Simagic EVO 9Nm Sport review
1 Simagic sent the EVO 9Nm for review as well as the GT Neo, these will be the very first reviews of Simagic equipment Ive done it the channel. As always I say what I want.
If you want a quick and dirty version of this review, it will probably get some people annoyed: Good wheel base, well priced, worth at least considering it. I get why people like it. I dont get the hype.
As for the Neo, probably the best simracing deal right now. Though there are reports of handles breaking.
For the longer not dirty version, stick around. If you want some of the profiles Ive used for this wheelbase, check out randomcallsign.com
2 Simagic is name that has been out for a while, having cemented themselves with the Alpha series which garners a lot of attention. If you been anywhere on the internet where simracers gather together, youll se a rather dedicated group where the answer is always simagic. Wheelbase? Simagic. Pedals? Simagic. "Phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range? Believe it or not Simagic. If not, straight to jail You get the idea.
The EVO series brings improvements, what matters most for this review will be the motor with low cogging and low inertia on the wheelbases shaft. For this new generation theres also a new wheel side quick release that has passthru. Simagic has not sent it for testing.
There are 3 versions of the neo, 9t, 12 and 18. For this review Ill have the 9Nm one here called the sport, I may have other versions in the future. This Evo is 399 dollars or 439pounds or around 450 euros, depending on store time of year.
The Neo is 269 dollars, 295 pounds, or roughly the same in euros. I will just briefly mention the Neo in this review, at a future time I may do a full review of it.
Bear in mind that at the time im filming this the usdollar value may change due to the current volatile nature of the import taxes, paid of course by the importer and ultimately by the end consumer. They call it Tariffs.
Physically it is a compact unit having at the front the known Dspec type of quick release. This quick release is compatible with any Dspec type and ready for the passthru if you want to connect wheels with it. It also has this connector for future accessories. This connector may be a hindrance for those who want to upgrade from a previous simagic product or just prefer a front mount, as essentially the EVO does away with it. Maybe in tue future someone will create a cradle of sorts allowing for front mounts. Speaking of mounts below there is the fanatec pattern, and holes at the side as well. At the back, a slew of connections for canbus usb and RJ type. The USB is canbus and sadly not a usb hub. Also two data connections, a USBB for data, and a usbC for the passthrough. Simagic also changed the connection to a barrel type single pin with secure connection. This baby isnt going anywhere. The power button is at the bottom and as a personal point, its a bit annoying to be there because all cables will be in the way.
1 Simagic talks about no cogging but theres a little bit. Its almost frictionless. Very similar to the Conspit 10 Nm Ares pole design in terms of cogging feel. But after being powered in use, all modern wheels feel frictionless. Inside theres a small fan to cool down the wheelbase and at the front this ring light to give some info.
1 The GT Neo has been the talk of simracing for a while. A well priced full featured gt wheel wheel, with lots of encoders and that is able to connect to simhub. 10 buttons, 4 encoders, 2 thumb encoders clutches, 2 7 way funkies, led lights, good ergonomics nice magnetic shifters. Price is not bad. Build quality is OK, though there are reports of handles breaking down.
The software is really good, in my opinion. It gives the wheelbase a good deal of choices to change the settings, from the more general directinput stuff, to more specific things like detail filters or even slew rate control to tune down some details of the wheel. This software has a great default profile choice and a really easy way to save and sort them by game. That also extends to light profiles available for the neo and every other wheel they have.
Its a simple software to understand with the correct level of depth and customization
2 What really matters in this review is the driving experience. They can talk about low inertia or “no cogging” but how it feels and drives is what is going to make it interested in it. I have generally an excellent opinion of this wheelbase, however I need to state that the “detail” term I have seen used about this wheelbase, could be considered “noise” if the wheelbase is not correctly set up, as it can become so prevelant it becomes obtrusive. Its also not the case that the noise “or detail” has any useful information. Its vibration, oscillation, big amplitude in a cacophony of mixed signals. Noise. In reality this wheelbase was a bit of a mixed bag.
So, my experiences go like this. In LMU specifically, its a difficult experience to set up. I have uploaded to randomcallsign.com a profile. I think is one of the titles that shows what wheelbases are able to do as the FFB signal is strong with lots of nuances. Then this wheelbase becomes super noisy to say the least. Not “detailed”, noisy. It requires an healthy level of filtering both in game and in software to clear the signal. Conspit has the exact opposite issue in this title. Even with filtering I find the centering too abrupt, as if some sort of gyroscopic effect is turned on. LMU does represent, for better or worse, the philosophy about this wheelbase.
Assewtto Corsa Comeptizione, is another title where its a nice test because it mutes the signal too much. In this title, the detail philosophy isnt more present as any other wheelbase. It performs adequately. Decent details, decent force that tries to overcome the natural damping of the title, without much finesse. It loses to bigger wheelbases like the R12, Asetek and Clubsport DD in the rawness of the suspension force at track depressions. Im interested to test the 12 or 18Nm version of this wheelbase to see how it performs. I would also recommend to lower the ffb gain in title for this.
With iracing the EVo platform has a wonderful signal with everything balanced. The correct level of detail, force, kerbing, speed, damping. Supremely balanced. I barely have done anything in the profile and it just made sense. Just the right amount of everything. The 360hz FFB is working quite nicely here.
Now the original Assetto Corsa was a surprise. Simagic has this partnership with formula drift, so I was interested to see how it performs in a drift scenario. I think this is the best drifting wheelbase family. It was the most natural, sensible, well tuned wheelbase I have ever seen for drifting.Just the correct amount of damping, has a really nice response without being too hectic.
If you are into simdrifting, I think this should be your top choice.
For the rest of AC, also incredibly nice wheelbase, what applies with simdrifting also applied here
The GT Neo wheel pairs well with the EVO sPort. The lighter wheel lets the forcefeedback come through. Speaking of the Neo, I find it to be a pretty good wheel in terms of performance. Goos ergonomics, the buttons work nice. Could be a good wheel if you want something sensibly priced that has the ability to be used with other wheelbasers.
The small format of the wheelbase, even with active cooling made it feel warmer that I would like. I you recommend that youd use this in a a place with a solid wheeldeck to help the heat sink into it. Regardless, it never lost any forcefeedback.
Despite the claims Ive heard of “a new generation” of forcefeedback, an evolution of it, like it gave you superpowers out of a bottle, what the EVO is a different way to approach a forcefeedback signal that is paired with a lower inertia shaft. One philosophy that may be good for some, for others it actually can become a noisy hindrance, believe it or not. Still, my opinion of it boils down to this. The wheelbase is incredibly capable, it feels strong, very strong for 9nm, it has good force feedback throughout even if noisy without some care, the formfactor will be correct for most, your mileage may vary with the mounting options. The price is right and in many contexts the best choice.
Id have no problems living with this wheelbase, even if the approach for forcefeedback signals is not my favorite one because it can become overly noisy especially in Le Mans Ultimate where it needs almost a nuclear physics phd guy to configure it and a healthy dose of game filtering.
2 The GT Neo was also pretty good, I felt comfortable with it, cant really expect more of it, especially at the price. Punches way above it weight, no wonder its popular.
1 Other than that, the EVO is more than recommended. In this power band, its probably one of the best, definitely better than the Moza R9 and CSL DD, a bit behind in my opinion of the conspit 10Nm but that one is more expensive, and has in reality a detuned 15nm motor, and doesnt have such a flexible QR system. So a bit of a different beast.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
