PXN V10
Benefits
- A complete bundle with base, steering wheel, crankset and shifter
- Fairly good PC feel for the basics
- An attractive price
Disadvantages
- Disappointing build quality
- Console sensations fall short of the competition
- Console-compatible only with official controller
Our rating: 5.2/10
Among the sim-racing players active on the market, few brands offer products that are both PC and console compatible. The best-known are Fanatec, Logitech and Thrustmasterwith peripherals that can most often be used on PC and another platform (PC and Playstation, PC and Xbox), at least for the basics.
It is true that Fanatec offers steering wheels that can be used on PC, Xbox and Playstation, such as the ClubSport Porsche 911 GT3 R for example, but you’ll need a base specific to the console you’re using. You won’t be able to use the ClubSport DD+ on Xbox with this steering wheel, as the base is only compatible with PC and Playstation. And it’s more or less the same with Logitech and Thrustmaster, with both brands offering console-specific variants of their product.
However, there is one player not at all known in the sim-racing world who claims that his bundle is compatible with all three platforms. It’s PXN, and according to the brand, its V10 can be used on PC, Xbox and Playstation. And that’s what we’re going to see next.
Main and technical features of the bundle
- Bundle complete with base, steering wheel, crankset and shifter
- Steering wheel with alcantara finish and 27 cm diameter
- Base with two motors and one gear
- Crankset with 3 adjustable pedals
- Shifter with 6 speeds and reverse gear
- PC and console compatible, but only via an official controller
Design
The design of the V10 isn’t too bad, I must say, taking inspiration from the competition. The steering wheel has a slightly flat base, with alcantara all around, and a few elements in red.
As for the base, it’s all black and rather large for one that isn’t Direct Drive. The crankset is more or less a Wish copy of Thrustmaster’s, with plastic arm and aluminum pedal plate, and it’s much the same for the shifter.
On the whole, it’s quite beautiful, but nothing more.
Customized assembly
The steering wheel attaches to the base with a kind of QR reminiscent of the old Thrustmaster ones, but much less sturdy. The fastening system is made entirely of plastic, but this does the trick for the power generated by the motors, which is rather weak, by the way.
As far as the base is concerned, a metal plate is included in the kit, but it’s difficult to use on some chassis because there are no mounting holes. As a result, the V10 can be mounted on furniture by design.
Manufacturing and finishing
Unsurprisingly, the finish falls short of the competition. But given the price, that’s understandable. The alcantara on the steering wheel is low-grade, the plastic is cheap and poorly assembled, the buttons look good but are often irritating to use, and the same goes for the aluminum paddles.
The crankset doesn’t offer much stability on the ground, and the shifter isn’t great. As I said above, this bundle is cheap, and that’s reflected in its construction and finish.
Handling the steering wheel
The wheel is 27 cm in diameter, which puts it in the small category for all-purpose use. Nevertheless, the controls fall perfectly under your fingers when you’re on the track, which is a good thing. What’s not a good thing are the buttons, which are irritating to use due to their lack of responsiveness, something also found on the paddles, pedals and shifter, which is super soft when shifting gears.
Sensations during play
On the PC, the base is correct, but nothing more. The two motors and Logitech-style gearing offer a fairly good feel in absolute terms. Feedback is present, and the wheel is precise, but sensations are poorly dosed and too blurred. Basically, it’s not precise when it comes to force feedback.
On consoles, well, that’s a different story. Since the V10 is compatible with Xbox (One and Series) and PS4 (no PS5) via an official controller, feedback is more or less that of haptic feedback, with the resistance of the steering wheel increasing with the angle of rotation. The effects of body movements, terrain and all the rest are set aside. Basically, it’s as if you were using an Xbox or Playstation controller.
Compatibility
So console-compatible is a big word. It’s “compatible”, but only via an official Xbox or Playstation controller. You connect the controller to the base, and then you connect the base to the console. As a result, the platform (Xbox or PS) recognizes the product as a controller, and applies the controller’s profile. And I’ll let you think what you like about that.
Value for money
At €300, the price might seem attractive, but in reality it’s not at all, especially if you’re on a console. On the PC, the pill is more palatable, and even so, I’d have preferred the V10 to be sold for around €250, given the features it offers and, above all, its build quality.
My verdict
What can I say… on consoles, you might as well play sim-racing titles with your controller, because it’s more or less the same in terms of feel, and costs nothing at all to boot. On PC, the V10 may be an option if the G923 or T248 are out of stock. Honestly, I prefer Logitech or Thrustmaster solutions to PXN and its V10. It may be more expensive, but it’s much better in terms of feel.
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