Simagic P-HPR Neo Rumble Haptic Pedal Reactor

Some time ago, we received the P1000i Hydraulic Pedal Set (review) from Simagic for testing and review. Alongside it, we received two units of the powerful P-HPR Haptic Pedal Reactors, which come with a price tag of €79.00 each. Since then, Simagic has developed a lighter version of the P-HPR reactors and added it to their lineup: the P-HPR Neo Rumble Haptic Pedal Reactor.

The P-HPR Neo Rumble Haptic Pedal Reactor is a vibration module that can be mounted on both Simagic pedals and the TB-RS Hydraulic Handbrake (review). The P-HPR Neo Rumble Haptic Pedal Reactor is available for €19.00 from our friends at Simwear.eu. We received three units for testing, along with a Simagic power supply to power one of the vibration modules on the TB-RS handbrake.

Packaging & Contents

The three Simagic P-HPR Neo Rumble Haptic Pedal Reactors were shipped to us by Simwear.eu and delivered by DPD within two business days. We received a white shipping box containing the product boxes for the vibration modules and a white box holding the Sim Ray Power Supply, all secured with Simagic branded seal. The product boxes for the modules are matte black, featuring Simagic’s signature design and branding. Inside the boxes, we first find the P-HPR Neo Rumble Haptic Pedal Reactor itself, accompanied by a small folded paper ‘Quick Guide,’ a bag of screws, an Allen key, cable clips, and a bracket for mounting the module.

The Simagic P-HPR Neo Rumble Haptic Pedal Reactor

Since the P-HPR Neo primarily serves as a more affordable alternative to Simagic’s ‘original’ P-HPR modules, we find it important not only to describe the P-HPR Neo but also to compare it directly to the ‘original’ P-HPR modules.

Motor Technology
The P-HPR Neo is a vibration module that features an Eccentric Rotating Mass motor, or ERM motor. This means the module is equipped with a motor that has a weight—an asymmetrical mass—attached to its output shaft. Upon receiving an impulse based on in-game telemetry data sent to the module, the motor starts rotating. As the weight spins within the housing, it creates centrifugal force and an imbalance, causing the housing to vibrate. The higher the frequency, the faster the vibrations.

The ERM motor is the defining difference compared to the ‘original’ P-HPR modules, which are equipped with a linear motor to produce haptic feedback. A linear motor consists of a shaft surrounded by a series of connected magnets. By alternatingly sending impulses to different series of magnets, the shaft is pushed back and forth at high force within the housing. This generates linear force rather than rotational motion. Typically, this results in more direct feedback that feels like a jolt rather than a vibration.

An ERM motor, like the one in the P-HPR Neo, requires time to spin up, which can result in slower operation and less direct feedback compared to a linear motor. Simagic has implemented a solution to address this. When a signal is sent to the P-HPR Neo to vibrate at a specific frequency, Simagic first amplifies the signal with a higher frequency to accelerate the mass more quickly. It then compensates immediately with a lower frequency until the desired vibration frequency is achieved.

Housing and Compatibility
The housing of the Simagic P-HPR Neo is made from a composite material, whereas the ‘original’ P-HPR module features an anodized aluminum casing in Simagic’s distinctive black-and-red color scheme. Holding both modules side by side reveals a clear difference in weight and material choice, but the P-HPR Neo still feels sturdy and solid in hand.

The P-HPR Neo vibration motors are compatible with Simagic’s P500, P1000, and P2000 pedals, as well as the TB-RS handbrake. However, older versions of the P2000 pedals require a separate ‘control box’ to drive the haptic modules. This is also true for the ‘original’ P-HPR modules, which, notably, are not compatible with Simagic’s P500 pedals.

The vibration modules can be controlled using both Simagic’s proprietary software, SimPro Manager, and third-party software like SimHub.

Mounting

We are going to mount and use the Simagic P-HPR Neo Rumble Haptic Pedal Reactors on our Simagic P1000i pedal set, and want to mount it on the Simagic TB-RS handbrake. To start, we remove the original P-HPR Haptic Pedal Reactors from the throttle pedal. Following the provided instructions, we attach the included bracket for the vibration module to the throttle and clutch pedals, where the vibration modules are then mounted directly. For now, we leave the original P-HPR Haptic Pedal Reactor on the brake pedal, as we plan to mount one P-HPR Neo on the TB-RS handbrake. This setup allows us to use both modules simultaneously for direct comparison.

Mounting the P-HPR Neo on the P1000i pedal set is straightforward with the included bolts and allen key. Once installed, we only need to connect the cables from the vibration modules to the designated slots on the baseplate, clearly marked with “P-HPR.”.

When attempting to mount the P-HPR Neo on the TB-RS handbrake, however, we encounter an issue: our TB-RS handbrake features an older bracket that only fits the original P-HPR Haptic Pedal Reactor. Unfortunately, the P-HPR Neo cannot be installed on this bracket. As a result, we will exclusively test the P-HPR Neo on the P1000i pedal set.

Software

The P-HPR Neo Rumble Haptic Pedal Reactors can be controlled via both Simagic’s proprietary software, SimPro Manager, and SimHub. We start by setting up and testing the vibration modules in SimPro Manager. We open the settings for the P1000i pedals and click on ‘Feedback’ at the top right. Here, we can choose which pedal should play which effect. By clicking on the effect, we can also adjust the intensity of the vibration module and set the frequency from 10Hz to 50Hz. Some effects also have their own optional settings. For example, in the case of the clutch pedal, we can define a range in percentages, allowing us to feel a vibration when we reach the engagement point of the car’s clutch. For the ‘Gear Shift’ effect, we can set how long we want to feel feedback during each gear shift. For effects like RPM and speed, we can specify the ranges of speed or RPM at which we want to experience feedback. All in all, these are significant improvements and expansions to the feedback settings in the Simagic SimPro Manager software, compared to when we wrote our review of the Simagic P1000i pedal set.

To use the P-HPR Neo modules in SimHub, we navigate to ‘ShakeIt Motors’. Under ‘Motors Output’, the modules are automatically recognized. It is important to note that we need to connect our pedals via USB to the PC, and not through the wheelbase, for them to be recognized by SimHub. Assigning effects to the modules works just as we are used to with SimHub. From the main screen of the ShakeIt Motors module, we can configure how the different effects should feel in terms of frequency and intensity, and simply check the effects we want to feel on each vibration module under ‘Motors Output’. The options in SimHub are generally more extensive but also somewhat less straightforward than in Simagic’s own software. Having the choice between the two is very convenient, as it serves not only the sim racer who just wants to sit and drive but also those who prefer to fine-tune everything to their liking, and may already use SimHub for other peripherals.

We choose to control the P-HPR Neo using Simagic’s own SimPro Manager software for now. We opt to display Traction Control, ABS, Clutch, and Gear Shift on our vibration modules. With everything mounted and set up, there’s only one thing left to do—testing.

Driving with the P-HPR Neo

We are going to test the P-HPR Neo in Assetto Corsa and Assetto Corsa Competizione. As soon as we start driving with the modules, our first impression is quickly a positive one. The feedback provided by the P-HPR Neo feels very direct. Especially with effects where we play a low frequency of 10Hz at 100% intensity, we are very impressed with the amount of force these vibration modules can deliver, with the low frequency still feeling like a decent jolt under our feet. The strength isn’t quite on the level of the linear motor of the ‘original’ P-HPR modules, but it’s still very close, which is impressive.

When we start driving with signals at a slightly higher frequency, 20Hz and above, the intensity of the P-HPR Neo vibration modules quickly decreases. The real difference with the ‘original’ P-HPR modules becomes clear here. While the latter still delivers plenty of ‘punch’ at higher frequencies, the P-HPR Neo returns to what it truly is—a vibration module. The jolts under our feet turn into vibrations and tremors, but they are still quite powerful and more than enough to be felt under our feet.

Driving with vibrations and haptic feedback in the pedals is not new to us; we have become accustomed to it by now and don’t need to rediscover the benefits of this feedback. Aside from adding extra immersion by allowing us to feel vibrations from the engine or the road surface, or in our case gear shifts, it is especially valuable when braking and accelerating with your virtual car. Having the pedals provide feedback when the wheels lock, or when the ABS or traction control system is activated, makes it much easier and more intuitive to feel the limits and adjust your input accordingly. The P-HPR Neo vibration modules simply provide us with this valuable feedback effectively.

We wouldn’t be SimRaceBlog if we weren’t also honest and transparent about the downsides we’ve encountered. In our case, we noticed that one of the vibration modules, as our first session went on, took longer to come to a stop after playing a signal from the in-game telemetry. The motor kept vibrating slightly longer and weaker than intended. By the start of our third session, this vibration motor no longer responded to in-game signals or test signals from the software. After extensive testing, it became clear that this module had not lasted very long. We have been in contact with the supplier, Simwear, who confirmed that this is a warranty case and that a new P-HPR Neo is on its way to us. The other two P-HPR Neo modules are working perfectly and to our full satisfaction, and after swapping one out we were able to enjoy using them in our further testing for this review.

Conclusion

The Simagic P-HPR Neo Rumble Haptic Pedal Reactor is marketed as a more affordable alternative to the original P-HPR haptic feedback modules. This is an interesting choice, considering the original model’s hefty price tag of €79.00. The P-HPR Neo, with its composite material, feels less luxurious than its larger sibling but still feels like a high-quality product. Installation is a breeze, although our TB-RS handbrake had an outdated bracket, preventing installation.

By implementing an ERM motor instead of the linear motor found in the original P-HPR modules, the P-HPR Neo offers not only a more affordable price but also a more accessible introduction to experiencing haptic feedback. At lower frequencies of 10-20Hz, we are extremely impressed by the power and ‘punch’ the P-HPR Neo can deliver at full intensity. At higher frequencies, the module reverts to what it essentially is; a vibration motor. Thanks to the algorithms Simagic has implemented for the module’s control, it responds quickly and directly.

The Quality Assurance of the P-HPR Neo could have been slightly better, as one of the P-HPR Neo modules malfunctioned during our testing. However, our contact with the supplier, Simwear, was positive, and they informed us that it would be a warranty case, and the P-HPR Neo would be replaced. While it’s reassuring to hear, prevention is always better than cure.

All in all, after some time using the P-HPR Neo modules, we are very positive about them. The modules provide pleasant and quick feedback, which is a strong point. The fact that they cost only a quarter of the price of their larger sibling is even more impressive. For those seeking the most intense feedback, the original P-HPR modules are a great choice. But for sim racers who don’t need extreme feedback but still want the immersion of pedal-based haptic feedback, the P-HPR Neo is an excellent bang-for-your-buck entry-level module into the world of haptic feedback.

Are you excited like us? The P-HPR Neo Rumble Haptic Pedal Reactor is available at Simwear.eu for €19.00, including VAT and excluding shipping costs.

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