The Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race: A Detailed Review
The Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race offers a complete racing wheel and pedals package that competes with more enthusiast-grade sim racing offerings. Priced at £629/$650, this setup includes a powerful 7.2nm direct drive wheelbase and a realistic load-cell brake pedal, along with features like an external control pod, big integrated display, and Xbox/PC compatibility. Let’s dive into the details.
Design and Build Quality
Right out of the box, the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race showcases a more approachable design compared to other enthusiast offerings. The wheelbase features a large digital dashboard and a smart fastening system for easy setup on a desk. The kit includes an allen key for adjustments and mounting the control pod, which offers a higher button count than similar wheels in this price range.
![Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race showing the button box](https://gaminghybrid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712130581_914_Turtle-Beach-VelocityOne-Race-review-direct-drive-racing-wheels-go.jpg)
The pedals are designed for easy usability without hard-mounting, thanks to knobbly or flat pads that provide grip on different surfaces. While hard-mounting is recommended for stability, the pedals offer adjustability in sensitivity and spacing. The full three-pedal set includes a clutch, brake, and accelerator, with some limitations in adjusting the load cell brake.
Functionality and Performance
The wheel features comfortable button positioning, a leather covering, metal paddle shifters, and analogue paddles for clutch/handbrake functions. While the number of controls on the wheel itself is limited, the control pod provides extra buttons for additional functions. The wheel offers powerful force feedback with a direct drive wheelbase, providing a more immediate response compared to belt or gear-driven alternatives.
![Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race showing the wheel front](https://gaminghybrid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712130581_52_Turtle-Beach-VelocityOne-Race-review-direct-drive-racing-wheels-go.jpg)
![Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race showing the wheel back with paddles](https://gaminghybrid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712130582_190_Turtle-Beach-VelocityOne-Race-review-direct-drive-racing-wheels-go.jpg)
The control unit, while attractively designed, has some quirks in switch recognition and button placement. Software setup via the Tuner app may require firmware updates, which can be time-consuming. Once set up, the large color display offers intuitive navigation and customization options, enhancing the overall user experience.
Conclusion
The Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race offers a compelling option for Xbox and PC gamers looking for an all-in-one racing setup. While it may have some software and hardware limitations compared to other established brands, its price point and feature set make it a worthy contender in the sim racing market. With a solid foundation to build upon, Turtle Beach shows promise in improving the VelocityOne Race over time.