Fanatec Podium DD (25 Nm) – Review

Fanatec is back: With the new Podium DD, the now US-based manufacturer of sim racing hardware has returned to the top of the market. The 25 Newton meter direct drive base is the new flagship of the lineup. We put it through its paces for this test.

Ordering and shipping

Even though a large part of Fanatec’s product range can now be purchased directly from third-party retailers such as Amazon & Co., the company is initially focusing exclusively on selling the new Podium DD through its own web store. The base is currently available to order there at the following price:

• Fanatec Podium DD (25Nm): 1099.95 €

The product tested was provided by the manufacturer for the duration of the review. At no point was the content of this review influenced.

Scope of delivery

The scope of delivery of the Fanatec Podium DD is excellent. In addition to the base itself, including the power supply and USB cable, the package also includes T-slot nuts and the appropriate screws. A special feature is the shaft extension, which is included in the standard scope of delivery and does not need to be purchased separately. The individual components are housed in very sturdy, high-quality packaging, which some may recognize from the DD1 or DD2 base.

• Podium DD
• QR2 Base-Side (Type-F) vormontiert
• Netzteil (regional)
• 4x T-Nutensteine für Montageschienensystem
• Wellenverlängerung, 10cm
• USB Kabel (Typ-C to Typ-A)
• Innensechskantschlüssel, 4mm
• QR Demontagehilfe und Hilfsschraube
• 4x M5x12 Schrauben für Wellenverlängerung

Specs

Below you will find an excerpt from the features of the base specified by Fanatec. However, Fanatec does not provide technical data in the form of a classic table. The base is made of metal and newly designed front and rear covers are intended to improve thermal performance and rigidity. The build quality is very good, but other manufacturers currently offer significantly more compact designs (Podium DD: ~16 centimeters high) with similar torque.

• Kraftvolle, dynamische Reaktion
  • Der größte Dynamikumfang aller Fanatec Bases
  • 25 Nm gehaltenes Drehmoment (33 Nm Spitzenüberschuss)
  • Konstante Leistung unter den extremsten Bedingungen
• Aluminiuminnenteile für Festigkeit und Präzision
  • Aluminium-Motorwelle
  • Lagersitze aus Aluminium (vorne und hinten)
• Vollmetallgehäuse für Festigkeit und Wärmeableitung
  • Front- und Heckabdeckung aus Druckgussaluminium mit diamantgeschliffenen Akzenten
  • Gehäuse aus anodisiertem Aluminium mit Kühlrippen dient ebenfalls als Schienenmontagesystem
  • T-Mutter-Schienensystem an den Seiten und unten für eine leicht verstellbare und sichere Montage
• Direktantrieb mit Servomotor
  • Architektur der zweiten Generation, in Deutschland speziell für Sim-Racing entworfen
  • Optimiertes Wärmemanagement, passive Kühlung
  • Verstärkte Elektronik und Kühlkörper
  • Der optimierte Magnetversatz am Rotor reduziert das ungewollte magnetische Drehmoment bei der Rotation
  • Patentierte, exklusive FluxBarrier-Technologie verbessert die Motoreffizienz und Geschmeidigkeit
• FullForce-Technologie
  • Detaileffekte mit extrem niedriger Latenz durch fein Motorfrequenzregelung
  • Es verbindet hochpräzise Vibrationssignale mit dem Kern-Force-Feedback-Signal, um ein immersiveres Fahrerlebnis zu bieten
• 10 cm Schaftverlängerung inklusive
  • Ermöglicht eine optimale Positionierung des Monitors vor der Basis und hinter dem Lenkrad
  • Optional montierbar

Mounting

Fanatec uses sliding T-slots for the new Podium DD, which can be installed in the slots on the underside as well as on both sides of the base. Accordingly, you can choose between mounting from below and using special side-mount brackets. Due to the comparatively high design (approx. 16 centimeters), mounting from below can lead to cramped conditions for tall people. The included shaft extension can remedy this and provide a little more space. The hole pattern familiar from Fanatec has been used on the underside, making the base compatible with 99% of the rigs on the market.

After attaching it to the rig, all you need to do is connect the included power supply and USB cable, and you’re ready to go.

Compatibility

One aspect where Fanatec really excels is its own ecosystem. Even in 2026, this is still one of the best-developed on the market. The manufacturer offers the full package: from various steering wheels, pedals, and shifters to complete rigs with seats. The list of directly compatible hardware is correspondingly long:

• All Fanatec Steering Wheels (with QR2)
• All Fanatec Hubs (Third-party USB Steering Wheels* can be mounted to ClubSport Universal Hub V2 or Podium Hub)
• All Fanatec Pedals (adapter cables might be required on pedals without RJ12 connection)
• ClubSport Shifter (all versions)
• ClubSport Handbrake (all versions)
• All Fanatec Cockpits
• ClubSport DD Table Clamp
• ClubSport Table Clamp V2
• 10 cm DD Shaft Extension (included)
• 15 cm DD Shaft Extension
• Podium Mounting Brackets (Podium DD includes M6 T-nuts for side-mounting; the Podium Mounting Brackets require the use of M6 bolts and washers)

Ports

In order to use the various hardware components directly on the base, there are various ports as well as an additional CAN bus port for future hardware. This means that the peripherals do not have to be connected separately to the PC or console, but can be used directly via the base. The rear panel also features the connection for the power supply and the USB-C port for connecting to the PC.

• Power supply
• USB-C to PC / console
• Shifter 1
• Shifter 2 (Sequential only)
• Pedals
• Handbrake
• CAN (for future Fanatec peripherals)

Steering wheels (quick release)

In addition to peripherals, steering wheels are the most important factor in terms of compatibility and a decisive purchasing factor. Fanatec scores highly here with a large selection from its own range. Both data and power are supplied directly via the base, and the connection is made via Fanatec’s excellent QR2. This provides a backlash-free connection between the base and the steering wheel and is a clear improvement on the outdated QR1. The Quick Release is once again slightly higher quality than the popular and widely used NRG-QR (MOZA, Simagic, CONSÜIT, etc.), but also slightly more expensive if you don’t want to use replicas from China.

However, Fanatec remains the only manufacturer that indirectly isolates its ecosystem from the outside world by requiring the use of a Fanatec hub when using a steering wheel from a third-party manufacturer. Even though there are now cheaper solutions from third-party manufacturers on the market, this artificial restriction is incomprehensible. Likewise, there is no native USB passthrough, so external USB cables are required for third-party steering wheels.

Software

One of Fanatec’s greatest strengths continues to be its software support. This applies to both console support (Xbox-compatible steering wheels are additionally required for the Podium DD) and native support for a wide variety of PC titles. In this area, the manufacturer is an absolutely safe bet, similar to Thrustmaster and Logitech. This applies to old classics as well as newly released games. As a rule, users do not have to worry about a Fanatec product being incompatible. It also helps that the Podium DD has a compatibility mode that allows it to be recognized as CSW V2.5.

• PC: This product is compatible with PC when combined with a Fanatec Steering Wheel or Hub. Check the individual Steering Wheel product pages for compatibility.
• Xbox®: This product becomes compatible with Xbox One® and Xbox Series X|S when used with any Fanatec Xbox-licensed steering wheel.

QR extension

Presumably to compensate for the comparatively tall base housing, Fanatec includes a QR extension with the base. This extends the shaft by around ten centimeters, making it possible to mount the monitor between the base and the steering wheel. This gives you significantly more options for positioning the base. A 15-centimeter extension is also available as an accessory.

Software

While Corsair’s acquisition of Fanatec has not yet really been reflected in the design language of the base, the influence of Corsair is clearly evident in the new software. Apart from the firmware manager, everything here has a uniform, modern look. The individual components (base, wheels, pedals, shifter, and handbrake) are clearly arranged on the left-hand side and offer the respective setting options for the corresponding hardware.

The settings page of the base is divided into two parts:

• Tuning: This is where the basic parameters are set, and you can choose between five profiles. The detailed info boxes for the various parameters are exemplary and make it easy for beginners to find their way around.
• Dynamic FFB: Here you can adjust both the speed-dependent damping and the reverse driving behavior.

Compared to previous Fanatec drivers, the integration of game profile management is new. It allows FB profiles and other settings to be assigned to different games or even individual vehicles. This is located in a separate area and is very convenient.

An external update tool is now available for updating the base, which can be launched directly from the main software.

Force Feedback

When it comes to force feedback, Fanatec’s Podium DD seamlessly continues the excellent performance of the ClubSport DD. Compared to the previous top models (DD1/DD2), the Podium DD responds much more directly, especially when they are still operated with the old Quick Release. Fanatec specifies a maximum torque of 25 Newton meters, with short-term peaks of up to 33 Newton meters (peak overshoot), which only occur for extremely short periods and are not noticeable as such. Fanatec explicitly emphasizes this and points out in its communications that different manufacturers may use different types of specifications.

Overall, Fanatec has once again reached the absolute top class of direct drive bases with its new base. It does not require high damping values, has little tendency to oscillate, and achieves a very high maximum speed. Thanks to its high maximum torque, it should also have sufficient power reserves to operate even the largest and heaviest steering wheels with adequate force feedback. In line with this, the base was tested during operation with around 15 Newton meters and hardly warmed up at all, which enabled a consistently very good driving experience.

Settings

In order to take full advantage of the force feedback, which looks very good on paper, Fanatec provides users with some recommendations for suitable settings (see excerpt in the table below). This is exemplary and, in combination with the almost complete software compatibility, ensures a good initial user experience. After a few test runs, however, the settings were quickly changed, as the damping values in the recommended settings were very conservative and could be set to a more aggressive (lower) level. Overall, the recommended parameters provide a good starting point for users to explore on their own.

Full Force

In addition to regular force feedback, the Podium DD can also reproduce very fine details at low frequencies. This feature has been in development for several years and is now also supported by the first simulations (iRacing, AC EVO). This allows details such as road textures or RPM vibrations to be rendered even more finely, similar to what MOZA Racing’s new Ultra Bases offer. Unfortunately, very few titles are currently compatible. However, when this additional force feedback level is available, it makes a positive impression.

Driving impression

Conclusion

Fanatec has made a successful return to the top class with the Podium DD, launching its new flagship product, the best Fanatec base to date. Particularly noteworthy are the continued excellent ecosystem and the new software, modernized with influences from Corsair, featuring detailed profiles for an excellent user experience. The generous scope of delivery, including a shaft extension and the play-free QR2 standard, is impressive, but the isolation from third-party steering wheels remains a point of criticism. Overall, the base is a future-proof, high-end solution that scores points with its innovative FullForce technology and virtually seamless game compatibility, among other features.

Bases

Fanatec Podium DD

8,5

RECOMMENDATION

PROS

• Force Feedback
• Software
• Integration into a complete ecosystem
• Wireless data and power transmission for Fanatec wheels
• Compatibility (Software)
• Xbox support
• 3-year warranty

CONS

• No USB passthrough
• Housing size

MSRP 1.100 €

VIEW SHOP*

COMMUNITY SCORE

8,4 / 10 (5 votes)