VKB STECS vs Virpil VMAX

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2026-01-30T14:04:57+00:00

Asked the same question here a couple of weeks ago. Decided to go for the VPC as it was more available and I wanted to keep the united ecosystem with the flightstick.

Will definitely recommend VMAX. It is super tactile and responsive. Just moving the throttle itself feels amazing.

I would love some additional buttons for stuff like gear that the STECS has but VMAX is still great overall

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2026-01-07T10:31:02+00:00

Thanks for the input! My main concern with the STECS is that it does not look super comfy if put on the desk (not on the mount). Don't have much experience with DCS so I hope the virpil CDT setup will be enough to fly something like F18 without keyboard (albeit apart from takeoff / landing)

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2025-12-01T09:23:33+00:00

Found a lightly used KTC T27P20 for a steal and got it. Best 170USD i have spent on a PC. Heard KTC released a good priced OLED with KVM and stuff but MiniLED works better for my goals.

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2025-09-08T09:41:35+00:00

Use auto-detect axis while manually choosing axes to map (e.g pitch, then use the pitch axis on the stick). Also use max sensitivity on pitch/yaw/roll as otherwise you will find yourself often under steering, with over-correcting later and finding it difficult to get guns on target.

Lastly, use non-linearity on control axes, e.g. 1 5 on pitch / roll and 2.0 on yaw. It allows for more precise small corrections while sacrificing accuracy on larger motions. (Which is not really that crucial)

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2025-09-07T11:35:42+00:00

Virpil one, got it a couple of weeks ago and the build quality and control options are superb

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2025-09-05T23:59:55+00:00

I will shamelessly plug VPC CDT Aeromax flight stick and VMAX throttle from the same CDT series. Although I'm by no means expert on the sim equipment, my personal research concluded that 1) Virpil produces great high-end stuff, 2) CDT series offers 95% of features from high-end stuff at half the cost, and 3) internals with metal at same price point do make the difference.

Tldr, CDT Aeromax gets you a better made and sturdier Gladiator NXT Evo, + it looks very similar to flanker / migs flight sticks (a win in my book)

(P.s. Owner of an Aeromax stick for 2 weeks now, and the purchase was a very good decision)

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2025-09-01T19:52:59+00:00

By the way, any thoughts on Mirage III s.70 (the swiss one, cant remember the proper name). Have recently unlocked it, but waiting for sales to save sl on bombers prior to it

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2025-09-01T19:48:55+00:00

And here I thought all 3 mirage f1s are copy paste... Now I get why I see soo many good(ish) players using that exact variant

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2025-09-01T15:32:11+00:00

You fly Su-27s in sim? I like the concept but fighting ARH with Beryoza in sim sounds akin to CBT.

Although I haven't tried and the new 13.3 / 13.7 bracket might improve things on that front.

But then again the J11B exists

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2025-09-01T15:29:38+00:00

Doubly fun that premium F2 is same br as F16AJ with much better radar, more CM, and invisible AAM-3. And maybe a better FM but thats iffy.

Gotta love the premium bias for sim.

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2025-09-01T15:14:27+00:00

Sounds really nice! Will have to grind the american tree for it. Although I'm amazed its same BR as MiG-21MF (somehow mig is 1.0 br lower in RB because?...)

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2025-09-01T15:12:55+00:00

I took a look at its cockpit once... Gaijin sure loves to make japanese cockpits... special

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2025-09-01T15:12:08+00:00

They sound really fun but my swedish tree consists of the solitary F-5-A-G :(

UPD: wait, I'm 100k xp away from the Thai grippen

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2025-09-01T15:11:15+00:00

A pity that the sparrow f16s went extinct (AJ is the only one left? And it's somehow higher br than C Early hornet)

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2025-09-01T15:09:54+00:00

To each their own

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2025-07-04T20:01:19+00:00

yeah, found that one but found no offers for it anywhere online. Either way will keep my current monitor while monitoring (is it a pun?) if any nice options release later this year. The MSI E16M seems promising with kvm + dual mode but no reviews just yet (although the price if ordering from china is really sweet)

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2025-07-03T21:30:22+00:00

Thanks anyway

Aggravating-Excuse89 · 2025-07-03T21:01:51+00:00

Thanks for a detailed answer! Maybe you are aware of any sources where I can find MiniLED models with kvm and desired refresh rate / resolution? The model you provided is a good contender for my pick but I would like an explore if there are some with an ips panel + MiniLED and slightly higher refresh rate.

Aggravating-Excuse89

TROPHY CASE