I had the CM2 throttle until recently, and was looking to upgrade. Two major issues kept me from getting this throttle. Firstly, you actually lose inputs on the handle. The CM2 and 3 have more overall inputs on the handles, and most importantly for me, have more hats. The CM2/3 have 4 four way hats and a two way. The vmax has 2 four ways and a two way. The website claims you can change the two way and one of the buttons to four ways, but that still leaves you one hat short of the old throttles. The second issue I had was virpil's newly discovered hatred of latching toggle switches. All their toggle switches are momentary now. I love me a nice latching toggle switch. After much soul searching, I ended up going away from virpil, and now have the winwing orion 2 with the F15ex handles. I'm extremely happy with it. It has all the buttons and hats I could ever desire, plus a ton of latching toggle switches!
Hi funkyschnitzel, can you share with me what can you do with a latching toggle switch that cant be achieved with a normal toggle switch? What would be a use case where it would be more beneficial to have one rather that the other? I can see the benefit of the normal toggles as you dont need to reset them after each "death". Thanks
@lamm3rrr Mainly, it's much easier to see or feel the current position of a switch, without having to check its state in the virtual cockpit. Fighter jets in DCS have many toggle switches, most of which are latching in the real jet. Being able to mimic that with my peripherals is really handy. Also it's just a personal preference. I love the feel of a good latching toggle. I have a mix of two and three way toggle switches, and it makes me feel good flicking them into position!
I absolutely agree with eveything you said. One thing to add to your great comment, the VMAX seems to lack the slider on the throttle grip from the CM3, I use it on my CM3 for zoom in DCS, and the VMAX lacking it is an absolute deal-breaker for me. And what you said about the toggle switches is so true, I would much rather have more of the red latching toggle switches then more momentary’s, I have enough of those with my CM3 and CP2’s toggle’s.
@@Skipperrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr yeah the missing slider was a deal breaker for me too. The winwing throttle just offered me so much more flexibility. The one thing I miss is the flap handle. That flap axis is just super nice, and the two slider axes on the winwing base just aren't as good.
@@lamm3rrr When you take flying seriously you treat it like if you die in the game you die in real life so momentary toggle switch are lame because when u come back to base and land and need to shutdown the aircraft and with momentary toggles switches is not as immersive. But it really is just personal preference.
I'm always of mixed mind with Virpil. The bases for the grips are amazing, but the grips themselves are way too big for the hand and I have big hands. I actually currently still use my TM Warthog stick on a VPC base. The throttles and panels are feel like they are half useful and half not, like the arrangements give you a tease of the types of inputs you need but never enough of what you want. The collectives are nothing but good though :D The other problem with Virpil is be prepared to wait. I've never ordered anything that wasn't "back order" because they seem to make everything to demand, so it takes quite a while between your impulse buy and when you actually get to indulge.
I tried a friend's Virpil setup and agree with everything you say. The build quality is fabulous, but in-use everything just felt so... Meh. I moved up from CH kit and ended up going with WinWing in the end. WW are much better for big hands and the buttons/switches work well for both flight and space sims.
@@Sarrienne Of course the problem with WW is dealing with them :( Their support is some of the worst. You'll get resolved in the end I've found but the journey is slow and not fun. Virpil are much better ion that regard. Everything is a trade off :)
Great review and happy to see the home coming along so nicely! I'd love to have a throttle for bigger ships, but as a leftie it's a pipe dream lmao. If VirPil ever decide to drop one tho I am deffo getting one but until then HOSAS and pedals for me!
Awesome review, seems like its just a different CM3 for a premium price though. One question I had was regarding the switches in the throttle, it seems like from the Virpil website that you can move them arround? do you get different switches in the box to costumise the throttle? Im assuming that because you have the prerelease version you might have not gotten them. Also the Paddle locking system seems like an afterthought, how easy is it to lock/unlock? do you have to fiddle with it or does it work everytime?
I have a CM3 and I could never get the ergonomics to work well for me with glove size medium+ hands. I had to do some janky mods to the detent levers to bring them to a position that was not either painful or slippery, I never found the index finger thumbstick to offer good control, the hats are hard to use without either jabbing my fingers or slipping, and so many of the buttons and switches are just blocked or too out of the way or awkward. I also found myself really missing the metal/rubber grip that's on my MCG Ultimate. All of these things make a huge difference in comfort and usability, so I'm happy virpil seems to be acknowledging this and making steps in that direction. I will need to do more research or perhaps watch the video a couple more times to see if they have done enough yet. However, I pretty much just fly with my 3dconnexion spacemouse enterprise in my left hand now. I remember you said you tested this forever ago, because I also tried my darndest to get it to work back then. Well, it works now after all these years and with hardly any setup too. Just bind the axes in game and set the buttons out of game to your various keyboard shortcuts. And I'm so used to using it at work that I can fly all 6 dof with 1 hand if I'm not in combat needing to aim guns. So just using it for 3dof translation is what I do, and it really improves the acrobatics and smooth flight paths I have access to. (Sorry for the wall of text, typing this from my phone.)
+BrianMP5T *VIRPILⓇ Controls DUG **_galór_** in the VPC-203, which has an "Emergency Stores Jettison" button to the right of the Station buttons.* The Station buttons I'm labeling (forward) 3, 5 6; (aft) 1B, 4, 8B. Toggles for the SAAHS: Roll for T3, Pitch for T4, and Yaw for T5. Pots: Rx for #1 Condition valve; Rʏ for #2 Condition valve; Rᴢ for Wing Sweep; SR for Flaps; and DL for Slats. Rotary Switch: TO, NAV, A/A, A/G, LDG. (I'm referring to the Heatblur F-14B model.)
I already have a large Virpil collection. I did consider getting a CDT-VMAX to 'replace' my CM3 (I have 3 control panels), but passed on it this BF sale. I do love the look of the new throttles. Do you have large hands? How does the grip compared to the CM3 grip?
Am considering buying a stick/base combo during the black friday sale so I look forward to your flanker grip review and hopefully sooner rather than later.
This looks great, shame that the finger lifts aren't reversible, though. I can't bend my left thumb that way due to an injury years ago. Absolutely love my CM3, though, and with Virpil support the way it is, I don't see myself needing to replace it anytime soon. They're always a pleasure to talk to, and they even went as far as actually help me fix a couple of things that broke (due to me being stupid, mind you.) They might be expensive, but they actually stand up behind their products.
Just put a detent in the middle of the throttle. I've got the winwing orion 2, and whenever I'm playing star citizen I just attach the center detent and the throttle works as a forward/reverse axis. It's even better than hosas in my opinion because you get a center feel, while also being able to set the position of the throttle. With hosas, you either leave the springs on so you can tell where the middle is, but then you have to hold the stick constantly, or you remove the springs so the stick will hold its position, but then you lose the centre feel.
For now I will stick with letting my cm2 gather dust, As someone who flys predominantly msfs at the moment I would really love someone like virpil to make a throttle quadrant with flaps/spoilers but with hot swappable detent profiles (almost like how vkb have done with their throttle) so nice quick change between flying ga, ga with reverser, a320 that requires multiple detents etc etc. I would so love to ditch my bravo for something with some heft and build quality but until then, bravo wins for my personal use. Otherwise it looks like a nice enough product
@@JeremyArchie so I’ll let you in on a secret, they do this on purpose. You’ll notice it when it’s his backorder. It still has a button that lets you buy it. The secret is that it’s always back ordered and there is never any stock. When you order it, it’s shipped to you in about four or five days and you get it quickly.And it’s been like this for years.
Nice. But still prefer VKB over Virpil as I foubd Virpil devs rude and arrogant. Put in a request about software as joy gremlin were not suitable, and why wouldn't the basic software of top end kit allow for keybindings or light toggling etc. They went meh, and said nah going with the 3rd party add on, and theyvwere not polite about it. That pushed me away, sold all my Virpil kit and went VKB. Product and service are much better imho.
@@Sholto_ customer support and the designers are not the same people. I feel you might have had better success if you had reached out to me with your question.
Well I have never saw a company respond and react to their customer's request that fast than Virpil; few months ago they released the angle mount for panels on the cadet throttle, we asked them to make it universal so CM3 can use it as well, they immediately revised the design and I got one for my CM3, plus they are not made in China 😆
I had the CM2 throttle until recently, and was looking to upgrade. Two major issues kept me from getting this throttle.
Firstly, you actually lose inputs on the handle. The CM2 and 3 have more overall inputs on the handles, and most importantly for me, have more hats.
The CM2/3 have 4 four way hats and a two way. The vmax has 2 four ways and a two way. The website claims you can change the two way and one of the buttons to four ways, but that still leaves you one hat short of the old throttles.
The second issue I had was virpil's newly discovered hatred of latching toggle switches. All their toggle switches are momentary now. I love me a nice latching toggle switch.
After much soul searching, I ended up going away from virpil, and now have the winwing orion 2 with the F15ex handles. I'm extremely happy with it. It has all the buttons and hats I could ever desire, plus a ton of latching toggle switches!
Hi funkyschnitzel, can you share with me what can you do with a latching toggle switch that cant be achieved with a normal toggle switch?
What would be a use case where it would be more beneficial to have one rather that the other?
I can see the benefit of the normal toggles as you dont need to reset them after each "death".
Thanks
@lamm3rrr Mainly, it's much easier to see or feel the current position of a switch, without having to check its state in the virtual cockpit. Fighter jets in DCS have many toggle switches, most of which are latching in the real jet. Being able to mimic that with my peripherals is really handy.
Also it's just a personal preference. I love the feel of a good latching toggle. I have a mix of two and three way toggle switches, and it makes me feel good flicking them into position!
I absolutely agree with eveything you said. One thing to add to your great comment, the VMAX seems to lack the slider on the throttle grip from the CM3, I use it on my CM3 for zoom in DCS, and the VMAX lacking it is an absolute deal-breaker for me. And what you said about the toggle switches is so true, I would much rather have more of the red latching toggle switches then more momentary’s, I have enough of those with my CM3 and CP2’s toggle’s.
@@Skipperrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr yeah the missing slider was a deal breaker for me too. The winwing throttle just offered me so much more flexibility. The one thing I miss is the flap handle. That flap axis is just super nice, and the two slider axes on the winwing base just aren't as good.
@@lamm3rrr When you take flying seriously you treat it like if you die in the game you die in real life so momentary toggle switch are lame because when u come back to base and land and need to shutdown the aircraft and with momentary toggles switches is not as immersive. But it really is just personal preference.
I'm always of mixed mind with Virpil. The bases for the grips are amazing, but the grips themselves are way too big for the hand and I have big hands. I actually currently still use my TM Warthog stick on a VPC base.
The throttles and panels are feel like they are half useful and half not, like the arrangements give you a tease of the types of inputs you need but never enough of what you want.
The collectives are nothing but good though :D
The other problem with Virpil is be prepared to wait. I've never ordered anything that wasn't "back order" because they seem to make everything to demand, so it takes quite a while between your impulse buy and when you actually get to indulge.
I tried a friend's Virpil setup and agree with everything you say. The build quality is fabulous, but in-use everything just felt so... Meh.
I moved up from CH kit and ended up going with WinWing in the end. WW are much better for big hands and the buttons/switches work well for both flight and space sims.
@@Sarrienne Of course the problem with WW is dealing with them :( Their support is some of the worst. You'll get resolved in the end I've found but the journey is slow and not fun. Virpil are much better ion that regard.
Everything is a trade off :)
Ordered mine couple months ago to finish of my virpil collection even more excited after watching this
Great review and happy to see the home coming along so nicely! I'd love to have a throttle for bigger ships, but as a leftie it's a pipe dream lmao. If VirPil ever decide to drop one tho I am deffo getting one but until then HOSAS and pedals for me!
Thank you Noob, I've been looking forward to this review.
I want. Have the 50Cm-3 and love it. However, I like the layout of the new one better! Great review!
I'm waiting for it to be in stock again, then I'll order from the Great Little Country of Lithuania. Been waiting for this. Thanks Noob.
Awesome review, seems like its just a different CM3 for a premium price though.
One question I had was regarding the switches in the throttle, it seems like from the Virpil website that you can move them arround? do you get different switches in the box to costumise the throttle? Im assuming that because you have the prerelease version you might have not gotten them.
Also the Paddle locking system seems like an afterthought, how easy is it to lock/unlock? do you have to fiddle with it or does it work everytime?
I got the CDT Vmax .. nice and small ... and closer to me.
But behind it, I'm mounting an upright 'Control Panel 3' ... with the 4 levers, etc.
Nice.
I have a CM3 and I could never get the ergonomics to work well for me with glove size medium+ hands. I had to do some janky mods to the detent levers to bring them to a position that was not either painful or slippery, I never found the index finger thumbstick to offer good control, the hats are hard to use without either jabbing my fingers or slipping, and so many of the buttons and switches are just blocked or too out of the way or awkward. I also found myself really missing the metal/rubber grip that's on my MCG Ultimate. All of these things make a huge difference in comfort and usability, so I'm happy virpil seems to be acknowledging this and making steps in that direction. I will need to do more research or perhaps watch the video a couple more times to see if they have done enough yet.
However, I pretty much just fly with my 3dconnexion spacemouse enterprise in my left hand now. I remember you said you tested this forever ago, because I also tried my darndest to get it to work back then. Well, it works now after all these years and with hardly any setup too. Just bind the axes in game and set the buttons out of game to your various keyboard shortcuts. And I'm so used to using it at work that I can fly all 6 dof with 1 hand if I'm not in combat needing to aim guns. So just using it for 3dof translation is what I do, and it really improves the acrobatics and smooth flight paths I have access to.
(Sorry for the wall of text, typing this from my phone.)
+BrianMP5T *VIRPILⓇ Controls DUG **_galór_** in the VPC-203, which has an "Emergency Stores Jettison" button to the right of the Station buttons.* The Station buttons I'm labeling (forward) 3, 5 6; (aft) 1B, 4, 8B. Toggles for the SAAHS: Roll for T3, Pitch for T4, and Yaw for T5. Pots: Rx for #1 Condition valve; Rʏ for #2 Condition valve; Rᴢ for Wing Sweep; SR for Flaps; and DL for Slats. Rotary Switch: TO, NAV, A/A, A/G, LDG. (I'm referring to the Heatblur F-14B model.)
I already have a large Virpil collection. I did consider getting a CDT-VMAX to 'replace' my CM3 (I have 3 control panels), but passed on it this BF sale. I do love the look of the new throttles. Do you have large hands? How does the grip compared to the CM3 grip?
Am considering buying a stick/base combo during the black friday sale so I look forward to your flanker grip review and hopefully sooner rather than later.
I love that you get brand new stuff, pre production, and just take it apart to see inside 🤣
Man, I love that rig of yours. Great video as always, will stick to my Cm3 for now. Oh and congrats on the new house, good luck with the move. Cheers!
@@TheJudgeo7 if you want to see more of it, search “ Noobifier CM2 “
Still waiting on CDT-CTRLMAX Panel release 🥺
Great to see the house is coming along.
This looks great, shame that the finger lifts aren't reversible, though. I can't bend my left thumb that way due to an injury years ago. Absolutely love my CM3, though, and with Virpil support the way it is, I don't see myself needing to replace it anytime soon. They're always a pleasure to talk to, and they even went as far as actually help me fix a couple of things that broke (due to me being stupid, mind you.) They might be expensive, but they actually stand up behind their products.
I have two alpha primes and am very happy with them.
I would LOVE a throttle like that but...I just want to go backwards by pulling back. So I feel like I'm stuck with HOSAS.
Just put a detent in the middle of the throttle. I've got the winwing orion 2, and whenever I'm playing star citizen I just attach the center detent and the throttle works as a forward/reverse axis.
It's even better than hosas in my opinion because you get a center feel, while also being able to set the position of the throttle.
With hosas, you either leave the springs on so you can tell where the middle is, but then you have to hold the stick constantly, or you remove the springs so the stick will hold its position, but then you lose the centre feel.
Great review!!
Awesome review. 👌. Just got the cadet throttle, so not upgrading for a long time 😅.
House coming along nicely
Was hoping to get it this month but was pushed back to January
I am contemplating pre-ordering this. Good chance I will.
For now I will stick with letting my cm2 gather dust, As someone who flys predominantly msfs at the moment I would really love someone like virpil to make a throttle quadrant with flaps/spoilers but with hot swappable detent profiles (almost like how vkb have done with their throttle) so nice quick change between flying ga, ga with reverser, a320 that requires multiple detents etc etc. I would so love to ditch my bravo for something with some heft and build quality but until then, bravo wins for my personal use. Otherwise it looks like a nice enough product
Noticed the AUX USB port, can you slave this to a Sharka panel? Or do you need the CM base?
the cm3 you can slave, but you loose the abbillity to split it to 32 toggle devices. So i let my sharkaa unslaved
I was just wondering when your next vid would come out, I just reached out for a Sim consultation yesterday
@@SkyeWolf310 if I did not reply, can you please contact either on Discord or noobifiermedia AT gmail DOT com.
This build quality looks outstanding.
Thanks for a great hardware review.
Just hope it woth wait as they emailed saying delayed end December mid Jan
@@james64983 it’s quite an upgrade
I saw this, wanted it, but couldn't justify the cost to upgrade from my Cm3 just for some extra buttons.
It's crazy how they haven't made a throttle that would make me switch off my original CM throttle. They always keep on cutting functionality.
Oh boy... my Logitech X56 feels way outdated LOL
Great HOTAS. Had wonderful times with it.
i have the 50cm-3 and i love it .. but honestly i dont see why i would need to "upgrade" to the prime for me it seems more like a side grade
Woooooooi
Nice😮
I have full set that I’m not using it only used once, if anyone is interested dm me. Note it’s not this version
Virpil gear would be nice...if they ever have stock. 🙄
@@JeremyArchie so I’ll let you in on a secret, they do this on purpose. You’ll notice it when it’s his backorder. It still has a button that lets you buy it. The secret is that it’s always back ordered and there is never any stock. When you order it, it’s shipped to you in about four or five days and you get it quickly.And it’s been like this for years.
@@NOOBIFIER1337 Reaaalllly? 🤔
Hmmm... well I better click 'buy' on my cart then. 😄
Oh man, keep me away from this man candy!
Virpil cant compete with VKBs latest throttle with this one. Way too much and not enough value
Nice. But still prefer VKB over Virpil as I foubd Virpil devs rude and arrogant.
Put in a request about software as joy gremlin were not suitable, and why wouldn't the basic software of top end kit allow for keybindings or light toggling etc.
They went meh, and said nah going with the 3rd party add on, and theyvwere not polite about it.
That pushed me away, sold all my Virpil kit and went VKB. Product and service are much better imho.
@@Sholto_ customer support and the designers are not the same people. I feel you might have had better success if you had reached out to me with your question.
Well I have never saw a company respond and react to their customer's request that fast than Virpil; few months ago they released the angle mount for panels on the cadet throttle, we asked them to make it universal so CM3 can use it as well, they immediately revised the design and I got one for my CM3, plus they are not made in China 😆
@ you can definitely tell by using and with a Quick Look inside, these are made in Europe and not China, I will agree with you there.
I have had great CS experience with Virpil.
Wooooooooooooooo