Fanatec ClubSport DD and DD+ Wheel Bases Tested

Before we get started:

At the time of writing, we have a Mass Production CS DD and an Early Production DD+, Early Production means the first batch of products to come off the production line. Generally, these are used for testing/certification and marketing purposes and are not sold to the public. Fanatec tells us they have made a few small refinements between our DD+ and mass production runs.
It’s also important to understand that FullForce, which is Fanatec’s proprietary API for generating more finely detailed Force Feedback Effects using game telemetry data is not integrated into any game at the point of writing. For now, Fanatec has provided us with a means to test in iRacing which they say feels close, so we will try not to overanalyse and rather focus on what the base is capable of.

We were also provided with beta software/drivers/firmware and are told the driving experience will improve upon full release.

We will be revisiting and updating this article with any new observations once we have a mass production CS DD+ and have the final software/drivers/firmware.

THE STATE OF DIRECT DRIVE SIM RACING RIGHT NOW:

As part of our testing process for the CS DD and DD+, we went through and retested offerings from nearly every major Sim Racing Manufacturer with their latest software, drivers and firmware. Right now the market is in a good place with Direct Drive Sim Racing. The competition has really heated up in recent years and every manufacturer has had to lift their game. We are at a place where there isn’t really a bad choice within this segment at the moment. In terms of force feedback, there are subtle differences between manufacturers, but there is no one brand that stands out dramatically in terms of force feedback quality within this segment. Therefore, at this point ecosystem and hardware quality are probably the biggest considerations.

FANATEC’S CLAIMS VS REALITY:

SLEW RATE:

Fanatec has made a big deal about the slew rate on the DD and DD+ being better than anything else in its class but hasn’t published figures. They say this is because there isn’t a standardised testing protocol and they don’t want to talk badly of other brands. The slew rate is a measure of the responsiveness of an electric motor. A motor with a higher slew rate will generally feel like it reacts more quickly to what the car is doing, and allows the motor to communicate more effects with more precision. We tested this claim back to back against the Moza R12, Moza R16, Simucube 2 Sport, Simucube 2 Pro, Simucube 2 Ultimate, Simagic Alpha Mini, Asetek La Prima, Asetek Forte, Asetek Invicta, VRS Direct Force Pro, Fanatec Podium DD1, Fanatec Podium DD2, Fanatec CSL DD, GT DD Pro and Logitech G Pro and it did punch above its weight in terms of responsiveness. The CS DD and DD+ were more on par with the likes of the Simucube 2 Pro, and Asetek Forte in terms of how lively and responsive it felt at similar torque levels.

HOLDING TORQUE & THERMAL PERFORMANCE:

In my opinion, the CS DD at 12NM of Holding Torque provides all the torque required to generate what one would typically experience in terms of forces through the steering wheel in real life for the majority of cars and did not leave me wanting for more power. It’s a very fine balance between having an immersive experience and having a wheel that’s so powerful that the car starts to drive you rather than you driving the car. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you’re fighting against the steering all the time. This threshold will be different for everyone of course. But I don’t think anyone will be disappointed with the torque levels provided by the CS DD. If you think you’re going to need more power, by all means, buy the DD+.

Extra power on tap will of course give you additional dynamic range, which in simple terms means that a weaker wheelbase will feel proportionally weaker throughout the full spectrum of effects. However, this can easily be overcome by running in Fanatec’s “PEAK” mode, which is essentially a compressor, raising the gain level on weaker effects to account for this.

FULLFORCE:

Fullforce is a new API for generating telemetry-based effects that operate on a separate layer and independently from Direct Input-generated Force Feedback Effects. At the time of writing, this has not yet been integrated into any game, however, Fanatec provided us with a Python script that loops iRacing’s telemetry-based LFE effects back through the wheelbase, which they say provides an accurate representation of what FullForce will feel like.

We were able to run a frequency sweep through the wheel base and measured its response to be between ~5Hz and ~2100Hz, with a drop-off above ~1900 MHz. This allows the base to produce detailed effects beyond what you typically experience. In particular, things like road textures, gear change clunks, etc are felt more precisely and with higher fidelity. However, its effectiveness will be largely dependent on the quality of game integration.

For now, it feels quite similar to Logitech’s Trueforce, which hasn’t revolutionised the industry because game developers haven’t really taken the ball and run with it. Perhaps with Fanatec’s weight behind this technology, we will start to see it blossom, but for now at least, while it’s cool and does add to the immersion, it’s not something that is going to make you faster or more consistent.

CONCLUSIONS:

Based on our early testing and remembering that the software we used is still not final, both the CS DD and DD+ are a significant jump forward for Fanatec. Both models provide a noticeable improvement in fidelity, responsiveness and smoothness both compared with the CSL DD/GT DD Pro and the Podium DD1/DD2 despite operating at similar torque levels to the Podium DD1. The slight torque ripple, or sensation of slight texture in the wheel when rotating it which has always been present on the DD1/2 is not noticeable on the CS DD or DD+ and while there isn’t a huge difference, it does feel more lively and responsive. If I were choosing between purchasing a DD1/2 or a CS DD/DD+, I would buy the DD+. It has all the dynamic range you will ever need, as well as console compatibility so it really has all bases covered.

When compared with competitor products within a similar category, the CS DD and DD+ are on par with the best of the best in terms of fidelity, responsiveness and smoothness. However, as stated earlier, all products within this category are very good these days and offer a very similar driving experience in terms of force feedback, so it really then comes down to the user experience and ecosystem.

Fanatec intend to make some updates to their UI upon final release of the drivers for the CS DD and DD+, so we will reserve judgement on that until we have had the opportunity to experience it.

When it comes to ecosystem, the competition has really heated up there as well, with the likes of Moza, Simagic, VRS, Asetek Simsports, and to a lesser extent, Simucube all having their own wheels, pedals and accessories which allow you to keep all your hardware within the one ecosystem for ease of use. This is one area where Logitech has really fallen behind as they still do not have a Pro series shifter, handbrake, or any extra wheels to use with their base.

When you factor everything together, for me the two main reasons why I have recommended other brands over Fanatec in the past were the flex in the QR1 quick release (frankly there are better options on the market), which has been resolved with the QR2, and the torque ripple present when rotating the wheel, which doesn’t appear to be noticeable on these new products. So factoring in the quality of the driving experience with the CS DD and DD+, the expansive ecosystem with a variety of wheels available to suit a wide variety of budgets, the console compatibility, the Tuning Menu which allows you to switch between profiles and make quick adjustments to force feedback settings on the fly, and the general ease of use, I think this is a very strong contender.

Would I recommend rushing out and selling whatever you have now to buy this? No. It’s not absolutely game-changing, but if you’re in the market to step up into this sector of the market, this is right at the top of my list of recommendations based on my experience so far.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

CAN THE CS DD BE “BOOSTED” TO DD+ TORQUE LEVELS?:

No. Both the CS DD and DD+ ship with the same power supply and upon inspection, the two units use different components on their power delivery circuitry internally

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WILL FULLFORCE BE AVAILABLE ON OLDER FANATEC MODELS?:

No. Fanatec have stated that FullForce will not be released for any older products. This includes the CSL DD, GT DD Pro, Podium DD1 and Podium DD2. This is due to hardware limitations on these models. Upon our inspection, the new CS DD and DD+ use a completely different processor with a 300MHz clock speed compared to the 70MHz processor found in the aforementioned models.

CAN THE CS DD AND DD+ BE USED WITH QR1 WHEELS?:

The CS DD and DD+ ship with a QR2 stem pre-installed. There will be an accessory (shown in our video) which will allow you to downgrade to QR1 should you wish to do so. This is not recommended by us as it has a detrimental impact on the driving experience and quality of the Force Feedback.

DOES THE CS DD AND DD+ USE THE SAME MOUNTS AS OTHER FANATEC PRODUCTS?:

Yes. The CS DD and DD+ feature identical mounting points to the CSL DD and GT DD Pro. There is a new ClubSport Table Clamp available, however we have not yet tested this. The CS DD and DD+ will fit on any cockpit which is compatible with the CSL DD and GT DD Pro.

IS THERE AN EMERGENCY STOP BUTTON?:

No. The CS DD and DD+ do not have provision for the connection of an Emergency Stop Button. However you could connect one in line with the power supply if you wished to do so.

WHAT IS THE GAP BETWEEN THE BASE AND WHEEL?:

THis will vary from wheel to wheel, however on the CS DD and DD+ the wheel will sit 35mm closer to the base than it does on the CSL DD, GT DD Pro, DD1 and DD2.

WILL FANATEC SELL A SHAFT EXTENSION?:

We have been told there is one in the works, however, we have no further detail on this currently.

CAN FULLFORCE BE TURNED OFF?:

Yes. You can adjust FullForce via the tuning menu in 1% increments from 0% to 100%.

IS TORQUE LIMITED WHEN USING A SIMPLIFIED QR1 OR QR2 LITE?

Yes. On both the CS DD and DD+, torque is limited to 8NM when using the Simplified QR1 or QR2 Lite.