Direct Drive Blind Test: Can You Really Feel the Difference?
Source video: SerialDriver — Blind Direct Drive wheel-base test: can he feel the differences?
The French Simracer verdict in 30 seconds
Yes, differences between Direct Drive wheel bases remain perceptible without seeing the logo—but torque alone does not explain them. With the same wheel, VR, similar filters and roughly 16 Nm at the wheel, the test exposed differences in steering weight, grip-loss readability, road detail and tuning. The CONSPIT Ares Platinum, Asetek La Prima and VNM Direct Drive Elite each delivered a distinct character; the VNM telemetry mode changed the result again.
A useful blind-test protocol—with limits
The wheel base was hidden, the driver wore a VR headset, and the same steering wheel, car and circuit were used for each run. Software filters were aligned as closely as practical and output was brought to approximately the same level. The CONSPIT’s 20 Nm maximum therefore did not win simply by being stronger.
This removes brand and price expectations, but it is not a laboratory measurement. Small differences in firmware, motor behaviour and filter implementation remain. The driver also had previous experience with one of the bases. The result should be read as an experiment in perception, not an absolute ranking.
The wheel bases and four test runs
| Run | Wheel base | Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asetek La Prima with boost kit | 16 Nm, DirectInput |
| 2 | CONSPIT Ares Platinum | 20 Nm base limited to a comparable output |
| 3 | VNM Direct Drive Elite 18 Nm | DirectInput |
| 4 | VNM Direct Drive Elite 18 Nm | Full telemetry FFB |
What remained perceptible without the logo
Steering weight is not the same as torque
Two bases can be configured to a similar peak force and still build steering load differently. In the video, the CONSPIT gave a stronger sense of weight while remaining detailed. This can make the car feel planted without necessarily producing a higher peak.
Grip-loss readability
The driver commented on how clearly he could anticipate the car beginning to slide. That information comes from the timing and progression of force changes, not only from road-texture effects. A base can feel busy yet communicate tyre load less clearly.
Road detail and kerbs
Surface texture, bumps and kerb impacts were not perceived equally. More vibration is not automatically more information: useful FFB separates road detail from the larger steering-load signal.
Filters and software matter
Damping, friction, inertia compensation and response filters can substantially change the same motor. Comparing default presets is therefore partly a software comparison. A base that rewards fine tuning may be less Plug & Play but more adaptable.
DirectInput versus telemetry FFB
The VNM was tested once with conventional DirectInput and once in full telemetry mode. The driver identified the telemetry run, but did not automatically prefer it. Full telemetry changed the character and could feel softer or less natural in some phases.
The useful conclusion is not that telemetry FFB is better or worse. A mixed mode may need to be tuned around the simulator and car. Extra effects only add value when they reinforce tyre load, slip and chassis movement rather than masking them.
Method lesson: If you compare two bases, use the same wheel, Quick Release, car, circuit and approximate output. A heavier or larger wheel changes inertia enough to distort the comparison.
What does this mean for iRacing, LMU and ACC?
On iRacing, clean tyre-load progression and clipping control can matter more than artificial road texture. Le Mans Ultimate sends dense information with prototypes and Hypercars, making filter balance important. In Assetto Corsa Competizione, sustained GT3 steering load and long stints make smoothness, damping and fatigue relevant.
The video did not test every title above. These are decision criteria to apply when evaluating a base in each simulator, not claims that all four runs were performed in those games.
How to choose a Direct Drive wheel base
- Match torque to the rigidity of the cockpit.
- Decide whether you prefer Plug & Play presets or deep filtering.
- Check the wheel and Quick Release ecosystem before buying.
- Evaluate clipping and torque headroom, not maximum Nm alone.
- Consider software, firmware support and connection options.
- Use the same wheel when comparing bases whenever possible.
What a blind test reveals
- Steering-load character
- Grip-loss readability
- Oscillation control
- Effect of software filters
What it cannot prove
- Long-term reliability
- Every simulator and car
- Thermal behaviour over months
- That one character suits every driver
Compare Direct Drive wheel bases
Choose by cockpit, software and ecosystem—not by the largest Nm number.
Frequently asked questions
Can drivers identify Direct Drive wheel bases blind?
They can perceive differences in weight, response and detail, but identifying the brand reliably is harder.
Is the highest-torque base always better?
No. Torque headroom matters, but readability, filters, software and wheel inertia are equally important.
Does telemetry FFB always improve realism?
No. It can add useful effects, but excessive telemetry may mask the main steering signal. Tuning and blending matter.
Why use the same steering wheel?
Diameter, weight, rigidity and inertia change the force feedback enough to invalidate a base comparison.