SOELPEC Spectra XR

Our rating : 9.8/10

Formula-style steering wheels are plentiful on the sim-racing market, and virtually every brand offers at least one in its catalog.

Among the brands on the market is SOELPEC, a small company offering premium peripherals. Its range includes 3 steering wheels, 2 dashboards and a few other accessories that are attached to the steering wheels. Today, we’ll be testing the Spectra XR, the brand’s top-of-the-range product.

Main and technical features of the steering wheel

• Formula steering wheel with rectangular shape, 30.2 cm diameter
• 5″ central touch screen
• 17 RGB buttons, 2 switches and 5 rotary encoders
• Anodized aluminum frame
• Weighs 1.35 kg on the scale
• Silicone handles open downwards
• RevLED on top and sides of front panel
• 2 magnetic paddles and 2 others for dual clutch at rear
• Rear hub with 6×70 mm pattern
• Available in 5 order colors

Design

The Spectra XR is a steering wheel that’s a tad flashy, notably with its controls available in a choice of 5 colors, but also because of the RGB covering the buttons and other lighting effects.

The shape is rectangular, with the color black dominating. The aluminum structure is anodized, and the faceplate is really loaded with controls. On top of this, a 5″ screen takes center stage on the steering wheel, and is hard to miss.

At the rear, you have 4 carbon fiber paddles (plate) and a hub that is the same color as the front controls. RGB aside, I think the Spectra XR is a fine-looking steering wheel.

Customized assembly

The flywheel is mounted via a hub with a 6×70 mm mounting pattern. This is standard, and will accommodate virtually every Quick Release available on the market, from brands such as Simucube, Asetek, Simagic, Fanatec, Moza, etc.

Connection to the platform is via a Lumberg cable (aviation type) which terminates in USB-A. Once again, this is standard, as the brand doesn’t yet offer Direct Drive bases, so it had to have steering wheels that could be used with any peripheral on the sim-racing market.

Manufacturing and finishing

SOELPEC uses 6061 aluminum for the structure of the Spectra XR, which is black anodized. It’s truly beautiful, very well made, very premium, and even more upscale than the steering wheels offered by Simucube, for example. If I had to make a comparison with a well-known sim-racing brand, SOELPEC is on the same track as Conspit or BavarianSimTec.

As for the finish, it’s very meticulous in every respect. Whether it’s the buttons, the controls, the handles, the screen or the structure itself, there’s not a single flaw on the Spectra XR. Nothing. This is a wheel aimed at the very premium segment, and it’s only natural to see this reflected in the product.

Handling the steering wheel

The wheel is just over 30 cm in diameter, which puts it in the upper mid-range of the targeted competition, namely Formula. With its rectangular shape, all the controls are distributed along the sides of the faceplate, and this is also due to the large screen that takes up space in the middle. It’s 5” diagonal, which puts it above the competition’s 4.3” slabs.

The buttons require a force of 700 g to operate, which is appreciable. You won’t have to wonder whether the button was pressed or not on the run. All the Spectra XR’s controls, apart from the central encoders, are close to your hands, so you don’t have to do any gymnastics to operate them.

At the rear, there are 4 paddles, two of them magnetic, and Action Buttons on the indexes. The rear controls are just as easy to access as those at the front.

Sensations during play

Now let’s get to grips with this top-of-the-range SOELPEC steering wheel. Of course, before you take to the track on the Spectra XR, you’ll need to set up all the controls, dashboards, LEDs and the rest. It’s not time-consuming, nor is it difficult, as the wheel is compatible with SimHub.

Once you’ve got your bearings back, the Spectra XR is a sublime steering wheel to hold in your hands and take around the circuit. The grip is racecar-like, featuring a 9:15 driving position.

The downward-opening handles are ergonomically designed for easy access to the controls spread across the faceplate. The same goes for the rear paddles, which are close to your hands, even if you can’t adjust their spacing. It’s a shame you can’t do that, because the Spectra XR is an expensive wheel…

Another interesting point that enhances the sensations is the weight of the steering wheel. Displayed at 1.35 kg on the scale, with a diameter of just over 30 cm, without the use of carbon fiber, it’s quite a feat. The structure is made of 6061 aluminum, which ensures great solidity and low weight. Note that the 1.35 kg are without the Quick Release, and the latter will easily add half a kilo to the scale. As long as it stays under two kilos, it’s manageable for most mid-range bases.

Compatibility

We all know that high-end sim-racing is reserved exclusively for the PC platform, and SOELPEC’s Spectra XR is no exception. This steering wheel is only compatible with Windows PCs, and features native SimHub support.

For Direct Drive bases, there’s no real limit, as long as the one you choose can accommodate a hub, with QR, with a 6×70 mm pattern. This is a standard format, supported by Fanatec, Simagic, Moza, Simucube, Asetek and others.

Value for money

Pricing remains the main consideration for this Spectra XR. At around €1,800, it’s clearly positioned in the very high-end segment, reserved for the most demanding enthusiasts.

So yes, it’s expensive, I’d even say very expensive, but this steering wheel fits in perfectly with the offerings of competitors like Conspit or BavarianSimTec.

So, taking into account the exceptional build quality, the multitude of controls, the wheel’s advanced ergonomics, the features on offer and the target audience, I think the Spectra XR’s value for money is good and in line with what you’d find in the served segment.

My verdict

SOELPEC’s Spectra XR is easily one of the most high-end sim-racing wheels on the market today. Everything about its design shows that it is aimed at a demanding public, looking for an exclusive and particularly accomplished product.

If you can afford the Spectra XR, in addition to having a great passion for Formula and sim-racing, then I urge you to pick it up.