GTRacing Ace M1 Hands – On Review

On paper, Ace’s advantage is that its price is more attractive than the Titan’s. But the price is not everything, and parameters like build quality, features, and comfort are essential. I invite you to read my review for the GTRacing Ace.

Note: Like many of our reviews, we bought this product to give you an unbiased opinion on it.

GTRacing Ace M1 – Pros and Cons List

GTRacing Ace characteristics

GTRacing Ace overview
Weight : 60 Lbs
Adjustable height
Seat width : 15.4 inches
Recommended user height : between 5 feet 7 inches and 6 feet 1
Maximum supported weight: 300 Lbs
5-wheel base
4D armrests
Tilt up to 180° (recommended up to 150°)
class IV piston
Delivered with back support (jack) and head cushion
5 year quarantee

Receiving and Unboxing the chair

I found a chair in perfect condition upon delivery.

The different parts are packed and protected and the screws and bolts are separated and classified. Some elements are packed with less care than others, but this does not impact the protection of the parts.

In any case, the unpacking made me want to go further, and quickly!

Putting the GTRacing Ace together

Let’s start with the assembling of the chair.

Overall, the process is like any gaming chair, except that there are more parts to assemble by yourself than usual.

For instance, I had to install the backrest tilt levers myself when they are usually pre-installed, and the same goes for the armrests, even if they are less common.

All parts were present and GTRacing even provides extra hardware, just in case.

As for the instructions, they are clear and available in several languages, including French. The manufacturer takes care to number the parts and the different screws, which makes the assembly easier by following the different steps with diagrams.

Moreover, the instructions also detail the functionalities of the chair.

In the end, I assembled it by myself in 40mn, while I took pictures and notes. The assembly is not difficult, but it takes a little longer than other gaming chairs because of the extra parts to assemble.

Also, sometimes I had some issue to get some of the screws to fit in the screw holes.

Finally, I had some difficulties to assemble the covers for which I had to go back to it a few times.

GTRacing Ace M1 features

Here are, in detail, the different characteristics of the chair:

• Armrests : 4D
• Back : tilt up to 180° (150° recommended)
• Seat : ajustable height, no front and back adjustment
• Rocking chair : yes, with locking mechanism
• Back support : yes, free-standing cushion
• Head cushion : yes, with strap
• Maximum capacity : 300 Lbs

The different features are quite well thought out, and their use is simple.

I can still spot a few flaws that I’ll come back to later, like the armrests with a notched mechanism and the rocking chair mechanism with limited locking.

What about the build quality?

Overall, I would say that it is a good quality chair, in line with its price range.

After examining it from every angle, I can’t find any flaws or snags in the upholstery, armrests, head and back cushions.

Likewise, other parts of the chair, such as the covers (for the back tilts mechanism) or the base, are free of bumps and appear to be beautifully made.

No poor quality or defective parts, and that’s already a very good aspect!

Now let’s look at it in detail:

• The coverings: those who know me know that I am not a big fan of PU leather, because some of them are good, and others not, and it is difficult to estimate its durability. However, it seems to me to be well made here. It is pleasant to the touch and the surface is mostly smooth. There are no flaws to complain about, but I did notice that the coating is pinched in many places. This is certainly common on gaming chairs, but it is much more obvious on this chair.
• The armrests: the cover and the structure are made of plastic, but they do not look cheap and seem to be of good quality on the contrary. The mechanisms to adjust the left/right rotation and the height are notched. I would have liked to find a button for the rotation like Secretlab does. Here, it is not blocked, which means that the armrest can move by itself.
• The cushions: There are no defects, except that the headrest is a little pinched in its corners. The touch is quite pleasant, and by pressing the cushions, one can appreciate the sufficient padding.
• Wheelbase: The base of the GTRacing Ace is made of metal and looks good. I can’t find any roughness, no flaws, no scratches, either on the top or the bottom. It’s solid! The wheels are made of plastic, and the build quality seems good; the look, on the other hand, looks a bit cheap compared to the metal base. It would have been better to give them a solid structure, like for the Titan from Secretlab. I also notice that the wheels are a bit noisy and don’t have a smooth movement when you move.
• The rocking chair mechanism: It has a large amplitude and allows the chair to be tilted back and forth freely. It can be adjusted (and even locked) with a crank that you turn under the chair. I tried to turn it as much as possible to block the mechanism, and in fact, when I try to swing, I do feel a resistance. However, I only have to force it a little bit for the swing to happen… I would have preferred a fully blocking system.
• The backrest reclining mechanism: the manufacturer announces that it is possible to tilt the backrest up to 150°; it is the case, and in fact, I was able to push it up to 180°. However, I don’t recommend it, and for two reasons. The first is that the position is quite uncomfortable. The second – and more important – is that the base starts to lift slightly because most of the weight is on the backrest only. So there is a risk of tilting backward… In short, I advise you to be satisfied with 150° at the most.

Overall, the build quality is convincing. However, there is still room for improvement, especially in terms of blocking the rocking chair and the rotation of the armrests. To perfect the reclining of the backrest, it would be necessary to prevent the reclining beyond 150°.

Comfort & Ergonomics of the GTRacing Ace

After all, isn’t the reason why we buy a gaming chair to enjoy excellent comfort?

Is the chair ergonomic for the back? Yes, but I have seen better. Without a cushion, the padding at the bottom of the backrest is sufficient and offers a good feeling. With the cushion, you get extra, specific support for the lower back area. On paper, this is excellent, but I find the back cushion dispensable.

It is not attached to the chair, which means it can move when you move. Typically, if you move forward or stand up, the cushion falls off, and then you have to prop it up properly when you get back into position.

Of course, in comparison, I prefer Secretlab’s ergonomic system, which has a lower back cushion that is integrated into the backrest – like a car – to provide better stability. As for the comfort of the cushion, it’s soft and supportive, which will suit most people.

And for the neck, is the backrest ergonomic? Yes, if you use the head cushion. I tried to do without it, and I was immediately confronted with two problems. First, my head has no support, and I have to force it back to rest on the backrest. And secondly, I discovered how hard the top of the chair was.

The padding is too weak and the support is almost non-existent for the neck. As you can see, the headrest is essential in my opinion. As for the lower back cushion, it offers a soft feeling and a balanced support; overall its support is rather good.

Let’s move on to the comfort of the seat. The padding is generous, but beware: both the flat surface and the sides are really firm, like the Vertagear PL1000 or the Oraxeat XL 800. If you are looking for something more balanced, check out the AKRacing Core Ex and the Noblechairs Icon Black Edition.

Personally, I like the firmness, but I must say that I found it a little too pronounced here

Finally, a word about the armrests. They are 4D and the different adjustments allow you to find a comfortable position. Great!

However, the padding is not great. It is indeed almost non-existent and the contact is therefore quite rigid. As it is, they act as a prop, but not as support.

For the price, I am neither delighted nor disappointed, I think the comfort sufficient and will satisfy many users. After several hours of continuous use for work and gaming, I felt no pain and was always comfortable. 

Conclusion of the GTRacing Ace M1 review : should you buy it ?

For my verdict on this chair, I would say that it is an interesting alternative to the Secretlab.