Simucube 3 Sport and Pro Review: The Best Force Feedback We Have Ever Felt

Introduction

After six months of testing, the Simucube 3 Sport and Pro wheelbases deliver the best quality force feedback we have ever felt. That said, they are certainly not products we would recommend for absolutely everybody. There is quite a bit of nuance to unpack here.

These wheelbases come from Simucube, a company known for setting the benchmark in build quality and driving experience refinement. The launch of the Simucube 3 ecosystem did not go well initially, with issues around oscillations, electromagnetic interference, and settings changing by themselves. However, Simucube quickly engaged with the community, gathered feedback, and resolved most of those problems. As it stands now, the experience is nothing like it was six months ago.

Pricing and Ecosystem

The Simucube 3 ecosystem takes a different direction from anything else on the market. Devices do not connect directly to your PC via USB. Instead, they connect through a link hub via Ethernet, which then connects to your PC via USB. This approach is designed to provide more control and reliability, though it does mean a more closed system.

At the time of filming, the Simucube 3 Sport, the 15 Nm variant, is priced at €1,456 with the link hub, or €1,339.95 if you already have one. The Pro model, the 25 Nm variant, comes in at €1,623.60 with the link hub, dropping to €1,523.60 without it. These are very expensive products, and the cost does not stop at the wheelbases.

The quick release system is particularly pricey at €153.10, which can be up to three times more expensive than other ecosystems. If you have multiple wheels, that cost adds up very quickly. The quick release uses a 70 mm bolt pattern and features what Simucube calls P3G polygon technology. This self-centering design distributes torque evenly across the entire surface, providing a solid connection with no flex or movement. It can be stiff for the first couple of months, but it loosens up over time or with a little PTFE lubricant.

Hardware Design and Build Quality

The Sport and Pro are pretty much identical in design other than the physical size of the motor. Both use SPM motors, or surface permanent magnet motors, which are brushless AC motors with high torque delivery at relatively low RPM. They also share 23-bit encoders, providing around 8 million points of resolution throughout a 360 degree rotation.

The construction is completely metal throughout, similar to the Simucube 2. The footprint is quite similar, though the new bases are a little bit shorter. They also add bottom mounting with the standard Fanatec pattern, making them compatible with any cockpit that is Fanatec compatible.

One of the most interesting aspects is the digital twin approach. Simucube laser scans every individual motor and creates a digital representation that runs in the firmware. Instead of relying on the feedback loop from the motor itself, most signal processing happens on the digital representation, and the final result is commanded through to the motor. This results in sharper, more detailed, more consistent and efficient feedback with whisper quiet performance. These are definitely among the quietest wheelbases we have ever tested.

The new control module is a nice addition. It includes a master power button, an RGB illuminated status button, an aluminium emergency stop button, and a rotary encoder that also acts as a push button. This allows you to bring up an on-screen menu and adjust various settings on the fly without having to alt-tab out of your game.

Software and Tuning

The Simucube Tuner software is a big part of the ecosystem. It presents all connected devices on the left-hand side, and you can click on each one to adjust its settings. The software includes a range of presets from professional drivers and engineers, as well as the ability to create and save your own profiles. Automatic profile switching can be configured based on the simulator and car you are driving.

The software offers both basic and advanced settings for force feedback shaping. The basic settings provide a sliding scale from lazy to extreme, which adjusts the overall aggressiveness without changing the dynamic range. For those who want more control, there are granular adjustments for frequency balance, wheel angle based detail attenuation, friction, damping, inertia, and bump stop.

Telemetry based force feedback is a standout feature. Simucube intercepts the generic telemetry stream coming out of sim racing titles, rather than relying on proprietary APIs that game developers may or may not implement. This means it is compatible with any title that outputs shared memory or UDP based telemetry data. You can choose which effects you want to feel, such as road texture, cornering forces, ABS, RPM, and gear change, and adjust the individual gain levels for each.

The overlay feature is also useful. It allows you to make adjustments on the fly using the control module, and it includes force feedback and pedal graphs that show clipping in real time. This is particularly helpful when fine-tuning telemetry based force feedback, as the in-game clipping gauge does not account for it.

Driving Experience

The driving experience is where these wheelbases truly stand out. They provide the best overall driving experience we have ever experienced from any wheelbase. The force feedback feels more immediate, responsive, and refined than anything else, yet it retains the analog feel of a real car without becoming grainy.

The key difference is that we never found a scenario where we had to sacrifice detail for smoothness or the other way around. With many other wheelbases, bringing out that really granular feel often comes at the cost of a robotic feel when hitting curbs. These bases maintain both detail and smoothness simultaneously, while also staying consistent across different types of cars and sim racing titles.

Transitions in force feedback feel smoother than anything else we have used. Sudden rapid changes in direction feel like you are mechanically connected to a steering rack inside a real car. It has that instant robotic responsiveness, but with an analog feel sitting over the top. It is almost like it is higher resolution.

Sport vs Pro

The Sport and Pro are identical in design, with the only difference being the strength level. The Pro performed as well as the Sport from 5 Nm all the way up to their maximums of 15 and 25 Nm. For most people, 15 Nm is going to be enough. During testing, the Sport was run at 100% force feedback in the driver software and wound down to between 60 and 70% in-game to avoid clipping. There were a couple of instances of very minor clipping at preferred settings, such as when hitting a wall or another car.

Given that the prices are closer together, particularly when factoring in the discount, the Pro is probably the better buy for those who want extra headroom. The Sport is still perfectly fine for the majority of people, but for those who drive at high strength levels, the Pro offers more dynamic range without any performance penalty at lower force feedback levels.

Overall Buying Advice

These wheelbases are not for everybody. They are expensive, and the closed ecosystem means limited third-party wheel compatibility. If you value USB pass-through and an open ecosystem over a little bit of extra detail, these are not the right choice. However, for those who are time poor, not particularly tech-savvy, and just want the best experience with minimal hassle, these are the perfect products.

They are also ideal for trade shows and sim racing centers where high turnover and ease of use are priorities. Everything just works and everything feels good. Simucube is doing the real innovation in the market, and while these products are not for everyone, they raise the bar for the entire industry.

Conclusion

The Simucube 3 Sport and Pro provide the best force feedback we have ever felt. They are refined, smooth, and detailed, with a driving experience that stands a step above everything else. The launch was rocky, but Simucube handled the issues well and the products have matured into something exceptional.

That said, the premium price and closed ecosystem mean they are not for everybody. If you want the best and are willing to pay for it, these are the wheelbases to get. If you value openness and third-party compatibility, there are other options that may suit you better. Either way, these are remarkable products that push the boundaries of what is possible in sim racing.