You actually now can buy the Asetek La Prima base for 749€ - thanks to everyone pointing it out, when I wrote the script you couldn't. At that price I think it's also a very nice option! Standalone www.asetek.com/simsports/product/la-prima-direct-drive-wheelbase-12nm/ Bundles with QR www.asetek.com/simsports/product/la-prima-wheelbase-and-quick-release-bundle/

I have had my Alpha Mini for 2 years . Well built and never had a problem except with the early software which is much better now . I have had the temperature of the unit up to 60 degrees having used it for six hour sessions regularly ( in a hot summer ) but have never noticed any drop off in power/torque . I have the Simagic 300mm GT4 wheel which is perfect with this base . I also have a cheap 350mm "deep dish" wheel for drifting , no button box or paddles on it to keep it light and the Alpha Mini handles that just fine . I have just ordered the 300mm GTS wheel which should cover most other scenarios . I also have the P1000i Pedals with haptics and they are great . After 2 years of constant use my GT4 wheel is still in perfect condition too ( not the Alcantara version ) . I have confidence in all my Simagic kit and think it is a great ecosystem that is built to last . I feel I have spent well .

My favorite base right now is the simagice umtimate. I own the dd+ and the alpha I got to use the ultimate and like it more then both with the extra details. Thank god they ahve done updates its so so good now and they are on there 3rd revision which mamy dont know. So the bases and software now is better then it was a year ago.

Hi Dan, great review as usual. It looks like you got the Alpha mini V1 rather than the current V3. AFAIK the V1 came with a different power supply which allowed it to reach the higher torque values. The V3 only reaches 10nm as advertised, so you might need to add a disclaimer here.

Wow 😃 Love the testing man 💪 You are such an asset to the community bro 💪

Great review! You’re becoming one of the best sim racing reviewers on KZfaq, mixed in with the dry sense of humour, make these videos really watchable until the end. Having an actual OEM engineer review these products is refreshing and you put the technical aspects into a more basic dialogue so that less technically minded viewers can understand…

I've been using a mini with the FX wheel for the last year, and have been really impressed by the quality. It's also nice to hear it stacks up well against the competition, as it has a pretty complete ecosystem that I feel even more optimistic about diving into

I just ordered the Simagic Alpha Mini & GT Neo wheel. Thanks in part to this informative video. Thanks, Dan.

Have had a first Edition Alpha mini since first release , brought on pre order with a leap of faith. absolutely justified itself and i feel no need to upgrade , been faultless after 1000’s of hours use .

I've had one for just over a year and I absolutely adore it- I love the form factor and mounting options are as good as it gets.

So glad you went above and beyond and tested performance when heat soaked. I can help answer the longer term performance for this base, after 2 years using it regularly it still works perfectly with no issues and the software has been improving very well, its in a very good state now.

Proud owner of the Alpha Mini and FX wheel. Personally I think the built quality and performance of Simagic Is second to none at It´s price range.

New to sim racing. Love your content Dan. I bought a Simagic Alpha and been running it for two weeks. It felt good but not great. Tried your settings and it completely transformed my experience. I now LOVE my alpha. Thanks for the helpful video. Keep up the great work!

Oh cool, thanks for showcasing it Dan. I've had one for awhile paired with the GT4 wheel and run it on iRacing and ACC - I love it!

Great review and what I needed to proceed with an order for the Alpha Mini.

I just ordered the Simagic Alpha Mini & GT Neo wheel, cant wait! For all the reviews I've seen so far, it seems a great and suitable combo for me! Thanks for the video

Some of the best reviews on KZfaq!!

Good stuff Dan. I think Simagic has a great offering. I got the VRS b/c of the value to NM price point, however considered the Simagic as well.

This is my first DD base and I've been using it pretty much everyday since I got it early last year. Definitely recommended and a bang for the buck! Would love to see more settings specifically suited for iRacing :)

Very nice Dan! Love the approach to measuring torque degradation!

I might eventually pick one of these up. The cleverness of the electrical part of the quick release really impressed me (and the rest of the wheel seems good too). Also, I subscribed the moment you started giving pizza tips.

I’ve been running a Simagic Alpha Ultimate for about a year now and it’s been an awesome base. At first I was a little skeptical about going with them but after watching some reviews like RaceBeyondMatter and his comparison to the Simucube 2 I took a chance and I don’t regret it. They have some nice wheel rims, shifters, and pedals too.

Really glad to see you looking at the Simagic gear, I've been running the Alpha U with the GT4 wheel for awhile and I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on that setup. Their build quality is unrivaled at the price point and they have a fantastic ecosystem.

I´m using the Simagic Alpha Mini with the GT4 Wheel for a year now. Never had a problem or overheating. It just doing it what it should. Thx for the review. Enjoyed it, cos Moza stuff is know everywhere :)

I have the alpha ultimate. From other reviews I’ve heard the alpha U has superior FFB and detail to the mini or standard alpha. The improved slew rate of the alpha U puts it directly in line with the SC2 pro. From subjective testing the torque also surpasses the claimed rating of 23nm feeling more like the 25 of the simucube. Where I live in Canada Simagic is the only reasonable option. An alpha U is $1280 compared to SC2 pro at $2100. Here in Canada Simagic is even a lot cheaper than Fanatec or Moza. Moza R21 is $1750 and a DD2 is comes to a whopping $2700 after taxes, and import fees.

Thanks Dan, great review. Gives me confidence that I made the right choice switching to Simagic.

Great review Dan!

Been using this for about 2 years now, its been very nice (apart from the software, which is getting better). The GT4 wheel with double clutches is nice but there are options for any type of racing. I have no regrets and wouldnt change it unless i went to a 20nm type base with an X29. Great review!

Great review Dan. I've owned the Simagic mini and the Ultimate, and I agree with your points. I've since switched to the Simucube 2 Pro, but I think Simagic's ecosystem is a great value proposition. This is a great time to be a sim racer with all the options we now have for our rigs.

Wheel rotation speed gives me the impression of slowing down the return of the wheel to the center, this is very good, oscillations are eliminated and details are not lost, lower values ​​of inertia and damper can be used, then from the tests carried out on the discord group simagic, lowering the wheel return value to low levels results in lower latency, we are now testing the firmware that brings the base to 1000 hz, personally I am very satisfied with this product, thanks Dan for this review, I would say the best I have seen.

Nice review, any idea when will you be able to test the alpha (15mn) ? Looking forward por the p1000 review as well! You are the man !🇧🇷

It’s a great to hear Dan’s opinion of the Mini, since he has quite a bit of experience with other DD bases. I’ve had my Mini for several months and I’m quite happy with it. My first DD was the Moza R9. It was okay, but I could feel more cogging with it compared to the Mini. One thing I’ve noticed is that some reviews show the base with a Mini DIN power connector, but my unit has a barrel connector. I prefer the barrel connector, which seems like a stronger connector. The stronger connector could make a difference for someone who table mounts this base and it’s getting constantly unplugged and plugged back in. The base is marketed as a good option for desk mounting, so I think this is a valid point. They also have the best designed table clamp I’ve ever seen.

Excellent honest review.

Hello Dan, nice video with what I consider an objective test. I have a Mini with GTS Wheel since last Saturday and am fully satisfied with what Simagic offers me for my money. A plus point compared to MOZA, in the software you can set whether, for example, the button that is used as a pit limiter also flashes when it is activated. I still have to make all my settings for the simulations, but I am already very satisfied and the strength of the base is perfectly adequate for the GTS Wheel with 30cm diameter, at least for me. I for one can recommend this combination with a clear conscience to anyone who comes from a "Belt Driven Base" like me. Have fun and always a hand width of fuel in the tank 😉

Thanks for this content Dan! After this I was in search of this base and finally buy it (with the fx whell as you recommend). Being my first upgrade from a G29 for sure will be great. Thanks again!

Great review as always. Love the heat soak tests. Did you do them for the r12 too? That definitely suffers from it.

great review! I've been running a Fanatec CSL Elite PS4 since mid 2020 and I'm definitely looking for a decent mid range DD as my next upgrade. I'm enjoying all the competition between wheelbase providers now!

Had my Alpha Mini since may and came away from the Fanatec CSL DD and it’s night and day compared to their stuff in terms of build quality and performance. I agree with the power being stronger than 10nm more on the 12/13nm like you said. Very impressed with my Simagic base and GTC wheel

I have had alpha mini with GT4 wheel for almost a year. I have been extremely happy with it. I agree that mini feels stronger than R12, I had chance to try R12 and mini at the same time. In my opinion mini ffb feels smoother and it was faster with high forces and overall felt stronger. I really like simagic simple design on their products, but I would love to see some new steering wheels to come out. This was nice review and i completly agree on the stuff you said on the video.

I've had my mini for more than a year and couldn't be more pleased with it. Coming from an old Fanatec belt wheel that I had to be careful not to overstress in certain conditions, this is night and day difference. I mostly run 100% torque and then turn the FF down in game and I have to decrease it quite a lot for things like rallying, but even when I run pretty much the strongest setup without clipping I have barely felt the base getting lukewarm. There have been zero issues with the base and the GTS wheel, the support from the simagic guys on discord was always top notch, the software is pretty good, all in all I can't praise this enough. I was hesitant dropping 1k on a base and wheel, but it's well worth the money.

This video made me pull the trigger on a Alpha wheel base with a set of P1000 pedals. Looking forward to trying this out!

Nice review Dan

Good review. Apart from strength, what other advantage do you think Simucube holds?

Good job as always super informative and no bs. For the heat just put a 120mm fan problem solved.

well this just confirmed to me to buy the simagic alpha ultimate, great video

lol the Ooni plug!! Love it!

Great review, vielen dank!

Great review as always. How are the game preset in the Simpro Manager?

@DanSuzuki been loving your settings for the alpha. But have one question I can’t figure out. Everything feels great except when I’m trying to catch a slide initially turning the wheel quickly to counter steer feels good. But when coming back the other direction. Direction of the corner. The wheel feels very stiff. Like allot of resistance. Any idea what setting can be adjusted to make it easier to turn back. I’ve tried a few settings but haven’t found anything that makes a difference. Thanks bud

Could you share your ideal settings for the Mini?? Best review on youtube btw, i've watched it like 3 times waiting for mine at the end of the month😂

ive had this for a year now and its still amazing

People who have tested both the Simagic Mini and other DD wheels, all said it feels much stronger than 10nm. I think people in iRacing forums then measured the torque, and it was well above 10nm. Thinking was, (IIRC), that Simagic released 15nm version first, then they polished and improved manufacturing, and when they released Mini, they couldn't, for Marketing reasons, say 13.5 nm, so they said it was 10nm. And it's a perfect delineation between models: 10, 15, and 23nm. I don't know if that is true, but I can see the logic behind.

Great video, have you tried the moza r9 possibly? Curious to see how youd compare the two

nice review dan! is there any reason why you use inertia to 100%?

Next!! asetek la prima :) Thanks for the honest review.

Truth be told, I wanted to get the Simagic Alpha Mini at first, but Simagic's availability problems in my area (Like the entire lineup is out of stock lol) led me to buy the Moza R12 + KS Wheel instead. I guess I'm not missing much here now that I have it, but it's nice to know why Simagic is so highly sought after. I sincerely hope Asetek succeeds and branch out to Asia and America as well. I feel Asetek's Non-proprietary route will pay dividends in the long run if it can allow aftermarket steering wheels to flourish.

Just bought a mini on your recommendation

Thanks for this video. You help me with my choice 😉

Hi Dan, I currently use a Microsoft sidewinder force feedback from 2001 or 2002. I build a pokornyi GTE wheel and I’m looking for a wheelbase and pedals. I’m looking at the P1000 pedals with the Alpha Ultimate or the VRS Directforce wheelbase and pedals. What is your opinion?

It is worth noting that you have the first revision of the Alpha Mini. I can tell because there is no gap behind the shaft, whereas you can see a small gap in the newer one. The led also turns on on the new one when you rotate the shaft with the base turned off. The new revision is much more power efficient and never overheats on my end

Great video nice work ! I’m just discovered you yesterday and I’m rocking your channel ahaha, I just wanted to clarify that we can actually buy the la prima base alone now and it cost ~760 but I think the fact you can upgrade it later may be worth paying more no ?

If was same price would choose Asetek. But £749 are not £600. My brother has the alpha mini and is an amazing wheel, the feeling of being higher than 10Nm is real (and I have a Simucube). Also played rally with a simagic wheel (a different one of the one in the review) and no issues with the base moving the wheel, actually Dirt Rally 2.0 feels like the base is in estheroids Great base. Really enjoyed the review, the part of checking the heat issues is a excellent point.

Hi Dan, Having understood a GSI formula pro elite, you have to say that it works like a 15nm simagic Alpha, or precise but forced. Thank you

I am waiting the U in a day but i cant wait for your review

@DanSuzuki Interesting that they provided you with earlier versions of the hardware. You have V1 base with 4pin power connector, different electronics (afair stm32 in V1 and some generic replacement in V2) and a bit different motor with V2 having some power regen tech. For GTC wheel the difference I believe is mostly cosmetic, there's a recess on the back right upper corner that is not there anymore. Thx for the review.

If I want to use the Alpha Mini with the F-Core I would have to get the Simagic Wheel Side QR in 70mm right? And ist it possible to mount an extension on Alpha Mini Shaft?

I’m new to sim racing and recently got a SC2 Pro. I Love it and I’m glad I bought it, but in reality the Alpha Mini probably would’ve been enough for me.

I've noticed with the SC2 Pro that the base gets hot when using the full 25 Nm, but not if using similar overall torque with 'just' 22 Nm maximum, so setting up the base for full torque and adjusting it ingame might be not the best solution. And I had already an RMA with the SC2 Pro, so it did some extra-miles to Ireland and back which took almost a month (I've only sent it to the local store). Where do those Simagic-bases end up if they fail?

Great Video, as always! When people ask me what I would recommend in terms of DD in a pricing range like that, I always say "take a look at Simagic, I think their DDs are quite good", because I read about their motors being somewhat similar to SimuCube, VRS and Asetek. I also wonder why Simagic isn't that popular... I considered Simagic myself, but I went crazy last year when I decided to put the money for a Simucube 2 Pro on the table and then opted for Asetek when they announced their stuff... and I don't regret it, although I prefer the very simple design of the Simucube bases, they easily look like they were stolen from a CNC machine, hehe. But I like that, it makes me feel more confident than devices with a more "designed" look... but I have to say, my Asetek gear is still mint and still performs great. So I can confirm: as long as you don't have bad luck and getting a faulty device, all those DD manufacturers are a great option, you just have to plan how you want to expand your peripherals in terms of pedals and more importantly in terms of wheels. I'm almost on the same page with Asetek, I only opted for the Invicta, because I like the QR and the possibility to stay in one eco system or easily use other pedals or wheels. But I also am not the biggest fan of the looks of the wheelbase. The steering wheels... I kind of was not hyped about the forte wheel as long as I only saw it in videos or on pictures, but once I unboxed it, I thought "Huh... actually it looks quite nice seeing it for real". It's not visually stunning or anything like that, the design is very unique, but on the other hand that applies to many wheels on the market. But I already knew, that I would swap the wheel at some point as soon as the universal QR was availlable. I already did that swap and I was thinking about how to connect the wheel... thought about getting an adapter or making a fitting cable myself, since the original coiled cable of the wheel has two 6 pin Lumberg plugs and a small hub with it's own power unit and an on/off-button transferring the USB signal to the PC. I am using the 200mm shaft of the Asetek QR, so hiding a cable inside that would be easy... however I am currently using the original cable with it's hub, and I don't mind the cable dangling (winding it around the shaft isn't a good option since I can't really bolt the connection hub closer than appr. 30 centimeters). I will try that at some point though, simply making another cable with one Lumberg plug and an USB plug, and then testing how the internal USB hub of the Invicta base can handle the display of my wheel. That's what I love about the hobby, you can adapt anything the way you want with an open system like by Asetek, Simagic, Simucube, and I even think Moza and Cammus... so Sim Racing has come quite far... and I enjoy this, it revived my love for PC using... and let's face it: Simracing is Gaming, only on a mature level were you need patience, a certain amount of discipline and the will to fail and learn.

Fantastic video! Very informative. I'm looking at both the Simagic Mini and the Asetek La Prima. Will there be a review of the Asetek La prima? Thank you!

Been using a mini version for months and I cant complain a thing

Please do a Simagic Alpha, DD+ and the VRS comparison if you can. I’d really like to know

Hatte das Ding. Quietschte nach 1 Woche. Ging sofort zurück. Danach Simucube Pro geholt. Nun ist Ruhe.

When I Upgrade from the fanatec wheelbase 2.5, will I have noticeable better FFB? I dont think that I need more nm, the fanatec is very strong, too, but will I have more Details, or more direct connection feel? I am beginne, only driving for fun, not perfect lap Times, so I raise up all fx effects very high so i permanent have forces in the wheel.

Hi Dan , I currently have a T300, I do a lot of endurance championships on RF2 at quite a high level and I am very hesitant between the Alpha and the Alpha Mini, do you think that the 240€ difference would be worth it trouble for my use?

Looks like a great wheelbase! Just FYI SimXperience released the Accuforce V2 "Complete Kit" in 2017 with a NRG style quick release so Simagic wasn't actually the first, but they did get the wireless steering wheels going years before SimX did. I actually had multiple NRG branded quick releases on multiple wheels that clicked right onto the AF V2 QR. Honestly all sim manufacturers should adopt this method at this point.

I have noticed your reviews getting better over the last ~6-8 mo. [very thorough but not too much highly detailed info that I'm not really interested in (your earlier ones had a tad too much/ too long / less relevant info to me IMO) and not too long (Boosted Media's reviews are way too long, so is SRG but his are organized more consistently so I can skip around w/o missing info I want, even w/o time stamps. Off the top of my head, Laurence Dusoswa's may be among the best w/ time stamps)] Also this is the best of any Simagic review that I've seen😁 One question that you didn't cover: how is your impression of their costumer service? (BM's wasn't so good but he said that was primarily a problem w/ a specific employee of theirs)

sold! Dan can you recomend a decent non expensive aftermarket wheel? Thanks

Thanks great review Dan . Have you tried the Alpha 15nm, I'd love to know if there is any reason to go for the alpha as with the mini hitting 13nm does the medium hit like 17 or is it really a choice between the mini or the ultimate?

For a Playseat Trophy is there any point getting a wheel base that has more Nm? Or should I get the Alpha Mini?

Been shopping for DD while I wait for my thrustmaster TS-PC to die. Been having a hard time deciding between Asetek and Simagic alpha mini, but I agree that the Alpha mini just looks better so that's probably what I'll end up getting

How does the Alpha mini compare to the Alpha and Alpha U? I’m getting my first sim set up and not sure which to get. I don’t want to feel like I have to upgrade in a year’s time…

I did hear alpha mini v3 is not 13nm anymore, but just 10nm. What was the one you have got?

Asetek La Prima or Simagic Alpha mini or Fanatec Clubsport dd or maybe even possibly moza r12????? what one is gonna be the best base in that price range?

Do you think vrs WB is more like equal to the simucube? And is it better than the simagic in term of the feeling of the details of the FB In fact, I am thinking of buying DD and I am confused what to buy Should I buy cheapest dd now like cammus lp8 or moza r9 and wait like two years for the simucube 3 Or I should buy the alpha mini and see if i need more or not Or just buy the VRS DD if it’s like the simucube and better than the simagic But there isn’t many reviews for the VRS

Fanatec employees branding their peak torque as "constant torque" just to let people believe any other base that reports "peak torque" (how it's always been for the reason you explained) can't hold its advertised force... yikes Thanks for actually measuring this stuff, value adding review. I'd personally go for the Asetek La Prima at this price because you can upgrade it to 18nm later, but the Simagic looks great as well and they have the better looking Formula rims. E: just watched the video to the end, you CAN buy the La Prima alone now, it's €749. They have a 5% discount code from Boosted Media year round, so it's actually closer to €700.

Great review! Instant subscribe and bell for notifications. Question for you or anyone that knows and cares to respond. I’m coming from Fanatec for nearly 2 decades now. I want to move on now that I’m 95% PC / 5% console. Which of the top 3 brands (Simagic, Simucube or Asetek) are the most compatible with PC racing games? I love all racing games. Even arcade games like Dirt 5. Fanatec works with almost every game. I’m looking for a brand that works with the widest range next to them. Simagics ecosystem looks fantastic so I’m leaning towards them but I hear Asetek has the fastest slew rate and fine detail. Not a fan of the way their gear looks though.

What quick release are you using on the X29 in this video?

Thanks!

3:30 I don’t feel any magnetic cogging at all when turning my new Simucube 2 Pro (currently unplugged).. Just now tried it again out of curiosity. Just upgraded this week from a fanatec CSL, where the cogging is very pronounced when its powered off.

Great content as usual. Would you prefer alpha or the mini?

Hi Dan, thanks a lot for your test! Not sure why my base gets hotter, but I measured with ACC not iRacing. At 85% force in ACC with settings in SimPro Manager at 10nm/100%, my laser thermometer said 65°. It was summer and it was 32° in the room. In iRacing there are a couple of settings for the FF strenght. I'm new to iRacing. Which one of the two was set to 34nm? Thanks a lot.

1:08 can i use my moza official desktop clamp to mount it ? somebody who knows please answer

Hey Dan, can you do this Overheating Test with Moza R12?

Can you do review and settings of the alpha u?

How do you like that GSI x-29 ? I couldn't decide between the Ascher f28-sc v2 and the GSI and went with the latter.

will you test the alpha aswell?

Im going to invest into this Brand

Beware this is not the latest version of the Alpha Mini (the shape is different). The newer ones are Alpha Mini v3 and they're weaker. I replaced my Moza R9 and it almost has the same power. They probably dropped the peak force to 10nm.

Hey Dan I got an Alpha base, I am confused on how to get the most out of the wheel base ffb wise in iracing, can you help me out? Should I be setting my max torque to 15NM in Simpro manager? Then what should I set the NM to in iracing? Should I be setting it to 15 NM in iracing too if I want to get that amount of torque out of it? I got confused when you said you set it to 34 NM of torque. Any help would be nice to understand how to utilize this wheel base the best! thank you!