Gamrombo Monaco Review
Quick summary· AI-generated
Neo Sphinx tests the Gamrombo Monaco—a budget-friendly three-in-one package (wheelbase, pedals, shifter) marketed at sim-racing newcomers. The key limitation is the lack of active force feedback; instead, the wheel uses passive centering. The reviewer sampled it on Gran Turismo 7 (PS5) and PC driving titles, noting the distinctive angular design with LED accents and plastic construction, but highlighting concerns about connector choices (RJ11/RJ12 vs. USB) and bulk-to-performance tradeoffs. The review questions whether the ~$200 asking price is justifiable given the passive-only feedback and other design compromises.
Excerpt from Sim Tourist
A steering wheel, pedals and a shifter for around $200. On paper, the Gamrombo Monaco sounds like a complete package for someone looking to get into simulated driving without spending a fortune. But there’s one rather important detail: the Monaco doesn’t have active force feedback.
That immediately puts it in a different category from many of the steering wheels on the market today. Instead of motors recreating the forces you feel through a car, the Monaco relies on a passive centring mechanism to bring the wheel back to the middle.
So, is there still a place for a product like this? I tested the Gamrombo Monaco with Gran Turismo 7 on PlayStation 5 and several driving games on PC to find out. There are a few things I like, but also some problems that make its asking price difficult to justify.
Let’s take a closer look.
First impressions and what’s included
The Gamrombo Monaco is sold as a complete package, including the steering wheel and wheelbase, a three-pedal set and a separate H-pattern shifter. That gives you everything you need to get started with a more traditional driving setup, without having to purchase the main components separately.
The design is fairly distinctive, with angular black plastic housings, a blue centre marker on the steering wheel and an LED ring around the central logo. It’s not the most premium-looking equipment I’ve tested, but it does have a recognisable design of its own.
The important question, of course, is how it feels and performs once you start driving.
The wheelbase – Simple, but bulky
The Monaco wheelbase is made entirely from hard black plastic. On the front, you’ll find three function buttons, a button for locking the steering angle and a headset jack. The sides feature LED lighting, which adds a little character to the otherwise understated design.
At the back are the connections for the pedals and shifter, using RJ11 and RJ12 connectors respectively. The wheelbase connects to a PC through a USB-C-to-USB-A cable.
I would have preferred standard USB connections for the peripherals. Using different RJ connectors feels a little dated and makes the system less flexible if you ever need to replace a cable.
The wheelbase is also surprisingly bulky for a unit without a force-feedback motor inside. Still, I quite like the overall design, and the LED strips are a nice touch.
The steering input is measured using a Hall sensor. For mounting, you can either use the supplied clamps or secure the wheelbase with…
Comments (0)
No comments yet.