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- 2,281
- Moss
- hoydeskrekk
Wheel Stands, Racing Rigs Cockpits, Pedals, Wheels. Master List
- Thread starter SGETI
- 1,173 comments
- 482,576 views
LeGeNd-1
Premium
- 7,264
- Australia
- GTP_LeGeNd-1
Hey guys,
Long time wheel user, first time stand buyer here. I have 2 options for my current setup: a low coffee table (not ideal driving position) or a high but narrow TV table (ideal position, but can't mount shifter). While it has served me well for the last 8 years, I'm looking to finally get a proper rig to fully enjoy the next generation of sims (AC, PCARS, GTS).
A couple of requirements:
- Compatible with G25 and T300 (for future proofing) + shifters
- Sturdy (I can be quite aggressive when countersteering or drifting)
- Collapsible (my PC and console are in different rooms)
- No center pole (Wheelstand Pro is out)
- No seat required, but preferably have a modular attachment option for the future
- Short horizontal distance from the wheel to the front most part of the stand (so I can get close to my PC and TV which are on a separate table)
- Delivers to Australia
Looking at the list on first page, I'm drawn to GT Omega Racing as it seems to satisfy all the requirements. However the price is a bit steep ($300) and the horizontal distance seems a bit long. Are there any cheaper alternatives that I should look into (something in $200 range is ok)? If not, I need to be sure that GTOR is a high quality product, so I won't have any qualms about putting down that money
Thanks in advance 👍
Long time wheel user, first time stand buyer here. I have 2 options for my current setup: a low coffee table (not ideal driving position) or a high but narrow TV table (ideal position, but can't mount shifter). While it has served me well for the last 8 years, I'm looking to finally get a proper rig to fully enjoy the next generation of sims (AC, PCARS, GTS).
A couple of requirements:
- Compatible with G25 and T300 (for future proofing) + shifters
- Sturdy (I can be quite aggressive when countersteering or drifting)
- Collapsible (my PC and console are in different rooms)
- No center pole (Wheelstand Pro is out)
- No seat required, but preferably have a modular attachment option for the future
- Short horizontal distance from the wheel to the front most part of the stand (so I can get close to my PC and TV which are on a separate table)
- Delivers to Australia
Looking at the list on first page, I'm drawn to GT Omega Racing as it seems to satisfy all the requirements. However the price is a bit steep ($300) and the horizontal distance seems a bit long. Are there any cheaper alternatives that I should look into (something in $200 range is ok)? If not, I need to be sure that GTOR is a high quality product, so I won't have any qualms about putting down that money
Thanks in advance 👍
- 2,636
- MA
- CAPECOD104 SGETI
First, I would like to thank super gt for his link to the videos.
There is one other stand which also has an option for future attachment, http://www.granstand.com/ .
You will need to determine their shipping cost and compatibility with wheels.
Sturdy. This can be a tough measurement. I suggest watching the videos and listen to their comments on wobble and sturdy base. From there you can determine which stand meets your criteria or which stands have to much wobble. I drove with a fanatec wheel stand for years and on most occasions the stand was solid. You notice I said , most occasions. There were times when my aggressive driving would move or shake the stand. In time I learned to be more relaxed and smoother. In time I found the stand to be rock solid, due to the fact I had was able to learn to drive in a more controlled manner.
LeGeNd-1
Premium
- 7,264
- Australia
- GTP_LeGeNd-1
Thanks @super_gt and @SGETI for the recommendations.
At the moment I think it's between Grandstand and Omega GT. Next Level's pedal angle is too steep for me seating position. Playseat comes with the chair so it's out for the moment. Also the wheel wobbles a bit.
Grandstand is more adjustable, but looks like it might wobble more. Also it's probably more expensive after being currency converted + delivery charges. I also looked up ISR's review and they say it can be a hassle to collapse because of the high number of adjustable screws. As I'm going to be moving the stand a lot between rooms I don't think it's gonna be a good choice.
Omega GT sacrifices a bit of adjustability for quick collapsing, which doesn't really matter because the wheel and pedals are in a good position already. IMO it looks sleeker and more sturdy too.
I'm gonna think on this a bit more before purchasing, it's certainly not an urgent buy. But it's looking 90% likely that I'm going with the Omega.
Thanks again for the help everyone 👍
At the moment I think it's between Grandstand and Omega GT. Next Level's pedal angle is too steep for me seating position. Playseat comes with the chair so it's out for the moment. Also the wheel wobbles a bit.
Grandstand is more adjustable, but looks like it might wobble more. Also it's probably more expensive after being currency converted + delivery charges. I also looked up ISR's review and they say it can be a hassle to collapse because of the high number of adjustable screws. As I'm going to be moving the stand a lot between rooms I don't think it's gonna be a good choice.
Omega GT sacrifices a bit of adjustability for quick collapsing, which doesn't really matter because the wheel and pedals are in a good position already. IMO it looks sleeker and more sturdy too.
I'm gonna think on this a bit more before purchasing, it's certainly not an urgent buy. But it's looking 90% likely that I'm going with the Omega.
Thanks again for the help everyone 👍
- 131
- United Kingdom
- MC-170
Can someone please advise whether a wheel stand pro will be compatible with a G29 wheel?
Thanks
Thanks
- 2,636
- MA
- CAPECOD104 SGETI
Just added the Simetik stand and rig. Fully adjustable, including the pedals inclination.
http://simetik-cockpits.myshopify.com/products/cockpit-k2
http://simetik-cockpits.myshopify.com/products/cockpit-k2
- 2,636
- MA
- CAPECOD104 SGETI
- The prices are from the retailers official stores so you can find them cheaper somewhere else and shipping is not included.
Gameseat RR3055 (€329,95)
Gameseat RR3033 (€429,95)
Playseat Evolution (€299,00) (10% off code: playseat-logtc-10%)
Playseat Revolution (€339,00) (10% off code: playseat-logtc-10%)
Playseat Challenge (€199,00) (10% off code: playseat-logtc-10%)
Playseat Formula1 (€998,00) (10% off code: playseat-logtc-10%)
GT Omega Art - RS6 (€381,21)
GT Omega Art - RS9 (€408,44)
GT Omega Pro - RS6 (€422,06)
GT Omega Wheelstand (€89,94)
Zalem V27 (€310,00) (Without seat)
Obutto R3volution (€699,00)
Obutto oZone (€399,00)
Granstand Cockpit (€387,00)
Grandstand Wheelstand (€205,00)
RennSport Cockpit V2 (€999,00)
GTR Simulator Touring Racing (€349,99)
GTR Simulator GTS Racing (€369,99)
GTR Simulator GTA Racing (€369,99)
GTR Simulator GS Wheelstand (€199,99)
rSeat RS1 (€718,80)
rSeat RS Formula V2 (€1198,80)
rSeat Wheelstand (€208,65)
Playseat Sensation Pro (€1699,00)
rSeat RS Formula V2 (€1198,80)
RennSport Cockpit V2 (€999,00)
Playseat Formula1 (€998,00)
> €900
NLR GT Ultimate (€728,00)
rSeat RS1 (€718,80)
Obutto R3volution (€699,00)
Gameseat RR3033 (€429,95)
GT Omega Pro - RS6 (€422,06)
GT Omega Art - RS9 (€408,44)
> €400
Obutto oZone (€399,00)
Granstand Cockpit (€387,00)
GT Omega Art - RS6 (€381,21)
GTR Simulator GTS Racing (€369,99)
GTR Simulator GTA Racing (€369,99)
GTR Simulator Touring Racing (€349,99)
Playseat Revolution (€339,00)
Gameseat RR3055 (€329,95)
Zalem V27 (€310,00) (Without seat)
> €300
Playseat Evolution (€299,00)
NLR Wheel Stand (€225,95)
rSeat Wheelstand (€208,65)
Grandstand Wheelstand (€205,00)
GTR Simulator GS Wheelstand (€199,99)
Playseat Challenge (€199,00)
Fanatec CSL Wheelstand (€119,95)
Wheelstand Pro Deluxe V2 (€119,00)
Wheelstand Pro V2 (€109,00)
GT Omega Wheelstand (€89,94)
Last edited by bemilh; 29-12-2015 at 17:29.
Bmeilh took the time to list prices, thank you. Please be aware the date of when the prices where recorded when doing your research. Also, please don't ask to convert the price into US Dollars, you can do that part easily enough.
- 2,636
- MA
- CAPECOD104 SGETI
http://opensimbuillds.myshopify.com/
Was looking into 80/20 aluminum rigs and came across this company and their designs.
Was looking into 80/20 aluminum rigs and came across this company and their designs.
I have hand made wooden rig but it started to get noisy (when I started to use CSW v2) and I play at night. Being disabled no middle bar is a must to get in and out. Other rig makers have insane shipping to my country (almost price of the rig). Was not planning but the ads are teasing 
- 6,937
- United Kingdom
Scaff
Moderator
- 29,594
- He/Him
- ScaffUK
Nope, but it fits slightly better on the right and I've never had an issue with changing great with either hand (driven enough right and left hand drive cars to not find it a problem).
- 158
- Slovenia
- AndroR35
Hi, i am thinking of ordering playseat evolution from oficial playseat.com site,but i am not sure about the payment method, there were only 2 optinos paypal(which i dont use) or bank payment. Did anyone order a seat wit the bank payment from playseat.com,does it work? It probably should... I just dont want to transfer 340e to that acount and get nothing...
Any info would help
Any info would help
Last edited:
- 9,721
- Portland, OR
- Jump_Ace
- JUMPxACE
- 4,932
- Bulgaria
APRIL 29, 2016 BY MARK PUC
Review: Playseat® Sensation Pro Sim-Racing Rig. This is the current offering from Playseat®, the Playseat® Sensation Pro. Whilst visiting GamesCom 2015 I had my first encounter with this evolved version of PlaySeat’s® earlier Top Gear® branded sim-rig. Although the basic design is similar to the previous iteration, this new version differs markedly from its predecessor and has some clever new design features to boot. In testing this sim rig, I will also be using the AccuForce Pro DD wheel and Heusinkveld Engineering’s Pro three pedal set. Time to put this rig to the test and see how it rates.
Design
The premise behind this sim-rig is to provide the user with a true to life race car’s seating position. Having been lucky enough to have sat in a Blancpain series BMW GT4 car, I can safely say that this box has been well and truly ticked!
Actually, the whole rig has a racy feel to it. The one piece polyester race seat is upholstered in a black alcantara-like material, which is adjustable by means of four bolts. Once loosened, this allows the seat to be adjusted for height and rake. In addition, a hydraulic adjuster under the right side of the seat affords the user with fore and aft adjustment.
With the exception of the pedal cage, this thoughtfully designed frame is made up of large gauged steel tubing, and has all the trademarks of a custom roll-cage. The more I look at this frame, the more details become apparent. For instance, on the right hand sides’ down tube there is a cut out at the top and at the base just before the first bend where you can thread your monitor or controllers’ wiring through it. It is this attention to detail that sets this sim-rig apart from many of the current crop of off the shelf rigs available today. It is a truly attractive rig to behold and it just screams out to be sat in!
Assembly
The Sensation Pro was delivered to me pre-assembled in what can only be described as a very large box, large enough to hold a small refrigerator! Included in this colossal box was a small instruction sheet for mounting the monitor holder and should it be needed, reversing the wheel mounting plate for high-end or bulkier wheels. Tie-rips, velcro and several hex headed bolts were also included.
The only assembly required was to attach the seat to its holding brackets by way of the four supplied hex headed bolts. In addition to this, the optional monitor stand is an easy bolt on affair as is the optional shifter mount. The shifter mount can be mounted in three linear positions on either side of the rig. Depending on your brand of shifter, all the major manufacturers drill patterns are represented.
Wheels and Pedals
The Sensation Pro allows for the mounting of all of the major manufacturers’ wheels and pedals. Should your wheel have a large or bulky base, the mounting plate is also reversible, this lowers the height of the wheel by around four centimeters or nearly two inches. On the underside of the wheel assembly, you will find several pre-drilled and threaded holes which allow you to mount your wheel closer or further away from you. A really great feature is the hydraulically adjustable steering wheel assembly, which is operated by a small lever on the right side of the rig that adjusts the wheel for height and rake but not reach.
The pedal plate has a myriad of pre-drilled holes and a handy centralised cut out for any wires exiting your pedals. This mounting plate is adjustable for rake but once again, not reach.
High End Wheels, Pedals And Shifters
Although I am focusing on the Sensation Pro, I will take the time here to mention the mounting of high end wheels, pedals and shifters to this rig.
In my case, when mounting the Heusinkveld Pro pedals, AccuForce Pro wheel and SHH shifter to the rig, l had to adjust a couple of things to get my ideal control and seating positions. As you can see in the photo above l made use of the optional mounting plate and brackets from HE, going to the absolute minimum rake on the Sensation Pro’s pedal mounting plate in order to attain a near horizontal position for HE’s plate. In the process I had to custom drill four holes in HE’s plate to get the brackets to line up with the Sensation Pro’s pre-drilled ones. This was an easy job and took me only a few minutes to carry out.
Mounting the AccuForce Pro wheel was super simple, I reversed the wheel mounting plate by removing the four bolts, flipping the plate upside down and reattaching it in the correct position for the wheelbase. Then I bolted the wheelbase straight to it by way of two standard pre-drilled mounting holes that would normally be used for Thrustmaster’s range of wheels.
The SHH 3D printed shifter’s clamping system required that I fabricate a plate to mount to the standard pre-drilled holes in the Playseat’s® shifter mount. This plate has a protruding section at its rear which facilitates clamping the shifter to it and gives me a very solid connection to the rig.
Wiring And Cable Management
With everything mounted to the rig, I made good use of the feature I mentioned earlier. The wiring from the wheel to the control box and the USB cables from the control box and shifter going to my PC, were all routed through the hollow downtube this made for a very convenient and neat cable management solution. Furthermore, the supplied tie-rips and self-adhesive velcro can be used to tidy up any other unsightly wiring you may have.
GT Seating Position
With the seat only a few centimetres or inches above the floor, the best way to get into the rig is to rest your hand on one of the horizontal edges of the seat. Support your weight and then lower yourself into the racing seat while resting your free hand on the other horizontal edge. Once seated, simply swing your legs inside the rig. Having a fairly average build, 1.8 meters or around 6 feet tall and approx. 70 kilos or around 154 pounds, the racing seat whilst snug, is not overly tight on me.
I take a few moments to adjust things to my liking. First impression, I feel as if am once again sitting in that Blancpain BMW I mentioned earlier! The Sensation Pro has a true GT driving position, if you ever wanted to know what it is like to sit in a GT race car, this is about as close as you will get to that feeling of being cocooned in a real world cockpit without being there.
Playseat® put a lot of thought and effort into the shape of their seat, not only is it a true race seat, function has been taken into account as well. An example of this is that when you use a sequential or H patterned shifter, your elbows are not banging into the sides of the ergonomically designed seat. Turning the wheel, there is room to move when you are fighting to control power oversteer.
Bonus Video, The Driving Experience
Once everything was hooked up to my PC, I couldn’t wait to try this rig on for size! With some truly top-shelf gear mounted to the Sensation Pro, I was ready to sample all that goodness!
The time I took in getting everything properly situated certainly payed off, the reach to the wheel, shifter and pedals is pure GT racer and I could race for hours in this seat without fatigue. Having said that, the combination of HE’s Pro’s and AccuForce’s Pro wheel, driving is a more physical experience and so it can become a real workout. I am a fan of having to work a little more for a faster lap time, so I don’t mind this at all.
After acclimatising myself to the Sensation Pro, on goes the Oculus Rift and I opt for Assetto Corsa as my first title. In honour of the occasion and to echo the driving position, the BMW GT4 is my weapon of choice. I find myself at Nords. Having driven so many virtual laps of this iconic circuit, I was hoping for a new experience. That is exactly what I got, for me it is a true wow moment, immersion is through the roof, mate!
The first meters and corners are already enough to convincingly convey the illusion of being in a race car. There are many superlatives to describe the experience, one stands out more than most for me and that is ‘’realistic’’! It is without doubt the most realistic driving position I have experienced in an off the shelf sim-rig! You really do get that slightly claustrophobic feel from being in a racing cockpit.
You are hunkered down into the seat, your hands are where they should be at 9 and 3 on the wheel, your heels are slightly higher than your backside and the shifter is right there, it just is all so natural! I am literally driving blindfolded with the Oculus Rift on my face, but because the Sensation Pro echoes most of the cars I am in, it is almost 1:1 with what I am seeing in the rift which magically completes the picture.
Practically speaking though, the heavier HE Pro pedals and AccuForce Pro wheel exert more force on the rig than a Thrustmaster or Logitech product would. Because of this, there is a small amount of flex in the pedal and wheel mounting points. Is this flexing to the point of distraction? The answer here is subject to objectivity, driving vigorously and braking heavily, the flex may annoy some, while others may be totally oblivious to it. Other than this small amount of flex, everything on this rig is rock solid and very well designed.
Pros
Recommended drivers length:
Minimum 120 cm / 47 inches
Maximum 220 cm / 87 inches
Recommended drivers weight:
Minimum 20 kg / 47 lbs
Maximum 122 kg / 270 lbs
Dimensions (LxWxH):
150x63x94 cm / 59.1×24.8×37.0 inches (without Monitor stand)
150x63x116 cm / 59.1×24.8×45.7 inches (with Monitor stand)
Net weight: 38 kg / 83.77 lbs
Manual and warranty card included
Pricing
Down to brass tacks then, what does a Playseat® Sensation Pro cost? I will list the price of the reviewed model and the optional shifter mount separately.
These prices were correct at the time of publication, April 2016. All prices were taken from the official PlayseatStore website and include sales tax where applicable. For worldwide shipping costs, please check the PlayseatStore website. If you would like more information on Playseat®, please visit PlayseatHQ.com
Review model regular price €1921,95, / $2199.00 / £1501,65
Optional shifter mount regular price €104,16 / $119.17 / £81,38
Final Thoughts
This rig for me is everything that is right with sim-racing right now, it replicates the feeling of a real cockpit environment. Real world racing drivers whom have sat in the rig have confirmed this fact. Max Verstappen has a hybrid version of this rig to sim race and train in!
Additionally you can bolt on almost any wheel, pedal and shifter combination you can think of. For me, the perfect static sim-rig for VR racing. Would I recommend the Sensation Pro to a sim-racer in the market for a new sim-rig? Yes, I would indeed! I believe the initial investment, although on the high side, could be justified by this rig’s quality and to my mind, longevity. It is such a solid piece of engineering, I don’t see why it wouldn’t stand the test of time and give its lucky owner a decade or more of sim-racing pleasure.
Edit: Since completing this review, I have learnt from Playseat® that they are planning to release an updated version of this great sim racing rig. Although, no dates or details have been released as of yet.
I really hope you all have enjoyed this review Stay tuned for more folks!
http://www.isrtv.com/reviews/review-playseat-sensation-pro-sim-racing-cockpit/
Review: Playseat® Sensation Pro Sim-Racing Rig. This is the current offering from Playseat®, the Playseat® Sensation Pro. Whilst visiting GamesCom 2015 I had my first encounter with this evolved version of PlaySeat’s® earlier Top Gear® branded sim-rig. Although the basic design is similar to the previous iteration, this new version differs markedly from its predecessor and has some clever new design features to boot. In testing this sim rig, I will also be using the AccuForce Pro DD wheel and Heusinkveld Engineering’s Pro three pedal set. Time to put this rig to the test and see how it rates.
Design
The premise behind this sim-rig is to provide the user with a true to life race car’s seating position. Having been lucky enough to have sat in a Blancpain series BMW GT4 car, I can safely say that this box has been well and truly ticked!
Actually, the whole rig has a racy feel to it. The one piece polyester race seat is upholstered in a black alcantara-like material, which is adjustable by means of four bolts. Once loosened, this allows the seat to be adjusted for height and rake. In addition, a hydraulic adjuster under the right side of the seat affords the user with fore and aft adjustment.
With the exception of the pedal cage, this thoughtfully designed frame is made up of large gauged steel tubing, and has all the trademarks of a custom roll-cage. The more I look at this frame, the more details become apparent. For instance, on the right hand sides’ down tube there is a cut out at the top and at the base just before the first bend where you can thread your monitor or controllers’ wiring through it. It is this attention to detail that sets this sim-rig apart from many of the current crop of off the shelf rigs available today. It is a truly attractive rig to behold and it just screams out to be sat in!
Assembly
The Sensation Pro was delivered to me pre-assembled in what can only be described as a very large box, large enough to hold a small refrigerator! Included in this colossal box was a small instruction sheet for mounting the monitor holder and should it be needed, reversing the wheel mounting plate for high-end or bulkier wheels. Tie-rips, velcro and several hex headed bolts were also included.
The only assembly required was to attach the seat to its holding brackets by way of the four supplied hex headed bolts. In addition to this, the optional monitor stand is an easy bolt on affair as is the optional shifter mount. The shifter mount can be mounted in three linear positions on either side of the rig. Depending on your brand of shifter, all the major manufacturers drill patterns are represented.
Wheels and Pedals
The Sensation Pro allows for the mounting of all of the major manufacturers’ wheels and pedals. Should your wheel have a large or bulky base, the mounting plate is also reversible, this lowers the height of the wheel by around four centimeters or nearly two inches. On the underside of the wheel assembly, you will find several pre-drilled and threaded holes which allow you to mount your wheel closer or further away from you. A really great feature is the hydraulically adjustable steering wheel assembly, which is operated by a small lever on the right side of the rig that adjusts the wheel for height and rake but not reach.
The pedal plate has a myriad of pre-drilled holes and a handy centralised cut out for any wires exiting your pedals. This mounting plate is adjustable for rake but once again, not reach.
High End Wheels, Pedals And Shifters
Although I am focusing on the Sensation Pro, I will take the time here to mention the mounting of high end wheels, pedals and shifters to this rig.
In my case, when mounting the Heusinkveld Pro pedals, AccuForce Pro wheel and SHH shifter to the rig, l had to adjust a couple of things to get my ideal control and seating positions. As you can see in the photo above l made use of the optional mounting plate and brackets from HE, going to the absolute minimum rake on the Sensation Pro’s pedal mounting plate in order to attain a near horizontal position for HE’s plate. In the process I had to custom drill four holes in HE’s plate to get the brackets to line up with the Sensation Pro’s pre-drilled ones. This was an easy job and took me only a few minutes to carry out.
Mounting the AccuForce Pro wheel was super simple, I reversed the wheel mounting plate by removing the four bolts, flipping the plate upside down and reattaching it in the correct position for the wheelbase. Then I bolted the wheelbase straight to it by way of two standard pre-drilled mounting holes that would normally be used for Thrustmaster’s range of wheels.
The SHH 3D printed shifter’s clamping system required that I fabricate a plate to mount to the standard pre-drilled holes in the Playseat’s® shifter mount. This plate has a protruding section at its rear which facilitates clamping the shifter to it and gives me a very solid connection to the rig.
Wiring And Cable Management
With everything mounted to the rig, I made good use of the feature I mentioned earlier. The wiring from the wheel to the control box and the USB cables from the control box and shifter going to my PC, were all routed through the hollow downtube this made for a very convenient and neat cable management solution. Furthermore, the supplied tie-rips and self-adhesive velcro can be used to tidy up any other unsightly wiring you may have.
GT Seating Position
With the seat only a few centimetres or inches above the floor, the best way to get into the rig is to rest your hand on one of the horizontal edges of the seat. Support your weight and then lower yourself into the racing seat while resting your free hand on the other horizontal edge. Once seated, simply swing your legs inside the rig. Having a fairly average build, 1.8 meters or around 6 feet tall and approx. 70 kilos or around 154 pounds, the racing seat whilst snug, is not overly tight on me.
I take a few moments to adjust things to my liking. First impression, I feel as if am once again sitting in that Blancpain BMW I mentioned earlier! The Sensation Pro has a true GT driving position, if you ever wanted to know what it is like to sit in a GT race car, this is about as close as you will get to that feeling of being cocooned in a real world cockpit without being there.
Playseat® put a lot of thought and effort into the shape of their seat, not only is it a true race seat, function has been taken into account as well. An example of this is that when you use a sequential or H patterned shifter, your elbows are not banging into the sides of the ergonomically designed seat. Turning the wheel, there is room to move when you are fighting to control power oversteer.
Bonus Video, The Driving Experience
Once everything was hooked up to my PC, I couldn’t wait to try this rig on for size! With some truly top-shelf gear mounted to the Sensation Pro, I was ready to sample all that goodness!
The time I took in getting everything properly situated certainly payed off, the reach to the wheel, shifter and pedals is pure GT racer and I could race for hours in this seat without fatigue. Having said that, the combination of HE’s Pro’s and AccuForce’s Pro wheel, driving is a more physical experience and so it can become a real workout. I am a fan of having to work a little more for a faster lap time, so I don’t mind this at all.
After acclimatising myself to the Sensation Pro, on goes the Oculus Rift and I opt for Assetto Corsa as my first title. In honour of the occasion and to echo the driving position, the BMW GT4 is my weapon of choice. I find myself at Nords. Having driven so many virtual laps of this iconic circuit, I was hoping for a new experience. That is exactly what I got, for me it is a true wow moment, immersion is through the roof, mate!
The first meters and corners are already enough to convincingly convey the illusion of being in a race car. There are many superlatives to describe the experience, one stands out more than most for me and that is ‘’realistic’’! It is without doubt the most realistic driving position I have experienced in an off the shelf sim-rig! You really do get that slightly claustrophobic feel from being in a racing cockpit.
You are hunkered down into the seat, your hands are where they should be at 9 and 3 on the wheel, your heels are slightly higher than your backside and the shifter is right there, it just is all so natural! I am literally driving blindfolded with the Oculus Rift on my face, but because the Sensation Pro echoes most of the cars I am in, it is almost 1:1 with what I am seeing in the rift which magically completes the picture.
Practically speaking though, the heavier HE Pro pedals and AccuForce Pro wheel exert more force on the rig than a Thrustmaster or Logitech product would. Because of this, there is a small amount of flex in the pedal and wheel mounting points. Is this flexing to the point of distraction? The answer here is subject to objectivity, driving vigorously and braking heavily, the flex may annoy some, while others may be totally oblivious to it. Other than this small amount of flex, everything on this rig is rock solid and very well designed.
Pros
- Extremely well thought out design
- Very high standard of fabrication and finishes
- Quality materials used throughout
- Can accommodate many wheels, pedals and shifters
- Drivers of varying sizes are catered to
- Very little assembly required to go racing
- Optional matching shifter mount
- Ergonomically designed one piece race seat
- Hydraulic adjustment for wheel and seat
- Monitor stand included
- VR racing endorsed by AussieStig!
- Stable construction
- Reasonably large footprint
- Price point
- Small amount of mounting point flex
- limited availability
Recommended drivers length:
Minimum 120 cm / 47 inches
Maximum 220 cm / 87 inches
Recommended drivers weight:
Minimum 20 kg / 47 lbs
Maximum 122 kg / 270 lbs
Dimensions (LxWxH):
150x63x94 cm / 59.1×24.8×37.0 inches (without Monitor stand)
150x63x116 cm / 59.1×24.8×45.7 inches (with Monitor stand)
Net weight: 38 kg / 83.77 lbs
Manual and warranty card included
Pricing
Down to brass tacks then, what does a Playseat® Sensation Pro cost? I will list the price of the reviewed model and the optional shifter mount separately.
These prices were correct at the time of publication, April 2016. All prices were taken from the official PlayseatStore website and include sales tax where applicable. For worldwide shipping costs, please check the PlayseatStore website. If you would like more information on Playseat®, please visit PlayseatHQ.com
Review model regular price €1921,95, / $2199.00 / £1501,65
Optional shifter mount regular price €104,16 / $119.17 / £81,38
Final Thoughts
This rig for me is everything that is right with sim-racing right now, it replicates the feeling of a real cockpit environment. Real world racing drivers whom have sat in the rig have confirmed this fact. Max Verstappen has a hybrid version of this rig to sim race and train in!
Additionally you can bolt on almost any wheel, pedal and shifter combination you can think of. For me, the perfect static sim-rig for VR racing. Would I recommend the Sensation Pro to a sim-racer in the market for a new sim-rig? Yes, I would indeed! I believe the initial investment, although on the high side, could be justified by this rig’s quality and to my mind, longevity. It is such a solid piece of engineering, I don’t see why it wouldn’t stand the test of time and give its lucky owner a decade or more of sim-racing pleasure.
Edit: Since completing this review, I have learnt from Playseat® that they are planning to release an updated version of this great sim racing rig. Although, no dates or details have been released as of yet.
I really hope you all have enjoyed this review Stay tuned for more folks!
http://www.isrtv.com/reviews/review-playseat-sensation-pro-sim-racing-cockpit/
- 393
- Germany
- RaceFace85
Here is my setup.
Wheel Stand Pro + RGS
Thrustmaster T300 RS wheel
Logitech G27 pedals
2 x Thrustmaster TH8A as sequential shifter and handbrake
KODE Performance shift knobs
Perixx numeric keypad with integrated USB hub and keyboard stickers
Sony Xperia Z5 with DashMeterPro App
RAM Mount GoPro holder for the keypad and phone
DXRacer seat
Wheel Stand Pro + RGS
Thrustmaster T300 RS wheel
Logitech G27 pedals
2 x Thrustmaster TH8A as sequential shifter and handbrake
KODE Performance shift knobs
Perixx numeric keypad with integrated USB hub and keyboard stickers
Sony Xperia Z5 with DashMeterPro App
RAM Mount GoPro holder for the keypad and phone
DXRacer seat
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- 1,281
- CENLA
- SoCaLLbeer
I was looking at the RGS add-on for the WSP. Seems a little steep at $75. Do you think it is worth it?
Currently I have a cheap&dirty modification on mine to lower the shifter, but I am adding a handbake and will need another mounting spot.
