Next Level Racing ERS3 Haptic Seat Review: immersive sim racing comfort with integrated haptics

TweakTown Rating: 95%

Our Verdict

Next Level Racing offer great immersion for a realistic price. The ERS3 Haptic is comfy, well built, and can be attached to a wide range of sim cockpits.

Pros

• Comfort
• Adjustability
• Haptic implementation / experience
• Simple setup
• SimHub integration

Cons

• Only available in black

Should you buy it?

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Introduction, Specifications, and Pricing

Next Level Racing has been around the haptic scene for some time, with the original HF8 and the HF8 Pro more recently. Both these products are add-ons and are designed to fit a wide range of existing bucket seats and office-style gaming chairs for sim racing, providing haptic feedback to the driver through a range of characteristics, including gear-change speed and so on. The one-size-fits-all approach may well be good enough 90% of the time, but if you want an out-of-the-box solution for seating and haptic feedback, we have the all-new Next Level Racing ERS3 Haptic seat.

Combining the comfort and ergonomics of the original ERS3 seat, Next Level Racing has added its haptic solution, providing a dedicated reclining seat with integrated haptics and controls. The ERS3 Haptic features the same haptic technology as the HF8 Pro, while the ERS3 Haptic delivers 200% more torque, 400% more power, and 60% faster motor speed than the original HF8 Haptic Feedback Pad.

Next level Racing states that the ERS3 Haptic will support heights of 120cm to 210cm (3'9 ft - 6'9 ft), a suggested waist size of up to 44 inches, and a maximum supported weight of 150kg (331 lbs). It will be suitable for a wide range of users, priced at $499, it's also considerably cheaper than the Nitro Concepts Immersion Metahaptics Kit I looked at back in February, and here you get a bucket seat included too.

While a reclining chair won't be top of the list for the most hardened sim racers out there, the Next Level Racing ERS3 Haptic Seat looks to fill a gap, at a good price point, while offering both comfort and immersion within your sim racing experience. Let's take a closer look at what we get then and tell you if it's worth grabbing.

Packaging

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Next Level Racing sent over the ERS3 Haptic, arriving in a brown cardboard box. On the front, details about the seat include haptic and SIMAERO mesh on the left-hand side, along with an image of the seat on the right. The weight can also be mentioned here, coming in at 16.7kg (36.8lbs). It's certainly not in the realm of carbon or fiberglass in terms of weight, and it has the haptics built in, too.

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$469.99 USD

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Frequently Asked Questions

Question 01

Will the ERS3 Haptic's bottom-mount only seat sliders work with my Trak Racer TR120S V2 without modification?

Click to reveal answer

Question 02

Can I use the ERS3 Haptic seat's USB PC Mode and the 3.5mm Sound Capture Mode simultaneously to combine telemetry and audio-based feedback?

Click to reveal answer

Question 03

How does the ERS3 Haptic's included seat slider mounting pattern align with third-party cockpits—are the mounting holes standard or do I need adapter brackets?

Click to reveal answer

Question 04

If I mount the ERS3 Haptic to a rigid sim rig, how much flex should I expect in the backrest under heavy braking compared to a dedicated bucket seat?

Click to reveal answer

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$469.99 USD

$489.99 USD

BuyBuy at Amazon

$489.99 USD

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BuyBuy at Newegg

$649.99 CAD

7 days ago: $649.99 CAD30 days ago: $629.50 CAD

$649.99 CAD

$629.50 CAD

BuyBuy at Amazon

$699.99 CAD

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BuyBuy at Newegg

£349.99

7 days ago: £349.9930 days ago: £409

£349.99

£409

BuyBuy at Amazon

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There isn't much to note on the side, while the back provides more information about the seat in a range of languages.

Unboxing the Next Level Racing ERS3 Haptic Seat

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Slicing open the packing tape reveals another box; hopefully, this isn't like a set of Matryoshka dolls, and I will find a seat in this next layer!

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And there we have it, our new seat! After a thin layer of open-cell foam is removed, the seat backrest sits on top of the box, along with the instruction manual. It seems quite well packaged and well protected so far; it looks like Next Level Racing has done a good job in getting this chair to customers safely.

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Removing the backrest reveals the lower portion of the seat, with the accessory box nestling at the bottom.

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The accessory box and instruction manual provide everything you need to get the Next Level Racing ERS3 Haptic Seat up and running. Contained within the box are the power brick, seat mechanism covers, bolts, and the tools needed to build the seat. Next Level Racing also includes bolts for mounting the chair to a rig.

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Taking a look at the backrest first, Next Level Racing uses SIMAERO mesh to enhance airflow, ensuring a cool, breathable seating experience for longer sessions. The stitching and overall build quality are good, and it feels like a premium product, despite the low-ish end price tag. I like the red-on-black contrast, while the Next Level Racing logo is on the top of the backrest.

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Seatbelt pass-through points are included below the Next Level Racing logo and feature a plastic surround. "ERS3" is located on both shoulders in white, while the large red "Haptic" logo is in the center. I know Next Level Racing wants to show this off, but it would be cool if this wasn't there, so a first timer didn't know what was coming when trying out the seat! A smaller "Haptic" logo is also featured on the headrest. All logos are stitched too, so they won't wear off over time.

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Looking more closely, you can see the differences in the fabric design, which allow for a breathable experience. Is it hard-wearing? Only time will tell over the coming weeks and months for a more accurate answer to that.

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The rear of the backrest is quite plain, with just a small connector wire protruding from the bottom corner. This connects the backrest to the seat cushion as part of the haptic setup.

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A final look at the backrest, to show how the seat is contoured to wrap around the user. It's not wildly different from many other reclining gaming chairs and should be comfy for long sessions. Pressing on the padding, you can feel the haptic motors nestled within it, but they are well surrounded by foam and should not become obvious when you sit in the chair.

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Moving on to the bottom seat cushion now, and again, it's fairly familiar in style when compared to other reclining seats. The front features an "NLR" logo, stitched in white, with the seat slider handle below. The sliders on this chair are fully integrated out of the box and are only bottom-mount compatible; no side-mount option is included.

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The right-hand side of the seat cushion includes the controls for the haptic system, a small plastic surround, and a twist-and-push dial. A small LED indicates if the seat is active.

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Next Level Racing offers several connection options for the ERS3 Haptic. A USB to run to your PC, with a 3.5mm jack for audio capture from your system, and a 3.5mm female jack to which you can connect your headset. All cables are really long, too, so you will have no issues routing these around a rig, or even if you are using the chair standalone.

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The left-hand side of the seat is bare, apart from the backrest reclining handle. There is one of these on each side, and they need to be used together to allow for the backrest to recline.

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Flipping the seat cushion over reveals the included seat slider. Having a seat slider included is a plus, as not every seat comes with one, and adding them can push up the cost.

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Assembling the Next Level Racing ERS3 Haptic is as straightforward as it gets, and if you have ever built a standard gaming chair before, you will be familiar with the process. Install the backrest, screw in the bolts, fit the mechanism covers, and you are good to go. The only other step is to connect the seat cushion wiring to the backrest wiring and screw the connector cap to ensure it is secure.

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Now that the seat is all built up, it looks great, and I can't wait to try it out. For review, I will be mounting this to my Trak Racer TR120S V2, and Next Level Racing does provide compatibility for a wide range of cockpits, both their own and third-party, as listed below;

• Next Level Racing Elite Series cockpits
• Next Level Racing GTtrack cockpit
• Next Level Racing GTtrack Frame Only
• Next Level Racing GTRacer Cockpit
• Next Level Racing GTSeat Add-on
• Next Level Racing F-GT Cockpit (For the F-GT Cockpit compatibility, the user is required to use the seat sliders that come with the F-GT cockpit and remove the shifter plate from the cockpit)
• Next Level Racing F-GT Frame Only (For the F-GT Cockpit compatibility, the user is required to use the seat sliders that come with the F-GT cockpit and remove the shifter plate from the cockpit)
• Third-party cockpits in the market for sim racing (To check compatibility, ensure the measurements are aligned for cockpit connections)

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Just to recap the dimensions I mentioned at the start, I have taken them from the Next Level Racing website to make them clear.

Installation & Software

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Mounting to my rig took a bit of time, purely as I had to reconfigure the layout from my Trak Racer seat, but it wasn't a painful process. With the seat fitted, I could then download the software from the Next Level Racing website and get it set up. For testing, I am using V1.2.5.8 of the Next Level Racing Haptic Feedback System (HFS) Software. Installation was quick and simple, then, from the opening page, I could select the product in use.

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Clicking on ERS3 gives me access to all the settings needed. The left shows an image of the seat with the location of the haptic motors, and an intensity slider below. You can click the haptic areas to test the feedback. Below the slider, the connection mode is also available. To explain these more, I have taken the following from the product manual;

PC Mode - For use with a PC via USB connection. This mode enables control of the seat's eight haptic zones. The ERS3 Haptic Racing Seat requires software to connect to the games and use telemetry data to deliver the best possible experience, all via the software provided.

Sound Capture Mode - Designed for use via a 3.5mm audio cable. In this mode, the seat responds to sounds and converts them into vibration feedback, with no software required.

Obviously, USB mode will provide the best, most accurate experience; however, if you are using a console, then the 3.5mm connection will provide a more generic haptic experience.

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The right-hand side of the main page lists the games that are compatible, with the ability to fine-tune a range of sensations, with further tweaking available where you can designate which of the eight haptic feedback zones you want to use. Each title can also apply imported profiles, and you can also export them. If you want to set up a load and save them in case you ever need to format your PC, you can then just drag them back in and be ready to go. We are not limited to sim racing either; flight sim and other select titles are supported.

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The HFS software is intuitive but fairly basic; the settings page includes some default options for Windows Startup and a reset-to-defaults option.

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While for some the standard HFS software will be fine, SimHub integration is included, and for me, it's the go-to option rather than having yet another piece of software installed in the background. I'm not going to go into a deep dive into this, as I have already covered some of the SimHub settings before, but it offers more refined control over a wider range of haptic settings and an all-in-one package for so many devices.

Kris' Sim Racing Test System Specifications

Final Thoughts

Jumping into the Next Level Racing ERS3 Haptic, it's a very comfy seat, and throughout my time testing, I couldn't feel the motors nestled within. Maybe over time, as the foam relaxes and wears in, they may become more apparent, but if you didn't tell me they were built in, I wouldn't have guessed, so the implementation is really good. If mounting to a Next Level Racing cockpit, you can adjust how it is mounted using lengths of aluminum profile and the seat-side mounts to angle the chair a little. I am sitting fairly flat, but it's perfectly fine for casual users. The backrest adjustment is also quite solid, and even under heavy braking, I didn't feel that the flex within the mechanism was overly significant. As I said earlier, more dedicated racers are likely to use a rigid bucket seat to reduce flex as much as possible.

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I've put the Next Level Racing ERS3 Haptic through its paces on Assetto Corsa, AC Competizione, and Le Mans Ultimate. I started with the HFS software before switching over to SimHub. Both options offer a good experience. I noticed in the HFS software that, depending on which game you selected, different haptic options became available, such as Ground Effect.

In-game, I love the effects the ERS3 Haptic produces, and based on the HFS software alone, Le Mans Ultimate seemed to bring out the very best it has to offer, with detailed, immersive feedback where I would expect it. It's nice and pronounced over rumble strips, and gear changes offer a good jolt to the system, but nothing overly strong that would become annoying over time. I would say these are my two favorite effects, turned on and up to near maximum, putting a grin on my face every time I rode a curb or grabbed the next gear. SimHub offers a little more refinement to the experience, really honing it to your liking. Everyone will prefer their setup just a little different, and you can spend days tweaking settings to get it perfect, but even at default settings, it's a thoroughly enjoyable ride. Having control on the side to adjust the intensity is nice, but even at 100%, it's not overbearing, and it's nice to have the option to dial it down or turn it off within arm's reach.

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I ran some tests without my headphones on, just to see how loud the ERS3 Haptic is, and it's a purring, quiet experience that won't annoy people around the house. Maybe we are going through a transition period where noisy pucks mounted to rigs will become a thing of the past, as products like the ERS3 Haptic provide immersive experiences. I also ran tests using the 3.5mm sound capture option, and unless you really have to use this method, I would steer clear, as it will ruin the experience to some degree and remove much of the enjoyment you get from implementing it properly.

Given the price, and what you get, the functionality, and the grin it puts on your face, then the Next Level Racing ERS3 Haptic is a great choice if you want to add haptic feedback to your system. If you are an HF8 or HF8 Pro user, it might not be worth it just yet; maybe wait until they have outlived their usefulness, or you are building a completely new cockpit. While I haven't tested the HF8 as such, I can't see you getting much more of a new experience from the ERS3, and it won't be a worthwhile upgrade until you really need to swap. The seat is comfy for long sessions, and even when not racing, I've been sitting in this chair for some time over the past few weeks, including while writing this review. It's a great product that does what it sets out to do; it does it well and delivers at a very good price point.

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I've mentioned that more hardened sim racers might want something a little more sturdy a couple of times during this review, and Next Level Racing hasn't forgotten you, also offering an alternative with the ERS1 Haptic, a fixed-back bucket-style seat with side-mount options. I'm keen to check that out too, but for more casual racers who want the flexibility of racing with haptic feedback and a comfy seat for other games, office work, and browsing the web, then the ERS3 offers everything you are going to need. In fact, the only bad thing I can say about the ERS3 Haptic is that it's only available in black, and if color choice is the only thing I can pick up on, that's not a bad result, right?