Soelpec Spectra LT - REVIEW

Today we’re taking a detailed look at the Soelpec Spectra LT, a premium offering from a relatively new player that’s quickly making waves in the sim racing community. As the screen-free sibling to the flagship Spectra XR, the Spectra LT maintains most of the premium features while coming in at a more accessible price point.  But it’s still a hefty investment, so let’s take a look at exactly what you get!

From the moment you unbox the Spectra LT, it’s clear this is a premium product. The wheel features a 6061 anodized aluminum construction with a genuine carbon fiber center plate that immediately communicates quality. At 1,200g without the rear hub, it strikes an excellent balance – substantial enough to feel premium without having a significant damping effect on your Force Feedback.

The thin profile is particularly impressive, making it more compact than many competitors without sacrificing rigidity. There’s no meaningful flex or creaking, even when intentionally twisting the wheel with great force.

Small details reveal the attention that went into the design – from the high-quality USB connection to the high quality touch points and stickers.

The Spectra LT features a 302mm diameter, placing it in the sweet spot for both formula and GT-style driving. The 50A overmold silicone grips provide excellent grip without becoming overly tacky during extended sessions – a notable improvement over some competitors whose grip material can collect dirt and become uncomfortable over time.

Button placement is thoughtfully designed, with a great range of controls readily accessible without changing hand position. The face buttons are arranged logically, making it easy to build muscle memory even when racing in VR. Then the addition of push buttons on the rear of the wheel within reach of your index finger adds another level of quick access control which is particularly useful for Formula 1 cars and the plethora of parameters you might want to adjust mid-corner.

The 700g tactile switches deserve special mention – they provide just the right amount of resistance with a satisfying click that confirms activation. These buttons won’t trigger accidentally but remain easy to activate even when wearing gloves.

The PMMA button caps with integrated LED diffusers enhance the RGB illumination, creating even, vibrant lighting that’s easily visible in any lighting condition.

A thoughtful design touch is the recessed button design that allows the textured PVC film stickers to sit flush with the surface. This prevents the common issue of stickers shifting or peeling during intensive use – a small but significant improvement over several competitors where sticker movement can become irritating over time.

Like most premium wheels today, the Spectra LT integrates with SimHub for its advanced features. What sets it apart is the exceptional out-of-box experience with sophisticated prebuilt profiles that require minimal tweaking.

The dedicated settings button provides access to on-wheel adjustments for clutch modes, LED brightness, and other functions directly from the wheel – a feature normally reserved for wheels with integrated displays.  You then have visual feedback of adjustments being made via LEDs or by using the downloadable Soelpec dashes on an external screen or as an overlay on your primary display.  You can also use the Soelpec settings dash as an additional layer over the top of any other Simhub dash! This makes your creativity the limit to what can be done, which is an excellent achievement for such an intuitive system with a very streamlined workflow once you are familiar with its capabilities.  This is particularly valuable when driving in VR with the Soelpec dash running as an overlay.

Soelpec has cultivated an active community with growing support, and users regularly share custom profiles for specific games and use cases. This ecosystem adds significant value, especially for users who may not want to create profiles from scratch.

Conclusion

The Soelpec Spectra LT delivers exceptional build quality, extensive inputs, sophisticated lighting, and excellent ergonomics at a premium price point. For sim racers who prefer external displays or VR, it offers all the premium features of the Spectra XR minus the integrated screen, maintaining the same excellent build quality and attention to detail.

While the price places it firmly in the high-end category, the Spectra LT justifies its cost through thoughtful design choices, premium materials, and an input array that rivals or exceeds most competitors. Small touches like the recessed stickers, perfect button feel, and customizable lighting demonstrate Soelpec’s commitment to quality over cutting corners.

For serious sim racers looking to make a long-term investment in their setup, the Spectra LT represents one of the most complete offerings on the market today, with build quality and features that should satisfy even the most demanding users.