The VNM brand of sim-racing peripherals has only been present on the world market for a few years, and is positioned in the mid- to high-end segment. It’s a rather competitive market in which VNM finds itself, with names and manufacturers who have been present for many years, and who have also managed to develop an excellent range of peripherals and a target audience.

VNM currently offers a complete range of sim-racing peripherals, from steering wheels to DD bases and pedalboards. You should know that not all VNM products are offered by stores in France, which has an impact on the adoption of the manufacturer by a larger number of virtual drivers.

Today, we’re going to talk about VNM’s DD bases. The brand offers 4 of them, ranging from 13 to 32 nm of peak torque, but we’re not going to discuss the most powerful for one simple reason: few riders have the necessary experience to be able to tame such a monster in complete safety. So we’ll be looking at the VNM Premier, Elite and Supreme, developing 13, 18 and 25 nm of torque respectively.

The 13 nm Premier

Base design

As soon as you set eyes on the VNM Premier, another competitor’s base comes directly to mind, and that’s the Simucube 2. The resemblance is there, with the rectangular shape, a few cut-outs on the sides, the placement of the brand logo and a faceplate behind the driveshaft.

The notable differences are the QR, the driveshaft and a much more restrained size, which is to be expected, given that the Premier develops 13 nm of peak torque. Nonetheless, I find the VNM base a real eye-catcher, perfectly blending minimalism and modernity.

Manufacturing quality

In order to generate the power announced, VNM had to use a rather large, heat-generating electric motor. And to counter this, the Premier uses aluminum throughout its structure, from the casing to the driveshaft, as well as the QR.

In terms of build quality, it’s really well done, with no glaring defects. Assembly is perfect, and I didn’t see any gaps or openings between the parts that make up the base. The target segment for all VNM products is the mid- to high-end, and the Premier doesn’t disappoint at all.

Base sensations

The electric motor uses a 23-bit encoder and develops 13 nm of peak torque. Power delivery is linear, with a good dose of realism and fine, light detail.

The VNM Premier is a base that communicates a lot with the rider, especially thanks to the latest software and firmware updates that enable the engine to behave healthily on a wide variety of sim-racing tracks.

It’s powerful for the segment it’s aimed at, easy to tune to the sim-racing title and handles superbly, as well as rewarding you lap after lap. As far as I’m concerned, the competition can’t rest easy, as VNM is out to gain market share with this base.

Value for money

The base model retails for around €700, putting it right in the middle of a highly competitive segment in terms of power output. I think the VNM Premier offers good value for money for its target audience.

It’s a well-built peripheral with premium aspirations, delivering good racing power while being very talkative about the effects the car is undergoing. The base is responsive, adapts perfectly to several sim-racing titles, and comes at an attractive price. What more could you ask for?

The 18 nm Elite

Base design

If the VNM Premier took its design inspiration from the Simucube bases, the Elite follows this stylistic code. As a result, VNM’s mid-range base is a photocopy of its little sister, being just a little longer and a little heavier.

The difference in size is about 2 cm, with an extra 2 kilos. The shape is still rectangular, with a black driveshaft and casing, and the VNM logo on the sides.

It’s still a great base, which will go wonderfully with any sim-racing setup, even if in real life you’ll find it a little hard to see once a steering wheel takes its place on the QR.

Manufacturing quality

Given that VNM targets a highly competitive segment for sim-racing peripherals, the Elite also uses aluminum for its entire structure. It’s very well made, qualitative, and with a finish on a par with other products from VNM’s competitors.

The aluminum is cut with CNC machines to ensure that virtually no burrs remain on the metal. What’s more, all the parts that make up the base are superbly well assembled, minimizing openings and gaps between them.

The Elite is a quality base that’s not afraid to take on other devices that have been on the market for much longer on their own turf.

Base sensations

The Elite’s electric motor develops 18 nm of maximum torque, which is good power for those seeking precise, realistic and, above all, immersive sensations. With this torque, you can easily set the maximum power at around 15 nm, giving you a margin of around 3 nm for sudden effects.

Speaking of effects, the Elite is capable of mixing light and heavy sensations without plugging in. You can easily go from one vibrator to another, then from hitting a car to going off the track and sliding on the grass. And best of all, you’ll feel it all in your hands.

The VNM Elite has no problems on GT, drift, touring and Formula tracks. When correctly configured, it is a very good DD base.

Value for money

The VNM Elite retails for around €900. I think that’s a fair price, putting it up against competition that is, on the one hand, less powerful in terms of maximum torque, and on the other, more expensive at the cash register.

This base offers excellent value for money, combining performance, build quality, an attractive price and a complete ecosystem.

The 25 nm Supreme

Base design

You can’t change a winning team, can you? Well, VNM thought of the same thing when designing its bases. The Supreme is, once again, identical to the other VNM bases, with the only notable difference being the size. And the weight too.

The result is a black dress that extends from the casing to the drive shaft, a logo on the sides and a rectangular shape.

Manufacturing quality

Obviously, VNM wasn’t going to use cheap materials for this base. It’s still CNC-cut aluminum. And it’s all very well assembled, with almost no gaps.

Even though the brand is young, its products are built to the highest quality standards.

Base sensations

The Supreme produces a maximum torque of 25 nm, developed from a large electric motor coupled to a 23-bit encoder. In terms of feel, the VNM Supreme is superbly well served.

The cocktail of light and heavy detail is achieved to perfection, regardless of the tire sim-racing you’re facing. The base has benefited greatly from software updates that have allowed it to mature since its launch.

Value for money

Since the base develops 25 nm, its price is higher than that of the Elite. Expect to pay around €1,200 for this base, which is a hair more expensive than what you’ll find in the segment.

So yes, it may seem expensive, but let’s not forget that we’re getting 25 nm of torque in our hands, very advanced settings, and build quality worthy of the big names in the industry. As far as I’m concerned, I approve of the VNM Supreme, as well as its little sisters.