Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter

Our rating : 9.2/10

Gearboxes are often the forgotten items in today’s sim-racing equipment market. In fact, of all the steering wheel sets sold in recent years, few include a shift lever most of them rely on paddles instead.

The paddle shifters are excellent, of course. They are even generally considered to be faster and easier to use. But when it comes to creating this feeling of immersion and pleasure that you feel when you drive a car in real life, a gearshift is an absolutely essential part of the absolutely essential element for regular Sim-racing players.

That’s why we decided to take a look at one of the most popular gearbox models today: the TH8A Shifter from the renowned manufacturer Thrustmaster .

In this article, we will tell you about the main features of this gear shift features of this shifter, we will tell you what type of type of player we recommend it to, what are its advantages and its disadvantagesits priceas well as where where you can get it.

The characteristics of the Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter

The Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter is a high-end gearbox high-end gearbox which is not new but which, despite the years, continues to be among the most used models in Sim-racing.

Here is a list of the main features of this model:

• Year of release: 2014

• The Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter is made of 100% metal and measures 13 cm in height.

• This model is equipped with the patented H.E.A.R.T (HallEffect AccuRate Technology) which allows an unbreakable precision thanks to its magnetic sensors without contact.

• The unique design of Thrustmaster’s TH8A allows for two types of driving: Hi-Lo driving H-type driving driving (7+1) and sequential driving (+/-). It can also be used as a handbrake on PC only.

• Its pommel is detachable and compatible with all true universal pommels available on the market.

• The Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter is equipped with USB and/or DIN connectivityconnection, so it works with all the steering wheels on the market on PC and Thrustmaster steering wheels on consoles.

• This gearbox model is compatible with PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, PC, and the entire Thrustmaster brand ecosystem.

• For the TH8A Shifter, Thrustmaster offers the possibility to update the firmware and the internal memory with gear racing is adjustable to your convenience using a software that is available for download on PC. The resistance of the gear shift, as well as the position and rotation of the fastening system through 360° are also adjustable.

• Total weight : 2.34 kg

Box Contents:

• TH8A Shifter
• 2 grids: type H (7+1) and sequential (+/-)
• USB and DIN cables
• A user manual and warranty information.

For what type of person?

In our opinion, the Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter is suitable for both for beginners as well as for as well as for more experienced experienced players in the world of Sim-racing.

Moreover, this Thrustmaster gearbox is compatible with any of the brand’s steering wheels but also with any platform (PS4 / PS3 / PC / Xbox One), which allows all gamers to use it without compatibility issues.

In our opinion, this is a model that works best with rally type racing games or “classic car“rather than F1 or GT racing games.

Its advantages

Even though the Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter is not the newest gearbox on the market, this test revealed the many advantages that this model offers.

First of all, we really appreciated the quality of manufacture the TH8A Shifter from Thrustmaster. It is a sharp and realistic looking piece of equipment that looks like it came out of a luxury car and is clearly very robust. As with most of its products, Thrustmaster has chosen to use only metal, which gives this gearbox a strong and solid appearance while offering us a very realistic racing style.

We were also seduced by the very good sensations that the Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter provides. We found this model to have one of the best experiences in terms of tactile feedback. There is a nice “clunk” when launching the gears and when we have it in hand, we feel 100% its solidity and stability. The feel is certainly not quite the same as what you feel in a real car, but it is adjustable: by turning a screw on the side of the shifter housing, you can add more resistance to the stick movement. For us, it was a real pleasure to drive this model.

One of the big advantages of the Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter is of course the fact that it allows us to play with different modes. You can therefore opt for the H mode (7 speeds plus reverse) or the sequential mode (+/-), depending on your mood. Some even use it as a handbrake on PC (the only environment that allows this option). While you won’t be switching modes every 2 hours, just having the choice is a luxury that most other gearboxes on the market don’t offer.

Finally, another of the advantages of the Thrustmaster TH8A gearbox is its wide compatibility. In fact, this model works equally well with the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One or PC. So the list of games you can use it with is incredibly long. Moreover, the TH8A can be used with all Thrustmaster brand steering wheels, but also with steering wheels from other brands. Unlike other competing gearboxes, there should be no compatibility problems with this one.

Its disadvantages

Our test of the Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter also allowed us to discover the various negative points of this model, which is nevertheless a great success.

First, we must admit that the H box mode box mode of the Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter is really difficult to get used to at the beginning. It clearly takes some time to get used to it and to learn how to handle it properly. It was difficult for us to get to 7th or reverse, so it seems impossible for beginners without a lot of training.

Then, we were a little bit disappointed by the original knob of the Thrustmaster TH8A gearbox. In our opinion, this is the only part of this model that leaves something to be desired in terms of quality. You can certainly change it, since it is removable, but you will have to invest a little more money. The TH8 Sequential Knob, for example, costs €29.99.

In fact, despite its age, the Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter has a a relatively high price. Its price is not negligible because, in any case, you will have to associate it with a steering wheel to use it. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to spend almost €200 on an accessory of this type, even if it’s top of the line.

Where to get it and for how much?

The TH8A Shifter is no longer available for sale on the official Thrustmaster website, but you can find it at other retailers, official or not.

It is for example available on the site of Amazon .

This model is not new, it is relatively easy to find it on sites of buying and selling used items. You can save a lot of money on its price but be very careful and check that it works properly before buying it second hand.

Conclusion

The Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter is a gearbox model that we think has everything to please. Our test allowed us to discover a gearshift that is both solid and robustbut also comfortable and very precise.

We had a lot of fun playing with the Thrustmaster TH8A, which gave us a wonderful and incredibly wonderful and incredibly realistic sensations during the race during the race, especially thanks to its adjustable gear shift resistance.

In view of its broad compatibilityThrustmaster’s gearbox leaves no one behind, no matter what platform you play on, you can use it.

So if you’re looking for a top-of-the-line shifter that will last you for years, don’t hesitate! The Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter is an essential that will clearly not disappoint you!