If you didn't keep taking it for walks around town all the time, these videos would take much less time to make 😃 I swear if I see one lying in the street or down by the duck pond I'm picking it up and running.
What a great review as always LD !!! As you know I cancel my order for the CSL DD because on the date and I don't regret a bit. I'm so so happy with the Alpha Mini that it hurt me when I have to jump out of the rig. I would be all day on it!!! Thanks again for all your helpful videos and for such a great community you have build.
hahaha wow nice :) I think that people will have a similar experience with the Fanatec. I can't wait to try it out! Enjoyment is the #1 thing we strive for in sim racing. Most of us, anyways :)
Fantastic review! I purchased the Alpha Mini twice: once with a GT1-R wheel, and once with a GT4 wheel. Now selling one of the Alpha MINI base units to end up with one Alpha Mini base and two wheels!
So... I had placed an order for a CSL DD yesterday with a ship date of 30th November - I saw this video this morning, cancelled my fanatec and order and ordered one of these with the GT4 wheel. It's arriving Monday. AHHHH!!!! Am sticking with V3 pedals though, doesn't seem to be anything out there of equivalent feature set / quality for the price. Thanks Laurence. I hope it's a as good as you've described. Moving up from a G920, so I'm sure it's going to be a very different experience. Great video BTW, really felt your passion for the brand (to the tune of £900!)
Very thorough review, it's surprising how little it differs from the big brother alpha. With fanatec offering csl dd with very little availability, and a bit of controversy with the 8nm power supply pricing, simagic alpha mini is in perfect spot to make a dent in the market with a product that is superior in direct comparison. Looking through comments how some people decided to cancel the order on csl dd or sell it if they had one, it seems to be happening right before our eyes. Competition is always healthy for the market, and it may push simagic to keep improving. The biggest thing fanatec has going for themselves is the ecosystem and the price and variety of rims - you can get a round rim and a gt style rim, both decently packed with features, for the price of single one from simagic. Quality wise there might be a noticeable difference, but the amount of money you'd have to spend is also noticeable. Simagic seems to know what they are doing, so I'm looking forward to see what they will do in future.
As always, your comments are just excellent. Thanks for taking the time and putting your thoughts into words. I agree with your sentiments. This is a great time to be a sim racer!
I've subscribed because I think you did an amazing job reviewing this Alpha Mini. I will really think about it since I'm looking for a DD right now. good job again
Absolutely top notch like always Laurence, much love brother and it's always good to see you come by in the Simagic discord server :) i love my Mini and recommend it to anyone that is looking at one, very much worth the price.
I'm just so thankful that you didn't get shanked running around what looks to be a pretty dodgy open mall with premium sim gear and a camera. Thanks for risking life and limb for us.
Idk if I'm gonna regret this but, I just canceled my CSL DD to get this wheelbase instead. It justs looks like an overall better wheelbase, with maybe the exception of more expensive wheels, but the wheels are still high quality so I'm willing to take the risk. Thanks for the review mate, just subbed 👍
Wow! Well it’s entirely up to you and makes very little difference to me what you choose to do. I can’t say if it’s the right move without trying the fanatec ans learning to embrace the fanatec ecosystem properly. I don’t think you’ll regret your decision, and I don’t think anyone who decides the opposite will regret it either. We are living in a golden age for sim racing!
@@LaurenceDusoswa Hahahaha I'm well aware my decision doesn't affect you lol 🤣 I just wanted to share my experiences, but I completely agree with you when you say that either is a great option and that we are living in a gold age of sim racing. Honestly I'm just happy to be finally getting a Direct Drive Base after years of saving money lol 🤣
Hahaha I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I think that you would enjoy either option but all I know is that the alpha mini is a solid choice. It’s pretty incredible! You’ll love it!
Here in the U.S.A the Sim Magic mini bundle is $1000 while the Fanatec CSL DD 8nm can be bought with a wheel for $680. That price difference will just about cover adding a set of Fanatec V3 load cell pedals for close to the same total cost as the Sim Magic base and wheel alone. Not saying one is better than the other but as an owner of Fanatec products for quite a while and recently added the CSL DD 8nm wheelbase budget wise the CSL is a better buy and the v3 pedals are a well constructed set, also everything does work off of the same software which I find to be another positive. With Fanatec also continuing to grow market share you will find more games are starting to include plug n play control presets for the products in the Fanatec eco system. Again not a deal making or breaking feature but a nice addition that simplifies jumping into a new game. This looks interesting but not to the point of my leaving Fanatec products or their eco system.
Yeah they’re two different product that are both in the entry level direct drive space. Fanatec’s ecosystem is tempting for sure :) Thanks for the great comment. This type of insight is really important for people.
Old comment but I need to chime in; in Canada, after all the shipping and import taxes, the Alpha Mini and GTS wheel combo is about 20$ cheaper then the CSL DD with the plastic CSL P1 V2 wheel. The Simagic combo makes it a better deal; more power and a much nicer wheel.
Every review you put out is a masterpiece of editing, framing and beautiful cinematic shots. Seriously, the outside shots is really something that is unique to your channel and elevates the video's to a whole new level! Great thorough review, with fair criticisms and your honest opinions. I'm excited to see how the Thrustmaster DD will turn out, because I already have some wheel rims for that ecosystem. However, if the Thrustmaster option is a piece of poop... I think I know what DD option I'll look at first. Keep up the good work LD! And doesn't it feel like yesterday when you hit 7K subscribers...?
Haha thanks for the great comment! I want to test all the entry level DD units. I have no real interest in the top end Simucube ultimate or anything that’s out of reach. Thrustmaster and logitech need to start making moves now. I cannot see a company like TM creating a bad DD. And I’d be surprised if they’re not. As for the framing and editing, thanks! The shakiness probably annoys some but I haven’t invested in the proper equipment to make everything super smooth yet. That’s a significant investment and maybe some day it will be more professional again. Until then, I’m delighted with the results and the main thing that’s important is that people get some good information to help them to decide whether a product is for them or not. :) Thanks again!!!
@@LaurenceDusoswa Ya man you will be one of the bigger channels if you keep up this kind of production. If you ever want to Collab on a video let me know. ;)
@@DouglasThompson thanks! Yeah I want to do some collab stuff when time allows me to. Right now I'm all over the place with young kids, full time job, etc :)
@@LaurenceDusoswa I get you...I got family in town and it's hard to squeeze out videos sometimes. I'm sitting on hours and hours of footage that I'm still piecing together. Many people don't realize the effort of editing your own content can be immense. Even a seemingly simple short video can take 6-8 hours of editing. I 100% understand! ;)
As someone who has ordered a CSL DD, this does look more premium. I did consider this as well, but like you said in the video, the high price of the wheel rims was what kept me with the CSL DD. This does seem to be a great product in its own right, though!
Yeah that’s the biggest decider right now. People need to be able to justify the purchase and paying €450 for a ‘basic’ steering wheel just doesn’t really make sense when you pay €595 for the wheelbase.
@@Faithfps yep definitely. But simagic should be offering a basic rim too for around €250. They would sell far more units. Or better again, make the GT1 €250 and introduce a GT2 rim for €450 which is better than the GT1
Talk about a thorough review, I don't see anyone not wanting this after watching your review. And what about the Simwear.eu surprise??!! I'm gonna sign up
Hahaha I pump a lot of time into these reviews and I’m glad that shows. Simwear are absolutely amazing giving this away to the public! I hope that many people buy through them now! Winner will be announced on the 8th of October
In 2023 I chose this over the csl dd or the Moza r9. I hope I made the right decision as my order will be here within a day or two. The things I considered is that the csl dd has a weak QR system and it has a little less power at 8nm. The Moza r9 seemed like the next obvious choice but I saw you and a couple of other people mention that if you get the round wheel its weight holds the R9 back some. I did not particularly want the GS wheel as I don't do F1 racing and I don't like that the GS wheel has alacantara. So I decided to order the alpha mini as it has more power than the csl and has better wheel options than moza. Hopefully I made the right choice.
Great review as always Laurence!! Was waiting for this!! Of course the question remains, Alpha Mini VS CSL DD? I hope you get a chance to test the CSL DD soon as I love your reviews and value your opinions. Currently have all Thrustmaster gear so either will be a huge upgrade. I'm leaning towards the Alpha Mini but then need to figure out pedal and H-pattern solutions. If I went with FANATEC they have the ecosystem already in place (shifter V1.5/ V3 pedals). I race in VR so immersion is a priority. Take care dude!
Yeah the ecosystem plays a huge part for sure! Send fanatec a message asking them if they can send me one for review ;) I don’t have any contact with them about products but hope for that to change in the near future
Go with Simagic, you should do some research into how shoddy fanatecs warranty can be, they also make you pay for shipping back to them and all of their gear is so overpriced. Come to the Simagic discord server!
@@DavidGarcia-oi5nt That's sad, my 9 year old gt3 rs v2 wheel finally broke entirely and previously I had had parts shipped to me from their support with good communication.
Exceelent review LD, It's a great time to be a consumer of simracing products! I think if their eco system was more developed with more options they'd be snapped up left and right in large quantities! £1k for a 10NM DD base (with wheel) from Simagic and £800 for an 8NM DD base (with wheel) from Fanatec is an exceptional place for the market to be in for us all!
Yeah it's really exciting! I know it's still a lot of money but you spend more time using your sim racing rig in a year than you would if you took a nice holiday. It's totally worth the investment! Thanks for the comment!
Yeah, but if they could offer another steering wheel 100 or 150 euros cheaper it will devastate the CSL DD because for almost the same price you would have better construction base, better QR and 10 Nm. They need to find the way to sale a cheaper wheel.
Thanks for review, I just cancel my CSL DD pre-order (which is including 2 Wheel and V3 Pedal). My Simagic order is on the way. I ended up spending double budget than Fanatec’s package including of Alpha Mini + 2 Wheel and their new hydraulic pedal. Finally, I dont need to wait and hope my order is going to delay anymore. I will update when I get it. Thanks again for your detail and enthusiastic review which made up my mind. Hopefully my decision is right.
I hope you will enjoy it all :) I haven't used the pedals yet so cannot just but most people who buy the simagic wheelbases, love them. Si I'm pretty confident that you'll be the same :)
@@LaurenceDusoswa thanks mate. I have the same feeling too. Just join your discord channel for more discussion. I will update my setup and feeling about pedal to discord.
@@voongnz The pedal is great, but mine is older version (the yellow one). This version is replaced by red version, which is fixing the older version. The older version has problem about oil leaking. Mine also is leaking oil from gas pedal. Too bad, I have to return to China and wait for replacing gas piston. It will take over month of waiting. If you are interested in P2000 pedal. Please wait to see how red version will be better or not.
Watching again... wheel is at the house and I'm stuck at work on the tugboat... I think this is going on the 5th or 6th time. Can't wait to get it setup.
You wrote this comment on boosted media: "Cheers for the shout out :) it’s funny that the experience is so subjective but I can’t disagree with the lack of road feel on iRacing. I find iracing ffb nowhere near as good as many other sims though so I kind of treated that as being part of the iracing experience. I had a similar experience with both the sc2 pro and the simplicity sw20. Great review, super detail, pardon the pun. For the price, I still chose the alpha over the SC2 pro." Is this still the case ? is the ffb not so good on iracing ? i only play iracing that's why i would like to know.
It depends on the cars but times have changed and the alpha now has even ffb than it did back then thanks to new firmware. Also, iRacing is getting better when it comes to the feel of the road and tyres these days. I use mainly iRacing right now and really enjoy most cars. I don’t enjoy the 992 force feedback but it might just be how they handle, I can’t comment. I love my alpha and I can’t see myself replacing it with anything else in the near future
Great follow up mate. I was one of those folks who actually cancelled my CSL DD order after watching your initial review. No regrets after watching this. You've done pretty well to highlight the perks and flaws. People seem to forget there's no such thing as a perfect product because if there was, we'd all own it lol. Managed to get in on the early bird pricing. It should be here in the next week or two. Sadly shipping to Australia is a bit rubbish at the moment which obviously isnt their fault. Do you do much ACC stuff?
@@LaurenceDusoswa that's pretty understandable. Being an Aussie, my entire exposure to motorsport is touring car/sedan/production car racing so it was a pretty natural gravitation to GT3. Id love to see more 90s DTM stuff fwiw! Maybe give the Alfa 155 a spin. 13000 rpm is sooooo good.
Great review Laurence. I have just sold my CSL DD as i was underwhelmed. Yes for people moving from a logitech or Thrustmaster but coming from the CSW its just didnt perform for me. So my next purchase has narrowed down to the VRS, but i cant get one. The Simucube 2 Pro. Maybe this is a consideration, or one of the higher nM variants.
pity about the CSL DD. I haven't used one properly yet, only at the expo. Settings can be difficult to hone in but from my limited time on the CSL DD it would definitely be at least as good as the CSW, otherwise there's just something wrong.
If you can afford it, get the SC2. It'll be the last base you ever buy. They have bombproof reliability, amazing performance, and enough power that you won't find yourself wishing you had a little more. It has the headroom to get the finer sensations without ever running into clipping. I have an SC1 and I never even consider buying a new base, so I'm sure an SC2 will leave you very satisfied. Then you'll be looking for high end pedals...
hahaha thanks so much! My apologies for the delayed response! I try to keep my reviews short. This is actually my longest review, and i will try to keep future ones shorter :) Glad you're enjoying the channel!
Lovely review! Still a little too pricey for myself, been looking at the R5 bundle or the Fanatec 5.5nm bundle as that one can have the boost pack too! Only issue is trying to find a UK fanatec supplier! Simagic mini looks bloody brilliant though!
Thanx for a great review Laurence! A friend of mine just bought himself a mini and he seems VERY happy with his purchase. Wouldn't mind getting my hands on one. Do you know when they will be announcing the winner?
Wow thanks Chris! It’s something that’s important to me. People are taking the time to communicate so the least I can do is acknowledge and respond. As time goes on and the channel grows, it will become more difficult. But for now, let’s enjoy the ride 😂
Thanks! I could easily have sunk another 10 hours into the edit but I had to draw the line somewhere 😂😂😂 it’s a lot of effort but the end product is worth it I feel.
Great review, ive been looking at DD wheels for awhile, currently using a g920 and i mostly do drifting and sometimes track racing, i know the alpha mini will be a massive upgrade and probably the first and last DD wheel ill need but just looking to get a opinion first before i get one.
@@Bdaddybear Yeah, got my alpha mini about 2-3 weeks ago and its an insane difference, i can actually feel what the the car is doing/going to do and feel much more confident in pushing my limits with the amount of control i have now compared to logitech. 100% worth it
Loving the content mate, considering buying one now , just wondering what hand break and pedals you would recommend going with / can it be used with other gear such as fanatec
I currently run the VNM shifter and handbrake. excellent combo. However, changing between sequential and h pattern is a lot slower with the VNM than with some other brands.
Haha I think that the sc2 sport is definitely a step above the alpha mini but it can’t match the quick release and steering wheel rims. The ffb is better on the sc2 sport but the overall experience of owning a Simagic alpha mini suits me better, provided I have both rims. It’s far cheaper also.
Correct @MrTemplarious. I have both the alpha and the sc2 sport and have decided to stick with the alpha. But mainly because I anticipate SC3 is coming soon.
@@LaurenceDusoswa Really??? but they just launched the SC2 two years ago, right? My SC2 Sport is on the way. Tomorrow I´ll pick up from the post office. I can´t wait for try it.
I don’t have any insider info and I’m just speculating. It may still be years away but I know they’re working on a steering wheel and besides that, I can’t justify having an SC2 sport sitting on a shelf when I paid for it with channel money. It’s just not a good investment unless I’m using it. I still recommend everyone to buy SC2 for the absolute best force feedback
Good video and I was considering buying this before the CSL DD arrived early so kept an eye on your thoughts. One thing, that put me off, I don't think you mentioned is that the warranty is only 1 year which I think is important to consider regarding the value of it.
yeah I haven't covered warranty in this video. To be honest, something like this with this build quality, if it doesn't break in year 1, it probably wont.
@@LaurenceDusoswa that's fair, I have little experience with sim racing hardware so I treat it like all my other tech goodies. Even so, I'd expect that, if what you're saying is true, then why not offer two years or more. Maybe there is a good reason that we're not privy to but being lower than standard in Europe/ UK doesn't inspire confidence in me.
Laurence I love your videos. I am brand new to Sim Racing and I just used your affiliate link to purchase a Fanatec CLS v2. I was sold after your genuine satisfaction and excitement with the product. Now I am debating between a Simagic Alpha Mini and Moza R9. Moza presents such a good value that I really wanted to get into their ecosystem, but the CS wheel has me wishing it was a bit smaller since you mentioned its flaws on the R9. I want a wheel that I could use for trying everything out in the beginning, and I'm thinking a 300mm round wheel would be the one. This is where I consider Simagic as they have a GT sport wheel that meets that criteria, but the base and wheel are pricier. It is down to these 2 companies for me because of their quick release. If you have any suggestions, preference between these products, or advice, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your fantastic reviews.
@@LaurenceDusoswa Would Alpha Mini + GTS Wheel & Fanatec CSL Elite Pedals V2 be your recommendation for the budget choices to get a set up that feels close to real? I’m trying to build a rig for my elderly father. He’s a huge car and racing fan, but hasn’t been able to enjoy anything around them for some time. I’m hoping sim driving can give him a hobby that’s worth getting up for everyday to improve quality of life and maybe even longevity (hobby participation is a big indicator for longevity in elderly people). He tried one of those ultra awful wheels and pedals back in the PS1 days and never played another driving game because it didn’t feel anything like a real car. I want to do a build that could convince him, but it’s def stretching my budget to do direct drive, load cell, and a cockpit. And I probably only get once chance for him to try it and be convinced to get into it.
Hi Laurence, great review! Not sure if you've had experience with the Moza R9 base but if you have, how does this compare? A step up in the range, how would you rate the R16 against the Alpha seeing as you've tested both?
Great video, do you think the price gap between mini and alpha matches the performance improvement. And also do you think the price gap between alpha and FANATEC dd1 matches the performance improvement
The mini is the best value of the 3 you mention. I would recommend the alpha still if you can afford it. I can’t speak for the DD1 as I haven’t reviewed one
Hahaha it’s a tough choice. For me it would be the mini but there’s no denying that the VRS likely has better ability to translate details due to the higher torque range.
I didn’t but I heard of some who set inertia or suspension too high. Also there is a newer firmware than the 7050 version which I believe helps to address the issue
Nobody has them yet and I think the resellers are only just getting them now. If you want me to review a set, you’re going to have to ask your reseller or directly message simagic
Fantastic review--thank you for posting it! I have a question for you. In the comments for another video of yours, you had mentioned that if one can afford it, it's worth it to get the alpha over the alpha mini. In this video, at 16:14, you mentioned that "if someone snuck into (your) rig and replaced (your) alpha with an alpha mini....(you) probably wouldn't notice the switch for several days." This sort of makes it sound like you're saying that maybe it's not worth it to get the alpha haha. :) I'm in the US, and there is currently a $270 price difference between the alpha mini bundle, and the alpha bundle. Given what you said in this video, and the current $270 price difference, do you feel it is worth it to buy the alpha instead of the mini?
@@LaurenceDusoswa Actually, one more question--at about that same timestamp, you said, "despite my settings needing to be adjusted..." Do you recall how you adjusted the settings between the alpha and alpha mini? I didn't catch it in this video, if you mentioned it. Did you just lower the gain settings when going to the alpha, given that it has slightly more power?
Greetings from Russia ! Great review ! I am planing ordering this unit in a next few days . One dumb question for you . Buying a steering wheel without dual clutch option would I be able to use gear shifter and a clutch pedal ?
Great review! The wheels are so expensive like you mentioned and I want a GT style and round wheel. That makes even de DD1 with 2 rims from Fanatec fly back in the picture because of the relative cheap mclaren V2. Not a fan of the customer service from Fanatec so its a hard egg to crack for me. Would it be possible to put a random round wheel on it? I don’t need the buttons when I Rally/drift
Yes, you can add a generic rim as long as you have a quick release. You don’t need buttons. But I do think that the wheel rim buttons are worth the investment. Maybe buy without a wheel rim and keep an eye out for second hand Simagic wheel rims on the Simagic owner group on Facebook or discord
Nice review. Do you think worth getting the Alpha instead the mini for U$200 difference? I'm already having a big upgrade from logitech g25 and not planning to upgrade for long time after this.
You’re very welcome :) I cannot answer that question because I have never owned a DD1. Perhaps a good question for the Facebook owner group where someone with the right experience can advise you :)
Im on the fence between this and the VRS DF pro. Difference would be approx 220 USD between both. Do you think the VRS is worth the extra 220 USD? | Also just seen a post on Iracing forum that the Alpha mini actually outputs approx 13nm
I haven't used the VRS but have used similar motors. For me, it's simple. the alpha mini has a nice QR, less cables, smaller form factor and 2 good WIRELESS steering wheel rims options. But if the torque is your main interest, the VRS is a great buy too.
Genuine review, nice to watch, nice to follow. Time stamps would be nice as well, for quick find if you wanna re-listen to a part or two :) Signed up to their newsletter as well, but not sure how he will know that my sign up is not just a random guy from the internet, but your follower? :)
It has timestamps in the description but youtube hasn't hotlinked them yet. The thumbnail isn't loading either so i think YT is having some issues. hahaha well right now, I'm the only one to have announced this competition. But I just hope everyone in our community enters and hopefully someone who we know will win!
Great content and review!I have a CSLD DD8nm but thinking of this one (dont like the QR on fanatec CSL DD its bad).Do you know if something goes wrong and base needs fixing is there service in EU that can fix it.Or it has to be shipped in China?Thanks a lot
Currently on a fanatec 2.5. I'm trying to decide between the alpha and the alpha mini. I haven't seen many comparisons between the 2. I understand they are similar and really the only big difference is the torque output but even then apparently simmagic was a bit conservative with their torque numbers seeing as the mini has been measured at 13 peak. Maybe you can help clear up some of the uncertainty around which one to choose? Is the 500 (give or take) dollars future proofing myself by going with the alpha or is the mini enough of an upgrade? I'm not a pro by any stretch of the imagination but I do like to invest in my hobbies and enjoy myself to the max potential I can. I guess it is hard to imagine what that 5nm difference actually feels like in regards to sensitivity in ffb. Any insight?
If you can afford the alpha, get it. But even if the alpha didn't exist, I'd say "get the alpha mini because it's incredible". Buy the one you can afford. The alpha mini is a great upgrade from a fanatec CSW2.5 but if you really want a big jump, get the alpha :)
I just sold my T300 after a year of sim-racing and am going to get the mini soon. But man, I'm still unable to overcome the fear/regret of possibly wanting more nm in the future, despite you repeatedly stating that this is a decent 'forever wheel' and it's the best '13nm' DD I could afford right now.
It’s a great wheelbase. Don’t worry about higher powered bases. Enjoy your mini and forget about the rest of the world. The difference between a 911 Carrera 4S and a 911 GT3 RS is also big… that doesn’t mean that the Carrera 4S isn’t an amazing car. Same with the mini. Enjoy it :) many dream of being in your position
Hello, recently i have been looking into buying a Direct Drive wheel. Would you recommend the Simagic Alpha mini over the Moza R9? I am currently running a T300.
@@LaurenceDusoswa Thanks for the reply. I will look into the Simagic Alpha mini then. By the way, which formula/gt style wheel would you recommend for a Simagic wheelbase? (FX, FX-Pro, GT4)
8:22 - "I find that the overall gain, wheelspeed & damper make the most difference to your force feedback experience" Well yeha, no shit that changing the most influential settings changes the experience & what you feel through the wheel
Might be obvious to you buddy, no need to belittle those who are learning this information for the first time and worry that all the settings’ sliders may be somehow equal. Thanks for watching though and taking the time to comment.
Are you able to add a column extension to this base easily ?? guessing the wireless connection is going to possibly be an issue unless you can release it from the column and there is some slack cable for you to thread through the new extension ?
@@LaurenceDusoswa Yeah I agree, watched BR's teardown after posting this question, limiting factor seems the wireless range........not a huge deal tho I think, still looks like a good wheelbase setup.
The Alpha-mini is reasonably priced at $529 USD but the rest of the ecosystem turned me off , the Alpha-mini , wheel and pedals will set you back almost 2,000 USD whereas the Fanatec CSL DD, McLaren GT3 wheel and CSL Elite pedals total up to $800 USD which I'm sure you're aware of , great video 💪💪💪
Yep once you factor in pedals it gets pricey. I have no doubt that the Simagic pedals will be a different league to the CSL elite and v3 pedals but there are no such entry level pedals options in the Simagic space. Just remember that you can use fanatec pedals on their own with a USB adapter if you want cheap pedals. The Simagic wheel rims are expensive, albeit worth it, but they really need some entry level wheel rims.
@@LaurenceDusoswa I already ordered the fanatec set-up , If Simagic had an entry/mid-range ecosystem centered around the Alpha mini I would've considered their products ( keep in mind I'm coming from the gutter with the T150 LOL)
Love your vid's they are great. After saving for a long long time i finally almost can buy a dd bundle. Should i go for the GT4 single clutch or the dual clutch for a other €100,00 more, are they worth it?
What hardware would you recommend for the Playseat Trophy? Is it pointless getting a VRS setup and dialing down the base and pedals or would it still be beneficial? I dont really plan to upgrade to a profile rig. Otherwise if VRS is a waste of money on a Trophy i thought maybe the best setup could be the Alpha Mini and CSL V2's.
I bought the g923 recently now I wanna buy the alpha mini after using the g923 for awhile, whats your opinions on the m10 vs the alpha mini other than the motor wise?
As said in the video the alpha mini looks better and is smoother. It has been a while since I used the m10 but I remember it to be really good too. I wouldn’t bother changing from an m10 to an alpha mini unless you really wanted to.
Hi Laurence, Alpha combo vs Alpha Mini combo. Trying to decide between these two. Combo difference with GT1 wheel is $220. There are many individual reviews but unable to find any direct comparison review or youtube video. Games are AC/ACC/AMS2/RF2/DR2.0 i enjoy driving all types of vehicles. What would be the deciding factor between these bases and why would a person buy one over the other...? Thanks.
They are both very good and the alpha for me is worth the extra $220. You just get more power which means you get more ability to translate those details. As always, buy the one you can afford. This is similar to deciding between a 3.0 litre engine and a 4.5litre engine, but without the maintenance and running costs. If you can afford the 4.5, DO IT :)
I'm having a hard time choosing between the Simagic Alpha Mini with their GTS rim or just settling with a Fanatec CSL DD instead. I can have a CSL DD with a 300mm rim for 650 euros where the Alpha Mini with GTS rim would cost me 1050 euros. The Alpha Mini seems really great but I'm not sure if the 400 euros price increase is worth it over the Fanatec setup, especially since my best pedal option seems to be the Fanatec CSL Elite V2's which means it would all be from the same ecosystem. How much better would the Simagic setup really be?
Do you know if the new GT4 wheel has the same rubber grips under the alcantara as your first edition has? After owning the regular Alpha with the GT1 R rim for a while now the next step would be to buy the GT4 rim aswell. The wireless integration with the QR is too good to consider other rim brands! But I am kind of worrid about the wear of those alcantara grips. Would be nice if I could just remove the alcantara when they are worn down :)
Laurence, you are my last hope it seems... Did you ever manage to make the Simagic Alpha Mini work in Project cars 2 or Automobilista 2? It never works for me. Very difficult to even assign and calibrate, have to reduce the rotation to tiny angles. But even after that, in game there is 0 movement from the wheel. All the buttons are recognized, even axis of the paddles, but not the rotational axis. Tried with all settings I could on the Simagic software and in game, same result in both of those games.
Would it be possible to mount it on a normal PC desk, as the Fanatec CSL DD? Are there other wheels, compatible with this wheelbase? Like, Fanatec, Moza, Simcube?
My English is very rusty, I don't understand it very well. What other quick release did you use for Steering wheel no simagic. I mean, I saw you using a simagic QR on a steering wheel from clubcontrols, however, I saw "other" quickreleases being used on other steering wheels (but I couldn't tell if they were from Simagic or another manufacturer.)
I think that someone has made a table clamp but I am not sure and don’t know if it would be any good. Check the Simagic owner group on Facebook or the Simagic discord
I liked the CSL DD but it wouldn’t be fair to compare them after 10 minutes of use. I need to get one on my own rig and spend time with it. I think that people will be happy with either one.
@@LaurenceDusoswa ughhh I am so close to canceling my csl dd and grabbing the mini… I would have to jerry rig my gt lite to make it work though….. why is being poor such a problem!!! Lol
If you didn't keep taking it for walks around town all the time, these videos would take much less time to make 😃 I swear if I see one lying in the street or down by the duck pond I'm picking it up and running.
Hahahaha it’s only a matter of time before someone does a DD jacking and leaves me for dead on the kerb 😂
😂😂
What a great review as always LD !!! As you know I cancel my order for the CSL DD because on the date and I don't regret a bit. I'm so so happy with the Alpha Mini that it hurt me when I have to jump out of the rig. I would be all day on it!!! Thanks again for all your helpful videos and for such a great community you have build.
hahaha wow nice :) I think that people will have a similar experience with the Fanatec. I can't wait to try it out! Enjoyment is the #1 thing we strive for in sim racing. Most of us, anyways :)
Fantastic review!
I purchased the Alpha Mini twice: once with a GT1-R wheel, and once with a GT4 wheel. Now selling one of the Alpha MINI base units to end up with one Alpha Mini base and two wheels!
Hahaha Nice! Whoever buys it will be delighted. Are you in my discord? There’s a buy and sell channel in there and we have people all over the world
@@LaurenceDusoswa Discord? That's one of them fancy internets social media thingies, right? 😉 ....going there now....
Hello! :)
Who did you buy it from?
After my 3rd CSL DD delay, I cancelled my order and ordered this friday. Cant wait to get mine in :) thx for the review.
ah that sucks, but glad you'll get your alpha mini really soon!
So... I had placed an order for a CSL DD yesterday with a ship date of 30th November - I saw this video this morning, cancelled my fanatec and order and ordered one of these with the GT4 wheel. It's arriving Monday. AHHHH!!!! Am sticking with V3 pedals though, doesn't seem to be anything out there of equivalent feature set / quality for the price. Thanks Laurence. I hope it's a as good as you've described. Moving up from a G920, so I'm sure it's going to be a very different experience. Great video BTW, really felt your passion for the brand (to the tune of £900!)
DC simracing pedals are great value for the money, i got myself a set and they are brillant.
hahaha thanks for the comment! You probably have your wheelbase now already. how are you liking it?
Very thorough review, it's surprising how little it differs from the big brother alpha.
With fanatec offering csl dd with very little availability, and a bit of controversy with the 8nm power supply pricing, simagic alpha mini is in perfect spot to make a dent in the market with a product that is superior in direct comparison. Looking through comments how some people decided to cancel the order on csl dd or sell it if they had one, it seems to be happening right before our eyes. Competition is always healthy for the market, and it may push simagic to keep improving.
The biggest thing fanatec has going for themselves is the ecosystem and the price and variety of rims - you can get a round rim and a gt style rim, both decently packed with features, for the price of single one from simagic. Quality wise there might be a noticeable difference, but the amount of money you'd have to spend is also noticeable. Simagic seems to know what they are doing, so I'm looking forward to see what they will do in future.
As always, your comments are just excellent. Thanks for taking the time and putting your thoughts into words. I agree with your sentiments. This is a great time to be a sim racer!
I've subscribed because I think you did an amazing job reviewing this Alpha Mini. I will really think about it since I'm looking for a DD right now. good job again
Absolutely top notch like always Laurence, much love brother and it's always good to see you come by in the Simagic discord server :)
i love my Mini and recommend it to anyone that is looking at one, very much worth the price.
Haha thanks for the comment! The mini is a great buy. I can’t see anyone being unhappy with their purchase.
Yessir!
I'm just so thankful that you didn't get shanked running around what looks to be a pretty dodgy open mall with premium sim gear and a camera. Thanks for risking life and limb for us.
Hahahah people here don’t know what they were looking at 😅
Idk if I'm gonna regret this but, I just canceled my CSL DD to get this wheelbase instead. It justs looks like an overall better wheelbase, with maybe the exception of more expensive wheels, but the wheels are still high quality so I'm willing to take the risk. Thanks for the review mate, just subbed 👍
Wow! Well it’s entirely up to you and makes very little difference to me what you choose to do. I can’t say if it’s the right move without trying the fanatec ans learning to embrace the fanatec ecosystem properly. I don’t think you’ll regret your decision, and I don’t think anyone who decides the opposite will regret it either. We are living in a golden age for sim racing!
@@LaurenceDusoswa Hahahaha I'm well aware my decision doesn't affect you lol 🤣 I just wanted to share my experiences, but I completely agree with you when you say that either is a great option and that we are living in a gold age of sim racing. Honestly I'm just happy to be finally getting a Direct Drive Base after years of saving money lol 🤣
Hahaha I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I think that you would enjoy either option but all I know is that the alpha mini is a solid choice. It’s pretty incredible! You’ll love it!
Here in the U.S.A the Sim Magic mini bundle is $1000 while the Fanatec CSL DD 8nm can be bought with a wheel for $680.
That price difference will just about cover adding a set of Fanatec V3 load cell pedals for close to the same total cost as the Sim Magic base and wheel alone.
Not saying one is better than the other but as an owner of Fanatec products for quite a while and recently added the CSL DD 8nm wheelbase budget wise the CSL is a better buy and the v3 pedals are a well constructed set, also everything does work off of the same software which I find to be another positive.
With Fanatec also continuing to grow market share you will find more games are starting to include plug n play control presets for the products in the Fanatec eco system. Again not a deal making or breaking feature but a nice addition that simplifies jumping into a new game.
This looks interesting but not to the point of my leaving Fanatec products or their eco system.
Yeah they’re two different product that are both in the entry level direct drive space. Fanatec’s ecosystem is tempting for sure :)
Thanks for the great comment. This type of insight is really important for people.
Old comment but I need to chime in; in Canada, after all the shipping and import taxes, the Alpha Mini and GTS wheel combo is about 20$ cheaper then the CSL DD with the plastic CSL P1 V2 wheel. The Simagic combo makes it a better deal; more power and a much nicer wheel.
Every review you put out is a masterpiece of editing, framing and beautiful cinematic shots. Seriously, the outside shots is really something that is unique to your channel and elevates the video's to a whole new level!
Great thorough review, with fair criticisms and your honest opinions. I'm excited to see how the Thrustmaster DD will turn out, because I already have some wheel rims for that ecosystem. However, if the Thrustmaster option is a piece of poop... I think I know what DD option I'll look at first.
Keep up the good work LD! And doesn't it feel like yesterday when you hit 7K subscribers...?
Haha thanks for the great comment! I want to test all the entry level DD units. I have no real interest in the top end Simucube ultimate or anything that’s out of reach. Thrustmaster and logitech need to start making moves now.
I cannot see a company like TM creating a bad DD. And I’d be surprised if they’re not.
As for the framing and editing, thanks! The shakiness probably annoys some but I haven’t invested in the proper equipment to make everything super smooth yet. That’s a significant investment and maybe some day it will be more professional again. Until then, I’m delighted with the results and the main thing that’s important is that people get some good information to help them to decide whether a product is for them or not. :)
Thanks again!!!
just ordered mine, cant wait to get it, ill update yall about what i think!
Well done review. I would love to review the alpha mini but I can't justify buying one at the moment.
Thanks for the kind words! Apologies for the delayed response!
@@LaurenceDusoswa Ya man you will be one of the bigger channels if you keep up this kind of production. If you ever want to Collab on a video let me know. ;)
@@DouglasThompson thanks! Yeah I want to do some collab stuff when time allows me to. Right now I'm all over the place with young kids, full time job, etc :)
@@LaurenceDusoswa I get you...I got family in town and it's hard to squeeze out videos sometimes. I'm sitting on hours and hours of footage that I'm still piecing together. Many people don't realize the effort of editing your own content can be immense. Even a seemingly simple short video can take 6-8 hours of editing. I 100% understand! ;)
As someone who has ordered a CSL DD, this does look more premium. I did consider this as well, but like you said in the video, the high price of the wheel rims was what kept me with the CSL DD. This does seem to be a great product in its own right, though!
Yeah that’s the biggest decider right now. People need to be able to justify the purchase and paying €450 for a ‘basic’ steering wheel just doesn’t really make sense when you pay €595 for the wheelbase.
@@LaurenceDusoswa You can just get USB powered rims and stick them on the mini
@@Faithfps yep definitely. But simagic should be offering a basic rim too for around €250. They would sell far more units. Or better again, make the GT1 €250 and introduce a GT2 rim for €450 which is better than the GT1
Talk about a thorough review, I don't see anyone not wanting this after watching your review.
And what about the Simwear.eu surprise??!! I'm gonna sign up
Hahaha I pump a lot of time into these reviews and I’m glad that shows. Simwear are absolutely amazing giving this away to the public! I hope that many people buy through them now! Winner will be announced on the 8th of October
Another high quality review. Their product line is starting to fill out very nicely now.
Thanks bro ❤️ Yep! The pedals are going into a hotly contested space and have a lot to live up to. I’m excited to try them at some stage.
In 2023 I chose this over the csl dd or the Moza r9. I hope I made the right decision as my order will be here within a day or two. The things I considered is that the csl dd has a weak QR system and it has a little less power at 8nm. The Moza r9 seemed like the next obvious choice but I saw you and a couple of other people mention that if you get the round wheel its weight holds the R9 back some. I did not particularly want the GS wheel as I don't do F1 racing and I don't like that the GS wheel has alacantara. So I decided to order the alpha mini as it has more power than the csl and has better wheel options than moza. Hopefully I made the right choice.
The alpha mini is king in that comparison :D
What a day... just found out my alpha mini is state side and moving across country and this review drops.😁
Hahah nice one tugboat! You’re gonna love it!
Great review as always Laurence!! Was waiting for this!! Of course the question remains, Alpha Mini VS CSL DD? I hope you get a chance to test the CSL DD soon as I love your reviews and value your opinions. Currently have all Thrustmaster gear so either will be a huge upgrade. I'm leaning towards the Alpha Mini but then need to figure out pedal and H-pattern solutions. If I went with FANATEC they have the ecosystem already in place (shifter V1.5/ V3 pedals). I race in VR so immersion is a priority. Take care dude!
Yeah the ecosystem plays a huge part for sure! Send fanatec a message asking them if they can send me one for review ;) I don’t have any contact with them about products but hope for that to change in the near future
Go with Simagic, you should do some research into how shoddy fanatecs warranty can be, they also make you pay for shipping back to them and all of their gear is so overpriced. Come to the Simagic discord server!
@@DavidGarcia-oi5nt That's sad, my 9 year old gt3 rs v2 wheel finally broke entirely and previously I had had parts shipped to me from their support with good communication.
Exceelent review LD, It's a great time to be a consumer of simracing products! I think if their eco system was more developed with more options they'd be snapped up left and right in large quantities! £1k for a 10NM DD base (with wheel) from Simagic and £800 for an 8NM DD base (with wheel) from Fanatec is an exceptional place for the market to be in for us all!
Yeah it's really exciting! I know it's still a lot of money but you spend more time using your sim racing rig in a year than you would if you took a nice holiday. It's totally worth the investment! Thanks for the comment!
Yeah, but if they could offer another steering wheel 100 or 150 euros cheaper it will devastate the CSL DD because for almost the same price you would have better construction base, better QR and 10 Nm.
They need to find the way to sale a cheaper wheel.
BTW Your Simterview will be released this Nov. 22nd! ;)
Oh nice one!
Thanks for review, I just cancel my CSL DD pre-order (which is including 2 Wheel and V3 Pedal). My Simagic order is on the way. I ended up spending double budget than Fanatec’s package including of Alpha Mini + 2 Wheel and their new hydraulic pedal. Finally, I dont need to wait and hope my order is going to delay anymore. I will update when I get it. Thanks again for your detail and enthusiastic review which made up my mind. Hopefully my decision is right.
I hope you will enjoy it all :) I haven't used the pedals yet so cannot just but most people who buy the simagic wheelbases, love them. Si I'm pretty confident that you'll be the same :)
@@LaurenceDusoswa thanks mate. I have the same feeling too. Just join your discord channel for more discussion. I will update my setup and feeling about pedal to discord.
@@vulong4374 do you have a short synopsis of that update. How is it?
@@voongnz The pedal is great, but mine is older version (the yellow one). This version is replaced by red version, which is fixing the older version. The older version has problem about oil leaking. Mine also is leaking oil from gas pedal. Too bad, I have to return to China and wait for replacing gas piston. It will take over month of waiting. If you are interested in P2000 pedal. Please wait to see how red version will be better or not.
Watching again... wheel is at the house and I'm stuck at work on the tugboat... I think this is going on the 5th or 6th time. Can't wait to get it setup.
hahahaha NICE :) You'll LOVE it
You wrote this comment on boosted media:
"Cheers for the shout out :) it’s funny that the experience is so subjective but I can’t disagree with the lack of road feel on iRacing. I find iracing ffb nowhere near as good as many other sims though so I kind of treated that as being part of the iracing experience. I had a similar experience with both the sc2 pro and the simplicity sw20.
Great review, super detail, pardon the pun. For the price, I still chose the alpha over the SC2 pro."
Is this still the case ? is the ffb not so good on iracing ? i only play iracing that's why i would like to know.
It depends on the cars but times have changed and the alpha now has even ffb than it did back then thanks to new firmware.
Also, iRacing is getting better when it comes to the feel of the road and tyres these days.
I use mainly iRacing right now and really enjoy most cars. I don’t enjoy the 992 force feedback but it might just be how they handle, I can’t comment.
I love my alpha and I can’t see myself replacing it with anything else in the near future
6:16 - they actually do offer mounts but you have to get them seperately for around 60€
yep correct
Great follow up mate. I was one of those folks who actually cancelled my CSL DD order after watching your initial review. No regrets after watching this. You've done pretty well to highlight the perks and flaws. People seem to forget there's no such thing as a perfect product because if there was, we'd all own it lol. Managed to get in on the early bird pricing. It should be here in the next week or two. Sadly shipping to Australia is a bit rubbish at the moment which obviously isnt their fault.
Do you do much ACC stuff?
Nice one!
I don’t spend enough time with ACC. It’s on my list 😅 I’m not a huge fan of GT3/GT4 so that’s my main barrier right now.
@@LaurenceDusoswa that's pretty understandable. Being an Aussie, my entire exposure to motorsport is touring car/sedan/production car racing so it was a pretty natural gravitation to GT3.
Id love to see more 90s DTM stuff fwiw! Maybe give the Alfa 155 a spin. 13000 rpm is sooooo good.
Great review Laurence. I have just sold my CSL DD as i was underwhelmed. Yes for people moving from a logitech or Thrustmaster but coming from the CSW its just didnt perform for me. So my next purchase has narrowed down to the VRS, but i cant get one. The Simucube 2 Pro. Maybe this is a consideration, or one of the higher nM variants.
pity about the CSL DD. I haven't used one properly yet, only at the expo. Settings can be difficult to hone in but from my limited time on the CSL DD it would definitely be at least as good as the CSW, otherwise there's just something wrong.
If you can afford it, get the SC2. It'll be the last base you ever buy. They have bombproof reliability, amazing performance, and enough power that you won't find yourself wishing you had a little more. It has the headroom to get the finer sensations without ever running into clipping. I have an SC1 and I never even consider buying a new base, so I'm sure an SC2 will leave you very satisfied. Then you'll be looking for high end pedals...
@@angryginger791 Just ordered a SC Pro 2 and Ultimate + pedals ;)
Man, your UA-cam channel is a gem!!! Well done! Happy to watch a video that’s not one hour long 😹
hahaha thanks so much! My apologies for the delayed response! I try to keep my reviews short. This is actually my longest review, and i will try to keep future ones shorter :) Glad you're enjoying the channel!
Been waiting a few weeks here down under for delivery of mine and my hardest decision was which wheel... I went with the gt1 in the end
Gt1 is a good all rounder. The gt4 is worth saving up for though
I have ordered Simagic Alpha Mini + both a GT1-R and GT4-C. Waiting for arrival of delivery now.
The perfect combo
@@LaurenceDusoswa thank you! Just joined 😁
Lovely review! Still a little too pricey for myself, been looking at the R5 bundle or the Fanatec 5.5nm bundle as that one can have the boost pack too! Only issue is trying to find a UK fanatec supplier! Simagic mini looks bloody brilliant though!
You can’t go too far wrong with any of those to be honest. You’ll love them all. The alpha mini is a big step above though.
Thanx for a great review Laurence! A friend of mine just bought himself a mini and he seems VERY happy with his purchase. Wouldn't mind getting my hands on one. Do you know when they will be announcing the winner?
The initial plan is for it to be announced in about 2 weeks via the simwear.eu official social media channels
Love your stuff Laurence! Thanks for sharing and for always being so interactive. Not just here but on Facebook too.
Cheers
Chris Ullmann
Wow thanks Chris! It’s something that’s important to me. People are taking the time to communicate so the least I can do is acknowledge and respond. As time goes on and the channel grows, it will become more difficult. But for now, let’s enjoy the ride 😂
Incredible video bro! Amazing editing. Takes a lot of work
Thanks! I could easily have sunk another 10 hours into the edit but I had to draw the line somewhere 😂😂😂 it’s a lot of effort but the end product is worth it I feel.
Was thinking about going T818 SF1000. But I think I’m just going to switch to this Eco system when I can 🔥🔥
I haven’t had the pleasure of using the new thrustmaster DD yet unfortunately
@@LaurenceDusoswa I will be keeping an eye out either way. Love the channel 👏🏾
Can’t wait for the csl DD comparison
Hopefully that can happen before christmas
Great review, ive been looking at DD wheels for awhile, currently using a g920 and i mostly do drifting and sometimes track racing, i know the alpha mini will be a massive upgrade and probably the first and last DD wheel ill need but just looking to get a opinion first before i get one.
I just upgraded to the alpha mini from g920, i got blown away. It's a huge difference. I mostly do drifting and rally. I strongly recommend it!
@@Bdaddybear Yeah, got my alpha mini about 2-3 weeks ago and its an insane difference, i can actually feel what the the car is doing/going to do and feel much more confident in pushing my limits with the amount of control i have now compared to logitech. 100% worth it
@@V8supragt yeah it really is such a nice feeling finally knowing what the car does haha.
This + the GT4 rim looks great but I'm having a hard time going for it when a VRS can be had for only $100-200 more
The VRS might be just about $200 more but you also get nothing more with it than just a motor & controller
@@Sithhy Ended up ordering the VRS and with a quick release and a wheel it ended up only $300 more than an alpha mini with the GT4 wheel
@@kazznia what wheel did you get?
@@timt8199 Cube Controls Formula Sport
Great video big dog! To make a video like this takes a lot, fair play dude so in depth and well laid out! I'm in the market for a DD
SOOOOOO much work. But it's a hobby of mine. I love the end result. It's a release from my real job and my real responsibilities :p
Loving the content mate, considering buying one now , just wondering what hand break and pedals you would recommend going with / can it be used with other gear such as fanatec
I currently run the VNM shifter and handbrake. excellent combo. However, changing between sequential and h pattern is a lot slower with the VNM than with some other brands.
Nice video! Loving my alpha mini as well..did you fabricate that side mounting bracket? I didn’t feel like spending more $$$ for the official one
Thanks man! I had these brackets lying around from an older product.
I think it’s time for a simucube 2 sport vs simagic mini/alpha review !! Not sure if you’ve already done that
Haha I think that the sc2 sport is definitely a step above the alpha mini but it can’t match the quick release and steering wheel rims. The ffb is better on the sc2 sport but the overall experience of owning a Simagic alpha mini suits me better, provided I have both rims. It’s far cheaper also.
SC2 Sport fits more on the comparative with the Alpha. By price and torque.
Correct @MrTemplarious. I have both the alpha and the sc2 sport and have decided to stick with the alpha. But mainly because I anticipate SC3 is coming soon.
@@LaurenceDusoswa Really??? but they just launched the SC2 two years ago, right?
My SC2 Sport is on the way. Tomorrow I´ll pick up from the post office. I can´t wait for try it.
I don’t have any insider info and I’m just speculating. It may still be years away but I know they’re working on a steering wheel and besides that, I can’t justify having an SC2 sport sitting on a shelf when I paid for it with channel money. It’s just not a good investment unless I’m using it. I still recommend everyone to buy SC2 for the absolute best force feedback
Really great video Laurence.... I'm still only dreaming but starting to switching my thoughts from vrs to Simagic
I hope to get a VRS for review before the end of the year ;)
Thanks for the kind words ❤️
@@LaurenceDusoswa looking forward to see this 😁
Ordered the Mini + GT4 wheel bundle from Abruzzi today.
Sweet! If anyone else is ordering from abruzzi (UK) I have put my affiliate link in the description of this video ;)
Great video. I think I will pull the trigger on this now. :) Also what AOC monitors are you using?
I’m not sure of the model number just now but I know they’re discontinued now
Ok. Thank you for the reply tho. @@LaurenceDusoswa
Thx. Are those VA or IPS tho? @@LaurenceDusoswa
Good video and I was considering buying this before the CSL DD arrived early so kept an eye on your thoughts. One thing, that put me off, I don't think you mentioned is that the warranty is only 1 year which I think is important to consider regarding the value of it.
yeah I haven't covered warranty in this video. To be honest, something like this with this build quality, if it doesn't break in year 1, it probably wont.
@@LaurenceDusoswa that's fair, I have little experience with sim racing hardware so I treat it like all my other tech goodies. Even so, I'd expect that, if what you're saying is true, then why not offer two years or more. Maybe there is a good reason that we're not privy to but being lower than standard in Europe/ UK doesn't inspire confidence in me.
I just confirmed with simwear.eu. They honour a 2 year warranty as per EU law ;)
@@LaurenceDusoswa nice one for checking dude, good news!
Laurence I love your videos. I am brand new to Sim Racing and I just used your affiliate link to purchase a Fanatec CLS v2. I was sold after your genuine satisfaction and excitement with the product.
Now I am debating between a Simagic Alpha Mini and Moza R9. Moza presents such a good value that I really wanted to get into their ecosystem, but the CS wheel has me wishing it was a bit smaller since you mentioned its flaws on the R9. I want a wheel that I could use for trying everything out in the beginning, and I'm thinking a 300mm round wheel would be the one. This is where I consider Simagic as they have a GT sport wheel that meets that criteria, but the base and wheel are pricier. It is down to these 2 companies for me because of their quick release.
If you have any suggestions, preference between these products, or advice, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your fantastic reviews.
My choice is the alpha mini with the GTS wheel. it's worth the extra money
@@LaurenceDusoswa That is what I ordered. So excited. Thank you
@@NazSef AWESOME
@@LaurenceDusoswa Would Alpha Mini + GTS Wheel & Fanatec CSL Elite Pedals V2 be your recommendation for the budget choices to get a set up that feels close to real?
I’m trying to build a rig for my elderly father. He’s a huge car and racing fan, but hasn’t been able to enjoy anything around them for some time. I’m hoping sim driving can give him a hobby that’s worth getting up for everyday to improve quality of life and maybe even longevity (hobby participation is a big indicator for longevity in elderly people).
He tried one of those ultra awful wheels and pedals back in the PS1 days and never played another driving game because it didn’t feel anything like a real car.
I want to do a build that could convince him, but it’s def stretching my budget to do direct drive, load cell, and a cockpit. And I probably only get once chance for him to try it and be convinced to get into it.
Excellent video as always! Where did you get your gloves from?
I got them from here ;) www.imbracewear.com/pages/the-laurence-dusoswa-collection?aff=8
Thanks for the compliment ❤️
alpha mini is INSANE. I dont think ill ever upgrade unless they make a 20+ nm wheel base tbh
Yeah it punches above its weight for sure. It was surprisingly good
Hi Laurence, great review! Not sure if you've had experience with the Moza R9 base but if you have, how does this compare? A step up in the range, how would you rate the R16 against the Alpha seeing as you've tested both?
Nope, I'm still awaiting my R9 to arrive :(
Keen to see your review after your R9 arrives. In terms of the Alpha vs R16, whats your verdict?
Great video, do you think the price gap between mini and alpha matches the performance improvement. And also do you think the price gap between alpha and FANATEC dd1 matches the performance improvement
The mini is the best value of the 3 you mention. I would recommend the alpha still if you can afford it. I can’t speak for the DD1 as I haven’t reviewed one
Thanks Laurence! I've been split between the SM Alpha Mini and the VRS Direct Force Pro. Love from Canada eh!
Hahaha it’s a tough choice. For me it would be the mini but there’s no denying that the VRS likely has better ability to translate details due to the higher torque range.
Hello and thanks for the review!! Did you have any problems with overheating?
I didn’t but I heard of some who set inertia or suspension too high. Also there is a newer firmware than the 7050 version which I believe helps to address the issue
Hello, When are you going to get your hands on the new simagic pedals? I really want to preorder them but I’m going to wait until I see some reviews.
Nobody has them yet and I think the resellers are only just getting them now. If you want me to review a set, you’re going to have to ask your reseller or directly message simagic
Fantastic review--thank you for posting it! I have a question for you.
In the comments for another video of yours, you had mentioned that if one can afford it, it's worth it to get the alpha over the alpha mini.
In this video, at 16:14, you mentioned that "if someone snuck into (your) rig and replaced (your) alpha with an alpha mini....(you) probably wouldn't notice the switch for several days." This sort of makes it sound like you're saying that maybe it's not worth it to get the alpha haha. :)
I'm in the US, and there is currently a $270 price difference between the alpha mini bundle, and the alpha bundle.
Given what you said in this video, and the current $270 price difference, do you feel it is worth it to buy the alpha instead of the mini?
I think it's worth it for 270 for sure. The alpha is more capable but the mini is also amazing. For me it's worth the upgrade :)
@@LaurenceDusoswa Right on, thank you for clarifying! I was leaning toward getting the Alpha just to have a bit higher ceiling--this seals it.
@@LaurenceDusoswa Actually, one more question--at about that same timestamp, you said, "despite my settings needing to be adjusted..."
Do you recall how you adjusted the settings between the alpha and alpha mini? I didn't catch it in this video, if you mentioned it. Did you just lower the gain settings when going to the alpha, given that it has slightly more power?
@@TheKornfeld exactly. Just the gain was what needed adjusting
@@LaurenceDusoswa Right on, thank you!
Thanks for a very level-headed review. Very useful indeed. Many thanks!
You’re very welcome! Thanks for the kind feedback
Hello! Thank you for the video! Can recommend some mounting brackets for this wheel base besides the Simagic Mounting Brackets?
mind sharing some iracing settings you been using? or perhaps do a live tuning session ?
Check out my first impressions video where I configure the settings ;)
Greetings from Russia ! Great review ! I am planing ordering this unit in a next few days . One dumb question for you . Buying a steering wheel without dual clutch option would I be able to use gear shifter and a clutch pedal ?
Yes! If you have a clutch pedal on your pedals set, you can use it. Usually if people use clutch paddles, they set them up as a ‘secondary clutch’
@@LaurenceDusoswa Thanks a lot ! Great Chanel and help !
Great review! The wheels are so expensive like you mentioned and I want a GT style and round wheel. That makes even de DD1 with 2 rims from Fanatec fly back in the picture because of the relative cheap mclaren V2.
Not a fan of the customer service from Fanatec so its a hard egg to crack for me.
Would it be possible to put a random round wheel on it? I don’t need the buttons when I Rally/drift
Yes, you can add a generic rim as long as you have a quick release. You don’t need buttons. But I do think that the wheel rim buttons are worth the investment. Maybe buy without a wheel rim and keep an eye out for second hand Simagic wheel rims on the Simagic owner group on Facebook or discord
Hey! Thanks for the video it’s really helpful! What about the temperature of the mini with the use? It gets too warm in a long race?
Nope I didn’t have any problems even after long sessions
Nice review. Do you think worth getting the Alpha instead the mini for U$200 difference? I'm already having a big upgrade from logitech g25 and not planning to upgrade for long time after this.
Yes! Buy the best one you can afford
Is a DD1 from Fanatec a better base? Thank for you amazing content
You’re very welcome :) I cannot answer that question because I have never owned a DD1. Perhaps a good question for the Facebook owner group where someone with the right experience can advise you :)
Any DD wheel I buy must have the key thing missing on most for me and that's cooling ventilation.
Most are passively cooled as the casing acts like a thermal radiator. My Simagic products don’t get hot
@@LaurenceDusoswa I'll take note of that along with accessibility of parts etc as I'm located in Trinidad and Tobago
Im on the fence between this and the VRS DF pro. Difference would be approx 220 USD between both. Do you think the VRS is worth the extra 220 USD? |
Also just seen a post on Iracing forum that the Alpha mini actually outputs approx 13nm
I haven't used the VRS but have used similar motors. For me, it's simple. the alpha mini has a nice QR, less cables, smaller form factor and 2 good WIRELESS steering wheel rims options. But if the torque is your main interest, the VRS is a great buy too.
Genuine review, nice to watch, nice to follow. Time stamps would be nice as well, for quick find if you wanna re-listen to a part or two :)
Signed up to their newsletter as well, but not sure how he will know that my sign up is not just a random guy from the internet, but your follower? :)
It has timestamps in the description but youtube hasn't hotlinked them yet. The thumbnail isn't loading either so i think YT is having some issues.
hahaha well right now, I'm the only one to have announced this competition. But I just hope everyone in our community enters and hopefully someone who we know will win!
Great content and review!I have a CSLD DD8nm but thinking of this one (dont like the QR on fanatec CSL DD its bad).Do you know if something goes wrong and base needs fixing is there service in EU that can fix it.Or it has to be shipped in China?Thanks a lot
You would be sending it back to your EU reseller. I recommend checking out simwear.eu
@@LaurenceDusoswa thanks and keep up!
Considering upgrading the R9 to a Mini or Alpha. How much detail you surmise there is with the Alpha over the Mini (for the $150 diff)?
Buy the one you can afford as you wont regret it. There's more power in the alpha and that generally means more detail
Currently on a fanatec 2.5. I'm trying to decide between the alpha and the alpha mini. I haven't seen many comparisons between the 2. I understand they are similar and really the only big difference is the torque output but even then apparently simmagic was a bit conservative with their torque numbers seeing as the mini has been measured at 13 peak. Maybe you can help clear up some of the uncertainty around which one to choose? Is the 500 (give or take) dollars future proofing myself by going with the alpha or is the mini enough of an upgrade? I'm not a pro by any stretch of the imagination but I do like to invest in my hobbies and enjoy myself to the max potential I can. I guess it is hard to imagine what that 5nm difference actually feels like in regards to sensitivity in ffb. Any insight?
If you can afford the alpha, get it. But even if the alpha didn't exist, I'd say "get the alpha mini because it's incredible". Buy the one you can afford. The alpha mini is a great upgrade from a fanatec CSW2.5 but if you really want a big jump, get the alpha :)
I just sold my T300 after a year of sim-racing and am going to get the mini soon. But man, I'm still unable to overcome the fear/regret of possibly wanting more nm in the future, despite you repeatedly stating that this is a decent 'forever wheel' and it's the best '13nm' DD I could afford right now.
It’s a great wheelbase. Don’t worry about higher powered bases. Enjoy your mini and forget about the rest of the world. The difference between a 911 Carrera 4S and a 911 GT3 RS is also big… that doesn’t mean that the Carrera 4S isn’t an amazing car. Same with the mini. Enjoy it :) many dream of being in your position
Hello, recently i have been looking into buying a Direct Drive wheel. Would you recommend the Simagic Alpha mini over the Moza R9? I am currently running a T300.
Yes :)
@@LaurenceDusoswa Thanks for the reply. I will look into the Simagic Alpha mini then.
By the way, which formula/gt style wheel would you recommend for a Simagic wheelbase? (FX, FX-Pro, GT4)
@@e30m3bimmer the gt4 is my pick of the bunch
@@LaurenceDusoswa Thank you!
Muchas gracias por tu granito de arena en la informacion de este producto.
De nada ;)
8:22 - "I find that the overall gain, wheelspeed & damper make the most difference to your force feedback experience"
Well yeha, no shit that changing the most influential settings changes the experience & what you feel through the wheel
Might be obvious to you buddy, no need to belittle those who are learning this information for the first time and worry that all the settings’ sliders may be somehow equal. Thanks for watching though and taking the time to comment.
Are you able to add a column extension to this base easily ?? guessing the wireless connection is going to possibly be an issue unless you can release it from the column and there is some slack cable for you to thread through the new extension ?
You'd have to do some custom wiring but it's only 2 simple wires. However, I'm not sure what the operating range for the steering wheel rims is
@@LaurenceDusoswa Yeah I agree, watched BR's teardown after posting this question, limiting factor seems the wireless range........not a huge deal tho I think, still looks like a good wheelbase setup.
The Alpha-mini is reasonably priced at $529 USD but the rest of the ecosystem turned me off , the Alpha-mini , wheel and pedals will set you back almost 2,000 USD whereas the Fanatec CSL DD, McLaren GT3 wheel and CSL Elite pedals total up to $800 USD which I'm sure you're aware of , great video 💪💪💪
Yep once you factor in pedals it gets pricey. I have no doubt that the Simagic pedals will be a different league to the CSL elite and v3 pedals but there are no such entry level pedals options in the Simagic space. Just remember that you can use fanatec pedals on their own with a USB adapter if you want cheap pedals. The Simagic wheel rims are expensive, albeit worth it, but they really need some entry level wheel rims.
@@LaurenceDusoswa I already ordered the fanatec set-up , If Simagic had an entry/mid-range ecosystem centered around the Alpha mini I would've considered their products ( keep in mind I'm coming from the gutter with the T150 LOL)
Love your vid's they are great.
After saving for a long long time i finally almost can buy a dd bundle.
Should i go for the GT4 single clutch or the dual clutch for a other €100,00 more, are they worth it?
@@nielsbee1 the dual clutch paddles are nice but you don’t really need them unless you see the benefit. Enjoy your new bundle :)
Can you use other company products like the VNM shifter in the CanBus port? Would be great if I could open up some USB ports on my PC
nope, simagic products only as far as I'm aware.
What hardware would you recommend for the Playseat Trophy? Is it pointless getting a VRS setup and dialing down the base and pedals or would it still be beneficial? I dont really plan to upgrade to a profile rig.
Otherwise if VRS is a waste of money on a Trophy i thought maybe the best setup could be the Alpha Mini and CSL V2's.
sick review ! thank you laurence :) !
You're very welcome! Thanks for commenting
So did get the cslDD? I would also highlighted the placements of the power switch for the unit...
I didn't get a CSL DD, no
I bought the g923 recently now I wanna buy the alpha mini after using the g923 for awhile, whats your opinions on the m10 vs the alpha mini other than the motor wise?
As said in the video the alpha mini looks better and is smoother. It has been a while since I used the m10 but I remember it to be really good too. I wouldn’t bother changing from an m10 to an alpha mini unless you really wanted to.
Hey Laurence ! Can I slap on any wheel that fits on the simagic qr, and go to business ? Or do I strictly need a simagic wheel rim ?
anything that fits the QR (70mm or 74mm pcd) will work. I did a specific video on the simagic QR. ua-cam.com/video/FVooJVZyI8E/v-deo.html
@@LaurenceDusoswa Cheers man ! :-)
Hi Laurence,
Alpha combo vs Alpha Mini combo.
Trying to decide between these two.
Combo difference with GT1 wheel is $220. There are many individual reviews but unable to find any direct comparison review or youtube video.
Games are AC/ACC/AMS2/RF2/DR2.0
i enjoy driving all types of vehicles. What would be the deciding factor between these bases and why would a person buy one over the other...?
Thanks.
They are both very good and the alpha for me is worth the extra $220. You just get more power which means you get more ability to translate those details. As always, buy the one you can afford. This is similar to deciding between a 3.0 litre engine and a 4.5litre engine, but without the maintenance and running costs. If you can afford the 4.5, DO IT :)
@@LaurenceDusoswa appreciate the quick and detailed reply. God bless you.
I'm having a hard time choosing between the Simagic Alpha Mini with their GTS rim or just settling with a Fanatec CSL DD instead. I can have a CSL DD with a 300mm rim for 650 euros where the Alpha Mini with GTS rim would cost me 1050 euros. The Alpha Mini seems really great but I'm not sure if the 400 euros price increase is worth it over the Fanatec setup, especially since my best pedal option seems to be the Fanatec CSL Elite V2's which means it would all be from the same ecosystem. How much better would the Simagic setup really be?
The Alpha mini with GTS is significantly better
@@LaurenceDusoswa After doing some more research I'm probably going for the Alpha Mini. Your video was great help, thanks!
Hi just wondering what handbrake you using in the vid. Thanks
That’s the VNM handbrake which is also currently undergoing a long term review
hi laurence, does this use the same front bolt pattern as the simucube 2? does the bolts have the same spacing?
Not the same spacing but it is a square pattern so any mount which allows front mounting and gas slots instead of holes will be fine :)
Do you know if the new GT4 wheel has the same rubber grips under the alcantara as your first edition has? After owning the regular Alpha with the GT1 R rim for a while now the next step would be to buy the GT4 rim aswell. The wireless integration with the QR is too good to consider other rim brands! But I am kind of worrid about the wear of those alcantara grips. Would be nice if I could just remove the alcantara when they are worn down :)
I was at one point going to receive a newer GT4 rim but it never materialised unfortunately so I can’t comment on it.
The new gt4 rim is also available with rubber grips ;) I just confirmed
Okay, thank you! Seems to only be the "premium usb" version as far as I can tell from the websites though. Will consider it anyways :)
@@LaurenceDusoswa they are very slippery though..I had to put .05 batting tape on mine to get grip..
Would you still recommend alpha mini after these months? Did you have any problems with it? Does it get hot?
I never had any overheating issues on the time that I ran the alpha mini. I had 0 problems: I would highly recommend it still
@@LaurenceDusoswa canceled my csl dd and ordered one in the 20th
Laurence, you are my last hope it seems... Did you ever manage to make the Simagic Alpha Mini work in Project cars 2 or Automobilista 2? It never works for me. Very difficult to even assign and calibrate, have to reduce the rotation to tiny angles. But even after that, in game there is 0 movement from the wheel. All the buttons are recognized, even axis of the paddles, but not the rotational axis. Tried with all settings I could on the Simagic software and in game, same result in both of those games.
I used one in AMS2 but I remember it being flakey. Try the Simagic discord?
hello there. Having tried both wheelbases which one would you choose . Alpha mini or cammus dd?
For me right now I would recommend the Simagic because I don’t know about the long term quality of the cammus yet.
hi really good video, where can i find the user manual?
I found it thx anyway
Sorry for late response! Glad you found it :)
@@LaurenceDusoswa no problem♥️
Can you use a Cube Controls Formula Pro with the QR adapter that Simagic sells?
Yea you can :)
Would it be possible to mount it on a normal PC desk, as the Fanatec CSL DD?
Are there other wheels, compatible with this wheelbase?
Like, Fanatec, Moza, Simcube?
desk mounting is possible with the right mount and there are no other wheels which are compatible unless they are standalone USB
3:09 Alpha Mini has ONLY 2Nm more than CSLDD. Logitech G29/920/923 has ONLY 2 Nm.
I dont have any DD wheel.
The alpha mini only advertises holding torque. It’s peak torque is closer to 13Nm. The Logitech feels more powerful than 11Nm too
@@LaurenceDusoswa - Not anymore, the new revision V3 is only 10nm.
My English is very rusty, I don't understand it very well. What other quick release did you use for Steering wheel no simagic. I mean, I saw you using a simagic QR on a steering wheel from clubcontrols, however, I saw "other" quickreleases being used on other steering wheels (but I couldn't tell if they were from Simagic or another manufacturer.)
Hi! They were NRG or D1Spec ;) thanks for the question
@@LaurenceDusoswa Thanks Mate! If I'd wish to use QR simagic on there, let me know if I would be able too..or wouldn't work...?!
The Simagic QR works on all Simagic wheelbases. So does NRG and D1 spec. I’m not sure what your last question is? :)
@@LaurenceDusoswa sorry, my english is rusty lol .... Simagic QR works on "anothers" steering wheel(like Omp, etc...)?
Yes any 70mm steering wheel or 74mm PCD steering wheel will fit :)
Is there like a table clap that you can get and use in lower torque settings ? I don’t have a rig.
I think that someone has made a table clamp but I am not sure and don’t know if it would be any good. Check the Simagic owner group on Facebook or the Simagic discord
Now that u tried the csl dd at the expo can you kinda compare the feel of the details?
I liked the CSL DD but it wouldn’t be fair to compare them after 10 minutes of use. I need to get one on my own rig and spend time with it. I think that people will be happy with either one.
@@LaurenceDusoswa ughhh I am so close to canceling my csl dd and grabbing the mini… I would have to jerry rig my gt lite to make it work though….. why is being poor such a problem!!! Lol
Hello,
May you compare now Alpha Mini x CSL DD? :D
You’ll have to ask fanatec to send me a CSL DD 😅😅😅
Can I use with it Thrustmaster or Fanatec steering wheels? Is there some kind of adapter or hub?
I don’t know, to be honest. But you would need a usb conversion for your fanatec or thrustmaster rim.
You still haven't got your hands on a Fanatec????
Hahaha nope but I have something in the works