So you’re looking for a sim-racing shifter? What do you mean it has to be cheap, adjustable, and multifunctional? At less than 100€? Sorry, that’s an unrealistic request. How can the SHH Shifter NewtT2 meet all these criteria?
This week, we look at the H and sequential gearbox from the Spanish brand SHH Shifter. Flo and I were blown away by this model’s unprecedented value for money. In short, if you’re looking for a versatile, high-quality, adjustable shifter for just 99€, this review should interest you!
Le SHH Shifter NEWT2 en bref coup de coeur
Des réglages complets, une conception durable et très bien pensée, deux pommeaux livrés de série, des options de customisations bien foutues… Un régal !
What does the SHH Shifter look like, technically?
| Compatibility | PC |
| Speeds | 7 Reverse OR 6 Reverse |
| Vibrations | No |
| Gearbox type | H or Sequential gearbox |
| Sensors | Magnetic |
| Adjustable hardness | Yes |
| Connection | USB-B connection |
| Dimensions | 95mm long (150mm with standard bracket), 82mm wide, height varies between 245 and 265mm depending on the knob installed. Link to SHH measurements |
| Weight | 420g |
| In the box | SHH Shifter NEWT2 180cm USB – USB-B cable Screws and Allen keys 1 H-type knob 1 long sequential knob Mounting bracket for standard chassis |
Design and ergonomics
Unpacking is a bit like Christmas before its time. Of course, you know what you’ve ordered, but it’s always nice to have so much in the box for so little. The first thing that catches the eye is the finish, with grooves typical of 3D printers.
The shell of the SHH box is made of polyoxymethylene, a thermoplastic known for its use in injection molding, which is more resistant and precise than ABS or PLA. But more complex to master, it seems. I’ll let the 3D printing experts have their say 😉
On the front and underside of the shifter are carefully inlaid metal screw threads. These should ensure that the shifter stays firmly in place on the chassis. The Bottom Mount we ordered fits perfectly under the shifter, and the screw threads are perfectly aligned. Flo and I are currently in the middle of shifter testing, and these are points that certain brands sometimes botch. It’s good that SHH is looking for a job well done.
The two knobs supplied (H and Sequential) are pleasant to the touch and grip well. By the way, they’re also 3D-printed. And if you feel like it, you can install other knobs on your shifter, as long as they respect the shank dimension: M17x1.5.
Finally, you’ll find the screws and Allen keys needed for installation and adjustment. And finally, the 1m80 USB cable. Oh yes, and the instructions have the immense merit of being almost entirely made up of clear, easy-to-understand diagrams and photos!
Built to last
Under the hood is a magnetic sensor mechanism. This is excellent news for the case’s lifespan, which becomes virtually indestructible since no mechanical parts are used for capture.
It’s only fair that SHH should take a quick look at the product’s durability, as they’ve thought of everything! For example, the two electronic circuits at the front and rear of the case, which house the magnetic sensors and other components, are spring-mounted. So, even if you’re playing hardball, the chances of damaging the boards are reduced.
The grilles, too, have been designed to reduce wear and tear, thanks to the angle at which they guide the knob from one gear to the next. In short, you’ve grasped the concept: it’s well thought-out and well done.
A custom-designed shifter
Here’s something that surprised us, especially at this price. The SHH Shifter Newt2 has a host of à la carte customization options. Some are free, like the housing color or the type of shifting grid, and others are not. But always at very reasonable prices!
The first step is to choose the color of the shifter housing. I chose between black, red, white and grey. But nothing stops you from indulging in a Damascus yellow or a pretty South Sea blue as an optional extra. 😉
Next comes the choice of gearshift grid. We’re offered six reverse and seven reverse versions. And for each, you have a choice of colors: raw, black, white, gray, red, and carbon finish. The sequential shifter is optional (€11) but not essential for using the shifter in sequential mode (more on that later).
Choosing your mounting option
Another OK gesture on SHH’s part is that the brand offers many mounting options. Whether you’re using an aluminum profile frame, a tubular frame with a drilled plate, a kitchen table, or a cockpit built by a mad scientist in the garage, you’ll find what you’re looking for.
- Standard mounting (supplied as standard): With its identical pattern to the Thrustmaster TH8A, it’s compatible with most chassis on the market. You can adjust the shifter height -50mm.
- Table clamp (3€): a table clamp that lets you install the box on table tops up to 5.5mm thick. Height adjustment from -25mm.
- Bottom mount (2€): Installed under the case with four screws (supplied), it reproduces the screw pattern of the Fanatec Clubsport Shifter SQ V1.5. It can be mounted with 4 M6 screw threads (screws supplied) or on an aluminum profile with two M8 screw holes at the front and rear.
- Side mounting (4€): suitable for 2-rail aluminum profiles.
- Angle bracket (-2€): Attaches to the front of the box and allows installation on custom or profile cockpits. It has several holes to allow juggling between fixation points.
To find out more: the SHH guide to choosing your mounting option
Comprehensive settings
Once again, the SHH shifter greatly pleasures us regarding the available settings. Whereas some mainstream brands are content to sell us a finished product (well, more or less) without any shifting position or feel adjustment, here we have the whole package.
- To switch from H to Sequential mode: press the knob and turn a quarter-turn. Then select the mode using the switch at the bottom of the box, next to the USB-B socket.
- Hardness adjustment: Use two screws accessible without removing the grille, using the Allen key supplied.
- Changing the knob: Unscrew and replace it with a new one (M17x1.5 thread)
- Changing knob height: moving the thread on the knob’s aluminum stem.
Installation on the chassis
At home, we opted for the bottom mount, which screws directly under the shifter housing. And because SHH knows nobody reads the instructions, the assembly direction is indicated on the bottom mount itself.
It takes just a few minutes to install; there’s not the slightest gap between the parts, it’s snug and precise… Thank you.
I then plug the USB directly into the PC. There’s no software to install, and the shifter is immediately recognized. All that’s left to do is go to the game menus to configure the gears, and off we go!
On to the track!
In H-box mode, it was a very, very pleasant surprise. It’s very pleasant once you’ve fiddled a bit with the hardness of the shifts to find the right setting. The SHH Shifter gives you the sensation of shifting a mechanical gear. The feeling is very good and much better than expected, especially once again in this price range. Shifting is straightforward, direct, and engaging. It makes you want to kick it!
The only downside I have to the feel of the H-box is when you disengage a gear. The return of the gear knob feels more like a “spring” than a mechanical movement. You don’t feel it on the track, as you shift from one gear to another very quickly (unless you’re playing Bus Simulator, perhaps?).
Grid 7 reverse does its job very well, and Flo and I quickly got used to using it. What’s more, we’ve never had any problems shifting or miss-shifting. I mention this because the old gates (according to previous reviews) tended to miss the 5th gear. Rest assured, the gates have been redesigned, and on our side, they work perfectly.
Flo can finally find her way through the gears!
Another great thing about this shifter is how easy it was for Flo to find her way through the gears. Let me explain. Flo always found it very difficult to instinctively identify which gear she was in by putting her hand on the knob. And that’s with almost all the sim racing shifters we’ve tested. This is a major source of frustration for her.
With this one, she instinctively found her bearings very quickly. This is probably due to the pronounced angle of the knob between gears but also, I think, to the shape of the knob itself.
*What does it look like in sequential mode?
To switch to sequential mode, press the knob, turn it 90° to the right, and switch the button. It literally takes 5 seconds.
When this mode is over, the knob can’t go to the left of the grid, but it’s not held back on the right. This doesn’t bother me because, after all, when you grab the shifter in sequential mode, you tend to have your hand pull it a little to the left (well, in my case…). But if you want to block in both directions, consider the optional sequential grid.
Regarding the sequential feel, it’s just like H-shifting, except that the knob automatically returns to the center. You get the same “mechanical” feel but with a little more hardness provided by the spring that tightens and causes the knob to return. Once again, it’s effective and convincing!
Upgrades and customization (no, it’s not over ^^)
We’ve been at this test for a while now, haven’t we? You’ve understood this is a very rich model, and we could discuss it for hours. But as if that weren’t enough, SHH has developed some additional customization options!
The Sequential grid can be added for 11€, but we’ve already discussed that. Colors and patterns can also be added. And if you go all out, why not add a personalized logo? And text up to 12 characters? If you want a shifter that’s 100% unique to your home, at least you’ve got that covered.
Our opinion on this SHH Shifter NEWT2
But what are other brands doing? When you see the quality of the feel and the product in general, the intelligence with which it has been designed, the possible settings… and the price! This is the most convincing shifter we’ve had our hands on in the €50 to €250 price range.
So, of course, it will be hard-pressed to match the big mid-range and top-of-the-range models. It’s not a Lebois Racing SRT gearbox, either. But for a shifter costing less than €100, it’s fair to say that SHH is hitting hard on the entry/early mid-range PC segment.
A real favorite!
Le SHH Shifter NEWT2 en bref coup de coeur
Des réglages complets, une conception durable et très bien pensée, deux pommeaux livrés de série, des options de customisations bien foutues… Un régal !
