FANATEC CLUBSPORT DD+

Our rating : 9.8/10

The German brand Fanatec of sim-racing peripherals has been on the market for over 20 years, giving it not only excellent experience in the field, but also a strong reputation in the industry. For some time now, Fanatec has been considered the Go-To for sim-racing setups, both in Europe and worldwide, to be frank. This brand’s products are premium, high-performance and more or less affordable when you know when to buy them.

What’s more, it was Fanatec that democratized Direct Drive bases for the common man with its 5 and 8 nm torque CSL DDs. Before, not only did you have to pay a small fortune for a DD base, but you also had to have the experience to use it. Today, thanks to the many special offers available on the German manufacturer’s website, you can set up a complete Fanatec setup for just €500, including the DD base. It’ll be an entry-level model, but a DD nonetheless.

Until recently, the Fanatec range covered 2 segments: entry-level with its CSL DD, and high-end with its Podium DD1 and DD2. For power ratings, we had 5, 8, 20 and 25 nm of torque. However, all seasoned pilots swear by bases developing between 12 and 15 nm, which they consider to be the sweet spot of the segment. Fanatec’s competitors have noticed this gap in the German giant’s range, and have based their offensive on it. As a result, Fanatec has lost market share, but this is set to change with the new ClubSport DD+a 15 nm torque Direct Drive base, which I will introduce to you below.

Main and technical characteristics of the base

• Direct Drive base developing 15 nm of constant torque
• Official Playstation 4 and 5 license, also PC compatible
• FullForce technology algorithm and hardware for maximum immersion
• QR2 Base Side standard on base, but compatible with QR1
• Compatible with the entire Fanatec ecosystem and virtually all sim-racing titles
• Angle of rotation electronically limited to 2520°, but adjustable
• Fully customizable base via software (PC and/or steering wheel)

Design

The design of the DD+ doesn’t change much from its smaller siblings, the CSL DD. It’s still a cylindrical shape with an all-black body, the Fanatec logo in white on some parts, and cooling fins.

Fanatec’s bases have always been sober, at least the recent ones, and the DD+ is no exception. This device will go perfectly with any sim-racing setup, regardless of the steering wheel used. A little information: the DD+ is a more powerful variant of the ClubSport DD (12 nm of torque). The notable differences between the two are the ignition button (blue for DD+) and a blue ring also on the rear, which is yellow for the CS DD.

Customized assembly

The assembly of the DD+ follows that of Fanatec’s recent bases, at least the CSL DD. So you have a bottom option via 3 rails and T-nuts (which are in the box, by the way), or with the 2 rails that are the sides of the base (flank). Fanatec also sells a Table Clamp specific to ClubSport DD and DD+, which can be attached to furniture. However, I wouldn’t take this route for fixing the ClubSport DD+, because don’t forget that it develops 15 nm of constant torque, and that’s more than enough to cause damage. It’s conceivable if you set it to output a maximum of 8 nm of torque.

As this mounting system is already present on other Fanatec bases, you won’t have much trouble performing this operation on a cockpit compatible with this peripheral.

Manufacturing and finishing

The entire structure of the base is made of metal, which gives it a premium look, as well as offering a good cooling mode for the motor and electronics (passive) that really performs well, as the base never exceeded 33°C during my sessions. Otherwise, I haven’t noticed any defects, burrs on the metal or poorly assembled parts. The DD+ consists of a central box, with 2 covers attached to it (front and rear), in addition to the QR2 of course.

The ClubSport DD+ is a top-of-the-range device, very well built and finished to a very high standard. It’s a Fanatec first and foremost, and we didn’t expect to see a product manufactured off-the-shelf, as is the case with some brands that focus on performance.

Database settings

DD+ settings are exactly the same as those found on other Fanatec bases, i.e. via the steering wheel or through Fanatec Control Center and/or Fanalab. You have virtually all the standard settings, including power, angle of rotation, force feedback power, FFB, Damper, and more. You really, really do have plenty of settings with Fanatec products, and that’s what makes the German brand of sim-racing peripherals so strong.

Sensations during play

With all the parameters in place, and a ClubSport steering wheel on the QR2, I take several runs to test different conditions with this base. Circuit, rally, oval, and that’s just a small sample.

In terms of feel, it’s pure bliss, as this base is not only powerful (15 nm of torque) to say bye-bye to the slightest hint of clipping, but the motor has enough in the belly to deliver light and big effects at the same time.

With a good Direct Drive base, it’s all about the finesse of the effects produced by the graphics engine, which will be relayed to your hands. And the DD+ has a finesse rarely seen at its power level. And that’s not all: the reaction time of this base, and its 12 nm variant, is twice as fast as that of a Podium DD1 or DD2, Fanatec’s top-of-the-range, flagship bases. And that says a lot about the work done by the German brand, and also explains why Fanatec was absent from the starting blocks of the Direct Drive bases.

Compatibility

On paper, DD+ is technically compatible with Sony’s two latest consoles (PS4 and PS5) and PC too. But if you have a Fanatec steering wheel for Xbox, with the QR2 Wheel Side of course, you’ll be able to make it work on Microsoft consoles. However, the experience could be a tad bizarre due to the often temperamental Xbox controller.

For other Fanatec sim-racing peripherals, there’s no real restriction, as long as it’s a recent product. The same applies to sim-racing titles.

Value for money

The ClubSport DD+ is listed at almost €1,000 on the Fanatec website, which is certainly expensive, but totally justifiable. The build quality is top-notch, worthy of the German brand’s other bases. The power is there to make you feel like you’re driving a real race car. As far as I’m concerned, the ClubSport DD+’s value for money is perfect, especially against the competition at the same power level.

My verdict

Some riders thought, and even said, that Fanatec had lost its flame, that the aura of the brand had diminished to become only an impression of premium and performance. But with the new ClubSport DD and DD+, the brand has well and truly confirmed that it remains the Go-To for any sim-racer looking for reliable, high-performance and, above all, immersive products.

This base is just perfect on its performance level, and I’ve confirmed this time and time again. With it, you’ll get total immersion in sim-racing, with light and heavy effects, a natural feel for the steering wheel and massive sensations. The price might put off some gamers, especially as you’ll still have to shell out at least €600 for a good steering wheel and LC pedalboard, and €500 for a chassis since you’re not going to mount the DD+ on a table. But frankly, it’s worth the cost!