Horizons X-56

49rTbird

49rTbird
Just received my X-56 that I bought on Amazon. If anyone plans on getting one you may want to wait (wish I had). There is no manual (yet) that I can find (ticketed at MadCatz). The dual throttle is excessively stiff no matter what setting on the adjuster. I am not that surprised as the X52 I bought and sent back was the same way. Time will tell if this gets better.

The worse problem is that there is a massive (non-adjustable) dead zone in the x and y axis in Elite Dangerous. It works in Star Citizen and Evochron Legacy so it is not the stick itself but maybe not as compatible with Elite as they claim. I can move the stick through 50% of it's throw before my ship moves and then it is full on so very hard to use with small ships.

The set up software is not the same as with the X52 as it has no setting page that you can use to check each button and switch for functionality.

Hope others have better luck with this one.:(
 

rote1

rote1
49rTbird said:
Just received my X-56 that I bought on Amazon. If anyone plans on getting one you may want to wait (wish I had). There is no manual (yet) that I can find (ticketed at MadCatz). The dual throttle is excessively stiff no matter what setting on the adjuster. I am not that surprised as the X52 I bought and sent back was the same way. Time will tell if this gets better.

The worse problem is that there is a massive (non-adjustable) dead zone in the x and y axis in Elite Dangerous. It works in Star Citizen and Evochron Legacy so it is not the stick itself but maybe not as compatible with Elite as they claim. I can move the stick through 50% of it's throw before my ship moves and then it is full on so very hard to use with small ships.

The set up software is not the same as with the X52 as it has no setting page that you can use to check each button and switch for functionality.

Hope others have better luck with this one.:(
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Check your key bindings, as it doesn't sound like you have the analog axis bound.
 

JonnyC0mbat

JonnyC0mbat
If it's anything like the X55 the throttle will loosen up. It took about 2-3 weeks for the stiffness to go then it gets quite nice.

I must be honest I wish I'd spent a bit more and gone for the warthog, but it'll do for the foreseeable future. Or until it breaks.
 
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[VR] Mad Mike

[VR] Mad Mike
The throttle will losen up with a few hrs use. Both my x55s were the same.

Is there a strip down of this stick at all? I want to find out if they fixed the terrible wiring issues in the x55 throttle. It is a design flaw and a time bomb which will fail on all sticks
 

Dozer.k.a.o.

D
I'm probably a lucky X-55 owner... no problems after using it for more than 18 months

i just broke accidentally one of the rotary buttons on the thottle, but could repair the internal support by my self with no problems, i know that the quality material is not good, and some hats swithches get loosen a bit after use, but mine works without issues for now.
 

Robert Maynard

Volunteer Moderator
Robert Maynard
Good fault finding! :D

It makes me wonder if there should be a warning if an axis is bound to "digital" controls....

Although.... Being able to bind the axis extremities does raise the possibility of initiating another action when the stick is moved to an axial extreme....
 

Crimson Kaim

Crimson Kaim
I just wish MadCatz or Saitek would go for quality. Same with ED (hint, hint).

The X56 looks cool but I guess since it is probably consisting of plastic, won't be very durable or effective.

We really need to steal some military aircraft vessels and cut out their control systems so we gamers can have high quality gaming pleasure. :p
 

JimmyHendrix

J
Crimson Kaim said:
I just wish MadCatz or Saitek would go for quality. Same with ED (hint, hint).

The X56 looks cool but I guess since it is probably consisting of plastic, won't be very durable or effective.

We really need to steal some military aircraft vessels and cut out their control systems so we gamers can have high quality gaming pleasure. :p
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Yeah agree, ab it more quality wouldnt hurt.
 

stephen_usher

stephen_usher
Mad Mike said:
The throttle will losen up with a few hrs use. Both my x55s were the same.

Is there a strip down of this stick at all? I want to find out if they fixed the terrible wiring issues in the x55 throttle. It is a design flaw and a time bomb which will fail on all sticks
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It has the same wiring loom (effectively) as the X55, though they may have used a different grade of wire. See the second review movie referenced above.
 

CMDR Ellegon

CMDR Ellegon
I can't believe they are making the same mistakes again. Wiring on the throttle was something that also broke on my X-52, along with the throttle indent thingy. Replaced under warranty twice so far, in about 11 months of actual game play (I had to take some breaks for various reasons, mostly RL). Not sure what I will do once the warranty expires and it breaks again.

Side note: I bought an old, used Saitek Cyborg Evo stick locally ($20), to be able to play when the HOTAS is under RMA again (takes more than a month for Saitek to complete the RMA). This stick dates back to the time before Saitek was bought out by the mad kitties - and oh boy, what a difference. While the Evo is old and does not have the same level of functionality for ED as the X-52, it is much more precise and feels higher quality all around - and that for a much cheaper device.
 
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Faybs

Faybs
My X-55 is starting to flake out after 18 months, so I'm looking for a good replacement. Given Corpsealot's video and now this thread I'm probably not be getting another Saitek, even though my X55 seems to have been one of the good ones - I get the impression I've been extremely lucky with mine. Given what's on the market now it seems the only choice is either a high end Thrustmaster or a CH Pro Throttle and a T-16000M, although Thrustmaster's extremely lackluster press event last month is making me think twice about the stick. I'm keeping an eye on a new VKB joystick due out in a few days that may be a good replacement, hopefully we'll see reviews soon.
 

Sapient6

S
CMDR Ellegon said:
Side note: I bought an old, used Saitek Cyborg Evo stick locally ($20), to be able to play when the HOTAS is under RMA again (takes more than a month for Saitek to complete the RMA). This stick dates back to the time before Saitek was bought out by the mad kitties - and oh boy, what a difference. While the Evo is old and does not have the same level of functionality for ED as the X-52, it is much more precise and feels higher quality all around - and that for a much cheaper device.
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No real surprise there, Mad Katz has always been about flashy design and horrible internal design. They are the Midas of poo.
 

[VR] Mad Mike

[VR] Mad Mike
its a shame I LOVE my X55....

for the money, to be honest I would still consider the X56 when my X55 eventually - inevitably - packs up.

Now bear in mind, they have a 2 year warranty. I have my 1st one for 18 months and put in around 650 hrs in ED in it. Lets assume my replacement lasts as long, then that will be 3 years. in all honesty, that is still rubbish, but I paid £150 for it... I can live with that for that price.

indeed I have seen the X55 as low as £120........ if in (hopefully) 12 - 18months time my X55 starts to pack up and I cant get it fixed, I would consider an X56 if I can pick up for a similar price.

I do not like supporting the selling of inferior tat.... however imo there is no other stick out there as well suited for ED, for both number of buttons AND having a twist yaw than the X55/X56 so its kind of Hobson's choice really.

on the bright side, its only the throttle with the issue so i can have an optional superb twinstick set up with the X55 on 1 side, and the X56 on the other.


Faybs said:
My X-55 is starting to flake out after 18 months, so I'm looking for a good replacement.
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dude... 2 year manufacture warranty... get them to replace it with a new one!!! (this is in Europe, but still worth checking on even if you are elsewhere)

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CMDR Ellegon said:
I can't believe they are making the same mistakes again. Wiring on the throttle was something that also broke on my X-52, along with the throttle indent thingy. Replaced under warranty twice so far, in about 11 months of actual game play (I had to take some breaks for various reasons, mostly RL). Not sure what I will do once the warranty expires and it breaks again.
Click to expand...

indeed.. i cant believe they have not come up with a better throttle wiring solution for the X56.......
 
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Foraxis

F
I have only just started with Elite in the last few weeks, but decided to get the X56. It is the first HOTAS I have ever owned, so nothing to compare it to.

Mine arrived today from Amazon (UK) and I am just in the process of setting all the mappings - it is going to be a long job!

My HTC Vive is due next week, so i should have the full Elite experience - cant' wait!!

I remember playing Elite in the 80's, but have been away from gaming for a long time and am just getting back into it now I have more time.

Looking forward to being part of the community on here.
 

stephen_usher

stephen_usher
I received by X56 yesterday and played last night. Here are my thoughts so far:


  • The rudder not returning to centre fault quoted in the video doesn't exist on my device.
  • The throttle damping is *really* stiff and gave my left arm a good work out last night.
  • The unit is designed for people with giant hands. I can hardly get my hand around the throttle unit and the palm rest needs about an extra 1cm to 2cm of padding to bring it up to a reasonable height for me, even with the extra shim.
  • The drivers and software *are* available on the Saitek web site and have been since 24th May according to their timestamp, so the reviewer didn't look hard.
  • The drivers didn't install flawlessly. I had to go into the Device Manager and ask Windows to search for the driver, which it picked up straight away.
  • Contrary to the review the software does allow re-calibration and to give calibration curves to all axes except for the thumb sticks.
  • Both thumb sticks are also buttons.
  • The thumb stick axes are *very* sensitive, making thrusting slowly tricky.
  • I've had a couple of glitches on the throttle unit where it would spontaneously press a button when doing something else. This is not as if wires are shorting as the second time the throttle wasn't being moved (just thumb stick) and one of the toggle switch actions actuated. I'm guessing that this is a driver fault.
  • I prefer the hat/button layout on the top of the X52 Pro to the X56.
  • It's nice to have both a pinky button and secondary fire on the little finger location on the stick.
  • Pressing the stick thumb-stick as a button is tricky as it's quite stiff.
  • The grip on the stick and throttle are a little too slippery, meaning that you have to grib more tightly and use the space where the stick thumb-stick is for your thumb so as to operate the rudder effectively.
  • The light colour is a gimick and the blue colour of the plastic defeats the object of the multiple colours.
  • Once the "Blue" springs were installed I found the joystick very accurate, though I did have to add very small dead zones in the centre even after calibration to stop drift.
  • The tumb stick centring isn't accurate all the time, so dead zones needed to be added.

I know it seems as if I've given a lot of negative items there but over all it's a good stick. I merely need to get used to it and hopefully the very rare glitches with phantom button presses will be fixed with driver updates.
 

Comrade Napoleon

Comrade Napoleon
Hehe, x-52 here, 3000 hours later. Dent removed, did not like it anyway. Broke 1 wire inside as I modded throttle with 3 extra buttons, apart from that : pure joy.
And still going

Cheers Cmdr's
 
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