WORTH UPGRADING? Fanatec CSL DD vs. ClubSport Wheelbase 2.5 

Watching this after the announcement of the 12/15NM CS DD/DD+ in 2023 - the predictions were spot on, back in 2021 👍💯

This is exactly the video I needed. I bought a CSL 2.5 like... 8 months ago, so it's nice to know that I don't "need" to upgrade yet. Much appreciate the video. 👍

Thank you @Boosted Media Clips for this video. :) So I can keep my CSW 2.5 and wait for a hopefully upcomming CSW DD. :-)

Great video I just ordered one with hub, wheel and pedals. Today I just received my next level gt cockpit. I've never even sim raced before but a life long gamer since pong. Watching your video's for the last month has convinced me I want to get into this. I just figured I'd get good gear from the start instead of constantly upgrading.

This was helpful. I got the notification for the second round of pre-orders, got busy at work, and everything was sold out before I got to log on. This makes me feel better - looks like i'm waiting for a CS DD.

Ahhhh this is the base I have I’m not sure I’m going to upgrade yet. O this is a break down of your video form yesterday. Thanks for sharing

Thank you for this. I have the Clubsport 2.5 and like it a lot. This is reassuring.

You perfectly guessed the future at 1:15 🤩

I like the looks of the new CSL DD.

Here we are two years on and Fanatec announces the ClubSport DD, would love to hear your comparison when you get one in your hands. Although I think the answer would be a resounding oh yeah, upgrade for sure.

The guy next to him is there just to say Yep periodically lol

Just two-years later the Clubsport DD becomes a reality - VERY eager for your upcoming review of the DD+ - I'm ready to upgrade my base and don't know yet if I'm staying Fanatec or moving to Simagic, Simucube or Asetek

Just saw on a Facebook Fanatec ad feed where Fanatec replied to a customer asking when the PS 4/5 version would be available saying later this year. No indication of when maybe it will be open for preorder, price or whether Sony will dictate it must be with a wheel bundle like they usually do or it can be bought solo. Below is the Fanatec response to the customer question, Fanatec We plan to ship it this year as well so if you have a PS4 or PS5 then I suggest to wait.

Thanks

Cheers Will & Tom. Awesome info. Still rockiin the CSW V2. Love it & damn thing is unbreakable. Upgrade on hold.

Bought a CSL 2.5 to save some cash because I still had to buy all of the other gear. I'm eating for my wheel to arrive and start using it!

Would this work with all the games that the clubsport 2.5 works with?

One thing that wasn't covered, and I know it's hard to directly compare given the wheels are completely different, but how about the FFB of the Simagic M10 vs the CSL DD?

Good guessing

Any chance to get one of these but with the DD Pro?

can't find the csw 2.5 in their website seems like its been discountinued already

I also think that the CSL DD will be Fanatecs entry level wheel and can see between the CSL DD and the Podium DD1 at least one other DD with around 12nm for maybe 600 bucks

I love my CSW 2.5, it’ll be difficult for me to move on unless I’m just throwing money for a higher end DD.

I actually got a CSL Elite about 2 weeks before the DD was announced. It was an upgrade from a Logitech G920 and even though I'm a little bummed I could have waited and got a DD, I'm more than happy with the upgrade from the G920. I have it paired with a Formula V2 wheel and CS V3 pedals. Having not used a DD wheel before. What makes them so much better? I don't feel like i'm lacking much from the feedback I'm getting now. Its far superior to the G920. I'd be concerned with my poor driving skills that I'd break my wrists!

I loved my csw 2.5, but I just tried to get my rig updated after not using it for 2 years and I can't upgrade the firmware for the wheelbase... somethng is broken. I think the drivers are messed up, because the wheel seems to be working fine otherwise, just has very old firmware.

I think that most people their first entry to using a wheel for sim games normally follows a first foray of one of the cheaper to mid range offerings from Logitech or Thrust master. I believe then those that reach a I like this but are still mostly casual or money conscious after a while are the customers that move up and upgrade to something like a Fanatec CSL or Clubsport level gear. Then you have those that are really into it or want pro level type of gear jump in on the deep end and can possibly spend multiple thousands of dollars on their sim rig. I think that Fanatec is just with price point and the seeing the current direction of their product lineup are really totally conceding the entry level lower very bottom line mom buys for their 12-15 year old for x-mas to Logitech and Thrustmaster. They are targeting with this new CSL DD the budget conscious or more casual type player that is looking for the entry level DD experience but not looking to move up to the overall $1000+ expense of the more pro focused top DD wheelbases and wheel options. Remember that in addition to the wheelbase you still have to add in the cost of the wheel and/or pedals if you do not already have Fanatec compatible units so this still overall is not really a cheap option overall. Yes compared to other DD it is not expensive and will be the cheapest route to that platform currently. Where this unit really shines is for current owners of the Fanatec belt drive wheelbases who are already invested in the Fanatec eco system and already own wheels and even compatible pedal sets. Then the upgrade cost to the DD platform and its enhanced fidelity is absolutely the best and most cost effective game in town. As a casual sim racer and current owner for the last couple of years of a CSL Elite wheelbase and already invested in the associated Fanatec eco system to where all I need to purchase is the new DD wheelbase itself and under $500 for the 8nm unit even though I had not really been seriously considering a wheelbase upgrade this new offering was priced right and I do think it will offer enough added benefits to justify its cost. I also am not one that likes a heavy FB setting and in that respect my CSL Elite satisfied my needs so spending over a $1000 for one of the podium models would never have occurred realistically. This unit I think will fill a nice segment of the market between the beginners and the much more serious offerings on the market. It will allow the average player to get the DD precision at the same basic cost level that the Fanatec belt systems sold for previously. This is a win for the average every day racer in my opinion. I know my pre order is already done!

I'm most exited about drifting with this, I have the csl 1.1 shouldn't be a huge difference, but I don't like feeling the belts lol

Just what I was wondering, as a 2.5 owner I'm still on the fence. I've pre-ordered but am very on the fence about cancelling it knowing that they both have the same torque figures it probably makes sense to wait. Ugh, still not sure what to do....

what is it like compared to the Thrustmaster range ( TSPC) please?

I wish I could of waited to get my Clubsport v2.5 and got this CSL DD.

They will discontinue all belt-driven wheelbases IMO. Only DD moving forward. Makes sense as they will want all of their rims to be compatible with all of their bases.

Looks like took 2 years for that 12-15nm :D my question is now is this time worth upgrading csw 2.5 to dd 12nm:)

Why didn't sell the 5nm as a "csl dd 5nm" and the 8nm as a club sport dd 8nm. That would end the confusion and the complaints.

Is there any PlayStation love on the horizon? Have the CSL ELITE & while it’s fantastic, DD seems the way to go looking forward.

@BoostedMedia I'm about to buy a brand new set of the V2.5+V3 pedals with a Damber Kit+ The BMW GT2 wheel for 1300€ it has not been unpacked . Brand new. Would you say its an good deal? Or should I look in to something else for that money? If so could you point me out to it... And give me links to buy the stuff in Europe. So you can get some Affiliate money and i could support you. Basically I would need the whole setup pedals wheel and base. Thanks.

I hope they release a club sport dd in 2024 that’s 12nm

I'm on a CSW V1, I think in my case is worth the upgrade, the jump is way bigger than how it sounds.

Less moving parts and better encoder on CSL dd, maybe not much of a jump on feel but less moving parts is always a good thing imo.

Screw it, I’m upgrading my less than a year old CSW 2.5 wheel with the CSL DD. Next I’ll be lighting up a pile of cash live on RU-vid.

Does the csl DD support the BMW GT2 wheel ?

Hi Will great videos and a good idea to split out your opinions into clips. Just one though I had on upgrading to the csl dd from any existing belt driven Fanatec wheel base is that all the DD bases will get QR2, I guess the csl elite and csw 2.5 won’t be compatible. Could that be a factor in the upgrade decisions, Any thoughts?

Listen i love dd wheels but if you are uses to the csw v2.5 then coming iver to this wont feel as good as expected. The clubsport feels stronger regardless of ehat people tell you. That aline makes people weird out. Every person real owner ive seen compsre all want to stick with the cswv2.5 I would have wanted to also. Now the 8nm boost kit changes everything. Then its almost worth it but even then the strengrh feels so similiar and the cswv2.5 has more detail then any other belt drive out. There is a special feeling to a good belt driven wheel imo. Something about it just feels so right. Tbh I hope we see super strong belt wheels one day just for some fun and being different. Yes dd is better but it just feels differentn the magnetic pull makes tje forces feel different. A bit more rubbery tbh instead of something solid pulling against the belt and the axis its magnetic pulls. So just have to adapt most wont tell you this I wish they did me. Tbh ill be honest there is no reason to ever upgrade the cswv2.5 unless you want like a 15nm dd wheel because thats what it took me to truely appreciate dd wheels details and power. The 8 wasnt enough to change my expereince to much 5 felt worse tbh. So yeah just want to be honest here for buyers thinking about it now because I dont want people to have regrets.

What about coming from a t300

at least in Europe the CSW 2.5 is no longer available in the Fanatec store.

I'm 6 months late 🤦🏾‍♂️

From a technical point of view, Fanatec cannot defeat physics. Given a wheel mass and a given torque, the "more details thinking" is fundamentally wrong. You cannot accelerate more with DD or belt systems. Acceleration principals are the rules. Just a different driver (software)/sim interpretation can achieve different results. BTW, I have a TS-PC, which has a rubber reinforced belt (internally all belts have a metal/fiber reinforcement to avoid stretch). Guess what? That's what a tyre is!!!! 😁 Do you want better tyre simulation? 😀

As the owner of a CSW v2.5, I recommend saving for a DD1 or DD2. (Wrote that before you said it, too ㋛ )