CONSPIT ARES APEX 8Nm Direct Drive Base – Review

CONSPIT ARES APEX 8Nm Direct Drive Base – Review

With the ARES APEX Direct Drive Base, Chinese manufacturer CONSPIT is expanding its portfolio and offering a wheelbase in the under 500 Euro price range for the first time. This review aims to show where the base performs well and where compromises may have to be made.

Ordering and shipping

The base and optional accessories can be ordered either directly from the CONSPIT shop or from various distributors, which are spread across half the globe. When purchasing from CONSIPIT, additional costs such as taxes and customs duties may apply, depending on the country of shipment. Prices at distributors are generally comparable; for example, the ARES APEX 8Nm base will soon be available for 429 Euro including tax from German retailer Sim-Motion.

• ARES APEX 8Nm Base: 419.00$
• ARES Profile Rig Brackets CNC Version: 89.00$
• ARES Profile Rig Brackets Bending Version: 33.00$
• CES E-Stop: 49.00$
• ARES Wheelbase Desk Mount: 39.00$
• USB-A Adapter Spacer: 29.00$
• CDR QR Wheelbase-side: 39.00$
• ARES 15cm Extension Rod: 109.00$

5% Sim-Motion Gutscheincode / Coupon code: simracingpc-5

The product tested here was provided by the manufacturer. No influence was exerted on this review at any time.

Scope of delivery

The base tested here was delivered as a review sample in neutral packaging. However, CONSPIT usually uses very high-quality multi-part packaging to ensure that the base arrives safely at the customer’s premises. The selection of screws in various lengths and sizes is particularly exemplary. They allow the base to be attached to almost any current rig or other solution. Most other manufacturers usually include a maximum of one set of M6 screws.

• 1 × Wheelbase
• 4 × M6×16 mm hex bolts
• 4 × M8×16 mm hex bolts
• 4 × M6×16 mm round head hex bolts
• 4 × M8×16 mm round head hex bolts
• 4 × M6 washers / gaskets
• 4 × M8 washers / gaskets
• 1 × Hex wrench 6.0 mm
• 1 × Hex wrench 5.0 mm
• 1 × Hex wrench 3.0 mm
• 1 × Sticker set
• 1 × Power adapter
• 1 × USB cable

Specs

Below you will find an overview of the technical data for the base provided by CONSPIT:

Mounting

The ARES APEX 8 Nm Direct Drive Base has threads on both the underside and the sides, allowing for flexible mounting. Its compact design and low height of less than 14 centimetres are also advantageous.

• Bottom: There are two grooves here, into which a total of four freely movable T-slots with M6 threads have been inserted. These are spaced 80 millimetres apart, which differs slightly from the Fanatec spacing (78.4 millimetres). In testing, the base could be easily mounted on a P1X Pro Sim Racing Cockpit from Sim-Lab and was very easy to move into the correct position thanks to the movable slotted nuts.
• Sides: For side mounting, there are two M8 threads on each side with a spacing of 54.5 millimetres. CONSPIT offers the appropriate brackets for mounting as additional accessories in its shop.

With a maximum torque of eight Newton metres, the base is best mounted on a solid rig. However, it can also be used on a desk with the help of the optionally available desk mount. To do this, the mount is screwed onto the underside of the base.

Compatibility

The compatibility section is divided into three parts. CONSPIT has done everything possible to make the base as compatible as possible.

Quick Release and USB-Passthrough 

Probably the most important addition to the CONSPIT ecosystem is the new QR system. Following in the footsteps of other manufacturers, CONSPIT now also uses a QR in NRG design. This enables a secure connection between steering wheels and the base at an affordable price, while also transferring power and data between the components.

As a special feature, CONSPIT also offers an optional adapter that is mounted between the base and the base-side QR. It is equipped with a USB-A port on the side and offers a USB passthrough function that allows third-party steering wheels to be connected directly to the base. This eliminates the need for long spiral cables – a feature that every manufacturer should now be offering!

Steering Wheels

Conspit also offers a whole range of steering wheels to match the QR concept. In addition to various high-end steering wheels with large screens, such as the PW1, MAX 01, or 290 GP Formula Wheel, the round CONSPIT 310 APEX steering wheel and the CONSPIT 300 GT Simracing steering wheel are particularly interesting for potential buyers. Both are available for less than €500 each. In the price range up to €200, a significantly cheaper (and slimmed-down) entry-level steering wheel in combination with the base, which costs only around €400, would make sense to round off the range.

Ports

The ARES APEX 8 Nm Direct Drive Base from CONSPIT has a whole range of ports on the rear.

• Power: For the included power adapter
• E-Stop: For the optional E-Stop
• USB-C (To PC): For connecting the base to a PC
• USB-C (CONSPIT CAN) x3: Ports for compatible hardware from CONSPIT
• USB-C (Out) x1: Port for connecting any USB-C device.

Particularly noteworthy is the newly added USB-C port, which can be used freely, compared to the previously tested CONSPIT ARES Base. Here, for example, LED flags or similar gadgets can be connected directly to the base without the need for an additional USB port on the PC.

Software

At the beginning of the review, there were still some problems with the software of the base, which caused certain disruptions. However, CONSPIT reacted quickly and completely resolved the issues with updates.

The FFB can be configured in great detail in the software, whereby pre-configured profiles for various games can also be utilized. The individual parameters are also provided with short tooltip explanations to assist the user. The software is clearly laid out so that all important settings can be made directly on one page. In addition, profiles can be saved, imported, exported, and loaded.

Overall, the software offers everything you need. However, other manufacturers now offer slightly more comfort features, such as the assignment of profiles to different games.

Below you will find the current list of compatible simulations. However, it is not complete, as Assetto Corsa Rally and Project Motor Racing, for example, also worked without any problems in testing.

• Assetto Corsa ✅
• Assetto Corsa Competizione ✅
• Automobilista 2 ✅
• Forza Horizon 4 ✅(Special configuration is required)
• Forza Horizon 5 ✅(Special configuration is required)
• Dirt Rally 2.0 ✅(Special configuration is required)
• Dirt Rally In process of development and adaptation
• Dirt 4 In process of development and adaptation
• EA WRC ✅(Special configuration is required)
• F1 2020 ✅(Need to disable steering assistance)
• F1 22 ✅(Need to disable steering assistance)
• F1 23 ✅(Need to disable steering assistance)
• F1 24 ✅(Need to disable steering assistance)
• rFactor 2 ✅(Special configuration is required)
• Rennsport ✅(Special configuration is required)
• Le Mans Ultimate ✅
• BeamNG ✅
• KartKraft In process of development and adaptation
• Project Cars 1 In process of development and adaptation
• Project Cars 2 In process of development and adaptation
• WRC 8 ✅
• WRC Generations ✅
• Trackmania 2020 In process of development and adaptation
• DCS World In process of development and adaptation
• IRacing ✅
• Euro Truck Simulator 2 ✅
• RaceRoom ✅
• Live for Speed In process of development and adaptation
• Wreckfest In process of development and adaptation
• F1 CHALLENGE 99-02 In process of development and adaptation
• Mud Runner In process of development and adaptation
• Snow Runner In process of development and adaptation

Force Feedback

With its new, eight Newton meter entry-level direct drive base, CONSPIT seamlessly continues the excellent performance of its previous ARES bases with 12 and 20 Newton meters. Following the first major software update, it offers a very balanced combination of high performance and quiet operation without requiring high damping values. The settings shown in the Software section allowed the base to perform very well in the test, and up to the clipping limit, the CONSPIT ARES APEX Base does not need to hide from significantly higher-priced bases.

The maximum force of eight Newton meters should be close to the sweet spot for many beginners or those switching from other bases (Survey: How much force feedback do you use?). The wheels used in the test, with sizes of 310 and 300 millimeters, are well suited for this. However, the very good force feedback would be even more powerful with even smaller wheels, such as the popular Fantetec Formula Wheel with a diameter of 270 millimeters.

Otherwise, the CONSPIT ARES APEX 8Nm Direct Drive Base offers very balanced force feedback, which is very detailed on the one hand and can be used with almost no damping on the other. The base reacts very directly, especially during quick changes of direction, and even sets itself apart from Fanatec’s CSL DD in these areas.

Conclusion

The CONSPIT ARES APEX 8 Nm is an excellent direct drive base for beginners. It offers excellent performance that is comparable or even superior to current competing products such as the Fanatec CSL DD in many areas. The highly detailed, direct, and virtually undamped force feedback up to a clipping limit of eight Newton meters is also impressive. In addition, it features a well-designed flexible QR system, USB passthrough option, and numerous mounting options. The software is user-friendly and functional and is being actively developed, but some convenience features are currently still missing. Overall, CONSPIT offers an almost unbeatable price-performance ratio here, which is why the base is a clear recommendation for purchase.

5% Sim-Motion Gutscheincode / Coupon code: simracingpc-5