Next Level Racing HF8

Our rating : 8.8/10

There are many companies operating in the sim-racing market. Some produce active equipment, such as Direct Drive bases, pedalboards, etc., while others are in the passive peripherals segment, notably cockpits.

These chassis are a key element of immersion in sim-racing, as they give us the impression of being in a racing car, surrounded by a roll cage in most cases. In sim-racing, the ultimate goal is not to have fun – although many racers do race just to decompress and pass the time – but rather to dive into a suit and feel like a real racing driver.

Currently, there are several players offering equipment such as chassis for sim-racing. These include names like PlaySeat, Simlab and Next Level Racing. These companies not only produce and sell cockpits, but also offer solutions and equipment to enhance racing immersion. For example, dynamic chassis, which move according to body movements. In terms of immersion, sim-racing isn’t much better, at the expense of an often unreasonable selling price. However, there are solutions that provide additional effects, such as haptic feedback.

Some sim-racing peripherals, especially pedalboards, make use of vibrators to produce haptic feedback when you brake, in order to simulate wheel lock, ABS and ESP interventions, etc. Based on this principle, Next Level Racing has developed a product in the form of a cover that provides additional feedback via vibrations, or haptic feedback. It’s called the HF8 and we’re going to find out what it’s worth.

Key features and technical specifications

• Pad in the form of a seat cover
• 8 motors distributed throughout the pad for immersive haptic feedback
• Can be used in all games, whether sim-racing, flight sim or FPS
• PC-compatible via Simhub and also “supported” on consoles
• Adjustable via Next Level Racing software, in addition to Simhub
• Can also be used with films, TV series and music via a 3.5mm jack plug.

What is the NLR HF8?

Instead of talking about the design of the HF8, as we’re wont to do with the products we’ve tested, because honestly, it’s just a pad, or a cover, that you put on a seat to get extra feedback; the design won’t really impact your purchase, even if this Next Level Racing product is rather discreet. Let’s talk about the real thing.

So, NLR’s HF8 is a haptic feedback pad whose mission is to produce and provide you with additional feedback when sim-racing, or playing any game for that matter. This haptic feedback is emitted by 8 electric motors, distributed over the entire back surface and seat.

Data is retrieved from the sim-racing title using PC telemetry, and you can make adjustments and settings via Next Level Racing software, or Simhub, as the HF8 is compatible with the latter. You can also use this pad to play games such as flight sims, FPS, etc., either on PC via the USB socket, or on console via the 3.5mm jack.

HF8 installation

Installing the HF8 is like any other cover: you have straps that hug the seat, ensuring a good grip on the pad. Next, you have a USB cable and a 3.5mm jack for connection to your setup, as well as the power supply.

If you’re on a PC, you’ll use the USB cable. And if you’re on a console, it’s the Jack that will take care of retrieving the information and transforming it into haptic feedback. But there’s another way of doing this, as we’ll see below.

Manufacturing and finishing

It’s a pad, so you shouldn’t expect a high level of quality. It’s well made, with good-quality imitation leather all the same, and comfort is good. The imitation leather is honeycombed, which provides a good level of breathability, even if the climate doesn’t cooperate in summer.

On the lower part, the part in contact with your seat, the finish is good, avoiding any damage to your equipment. However, the HF8 is thick in places, from 4 to 6 cm depending on the area. According to our tests, this does not affect comfort, but it will add height to your seat.

Settings and parameters

On the PC, you can use either NLR software or Simhub to set up the HF8. You can control the 8 motors independently, ensuring a very high level of immersion once you’ve found the right configuration. The same applies to vibration intensity, which can be adjusted by motor (8 zones in all) and by effect. You can have one motor providing haptic feedback for ABS, another for ESP, yet another for shocks, and so on. The combinations are numerous, and the software makes it possible to set practically everything.

Comfort and sensations during play

Let’s talk about the comfort of the HF8. The pad, though 6 cm thick in some areas, is comfortable. You can’t feel the motors at all, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that the HF8 isn’t equipped with haptic feedback. However, the driving position will inevitably be impacted by the pad, as it adds height. You’ll need to adjust your seat to accommodate the altered driving position.

Another point worth mentioning is the seat. On a bucket seat, you lose grip and depth. And on a gaming seat, it becomes very flat. On some rigs, you’ll be able to compensate for this, but nothing is guaranteed, I warn you.

And now, let’s move on to the sensations provided by the HF8 and its haptic feedback. First of all, you’ll need some time to find the settings, as each motor is configured independently. Between setting effects and their curves, allocating motors to effects and intensity, expect to spend some time on it.

In absolute terms, the HF8 does its job of providing feedback, but it has several grey areas. Latency: there’s a time lag between experiencing the effect visually, such as a vibrator or shock, and feeling the sensations via the HF8. And this latency cannot be reduced because of the inertia of the vibrators. It’s a physical problem, so it can’t be corrected by software.

Saturation. Electric motors have a reduced range, or rather curve. As a result, vibrations quickly become saturated, making effects blurred in virtually all cases, especially if there’s action on screen (vibration, shock, braking, etc.).

However, the HF8 can be cooperative if you turn down the motor effects percentages. It’ll give you a not inconsiderable boost to the racing feel, but it’s not up to my expectations, I must admit.

Compatibility

The HF8 is technically compatible with both PCs and consoles, but you’ll need to get creative with the latter. On a PC, there’s no need to worry, apart from the time required to fine-tune the settings. On consoles, the inputs come from the Jack, and therefore from the sound. This is not the best way to feel the effects, as they are too blurred. Otherwise, the trick is to put a PC and its console on the same network, retrieve the telemetry data and inject them into Simhub, for retransmission to the HF8. Complicated, but feasible.

Value for money

Retailing at €249, the HF8 has a reasonable price tag, especially for the added sensations. The build quality is there, and the audience is there, so its value for money is good, I’d say.

My verdict

If you’re looking for a substitute for the Bass Shaker or a dynamic cockpit, you’ve got one in the HF8, but in a light version. It’s not on the same level as products specifically made to add sensation, but it does the job in absolute terms if you’re a lambda driver who just wants to have fun on Forza Horizon or Need For Speed.

If you want total immersion, I’m afraid the Next Level Racing HF8 isn’t for you, unless you want extra feedback. What’s more, this solution is less expensive than a Bass Shaker.