X52Pro, X55 or Track IR

Muss · Jun 24, 2015

Ok So i am buying one of the above

I am wondering how you guys find the X52Pro vs the X55

I am also considering Track IR instead as I do actually find keyboard and trackballl flying pretty good and would love to be able to change my view with a simple tilt of the head, i know there are other options like Free track and the mobile phone app but those options never feel professional.

I have read the X52Pro MFD is interactive and can display game data, is this function usable in ED?

Do you find the X52Pro has enough buttons ?

Anyone who has used the 55 and the 52 is the 55 a better stick?

Any opinions ?

Soopyyy · Jun 24, 2015

Functionality between the two sticks is similar, X55 has higher quality components IIRC. Look into ED tracker, its similar but cheaper buy about $150.

Blackpine · Jun 24, 2015

X-55 has way more controls than x-52 (if we talk about HOTAS), I fly with X-55 and hardly touch keyboard or mouse. I use them only at stations and for navigation. My vote goes for X-55.

big_bad_lynx · Jun 24, 2015

X 55 is great piece if kit but make sure that you buy from amazon or overclockers.co.uk or any reputable retailer as mad catz customer service is shocking. Find on YouTube ralfi dude x55 versus warthog as it gives some impressions about ergonomic

Ulysses_W · Jun 24, 2015

I have both the X52 and the X55. Take it from me, the X55 is better quality wise, but the X52(pro) is better ergonomically.

I use the X55 'cus it cost a lot of money and has more buttons and switches.

Zephyriel · Jun 24, 2015

Either get one of the two HOTAS along with a cheap ED tracker, or get a HOTAS X which is cheap, and a TrackIR. I use these two and they're perfect for ED, no need for more buttons if you use Voice Attack or modifiers on your HOTAS.

Scudmungus · Jun 24, 2015

Yuh can make a decent track system fah abot 20 dollars. Check the links - techy but worth it.

x52 vs X55? If hands gud size an feelin lucky on build. Lotta horror stories about quality. Else X52pro

Mi wantin Ch stick, throttle an pedals. Wantin somtin to last - not easy fi mi to return tings!

Spam · Jun 24, 2015

I got myself an X-52 Pro for Elite. It's a nice stick, easy to setup and matches the in game graphics for the stick.
I've run it quite hard and it's already been fixed twice (by me) and has some more intermittent switch operations creeping in. It's a shame as I really like the ergonomics of it. Build quality and reliability aren't great, so there will be a bit of RNG with what you get.
The MFD is pointless, I have no use for it and don't know if it is even usable, which I doubt.
It only just has about enough switches on it, and I have used the config software to band/rebind a load of unused stuff. The only functions I don't use are the 2 rotary knobs, no idea what I could use them for.

My mate has got the X-55. This is what I will buy when I finally retire my X52. It has far better functionality, but might suffer from random crappy manufacturing issues.

There's not a lot else to compare these 2 with as there's nothing really in the same spec/price range with twist yaw. I would go with the Warthog no doubt, if it had twist yaw. I'm not interested in pedals at all.

Cant say much about the IR Tracker. I did my research on this and ended up buying the Oculus Rift DK2. As the Scudders says above there is a quick easy homebuild head tracker that you can do yourself for far less money.

CMDR Generic EventHandler · Jun 24, 2015

After I saw a youtube video of someone using trackIr in elite, I was hooked I ended up buying an X52 and Track-IR just to play elite. I could go back to keyboard and mouse, but I couldn't play it without track-ir anymore.

Yabba Addict · Jun 24, 2015

Get the X52 non pro and use the little bit of cash saved to get the wireless ED tracker. Sorted

Ulysses_W · Jun 24, 2015

Yabba Addict said:
Get the X52 non pro and use the little bit of cash saved to get the wireless ED tracker. Sorted

There's a lot to be said for this option. +1

FredTA · Jun 24, 2015

I personally roll with x52 pro AND track IR, heaps of fun. I would say if you're just looking for one go for trackIR, since you can't really use headlook smoothly with just a joystick

Hurricane Moon · Jun 24, 2015

I use a modded ps3 camera with a "delan clip" attatched to my headset for headtracking......and with a program that's free called facetracknoir wich uses trackir and freetracks protocols......cost me 20 quid off his website(delanengineering).and works the same as trackir....so responsive its a game changer.

paying for track ir is just paying for a brand....my delan is used for my occulus thrift aswell...

I could not even begin to imagine even booting this game up if I did not at least have headtracking and a hotas.

Blackness · Jun 24, 2015

grunchlk said:
Track IR is a game changer as far as I'm concerned. I've been using it for flight sims for a few years now and it takes ED to a whole new level of imersion.

Edit: I use CH stuff so can't comment on the controllers you are enquiring about.

Same here. TrackIR is the best peripheral I've ever bought, and I'm old.

Zeeman · Jun 24, 2015

Buy second hand, and get both.

And have money left over...

Worked for me.

Using a second hand Track ir5 (though I've started to use the hatclip, as the cat kept attacking the pro clip cable, seems to work just fine that way). I also use a T16000M and CH pro throttle, not the X-52, but regardless, the track IR cost me $50au, and I've seen the CH Pro throttle for $60, and the t16000M is cheap enough to buy new.

I've also seen used X-52's for less than half brand new...

Z...

HurstLlama · Jun 24, 2015

Does it need to be either a HOTAS or head tracking? Can it not be both? The Thrustmaster X is plenty good enough for the ordinary gamer, get that and either EDtrack or the Delan Clip and you have got both systems for less than the price of a X-52 pro (at least in the UK you will have).

I would really hate to play ED (any any flight sim) without both a HOTAS and head tracking and so will you once you have tried them.

Snowdog · Jun 24, 2015

IRtracker looks interesting but seems like more of a gimmick than a tool but since i never used it . maybe I'll have to try one to see for myself

Wife Assist ON, that may help.

So to build or to buy?

I have the x-55 and find it to be a good flight system, poor quality control and the company is not very good with repairs, yes they will repair it but at their leisure. I had it for about 4 weeks and the trigger spring broke, after calling them and finding out it would take almost a month for them to repair it I did it myself. As far as I am concerned they can rot in some warm place made for baking bad people

(lets see if that makes it past the moderators <grin>). Even so, I would buy the stick again, it preforms well.

thearmysredneck · Jun 24, 2015

grunchlk said:
Track IR is a game changer as far as I'm concerned. I've been using it for flight sims for a few years now and it takes ED to a whole new level of imersion.

Edit: I use CH stuff so can't comment on the controllers you are enquiring about.

+1 for CH Pro set up. I can attest to we'll over 250hrs of heavy use in ED alone, and not one issue. Not counting time in XPLANE as well.

Lord_Crazy · Jun 24, 2015

I am not sure a HOTAS and a tracking system can be compared. But if you still want to chose, I suggest you try a free tracking solution: the quality won't be as good as track IR but that will give you an idea of what you can get.
It is called FaceTrackNoIr and only requires a web-cam.

As for the HOTAS itself, I have heard several time that despite its qualities, the X55 did not deserve the extra cash compared to the X52 Pro. I have myself a X52 Pro and I am not even sure it deserves the extra compared to the X52. I personally went for the Pro version because of its color (black and red instead of grey and blue) and allegedly better spring quality. So X52 seems good enough if you don't want to spend too much money. If you are made of gold go for the Warthog

DanTheMan · Jun 24, 2015

As a user of an X55 and the UK community derived ED tracker I can make the following observations:

Both of my X55's (so far) have suffered from appaling quality issues on the microswitches. Saitek/MadKatz don't care and only if you have a decent re-seller who respects the warranties will you be OK.

With regards to the Track IR stuff I think Completely different experience with ED-Tracker folks. Wonderful! Customer focused, really considerate and so very, very helpful.
Track IR places requirements on you to wear a device (so does ED-Tracker) but ED-Tracker is independent of external light-sources, is not affected by background light levels, if you wear glasses it does not pick up stray reflections etc. etc.

1 out of 10 for Saitek & the X55 and 10/10 for the ED Tracker.

While some flight sims support 6 DOF and the IR based systems do support this, ED does not support 6DOF so ED is a great solution and entirely suited for ED use.