Thrustmaster T598 Direct Axial Drive Discussion Thread

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for a review, it'd be nice to have a section to compare it to the other big hitters (G920/driving force pro/fanatec) to help people understand whether an upgrade is worthwhile or not.
 
Jordan
Anything else you guys would like to see covered in a review? Assuming we were to review it, of course... :D
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Is 5nm enough, comparison to tgt2, dd pro, maybe test with different (heavier) thrustmaster wheel rim as then 5nm could be too little
 
snc
Is 5nm enough, comparison to tgt2, dd pro, maybe test with different (heavier) thrustmaster wheel rim as then 5nm could be too little
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And how does the 10nm (or so) overshoot Thustmaster advertizes compare to a 10nm holding torque wheel - I would be curious about ...

Also - the proof in the pudding that is yet to come - Logitechs true force VS Fanatecs FullForce (which is still no where to be seen, and a pretty bad look for PD & Fanatec that this is not a thing, nearly a year after release of the 'official' GT7 wheel...) VS Thrust masters Harmony (or whatever it was called).
 
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Jordan
Anything else you guys would like to see covered in a review? Assuming we were to review it, of course... :D
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As this seems to be an budget friendly, entry-level DD, dunno if some of the bigger content creators that use high-end DDs will be putting much attention to this.
But at this point, any review on general impressions would be appreciated! The feeling of the DD, the size of the base, the heat generated from the base and cooling needs (I don't think there's a fan and I live in a warm environment), Thrustmaster's new DD tech, as well as these Raceline pedals (which seem to be a bit of an unknown at this point).

As a T300RS user looking to get into the DD world at a reasonable price, this seems to be right up my alley!
 


Keep updating loads of websites to see any reviews, Came across this. He seems mightily impressed with it. Bit gutted now i missed the UK pre-orders.
 
Chaos Racing


Keep updating loads of websites to see any reviews, Came across this. He seems mightily impressed with it. Bit gutted now i missed the UK pre-orders.
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They said the wheel will be available in their usual retailers. I'm guessing they took advantage of the pre-orders and will have stock available in retailers to help them market the product. Meaning, you will most likely be able to buy it when it's released anyway.
 
The price really is a head scratcher, the wheel, base/motor and pedal set are like $100CDN more than used Fanatec DD GT Pro base alone, with no warranty. That's wild.
 
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Using automated english translation he puts t598 far above t300, but also above tgt2 and dd pro 5nm. DD Pro 8nm, dd extreme, logitech g pro etc in other league but also in different price range.
 
NevilleNobody
Can a German speaker please post the bullet point pros and cons from what looks to be a VERY through review.
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Hi,

his conclusion is:
on ps5 for this price its without competition right now.

FFB strength wise he compares it to the fanatec dd pro without boost kit. Pedals are like the stock fanatec ones, good that they are fully metal but due to no loadcell on the break nothing special.

Quality of the included rim is, for this price, pretty good.

His main point though is the axial drive, he says that in the low torque realm of wheels (gt dd pro w/o boostkit, tgt2, smaller mozas etc.) the difference in feel is ... almost... transformative. No noticeable notches due to the magnets or, in case of the tgt the rim/gears, and therefore even the slightest ffb effects come through clear and sharp.

(he talks about alot more, but i condensed it down to the important stuff)

I am currently on tgt2 with tlcm and after the reveal i was pretty sure i'll stick with the tgt2. after seeing his review i am tempted to switch to the t598 if one can buy the base separately.

Edit...
Forgot his cons:
Bulky housing of the base and the way you bolt it to your rig was his main concern.
 
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OK reading the reviews my only real concern is the height. I use a TV, it is NOT adjustable as it is wall mounted low by modern standards (about 3 feet from floor to the bottom of the tv). I do not have a rig yet but fear this unit may impact my view and I am unsure how to check this.
 
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I hear what your sayin' and I have the same issue. But considering the value prospect I think it's a non issue.
If you think about it, the height only matters as the radius from centre of the wheel. Cause you set the wheel height generally based on your seating position. So if the wheelbase is 10" tall, it only sticks up 5" above the center of the wheel. So divide the height difference between other bases by two.
It's not perfect, but I don't think it's worth worrying about, unless you wanna spend 3 times as much money on a dd pro or + or g pro
 
Review is up! (Double posting because any edits to the article will overwrite the one above automatically, and I'm sure there will need to be edits.) I wasn't able to hit the embargo because of some logistical issues on my end, but it's here now.



Overall, it's a solid wheel and a great value. I was disappointed by the quality of the rim, and the height of the base could be a problem. I think the high-frequency vibrations and "controlled overshoot" somewhat mask a lack of mid-range grunt.

NevilleNobody
Really concerned about the height of it and if it will block a TV in say a run of the mill rig like a GT Omega unit. Also general quality, the price brand new is the same as used Fanatec units that are 2 to 3 years old.
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NevilleNobody
OK reading the reviews my only real concern is the height. I use a TV, it is NOT adjustable as it is wall mounted low by modern standards (about 3 feet from floor to the bottom of the tv). I do not have a rig yet but fear this unit may impact my view and I am unsure how to check this.
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Measure 12.6 inches or 320mm with a ruler or tape measure to see if that will block your view.

This is what my view looks like. I can't change the TV height and can't get the wheel any lower in the rig, so I'd be pretty much stuck with this.

Thrustmaster-T598-Sim-Racing-Wheel-Review-30-800x738.jpg

i386
Can you test what happens if you pull the steering wheel up or down? (something kids might do)
With a relatively high wheelbase like this one I think it might cause damage on the wheelbase or the mounting points
(It's totally possible that I'm overthinking it :D)
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Despite all the plastic, it's pretty sturdy. I'd be more concerned about the weak mounting points.
sonnyboychris
Firstly, I really enjoy the reviews here. They're thorough and well thought out.

I had a long-winded post written but deleted it... I'll just say that I'd like the current climate of FFB foolery with GT7 noted in the video. I think it'd be unfair to potential buyers who (like most here) exclusively player GT7, to not be told that their wheel might feel totally different in 2 months time lol. Something needs to change with PD in regard to their lack of communication, direction with FFB implementation and the lack of an ability to customize FFB.

IMHO, outside of a disclaimer to prospective owners. I think it'd be interesting to see the GTPlanet content creators compare and contrast FFB across different games/wheels and provide their opinions.
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I've chosen to stop going into specifics about particular games for that reason, having been burned with my Logitech G and GT DD Extreme reviews in the past. FFB is a moving target for all wheels these days, so I don't think it's worth it to go into great depth comparing and contrasting specific games in reviews. That might be a good separate piece of content, but it won't have a long shelf life.

I've tried to get (and give) a general sense of how the wheel performs — or would perform — with any game, now or in the future. These wheels are investments and I'm assuming people will be using them for years to come with a lot of different titles, so I think (and hope) that is the most useful feedback to provide.
 
Thanks a lot for the detailed review/impressions!

Re this from the article:
"The positive is that this allows the wheel to deliver some excellent high-frequency harmonic vibrations, a feature which Thrustmaster appropriately calls “HARMONY”. I’m a big fan of higher-frequency force feedback, and the T598 delivers plenty of it. Although it’s not the most sophisticated implementation I’ve used — Logitech’s TrueForce still has the edge there, in my opinion — it’s very pronounced and well-executed."

Does that mean Thrustmasters Harmony system already works in GT7 ?
If that s the case - and there was nothing in the games last release notes iirc' - this would mean there's no custom sdk required (like Logi s Trueforce nor Fanatecs (cough nowhere to be seen...) FullForce) and is working with / generated from telemetry data directly ?
Any idea by chance ?
 
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gelagmeierter
His main point though is the axial drive, he says that in the low torque realm of wheels (gt dd pro w/o boostkit, tgt2, smaller mozas etc.) the difference in feel is ... almost... transformative.
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Bolded the ridiculous part. Not your fault mind, it's his words. I've had a T-GT II for the entire time GT7 has been out and I really don't understand what people want from their wheels if that's low torque. I run it at 3/10 in GT7 and there's already a risk of thumb injury in hard hits or spinouts, and that's indeed roughly a third of what it has to offer.

I've tried 10/10 and it was far stiffer than any kart I've ever driven, including "real" outdoor track models, or a Volvo 240 with broken power steering. Either the often quoted ~6 Nm for the T-GT isn't true, or GT7 is overdriving it by some serious amount on high values. It's also worth remembering that Robert Kubica drove F1, and still drives Hypercars, basically one handed. Even the T-GT on full force is borderline impossible without two hands as any spike will rip the wheel off your control. Not to mention that many real life GT3 drivers are senior gentlemen with a lot more money than physical fitness, and they manage them just fine without having their arms swapped for noodles at the end of the stint.

Having said that, I'm certainly interested in the T598 if it's sold as a base only. All the old peripherals should work, I've been looking for a new rim anyway, and the height isn't a problem as I'm not going to have my eyes as the wheel top level.
 
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Really appreciate this review and the direct feedback to questions raised.

I see height is a legitimate, not imagined, concern. May I ask the reviewer how high the base of your tv is off the floor and what rig you are using? I am beginning to have concerns I will have issues regardless as my tv is just too low, I do not have a rig yet and have been using a controller and a t150 on a tall foldable stand where I sit on a regular chair so I have no reference point.
 
alectron010
Thanks a lot for the detailed review/impressions!

Re this from the article:
"The positive is that this allows the wheel to deliver some excellent high-frequency harmonic vibrations, a feature which Thrustmaster appropriately calls “HARMONY”. I’m a big fan of higher-frequency force feedback, and the T598 delivers plenty of it. Although it’s not the most sophisticated implementation I’ve used — Logitech’s TrueForce still has the edge there, in my opinion — it’s very pronounced and well-executed."

Does that mean Thrustmasters Harmony system already works in GT7 ?
If that s the case - and there was nothing in the games last release notes iirc' - this would mean there's no custom sdk required (like Logi s Trueforce nor Fanatecs (cough nowhere to be seen...) FullForce) and is working with / generated from telemetry data directly ?
Any idea by chance ?
Click to expand...
Unless I've missed something, none of the material I have from Thrustmaster suggests that "HARMONY" is a proprietary SDK like TrueForce or FullForce, and the lower-end vibrations appear to be equally prominent in multiple games.

Greycap
Bolded the ridiculous part. Not your fault mind, it's his words. I've had a T-GT II for the entire time GT7 has been out and I really don't understand what people want from their wheels if that's low torque. I run it at 3/10 in GT7 and there's already a risk of thumb injury in hard hits or spinouts, and that's indeed roughly a third of what it has to offer.

I've tried 10/10 and it was far stiffer than any kart I've ever driven, including "real" outdoor track models, or a Volvo 240 with broken power steering. Either the often quoted ~6 Nm for the T-GT isn't true, or GT7 is overdriving it by some serious amount on high values. It's also worth remembering that Robert Kubica drove F1, and still drives Hypercars, basically one handed. Even the T-GT on full force is borderline impossible without two hands as any spike will rip the wheel off your control. Not to mention that many real life GT3 drivers are senior gentlemen with a lot more money than physical fitness, and they manage them just fine without having their arms swapped for noodles at the end of the stint.

Having said that, I'm certainly interested in the T598 if it's sold as a base only. All the old peripherals should work, I've been looking for a new rim anyway, and the height isn't a problem as I'm not going to have my eyes as the wheel top level.
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I'm more of a light-weight-FFB guy like yourself, and I feel that a lot of higher settings are completely unrealistic.

Having said that, I think I understand what he's getting at. There is a difference in using a 5Nm wheel compared to an 8, 10, or 12Nm wheel even with lighter settings. It's kind of hard to put into words but having the extra overhead makes all of the sensations more pronounced.

That's kind of what I'm talking about with my mid-range comments on the T598, though it's kind of hard to articulate. Its overshoot is so strong that at first you think the wheel is more powerful than it really is. Once you try to dial that back, it starts to feel more like a 5Nm wheel.
NevilleNobody
Really appreciate this review and the direct feedback to questions raised.

I see height is a legitimate, not imagined, concern. May I ask the reviewer how high the base of your tv is off the floor and what rig you are using? I am beginning to have concerns I will have issues regardless as my tv is just too low, I do not have a rig yet and have been using a controller and a t150 on a tall foldable stand where I sit on a regular chair so I have no reference point.
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I'm using an Obutto R3volution cockpit with its accompanying TV stand and a 43-inch TV. Viewing distance is just over 4 feet (around 1.4 meters).

The bottom of the TV is 31 inches (78cm) above the floor. The top of the T598's housing is 37 inches (93cm) above the floor, and the top of the wheel rim is 40 inches (101cm) above the floor.
 
@Jordan question to you. t598 + proper leather rim and load cell pedal will be around 4k pln and I can get logitech g pro with pedals for 6k pln, do you think paying 50% more for logitech g pro is worth it ?
 
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snc
@Jordan question to you. t598 + proper leather rim and load cell pedal will be around 4k pln and I can get logitech g pro with pedals for 6k pln, do you think paying 50% more for logitech g pro is worth it ?
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That's a tough question. It's hard to say if it would be worth it (that will be subjective to everyone), but I'm a big fan of Logitech's TrueForce implementation and it has a much stronger motor without the ergonomic issues.

I'll put it this way: if you can afford it and are willing to spend that much money on a wheel and you bought the Logitech, I don't think you would regret the decision if you later had the chance to try a T598.
 
Jordan
That's a tough question. It's hard to say if it would be worth it (that will be subjective to everyone), but I'm a big fan of Logitech's TrueForce implementation and it has a much stronger motor without the ergonomic issues.

I'll put it this way: if you can afford it and are willing to spend that much money on a wheel and you bought the Logitech, I don't think you would regret the decision if you later had the chance to try a T598.
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I read that last statement as "If I was spending my money, I'd go with the G-Pro."

Here we go again with you givin' me wallet and bank account hysterics. Now, the waffling begins. G-Pro, T598, T598, G-Pro, 1500 doll hairs, 500 doll hairs. Ermagerd.

Idly curious, what happens to those "review products" once the review is done?

Thanks man. ;) :lol:
 
Dragonwhisky
I read that last statement as "If I was spending my money, I'd go with the G-Pro."

Here we go again with you givin' me wallet and bank account hysterics. Now, the waffling begins. G-Pro, T598, T598, G-Pro, 1500 doll hairs, 500 doll hairs. Ermagerd.

Idly curious, what happens to those "review products" once the review is done?

Thanks man. ;) :lol:
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All the review products I've ever received are to keep. I sell off the older stuff over time, but try to keep most of the contemporary wheels on hand should they be needed for testing.
 
Jordan
All the review products I've ever received are to keep. I sell off the older stuff over time, but try to keep most of the contemporary wheels on hand should they be needed for testing.
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Fair enough. So, when you aren't reviewing/testing, what wheel setup do you use/prefer?
 
Thanks for the review, @Jordan

Any additional comments/observations on the heat generated by this base unit?
If I'm not mistaken, the panels around the base are metal, right? Better at dissipating heat, I imagine, considering that it doesn't have a fan?
I live in warm climates, so this is something that could be an issue for me.
 

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