 pro more than my VRS or my Invicta but do agree that the VRS has the most raw feeling out of the 3. Always going to get criticized when you are a paid partner, to be expected, but the most comical thing for me was none of the comments that people make but when you said at 14:43 that you weren't expecting much on the wheelbase to begin with, how can you be a partner if you didn't expect much of their product to begin with? Edit that out LOL. Otherwise good review. love your stuff. Keep up the good work.
I wonder if we could just buy the VRS controller box then source our own servo motor.
The control module itself is/was pretty expensive (they don't sell it separately anymore if I'm not mistaken) and(!) the encoder on the back of the motor is VRS specific. If you can find a module (which is unlikely) you will still have to buy the Motor and pay for the shipping from china, and this thing is HEAVY. So, even if you somehow can make it work, you won't save that much money and you won't have warranty.
Would love a comparison of this and the Asetek, been saving for a Forte and I'm not sure how much force feedback integrity I'd be sacrificing for the extra dollar, handy snazzy quick release and those shiny shiny lights.
I consider the VRS to be much better value for money (top of the table on that front), but Asetek's system is neater overall, and of course the wheelbase lights are sometimes handy (even if they're a bit garish). I'd choose the VRS, but that's because I don't really NEED the QR data integration and I'm happy to use cabled wheels
Ah amazing, thank you for the detailed response Danny, I appreciate it! I guess I'll see closer to the time, but your review has put the VRS firmly on my radar as a solid option so thank you! :)
I’m also looking at these and the Alpha, so thanks for the feedback.
I have this base and love it. But i have a question: What did you mean when you talked power level in iracing
You said 4 for porcshe cup? Is that ffb in the black box menu in iracing? I have much the same settings in VRS software, but in my black box, the numbers are in the 30's and 40's. Im always trying to understand ffb settings
That's the Force level in the iRacing F9 black box, I use around 10.0 for Porsche Cup, and more like 6-7 for other cars. If your numbers are in the 30's or 40's then I honestly can't work out how you might have it set up! What's your force limit set to in the VRS base?
@@dannyleeracing 20 nm
I kind of like their qr as it doesn't add a lot of weight to the steering wheel
Hi Danny, you mention VRS is from The Netherlands in this video and I heard you say it live at some point too I think. Since the product looks great and I'm Dutch as well I was looking into VRS but I can't seem to find any reference to them being Dutch. Can you explain?
Hey! The wheel is made in the Netherlands 'labelled made in the netherlands', VRS itself is an american company!
@@dannyleeracing Ah interesting, now I'm wondering what else is made in that factory
"it's my favourite so far, also they pay me"
There's no way you can not have a bias when that's the case
Ya definitely not the best
I hope you watched the whole video through before commenting - I accept that some will perceive me as biased the moment affiliate links are involved, all I can do is stand by my words and hope you listen to them in full - that's why I leave comments wide open and encourage current owners to leave their experiences, for if I'm totally off the mark then that will reveal it. I will always share my criticisms if they are fair (there are numerous in this very video), and likewise I will always give praise if something is good. Affiliate links do support me in a big way and I always disclose their presence, but I am careful to select products that I think are actually good, and I try to avoid products that are bad otherwise you end up with this: th-cam.com/video/jsr7GB87r3g/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ep4A4P4w5-ECj9Vz
@@dannyleeracing @dannyleeracing I did. And I feel like you skipped over this thing being Frankenstein monstrosity with the excuse that it's "industrial" and "rugged". But that's just my opinion.
I am not saying you intentionally misrepresent the product, I do believe in your integrity but I think it's hard to remain completely impartial when you are getting a cut...
And you were spot on for the Asetek colour kit, it's a disgrace.
@@swordfishfogel4988 Yeah, how is it a "Frankenstein monstrosity"? It's a matter of taste and some people actually prefer something that looks and feels like it's built to industrial standards. It's confidence inspiring, seeing cables which are literally used in military applications, and not a flimsy USB connection. Again, it's subjective. You're mad because he doesn't share your opinion? This thing looks grate in a front mounting bracket and if you fancy colorful LED lights to stroke your inner child, pay twice as much and go Asetek, you clown. That's my opinion.
@@mementomori4972 imagine being butthurt about my opinion of a product...
Corby mentioned 🥳
Corbeh
thats the strange thing… the most important thing with the VRS is you might think that this company doesnt exist anymore haha. And i dont know many ppl using it but the one who own a vrs base seem just to use it for years withöut complaining or speaking about. its somehow amazing… that base is like a myth… 😅
And great review! Very good one!
I would certainly say they rely far more on word of mouth that direct advertising. I only approached them off the back of recommendations for the Pedals, the wheelbase was just going to be a 'While I'm on the topic' kinda thing, but little did I know I'd be smitten with it. The price is great - if it was £1,000 then it wouldn't be so clear cut.
Petition to make Danny fix his cable management 😂😂😂 12:37
NO 🍝🍝🍝🍝🍝
I kind of like the raw and industrial appearance of it. it looks like it belongs in a real tintop cockpit
Just ordered the bundle with the lite Formula Wheel and the hub adapter.
Will the hub adapter be enough for the usb cable on the wheel to not interfere with the wheelbase? Or do i need an additional spacer?
Were the screws to front mount it included? I've ordered one!
What are your thoughts on the upgradeable DFP bases?
Can the control box be mounted to 4080 rigs? Great review!
I'm sure there's a way - there will be standard off-the-shelf fixtures that'll do the job, I'll bet!
Would it be possible to do a video on mounting third party rims to this base? Looking at the website the info is very limited
Sure, do you have an example of a wheel in mind? I can probably explain
@@dannyleeracing probably something like the GT Neo, as a budget option, not sure of a higher end one
@@im_an_eagle2209 You can mount any wheel that has a hard USB cable. You need a quick release system though. I run my VRS with the Buchfink Q1R system but there are cheaper alternatives out there. If you want to use the GT NEO, you need to buy Simagics Mag link kit for the wheel.
Hello! What do you think about the fanatec dd1 compare to asetek, and vrs, moza gear?
Do you still use the wheel base on Responsive 1 and performance, i feel like its grainy feeling and rough, verses some of the other filters, which to me feel smoother, do you feel what im talking about?
Yeah I do, but ultimately if your settings feel good to you, then that's what matters. It's possible the buttkicker vibrations are masking some of the grainy feeling of the unfiltered signal, I know what you're talking about though! When I turn my buttkicker off, I do feel that resonance when slew rate is set to performance
Hello Danny, do you think this base and VRS pedals would be compatible with GT Omega Titan rig?
The pedals will be, certainly. The base would be compatible if you used the optional mounting bracket, but I don't have the Titan to hand to double check.
Have you already VRS Upgradable Torque Wheel Base heard about, do you think you will have to pay for the upgrade for the price difference?I mean, to switch to 15Nm from 9Nm you will have to pay 200 euros?
does not recognize VRS in f1 2024, do you know how to do it?
Hey mate its a MiGE 130ST-M10010 with 10nm holding and 20nm peak. So not quite up there with 15nm holding bases actually.
Which makes me wonder if the cs dd or Alpha actually feels weaker than this, or stronger?
I'm not sure unfortunately - but all I do know is that I'm not even close to increasing it above that 70% torque limit yet. I'm not one to delve into tech specs too much, I just judge it by the drive!
@@dannyleeracingyeah i just edited my comment after doing some digging. Apparently a small mige is capable of causing serious injuries... Enough said 😂
@@GregoryShtevensh All the other wheelbases out there are advertised in peak torque and some manufacturers will use the term peak and holding torque interchangeably but provide the same value no matter if you search for one or the other. VRS are the only ones where the specs of the motor are actually really provided. I can tell you one thing. I've been lifting heavy weights since I'm a teenager. I'm 40 yo now and still work out on a regular schedule. I run the VRS on 70% in the software and go depending on the car, further down in game. This thing will brake my thumb if I'm not careful and it already hurt my once so badly that I had to pause for a week. I remember when I got it, I was actually shocked, and thought to myself, who TF will ever need more power than that.
Is it made with a Mige motor?
Yep, it's a Mige motor
@@dannyleeracingold outdated tech 😂 definitely not worth there price
@@SIMRIG412 I find your lack of faith in the OG equipment disturbing
Also, this motor is timeless, def worth it
@@SIMRIG412 Been using this „outdated“ motor since 2018 (not with VRS Controller but with the old simucube) and it feels so much better than any Moza or Fanatec equipment I‘ve tested so far.
@@mika-racing and @lucasvillafuerte613 Ignore that SIMRIG guy, he comments on many sim hardware reviews and they are always negative, he is absolutely clueless and has no idea what he is talking about
Always use Bluetooth for my Cube controls wheel. Works every time, all the time.
I bought this base, based strongly on this review. Coming from a 10+ year old T500RS to say I am underwhelmed is an understatement. Very disappointed. Probably settings related, but where is all the extra detail DD is supposed to provide? I get nothing when the rear end loses grip, so I’m not sure how people say they can feel what each tyre is doing. Tried in AC, ACC, iRacing, AMS2, looked at several config videos, nothing is transforming the experience.
@@doifeellucky Are you sure you've set it up correctly? There's absolutely no question that it should be night and day. Join the VRS discord (or my discord and I can direct you to VRS's too) and you'll get the help you need.
@@dannyleeracingYes it’s odd. I bought it from Apex in the UK and am on their and the VRS discord. Apart from the additional strength there is fundamentally no difference.
@doifeellucky what do you mainly drive in terms of car/sim?
@@dannyleeracingMainly GT3. I’ve just started iRacing again after a long break, and before that it had mainly been AC, with some ACC and AMS2. I’ve heard many comments regarding it being a night and days difference and being able to feel it when the back end steps out but even if I floor it as an extreme I get nothing at all. iRacing is a brand new installation so it can’t be it’s retaining settings from my old wheel. I appreciate the comments though. Just frustrating.
@@doifeellucky I get the frustration, but you would be in a vanishingly small minority if you seriously didn't find it to be a massive upgrade in being able to feel weight transfer etc. There simply has to be something wrong.
Which GT3 are you using? The Porsche for example feels kinda numb and floaty, whereas the Ferrari is very tough and direct
My god that cable mess at 3:28! Mate, I think there's some floor showing beneath all the wiring, better get on on that.
There's definitely a reason I'd never go into the rig-building business
Fun fact! The VRS DFP's motor is just the Simucube 1 as I understand it. That's why there's no data connection to the shaft itself. If I remember correctly, the motor is from a conveyor belt?
The ecosystem aspect of other brands is exactly why I went with Simucube. I didn't want to be locked into a particular maker's world or need some other product to make a wheel work with the base.
Simucube 1 is a software, not a motor, so you are right but not exactly. VRS went the safest way and picked a bombproof equipment, that yes, is used in conveyor belts, lifts and CNC machines. Also the VRS is an open ecosystem, you can even choose your own QR, so you def were misinformed.
@@lucasvillafuerte613 I know VRS is open ecosystem, I didn’t make it clear that I was responding to when he was talking about you’re locked into Asetek’s ecosystem.
@@TractionCircleSimRacing It's not only used in conveyor belt systems. It's used everywhere in the industry where a powerful, quality servo motor is needed. It's just a solid piece of equipment that is known to work reliably for hours on end over years in heavy industrial applications. So I don't really get your point there. You say you went with Simucube, because you didn't want to be locked into a particular makers world...? I'm sorry but that makes no sense to me. Btw. Simucube used the same MIge 130 motor platform as VRS.
@@mementomori4972 Some people buy, idk, Fanatec for the ecosystem. I did not want to be forced to use a particular ecosystem. That's what I meant.
I have a VRS and a Simucube 2 Pro, the VRS is the best buy out of the two in my opinion. I had the VRS for over three years before buying the Simucube, so I guess one could say I am long time reviewer.
My VRS is a steal...
Nice ad-review. But at what timecode the actual feedback on software and FFB are located?
My reviews are reviews, not ads. I know I'm expected to say that, but I will anyway. If I like something, I'll tell you, and if I don't, I'll also tell you.
What specifically would you like to know that isn't touched upon in the video? As I can respond here
Would be great if you’d give out your settings? I’m look at this base and would love a base line to work off
Great video
My settings are in the vid, but in summary:
Force: 70%
Inertia, Spring, Damper and Friction: All set to 0%
Smoothing Filter: Responsive 1
Slew Rate: Performance
iRacing Force level: 10 for cars like Porsche Cup with lighter steering, between 6 and 9ish for cars with stronger steering (GT3, Formula)
The VRS base is super over complicated, nowadays Simagic, Simucube and Asetek offers better bases with less complications than VRS.
Complicated? Super easy
The whole software is 6 slides and a list. How TF is that complicated?
He's probably a bit younger And only understands hyped products... I'm not hating It's just the reality these days. They want new flashy but the reality is a lot of these newer style bases have a lot of issues. The vrs mige osw style shares the same DNA Simucube With higher slew rates and resolutions. Military grade connections. The things dang near bomb proof.
...barely an inconvenience
VRS looks like a good company but the wheel looks a bit more like a toy than a real steering wheel... hopefully they can improve it and add some LED lights in the next version... an extra control box for the wheel is also a bit of a drawback, more clutter... 😈
It’s the reasons the price was kept down at launch. When people complain for sake of it in a nutshell.
Wheel was overpriced and now isn’t…they also have best value pedals
Again the internet being the internet 🙄
I think the looks can be easily transformed and I may explore that in the actual wheel review. The wheel has a 3 year warranty which, to be fair, is really long!
Overpriced for outdated tech! Not only that all those thick wires for no reason and you need to buy a wheelbase mount. Also have to deal with an overpriced external psu that makes noise and takes up unneeded space! VRS is way behind 😂
20nm DD for $750 USD is overpriced?? Lmao, wow.
outdated? You are mad man! Also the PSU is noiseless for 99% of the time
Laugh out loud what an ass clown. It actually shares the same Tech as Simucube. It's fundamentally built better than moza Fanatec and Simagic.
It's built to last
The Mige 130 patform is the same as Simucube uses. Do I understand you correctly, that you prefer a Usb cable over something that is literally used in military applications? Some people are brain damaged beyond repair. BTw. It makes no noise whatsoever. Why would you even claim something like that?
Every single 20+Nm wheelbase has a huge brick of a power supply. The Simucube 2 pro has a huge power supply. The Fanatec DD 2 has a massive power supply and they are all made of plastic and look as random as can be. Just look it up. So what are you talking about? The VRS has literally the best looking power supply on the market and it doesn't make any noise whatsoever. The thick cables are military grade and they are better and more durable than anything else in the sim racing industry. Besides, you need to buy a wheelbase mount for a number of wheelbases out there. You're delusional.