This review and your vids on the Constellation Alpha and WarBRD gimbal were one of the biggest factors that kicked me over the edge into placing an order with Virpil. Still waiting for that good ol' backorder to come through, but I'm excited for my setup in Elite Dangerous taking a huge step forward in quality and function. Thanks for helping me get informed!
Dude! Would you please stop it with these videos?!! My Wallet has already taken a beating with your Virpil Constellation Alpha review!! Waaay tooo tempting!! lol! ;-p
This is the most comprehensive review of this product. Close up views with sounds as you use each feature, comparisons to previous models, etc. Detents is a big thing for space sims, as many times you either want to be at 0 thrust or have to be at 0 thrust. Constantly trying to find 0 manually is probably a pain. And the button/hat positioning on the grip is a big downside for the reasons given. Add in the price point and lack of availability due to them never having enough stock and it makes me want to get something else. Especially when the total price for the throttle, stick, and stick base comes out to $700 or higher. Great video!!!!
Good to see you back with another great Virpil review video always enjoy watching. Yes just when you've done the Gen 3 review Virpil go ahead and Tease the next Gen 4 iteration with a subtle difference photo teaser last weekend, with a possible return back to having detents by adding a lift lever type of mechanism while increasing the arm height of the throttle lever to accommodate the community outcry.
Nice review! Your b-roll on the product is really fantastic. I'm building a chair mounted high end hotas setup and I've been hitting up a lot of your reviews for straight talk and good info. Keep up the good content!
Back-Ordered my CM3 at the end of January (2021) and received it in about 3 weeks in the U.S. No duties had to be paid. The left throttle handle had a problem that rendered the buttons inoperable - customer service is sending me a replacement internal cable (my other choice was to send it back at their expense). Happy with everything else so far.
ordered 3 weeks ago along with a button panel, pedals, constellation alpha grip and cm 2 stick base with extension. just cant wait to mount them on my monstertech chair. Thanks for all of your Reviews Jesse. greetings from germany
Awesome vid yet again Jesse and as you say it, Virpil tease Gen 4 throttles haha. I ordered my CM2 humble grip and throttle last month and eagerly anticipating their arrival. Can’t wait and your vids are making me froth for them more haha.
I'm very glad I found your channel. I'm subbing immediately. Your voice is perfect. Your B-roll and camera work are excellent. I'm looking forward to checking out your other videos. Very well done.
Another fantastic video - more reinforced frustration at the perpetual backorder of Virpil Grip/Base/Throttle products. While the VKB "IN STOCK" icon blinks at me. Mocking me.
Completely agree about the detent's. If people had issues with them breaking, then Virpil should have built them better instead of doing away with them. Especially at this price point.
As you said, the lack of a detent is huge. My Warthog doesnt have it either. Terrestrial type of flight sims isn't a big deal, however in space sims it is an issue. Great review brother!
got one as well, how do you like the travel of the main thrusters (throttle grips)? when in the front most position, it blocks some of the other controls from view but I know a lot of people who think it needs a longer travel or taller throttle grips. I like it thus far but I might consider the CM3 when it is unveiled due to detents being reintroduced and some redesign of the throttles themselves. I always wanted a backlit unit so i could read all the control descriptions in dimmer lighting, but I'm not sure we'll ever get that.... all the stuff on my wishlist would probably drive the unit up another 100 euros
I KNOW RIGHT? Jesus! I couldn't recognize the channel as anything I had seen before... Until he started unleashing his heavenly voice upon my speakers.
@@dabneyoffermein595 I only have cm3. Also it would be highly desirable if they added "Vibration" features to the HOTAS. Like that will be my next upgrade
@@warriorsp1 yea, have you tried the Microsoft Sidewinder Force-Feedback 2 yet? It's awesome, i have a couple of them, one i modified and made it into a cyclic but can double as a jet stick too. But I agree, we need some resistance and FF
Great review, but I would like to point out like you I love detents, but after setting up a virtual one using their software I must say I dont miss it at all. Making the entire movement adjustable has had some surprising benefits, like instead of the whole throw being 0%-100%, I can make the whole throw be 0%-70% at the press of a button. This makes things like flying helicopters in DCS far easier for me. I recommend you give it a try. 91W
Really good review. No bias towards anything. I am looking to get one of these throttles my self. What keeps me off is the delivery time. Keep up the good work.
Yea,Long time Warthog user here,I bought a Virpil Warbird Base after breaking my TM Gimball,I was so impressed I bought the Throttle in May and Love it,You do make great points as far as Buttons getting in the way of actually using the grip for jockeying Thrust****BTW*** There's a rumor a Throttle with Detents is in The PipeLine!! :)
Hi Snake, I love the CM2, luckily I got one a few weeks ago. I bought it togheter with the matching tablemount from Monstertech Germany. This was really expensive, but definitly worth it. The software sadly lacks obviously of a function to bind key functions.
Really nice review and it does look like a great throttle. I'm still using my 20+ year old X45 (everything still works good) but I'm thinking of upgrading. Unfortunately ordering Virpil stuff is just insanely expensive. It would cost me almost $1,100 CDN ($809 USD) for the VFX grip, Warbird base and CM2 throttle (more than a new RTX 3080). I can 'afford' it just fine, I just can't bring myself to spend so much cash to play games (DCS & IL2). I'd need to play it at least 2 - 4hrs a day to justify the cost and that isn't about to happen. The Warthog setup however can be had here as low as $588 CDN ($433 USD - with tax, for stick and throttle) when Costco has them in stock...which may be a while at this juncture, but I'm in no hurry. Is the Virpil stuff really worth almost 2 times the cost?? I actually think I'd prefer the VKB GF3 to the Virpil stick. That one alone is $650 CDN though. Anyways, long story short, do you have any plans to review the VKB NXT stick? That one would cost a little less than the Warthog stick for me (about $300 CDN by the time it gets here) but I suspect the Warthog is quite a step up from the NXT?
I actually bought the first one for the detents but then really wanted the slew on the second one. But I didn't want to give up the detents. Bought the second one too and swapped the base. Was easy. Now I've got the detents with the second gen handle with slew. Best of both worlds. Sold the first gen one that now was missing detents. Luckily, there are people that don't want detents. I was very clear about them being removed in my ad ofcourse. I don't think it is as trivial to modify the 3rd version to house the detent mechanism, but I would really like the smaller footprint. By the way, this is an excellent review, good work by Snake Eater!
Had to watch this again because I just love looking at that throttle. I don't know how you don't have a massive amount of subs. You have the best voice on youtube. Ordered my warthog setup. It will be here on the 12th. Had to settle 'cause Virpil hardware is pretty much unavailable. Happy simming. Looking forward to your next video. Thanks man!
Bloody awesome product review. I've been slowly working my way through your vids to try and work out what to purchase, as getting something over in New Zealand is going to be a one way ticket for the product. Thank you for the in depth and critical reviews.
Welcome back. Love the review style you have for these videos. I agree about it having too many buttons on the throttle itself. That's the one thing I love about my warthog throttle since I use it a lot in space combat.
Awesome video! your reviews really are fantastic! I could probably watch you talk about gear all day long. anyways, I'm considering getting one of these and noticed that there's a teaser potentially showing a new throttle? Do you think it's worth waiting for?
Jesse, I love this channel. If you were in a different line of tech reviews, you’d be one of the best. Bought the CM2 Virpil Base off your review and love it. Running a warthog stick on an extension, couldn’t be happier with it.
Excellent video, tone and delivery is very pleasing. Also very instructional, so thanks. Makes my intended purchases of an X56, seem very sad, of to cry in the corner ;)
The X56 is starting to become an aged model now (it was released in 2016) and Honeycomb is also coming with a throttle and a stick in Q2/Q3 of 2021, so I would suspect Logitech and Thrustmaster to come up with competing models in the coming year as well. I'm a bit disappointed that Virpil removed the covered switch but they moved that over to their VPC control panel.
I briefly saw a window where the 2nd generation throttle was available, but I didn't realize it had the SLEW on it else I would have bought it. I think this was around Christmas. Since the new ordering system (wait list system) went into effect, I ordered immediately the Constellation Alpha grip, got it after 10 or so weeks. Once I received the grip and felt good about the new system, I ordered the new throttle. Roughly a month later I got the email from Virpil saying it's gonna ship soon. So hopefully I get my new throttle in the next month or so. International shipping, I'm keeping my expectations low for how quickly I get the item, but I remember from tracking the grip it took some time for it to get to Europe (Customs hassles I'm sure), but once it got to Munich, I got the grip next day in Houston Texas. That impressed me. I'm still wondering if I might have been better off getting a gen 2 when I had a small window as it "seems" to have more base buttons. I had read the dials that were removed were good for handling SRS controls, unsure what I'd use them for in other games I play, so whatever... This is the first review I've found that compares and contrasts the versions, so listening to this is really informative. The clicky-er buttons makes sense to me, I went from a WarBRD grip to a Con Alpha grip, and it made the same transition in terms of moving to "clicky-er", easier to actuate buttons; this is important with the pinky button. On the WarBRD grip you had to have reasonable pinky strength to use the button, this isnt true of the Alpha buttons. Good video!
Yeah that Throttle has the same Problem my Saitek X-65F had! Every finger a Hat Switch - You can move it forward but when you want to throttle back you accidentially at least hit one Hat!
I got mine in a month. They don’t charge your credit card until about a week before shipping. Yes, they’re always back ordered, but if you keep waiting to place an order, you’ll never get a place in line.
Great videos! They helped me pull the trigger on the throttle and the Constellation ALPHA to replace my x56. Both on back order so I hope they don't take toooo longer to get all the way to eastern Canada.
They could put a detente enabler on the side of the box dead even with the throttle. That way you have a choice of both worlds. An easy push button that engagement process or spring action small push button on top. I think that would be a great idea or added change. If they do. I would be nice to that my idea made a difference by giving it the the name Cleveland mute Switch or KC mute switch. I think it shows you honor your viewer's and fan's of that product. I want nothing from it. It lets us know we matter. Thank you for your time.
Excellent review, thank you. Just wanted to add then when using a throttle in VR even when the movement is mirrored visually having physical feedback through a detent or detents is even more useful especially if they are customisable. Poor Monstertech trying to keep up with changes to the base plate mount.
Great review! Having two of their T-50CM sticks and the WarBRD base+mounts I'm very happy with their quality so far. Some of the buttons on their sticks could use a little more work,such as the CMS (thumb button) on the T-50CM2 giving erroneous readings, and I hope they've worked out those issues for this unit. I would love to upgrade to one of these but only if it included a detent and throttle cut-off. Take note Virpil. Cheers!
The lack of detent is a dealbreaker for me, but given how it's build I can probably 3D print a part to go between the 2 arms of the throttle to simulate a detent through friction against a notch. Not pretty but would probably work.
Idea...... On the arch between the throttle grips you could experiment with fitting a rubber block (tapered at the ends into a point) which angles out into the path of the arms ever so slightly so you need to push past the rubber to get into your "detent"
Hey there, it's ya boi, Boog again....once again your review has caused my wallet despair.... Another phenomenal review that covers all the things that someone who can't get hands on with an item before purchasing it.
this thing is over $400, the Thrustmaster TWCS is $120, if they step up their game, they'll have to step up their prices too. Plus Thrustmaster and Logitech are much easier to purchase (in the USA anyway). I'm happy we have our choices.
I have the A-10 warthog HOTAS myself, in my opinion it works well for pretty much everything, only issue is no detent for afterburners although the whole package is very much worth it if you can afford it.
Thank you for all your great review, you became my No1 reference for joystick. Because of that i cannot buy myself one until you review the Winwing joystick and base, Those who did, do not have the experience you do with the other grip and base, so there is not any way to know how it compares to it's competitor. Thank you again and hopefully you will be able to review the winwing product line.
Im using the Logitech X56 since I only play Elite Dangerous in VR but damn that thing looks awesome. The industrial looking switches and huge throttle grip would look right at home in an aluminium sim cockpit.
I have the first version and have been thinking about switching to this for a while now. I'm still not convinced even though you did a really good job with this review. Regarding the new Virlpil throttle teaser, at first I thought it would only be attachable fingerlifts levers (maybe they will be sold separately), but noticed that the new one might have slightly longer arms too. Can't wait to see what they come up with this time.
great review and video quality. What i want in next video is a tutorial of sort how to use the hotas system altogether. I am a total beginner but has some experience in space flight sims using keyboard lol, and i am finding it hard to use all the functions effectively with keyboard since i use hotkeys or macro for my obs.
Kinda sucks no detent makes it almost worthless for anything with afterburners. I guess you could add something physical that you could feel on the throttle as you push through but for the price, it should have detents. It's a really basic thing for flight sims. Hm. Now I'm not really sure which throttle to get. I also don't think I like how much there is on the actual grip either.
Being an aircraft mechanical Engineer the detent is important to prevent you going into throttle regions like reheat so that extra force to push it through the detent is essential, especially when simulators don't give the full effect of lighting up the back end. Even my Saitek X52 Pro has a top end and bottom end throttle detent and probably costs a 1/4 of what that does. I also 3d printed a mod ( www.thingiverse.com/thing:2532106 ) to give me some extra buttons and rotary encoders and i'm extremely happy with it. Great review by the way.
Looks very nice. No AB detent is not a big deal for me, though I'd like to have one, but we have what we have. Maybe will look for a DIY detent. BTW it's possible to make programmatic idle detent, so you have to push button to move from idle to off position. But, like I said - no big deal for me.
Thanks for the review, would love to start moving over to virpil hotas gear. Have the saitek X55 atm and want to upgrade to the virpil eco system. Specially the desk mounts. Need to save money first though
Same here. Have the Saitek X52 Pro and „downgraded“ to a TM FCS because the Saitek starts to drift after ≈30min until you unplug it again. It’s basically unusable -.- The FCS is ok, it works perfect but lacks on inputs. Virpil will be my next setup!
Its funny how things pop up in the market and you never hear about them, been simming for 30 years and i literally just heard about these products about 10 minutes ago from some review i was reading, i was like VIRPIL???,lol, they look real nice, gonna have to check them out.
Without a doubt an excellent review. I was wondering if you are planning on releasing a tutorial series on keybindings? Kind of a how to and theory behind placement. I ask because you mentioned you play both flight and space sims. I purchased the L and R alphas on cm2 bases as well as the throttle and I’d really like to figure out a way to incorporate the peripherals better. Maybe there’s a discord server where this is already addressed?
I have a gen2 and love it. I have wished for 'detents' (never knew it had a name) for a while as I fly VR. I've yet to find a use for the silver up/down toggle switches on the right as they fire the same button signal regardless of position. How have other people utilised them?
Ha! I was just wondering when I would see a video from you last night and this morning what popped up in my notification....??? YOU! Its gonna be a good day. Ya know they announced their gen 4 earlier today right??? Just messing with ya .. ;)
yeah so i got that email doesnt look like you can order the parts to upgrade. do you know anything about the VPC MongoosT-50CM2 - AviaSim Cams [Hard Center] ? wanna know if its worth buying or not
