The Next Level Racing HF8 Haptic Feedback Gaming Pad is an easy and affordable way to enhance your Sim Racing, gaming, movie or music experience. Its philosophy is similar to that of the Buttkicker Gamer 2 Haptic Transducer system, but with some unique features that make it stand out.
If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to add haptic feedback to your sim rig or gaming setup, the Next Level Racing HF8 is definitely worth considering. In this article, we’ll look at the key features of the HF8, the pros and cons, and whether it’s a good investment for your gaming setup.
So let’s see how the experience of using a Next Level Racing HF8 stacks up to the Buttkicker and much more expensive motion systems.
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Next Level Racing HF8 - Key Features
- 8 individually controlled vibration motors
- Telemetry-controlled haptic feedback through NLR HFS Software or Simhub
- Works on consoles through audio mode
- Quick and easy installation
The NLR HF8 features 8 vibration motors that provide feedback to your body, allowing for a more immersive experience. The haptic feedback is controlled through the NLR HFS Software or Simhub and can be used with consoles through audio mode. The installation process is quick and easy, making it a convenient addition to your setup.
Next Level Racing HF8 - HFS Compatibility
The NLR HF8 is compatible with the following Racing Games through the HFS Software. Any games not listed can be used in Audio mode, but this is a significantly diminished experience.
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- Assetto Corsa
- Assetto Corsa Competizione
- Automobilista 2
- F1 2020
- F1 2021
- F1 2022
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- iRacing
- Kartkraft
- Project Cars 2
- Project Cars 3
- Flight Sims:
- Microsoft Flight Simulator
- X-Plane 11
Pros and Cons of the Next Level Racing HF8
Pros
- Easy to install on most cockpits or chairs
- High-quality textiles
- Comfortable
- 8 vibration motors provide useful feedback to your body
- Vibration motors are close to your body, so are not dampened by your cockpit as with the Buttkicker
- Very quiet in operation
Cons
- Vibration motors seem like on/off effects compared to the wide frequency range of haptic transducers
- Internals can not be removed to wash the pad
- Audio mode is not very inspiring on titles not supported by HFS
For me, the Next Level Racing HF8 will provide more detailed information about what your car is doing than a single Buttkicker setup can do. This is due to the array of 8 vibration motors spread around your body. However, each motor does not have the same level of depth in its feedback as a haptic transducer has. So for me, a 4 x Buttkicker setup is a much better experience, but that will cost 4 times as much! The NLR HF8 is also an excellent option if you need your gaming to remain quiet for those around you. Buttkickers and any other motion system can be quite loud to the point of being unusable if you need to consider people sleeping or studying nearby.
As an entry into haptic feedback, the HF8 does a great job for a good price. And I don’t think you will be disappointed with the experience or quality of the unit if you go ahead and purchase an HF8. The design of the pad has really impressed me and I would LOVE to see the same design with 8 x Transducer pucks rather than the vibration motors. This would most certainly be a big step up in immersion, but also a huge jump in price.
