Eveline - Tuesday 10 November 2026

Sim racing: How to feel every kerb and gear shift

You see the kerb approaching. You turn in, hit the edge of the track and… feel nothing. Your steering wheel gives you feedback, your speakers sound convincing, but your cockpit remains completely still. That missing part of the experience is exactly what tactile feedback can add.

With a bass shaker, you can make a seat or cockpit vibrate in a controlled way based on events in the game. An exciter works differently: it vibrates a surface to produce sound. Both are interesting options for a DIY audio project, but for physical feedback in sim racing, a bass shaker is generally the most direct choice.

What do you actually want to feel?

Not every effect is available in every game. The result depends on telemetry data, software, mounting and your settings.

Kerbs

A short, distinct vibration when you drive over the edge of the track.

Gear changes

A compact pulse that makes shifting gears feel more tangible.

Engine RPM

A subtle, continuous vibration that changes with engine speed.

Road surface and grip

Texture and small signals that provide additional information, provided the game or software supports them.

Bass shaker or exciter: similar concept, different purpose

Component	Function	Application
Bass shaker	Designed to transfer physical vibrations to a seat, platform or cockpit.	Tactile feedback during racing.
Exciter	Makes a panel or another surface vibrate so that it radiates sound.	Invisible speakers and creative audio installations.

An exciter can also produce noticeable vibrations, but it is not automatically a substitute for a bass shaker. Choose based on the effect you want to achieve, rather than the product name alone.

Three ways to make sim racing more immersive

Your first upgrade

Start with one bass shaker mounted to a sturdy part of your seat structure, a suitable amplifier and a reliable connection to your PC. Begin by testing just one or two effects.

A more responsive cockpit

Use two independently controlled transducers if you want to distinguish between feedback from the front and rear, for example. This only makes sense if the mounting arrangement and software can control the effects separately.

A creative DIY setup

Experiment with exciters on suitable panels if you want to explore sound reproduction through surfaces alongside tactile feedback. Pay attention to resonances and the characteristics of the panel.

More vibration doesn't automatically mean more realism

Excessive intensity can make subtle signals harder to distinguish and cause the entire cockpit to vibrate. Start at a low level, enable effects one at a time and check that everything is securely mounted. Consider the amplifier's impedance requirements, power output and cooling. You can use software such as SimHub if your game and hardware are compatible, but always check which telemetry effects are actually supported.

What do you need for your first test?

A bass shaker or another suitable tactile transducer
An amplifier that is electrically compatible with the load
A suitable audio output and software configuration
Secure and safe mounting to your seat or cockpit
Time to fine-tune the effects

Black Friday: get more out of your sim racing setup with a bundle

Want to not only hear but also feel what's happening on the track? Black Friday is a great opportunity to upgrade your sim racing setup. At SoundImports, we're offering discounts on selected bundles during Black Friday, making it more affordable to add haptic feedback to your racing experience. For sim racers, the Simrace Impact bundle is an interesting option. This bundle is designed for anyone looking to add more physical feedback to their racing setup. Think of feeling kerbs, gear changes and other events while driving, depending on the software and settings you're using.

Would you rather experiment with sound produced through vibrating surfaces? Take a look at our exciter bundles, including the XT32 bundles. These allow you to explore a variety of creative DIY audio applications. The right bundle depends on what you want to achieve. Consider whether you mainly want to feel vibrations through your seat, control individual effects in your cockpit or experiment with exciters. That way, you can make the most of our Black Friday bundle discounts while choosing components that genuinely suit your project.

Explore the bass shaker bundles, exciters and amplifier modules at SoundImports and discover which combination works best for your setup.

Always check compatibility, mounting instructions and electrical load requirements before ordering. The availability and terms of Black Friday promotions may vary by product.