Hardware & Technical Avoid the X-56 like the plague.

From what I've read the saitek issue is not that every unit sold is bad, but rather that their build quality and QC are not very good and so every time you get a hotas from them you are taking a big gamble.

Wait a minute...Are you saying that the results on a modern manufactured product can be random??? :p
 
I have used the X52 and X52 Pro. Both "work", but require tweaks to make the basic design usable.

X52 has a really flimsy stick which requires a tensioner. X52 Pro has a huge deadzone which requires the addition of magnets.

Best joystick I ever had was Microsoft's Sidewinder 2... still miss it till this day

I have very fond memories of a Gravis Firebird, but I don't know if that's just nostalgia. I seem to recall thinking it was the greatest thing ever back in the day, though...
 
Nah I haven't actually. Good deal. I'll be getting that.

Been asking about this for a few years now so definitely good development.

Edit: I like the price. Cheap too compare to x55.

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14th of June mate. It is a recent development.
Indeed very recent... And quite welcome news for just the reasons you posted. I may even give that throttle a shot once it comes out (already have a T16000m though I don't like the buttons so much... Not enough of them and bad in a number of ways from quality to placement).
 
I'm not a huge fan of buttons on the base of the joystick like in the T16000m, they're hard to find when using a VR HMD. The switches on the throttle of the X-55 are much more tactile and easier to use.
 
I'm not a huge fan of buttons on the base of the joystick like in the T16000m, they're hard to find when using a VR HMD. The switches on the throttle of the X-55 are much more tactile and easier to use.

Yeah, honestly, me neither. For a cheap hotas to compete with the X-52 range I'd almost imagine one would do well to get that thrustmaster throttle when it comes out and to pair it with a Logitech E3D (even if it needs to be recalibrate do from time to time and lacks the accuracy of the T16000m, it is way better on the hand with better placed, quality and quantity buttons).
 
I'm not a huge fan of buttons on the base of the joystick like in the T16000m, they're hard to find when using a VR HMD. The switches on the throttle of the X-55 are much more tactile and easier to use.

That's actually the same reasoning that's making consider buying the X56 to replace the X52... all those six (3x2way toggles) buttons on the base of the stick just mean you have to take your hands off the stick to use them. I've actually stopped using them altogether and instead have a touch screen with a program that emulates buttons next to my throttle, but the X56 has all six buttons to the throttle side of things.
 
I'm not a huge fan of buttons on the base of the joystick like in the T16000m, they're hard to find when using a VR HMD. The switches on the throttle of the X-55 are much more tactile and easier to use.

For VR use the CH Fighterstick and throttle combination are possibly even better. All buttons are on the stick and throttle and their are plenty of them to map all functions.
 
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Have a X52 and had to replaxe it once. I hope everyday it doesn't break. Would recommend thrustmaster for the next time and a water cooling system for my comouter. Even the dust is dusty jesus.
 
Been pretty happy with my X52 Pro, a solid stick that does all i need and probably plenty more. Took forever to track one down in Australia though, only the cheaper non-pro version and the X-55 in most stores. X-55 always looked too bulky for me and the x52-non-pro just seemed to be cheap rubbish.

Don't mind the look of the warthog and by all accounts it seems to be a pretty fantastic HOTAS, but i just can't do the foot pedals... so no twist for Yaw meant i just wasn't even going to consider a Warthog.

Hope you manage to get some life out of the X56 Will, Piloting in ED without a HOTAS is like driving a three wheeled car... You can do it, but nothing feels right....
 
I guess I am a stupid person , but I got the X52 because it looks nicer than the warthog (that to me is ulgy) and I have had no issues so far.
But then again , based on the internet I have no taste sins I like ED

X52 was actually designed by saitek before madcatz took over. Most accounts suggest it is built far better than the x55 and now the x56 it would seem. I am on my 2nd x55 and when it works I love it....but the wiring loom is a ticking bomb and it's failure is a matter of when not if.

But it has a 2 year warranty so if you can pick up for 125 / 150 quid it may still be worth considering. When my x55 fails I will buy the new elite flavoured thrustmaster hotas out in a month or so
 
I thought people were talking smack but the horror stories are true.
Saitek is an avoid at all costs company now.
Got a brand new x-56 today and it is bad out of the box.
The power to the throttle flickers on and off.
This is a brand new product line are you fething kidding me.

Do yourselfs a favor save an extra couple of paychecks and get a warthog.[/QUO]

Hey Dude, If you are talking about the throttle buttons flashing you will find you don't have the settings right, I am at work so don't have access to my settings but in the MFD control panel there is a setting like clutch control on/off play with those settings.

I have had it once on a reinstall where the driver didn't take right and I had to purge it and reinstall. However I think you will find it is a setting

just found this for you

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...iguring-the-X52-X52-Pro-for-full-button-usage

it looks like there is an option for not using the profiling software as well - have a read - hope it solves your problem

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antoher good guide

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/26644-Getting-use-out-of-those-X52-extras-(pic-hvy)
 
Like I said, there may be QA issues, but since you have no way of knowing how many good ones are sold (since everyone whinges about the bad ones but noone does when it works as expected) you have no way of knowing if this is a huge problem or if they're just selling huge numbers of them and the normal percentage of flaws are showing up (remember they're not hand crafted by rolls royce, they're churned out of a factory in Guangzhou, there'll be the normal percentage of lemons). The sheer fact that there's many people using these sticks who AREN'T complaining means it's not enough reason to condemn the entire company. They are honouring warranty, arent they? And many users have reported they only have problems if plugged into an unpowered hub, right? It' s not just a simple, black and white "saitek sucks" issue. You got a bad one, take it back. If they get too many returns they'll be asking questios of their QA themselves, since every return costs them money and reputation.

Dont be ridiculous. Using your logic we can never tell low quality crap from a high quality product because we dont know the production numbers.
Many people have owned the old saitek (before they were bought by mad catz) and the new saitek sticks. The older ones are definitely higher quality. Many people have taken apart their sticks. You can see the parts where saitek / mad catz cut corners. All you really have to do is go to amazon or newegg and take a look at the reviews for the saitek sticks vs the competition. The saitek sticks dont get a lot of 5 star reviews. I am pretty happy with my Thrustmaster HOTAS X and I am looking forward to the new Thrustmaster HOTAS that is coming out in september.
 
don't think looking at amazon reviews is scientifically valid - you have to remove "stupid" from the equation - the drivers are not good and the stick requires some "Set up" so a lot of the failed units are down to a lack of googling.
 
As a Saitek x55 owner I can tell you I won't buy another Saitek Hotas again. I really like the stick but the build quality is horrendous. One hat switch is failing, the stick drifts low and left, one button on the throttle doesn't work when using full throttle, and the first x55 I got didn't work at all straight out of the box.

How long have I owned it? 6 months. I still have a thrustmaster x, and after 5/6 years it is in as good a condition as when I bought it.
 
Dont be ridiculous. Using your logic we can never tell low quality crap from a high quality product because we dont know the production numbers.
Many people have owned the old saitek (before they were bought by mad catz) and the new saitek sticks. The older ones are definitely higher quality. Many people have taken apart their sticks. You can see the parts where saitek / mad catz cut corners. All you really have to do is go to amazon or newegg and take a look at the reviews for the saitek sticks vs the competition. The saitek sticks dont get a lot of 5 star reviews. I am pretty happy with my Thrustmaster HOTAS X and I am looking forward to the new Thrustmaster HOTAS that is coming out in september.

That's not what I meant. If you look at a rating system like Amazon uses you can see percentage of high ranks vs low - you can actually compare the number of people who like it vs the number who don't. Same with reputations on ebay - sure the guy might have 250 negatives, but if he's got 750000 positives that's not such a big deal... but if you ONLY see the 250 negatives you might conclude that this guy is a dodgy seller. If you only look for criticisms however you will only FIND criticisms and there's no real way to judge how many people are HAPPY with the product.

To use your expression - if you want to "tell low quality crap from a high quality product" you must look at reviews for BOTH, and you are only looking at the negatives.

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don't think looking at amazon reviews is scientifically valid - you have to remove "stupid" from the equation - the drivers are not good and the stick requires some "Set up" so a lot of the failed units are down to a lack of googling.

Yeah, there's always the "user errors" too. Plenty of people will get online and complain about the "crap product" when the real problem is they haven't read the manual... or they're using an incompatible driver... or don't even know what a driver IS and thought it would "just work"... these come up as negative reviews too, and unfairly. Look at the number of people who've complained that their Saitek stick "is crap" when the real problem is that they had it plugged into an unpowered hub.
 
Was hoping the manufacturing issues had been resolved but clearly the problems are still here despite a brand new design. It's a shame as on paper it looks like a great piece of kit.

The new Thrustmasters FCS looking a distinct alternative when it is released as my 8 eight year old x52pro is starting to look pretty tired despite being fully functional still.
 
Was hoping the manufacturing issues had been resolved but clearly the problems are still here despite a brand new design. It's a shame as on paper it looks like a great piece of kit.

The new Thrustmasters FCS looking a distinct alternative when it is released as my 8 eight year old x52pro is starting to look pretty tired despite being fully functional still.
Sounds like you got one of the good ones. The Thrustmaster one is based off the T16000m which means the stick will be a serious downgrade for you in terms of buttons and ergonomics. The only good things about the T16000m are the accuracy and the fact it can be used left handed. The buttons are terrible on that thing.
 
I bought an X52 because my youngest has had an X52Pro for many years, which is still working. While my X52 has had nearly all the problems mentioned by others, after it was about 14 months old, which Madcatz said was beyond warranty period and failed totally last month. I will not buy another of their devices while Madcatz has the license.

I don't like the look of that new Thrustmaster Hotas, too many switches on the joystick base, and not enough tophats and where is the pinky switch.
 
I bought an X52 because my youngest has had an X52Pro for many years, which is still working. While my X52 has had nearly all the problems mentioned by others, after it was about 14 months old, which Madcatz said was beyond warranty period and failed totally last month. I will not buy another of their devices while Madcatz has the license.

I don't like the look of that new Thrustmaster Hotas, too many switches on the joystick base, and not enough tophats and where is the pinky switch.
No pinky switch, no button for the thumb either. There is a trigger, a pov and three buttons R/L and beneath the POV. They are awkwardly placed, few in number and badly made.
 
No pinky switch, no button for the thumb either. There is a trigger, a pov and three buttons R/L and beneath the POV. They are awkwardly placed, few in number and badly made.

I believe their excuse for no thumb switch is that it can be used by either hand. That in my family is not a valid excuse, my youngest mentioned above is left handed.

Which his friends say is cheating, because while his secondary hand is as good as theirs using joystick or mouse, his primary hand is better at using throttle buttons and keyboards.
 
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