Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
A T3 feature about a session at Sim Motorsport, at Brands Hatch in southeast England, describes a £40,000 simulator and a striking audio upgrade: Innit Audio’s spatial processing. The writer found tire sounds and their apparent position easier to read, but did not compare lap times with the processing on and off. The reported claim that it can save about a second on tight laps comes from driver testimonials collected by Innit Audio—not a controlled test.
What happened in the £40,000 simulator
In a feature published by T3 on 22 September 2026, the writer spent nearly an hour at Sim Motorsport, a simulation centre at Brands Hatch. The article gives the simulator’s price as £40,000, but does not name a specific rig model or provide an itemized price breakdown. That figure is the feature’s description of the setup, not a verified market price for a particular simulator.
The audio system used Innit Audio’s spatial-audio processing with a neck-mounted gaming speaker. The article does not identify the speaker’s brand or model. Innit’s approach is described as processing two-channel audio to make sound placement feel more like real-world hearing. The writer reported that tire sounds seemed clearer and easier to locate, including cues that helped judge rear-tire positioning with less conscious thought.
Recommended Free Tools
Those observations describe one person’s impression in a simulator session. The writer says they are not an experienced driver and did not conduct a scientific comparison in the rig.
#1 Best Overall
- 25dB NRR
- RE-G5-C headphone-to-headphone adapter cable included
- RE-18 scanner adapter cable included
What spatial audio might help a driver hear
In a racing simulator, audio can provide cues alongside the visuals and physical feedback. Tire and engine sounds may help a driver notice what the car is doing; spatial placement may make it easier to judge where a sound seems to come from. In principle, clearer or more legible cues could help a driver interpret a moment and decide how to respond. That is a plausible use for spatial audio, not proof that it improves lap times.
Innit Audio founder Bernt Böhmer described his motivation in the T3 interview: “It’s kind of funny because having a background in music and music labs, and all of that, and creating that sort of equipment, I always approached this from a music point of view. So I wanted to recreate reality when music was playing back”. That explains the design ambition; it is not a performance measurement.
Rank #2
- 1/8" /(3.5mm) Right Angle Mono Plug
- Volume Control
- 25 db NRR Rating
- Custom Fit Headband
Does Innit Audio shave a second off lap times?
The T3 feature attributes the claim that the upgrade can save about a second on tight laps to professional drivers who gave testimonials to Innit Audio. It also reports that some drivers said the system helped them get into the zone faster. These accounts are worth distinguishing from a controlled result: the feature does not establish how the comparisons were made, and the writer did not measure lap times with the processing toggled on and off.
Research on simulator cues offers context, but not independent confirmation of an Innit Audio lap-time advantage. A 2017 student report examined auditory feedback tied to car slip angle. Its abstract says the results might be positive, but the small observed differences did not allow a confident causal conclusion. A separate simulator study found that racing drivers were faster than non-racing drivers and differed in steering activity and racing-line choice; it studied driver skill, not spatial audio. Historical simulator research also considered motion and audio cues, but does not establish a modern spatial-audio effect.
Rank #3
- Noise Canceling & Volume Control
- Padded Earmuff with Hard Shell
- Exterior Shell for Optimal Exterior Noise Barrier
- Adjustable, low-profle design folds for easy storage
- Includes Angle Plug Connector 3.5mm For Easy Use!
On the available evidence, the reported one-second gain should be treated as a company-attributed testimonial, not a general estimate. It does not show that spatial audio itself caused faster laps, that all drivers benefit, or that the figure applies across simulators and driving conditions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to check when comparing simulator audio
For aspiring drivers or anyone choosing a simulator setup, the useful question is not simply whether audio is labeled “spatial.” Consider whether the sound cues are clear, compatible with the simulator software, and comfortable to use. If performance is the goal, a direct comparison matters more than an immersive impression.
Rank #4
- Headset
- Placement: Can you distinguish where tire, engine, or other important cues appear to come from?
- Intelligibility: Are the cues easy to hear amid engine and environmental sounds?
- Compatibility: Does the processing work with the simulator, PC, and audio hardware you actually use?
- Comfort: Is the speaker or headphone setup comfortable over a full session?
- Comparable laps: Can you switch processing on and off and compare repeated laps under the same conditions, rather than relying on a single impression?
T3 describes PC software offered by subscription as the practical route for Innit Audio at the time of its feature. It discusses wider integration into earbuds, headphones, phones, or other devices as a possibility and challenge, not as an announced release. Check current availability and compatibility before relying on that route.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Great For NASCAR Races! Use with a scanner or radio to listen to your favorite drivers and race teams as well as emergency services and race officials.
- Includes 3.5mm Mono Coil Cord Cable
- Volume Control Knob on Ear Dome
- 3.5mm Music Input Jack
- Over the Head Style
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
