When we talk about sim-racing, we think directly of brands such as Logitech, Thrustmaster or Fanatec. And that’s logical, given that these names have been in the game for over 20 years, and in sim-racing, experience is gained through years of developing new products. It’s worth noting that this is a highly competitive market, so you need excellent peripherals to earn a place in the rankings.

However, there’s always an exception that proves the rule, and this now comes from many brands that have only a few years’ experience, but manage to offer products that are competitive, reliable, high-performance and, above all, innovative. The example that comes to mind as I write these lines, and which is the subject of this article, is the brand Simagic brand, which has achieved a masterstroke in just 5 – 6 years, even if it is not very well known in France for partnership reasons. Nevertheless, the Chinese manufacturer of sim-racing peripherals has made a name for itself in a short space of time, thanks above all to its Direct Drive bases, such as the M10. In what follows, I’ll introduce you to this device and give you my opinion on it.

Main and technical characteristics of the base

• Three-phase motor with 10 nm max. torque
• Metal structure and construction, with carbon fibre as an aesthetic element
• Compatible only with PCs
• Force feedback with 40K Hz refresh rate
• Controller with 3 processors for motor management
• QR compatible with many steering wheels on the market, including those from Simucube

M10 design

Simagic is a young brand, but with some excellent designers as far as I’m concerned. The M10, which is the Chinese sim-racing peripherals manufacturer’s very first base, has a sober yet elegant design, combining CNC-machined aluminum and carbon fiber to give it a premium touch.

The housing is large, matte black and very handsome too. The drive shaft is the same color as the base, contributing to the overall simplistic design of Simagic’s product. It’s very handsome as far as I’m concerned, and will go perfectly with any sim-racing setup.

Customized assembly

The M10 can be mounted in 2 different ways, depending on your setup: either on a cockpit with a front bracket, or via a plate underneath.

In both cases, the operation is very simple and won’t take you long to complete, even though this is still the first device developed by Simagic.

Manufacturing and finishing

Following the advice of racing drivers, the Chinese manufacturer used CNC-machined aluminum to build the M10 base. It’s superbly handsome, designed to stand the test of time, and very well finished.

The paint used is matt, and also very well finished, but it seems to be a little fragile when handled with other metals. Personally, I haven’t had any problems with it, or any damage for that matter, but a few other sim-raceurs have damaged it when installing the base on its stand.

In any case, the quality of the workmanship is there for all to see, and the finish is second to none. It’s simply first-rate, designed to last a long time and give you excellent visuals, just as the base is ready to take on the competition from Fanatec and Simucube without the slightest problem.

Getting to know the base

You’re not going to get to grips with a Direct Drive baseplate that much, unless you’re a rider who moves around a lot or regularly changes setup. However, having a three-phase motor spitting out 10nm of torque, you can feel it in your hands. The M10 is a heavy base, both figuratively and literally.

The cabinet is large, but very well finished, as we saw just before. The feel is excellent, largely due to the quality paint used on the M10. Heat management is passive, too, with the aluminum acting as a life-size radiator, but also with holes to evacuate excess heat that could harm the engine.

Sensations during play

I’d now like to turn to the in-game feel of this base. You should know that Simagic has not only worked on the hardware, but also on the software, thanks in particular to its in-house Race Manager software, which lets you configure the base as you see fit.

As far as sensations are concerned, it’s pure bliss, with superbly well-dosed force feedback, with two different personalities: you can have soft, smooth feedback, and you can also have percussive sensations if you want. All this is possible thanks to the three-phase motor, motor controllers and software.

In your hands, this base is highly communicative, able to transcribe everything the car in front of you does, from simple vibrators to crumpled sheet metal and loss of grip. It’s truly insane to feel what the M10 can do, especially as this is literally the brand’s first rodeo in the world of Direct Drive, and sim-racing in general.

However, not everything is perfect, and I noticed a bit of play in the driveshaft, and given the pleasure and feeling I got from using this base, I can forgive it for that.

Simagic M10 compatibility

When it comes to compatibility, Simagic is no better than Simucube or Moza Racing: all the Chinese manufacturer’s equipment works only on PC, which can be problematic for console racers.

Nevertheless, and as far as sim-racing titles are concerned, you can be sure that the base M10 is compatible with just about every one you can imagine, from simple arcade games like NFS or Forza Horizon, to pure simulation titles like iRacing and Asseto Corsa, to those in the middle ground as is the case with Forza Motorsport.

This choice of compatibility is partly Simagic’s, because it must not be forgotten that such a base has many settings that can greatly change its behavior and the force feedback it provides. And on consoles, you can’t use Simagic’s software to do this.

For sim-racing peripherals, you have all those from the manufacturer itself, i.e. Simagic, but you also have a QR specifically designed to accommodate Simucube steering wheels, for example.

Value for money

For the price, the M10 is priced at €650, which isn’t bad considering the level of performance it gives you and, above all, its build quality. This first Simagic base is superbly well made, with CNC-machined aluminum, a high-performance and precise three-phase motor, and a wireless connection to the flywheels.

As for the competition, there aren’t many in the 10 nm segment on the market today, apart from Fanatec with its ClubSport DD and its constant 12 nm, or Moza Racing with its R9 and its 9 nm of torque. As a result, the M10 finds itself more or less alone in this segment.

My verdict on the M10 base from Simagic

In all honesty, the M10 is an excellent base to have on your setup, especially as it’s Simagic’s first. Force feedback is excellent, no matter what sim-racing title you’re looking at. It’s just perfect for fans of good Direct Drive bases, even if there is a little play at the driveshaft.

As for the price, I think it’s right at €650: it’s a hair less expensive than a ClubSport DD, which sells for €700, but at the same time, the Fanatec base develops 12 nm of torque.

What’s more, Simagic’s catalog is pretty comprehensive, which shouldn’t be a problem if you dive in now. As far as I’m concerned, the M10 is a very good, high-performance and, above all, very accurate base, and I highly recommend it.