Hardware & Technical Saitek X 52 vs X56 HOTAS for Elite: Dangerous?
- Thread starter Branithar
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I decided to get the X56 to replace my old broken HOTAS, and after I bought it and brought it home, I opened the box, and it was a dusty scratched up X55. So somebody stuck an old controller in the box and and stole a new controller. I have to go back to the store tomorrow. It was a little cheaper because it was a return, but it's not even the same product.
I own a X52 Pro and the quality is very bad. How about the Thrustmaster FCS instead?
http://mobile.thrustmaster.com/en_U...pack-complete-solution-flight-simulation-fans
http://mobile.thrustmaster.com/en_U...pack-complete-solution-flight-simulation-fans
SlackR
Banned
I actually have both. I use the x52 for my uk setup and the x56 when I am working in Saudi. Before getting the x56 I worked my way through three x55's, all of which broke sooner than they should have, despite lots of use.
The x52 does the job and (barring one button) has lasted a good while, though it gets much less useage.
The x56 is basically an x55 with colour choices. I have only bought one, but it hasn't let me down yet and is better in every way than the x52 - which you would expect from a hotas that's three iterations older. It has more buttons, switches, knobs etc and handles better. It costs more but is definitely my favourite in the x series so far.
Disclaimer... this is my opinion only and I cannot vouch for the quality of all sticks. My advice if you do buy one would be to purchase through amazon who will replace any problematic sticks with shiny new ones with no questions asked.
The x52 does the job and (barring one button) has lasted a good while, though it gets much less useage.
The x56 is basically an x55 with colour choices. I have only bought one, but it hasn't let me down yet and is better in every way than the x52 - which you would expect from a hotas that's three iterations older. It has more buttons, switches, knobs etc and handles better. It costs more but is definitely my favourite in the x series so far.
Disclaimer... this is my opinion only and I cannot vouch for the quality of all sticks. My advice if you do buy one would be to purchase through amazon who will replace any problematic sticks with shiny new ones with no questions asked.
Logitech bought Saitek late last year, from Madcatz (now bust), so I imagine Logitech will give the Madcatz-era sticks a makeover in appearance and quality - which would be useful... I had an X52, and it lasted about 12 months of Elite action.
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I use an X-52 stick along side an X-56 throttle. (Only because over time I've had reason to buy both). The x-56 stick is too big for many hands inc. mine. The x52 stick has excellent ergonomics.
The x56 throttle is bloody lovely to use but it has a major flaw in that it's wiring loom is prone to wear and wire WILL snap eventually. (My first one did, and my current one is due to go that way soon.)
If I had to choose between x52 v x56 as a complete set, then it would have to be x52 for reliability and ergonomics.
The x56 throttle is bloody lovely to use but it has a major flaw in that it's wiring loom is prone to wear and wire WILL snap eventually. (My first one did, and my current one is due to go that way soon.)
If I had to choose between x52 v x56 as a complete set, then it would have to be x52 for reliability and ergonomics.
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SlackR
Banned
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Can it be modded to alleviate that problem? (Yes, I still have my old ThinkGeek "I Void Warranties" t-shirt!) - when the time comes to replace my venerable X52 the X56 will probably be a contender and if a mod would make it last longer it would probably get it within an hour of being unboxed.
I've tried pretty much all of them.
Started off with an X52 pro, used it for about 5 months then the little plastic stopper inside the throttle at gives extra resistance at 75% broke. It was a quick job to remove it and it's been right as rain for over 2 years and 24+weeks of gameplay
Tried an X55, while the joystick was nicer I didn't like the fact it didn't have button on the stick itself and that the throttle just wasn't as intuitive to use. Not having buttons on the stick means that you have to stop manuvering while you activate them. Not a real deal breaker but it added up to a hotas that for me just didn't feel right
Then tried a warthog+pedals. The stick felt precise but like I was flying in 5g all the time. Throttle was nice, but most of the buttons are of the toggle variety meaning you need to flip them twice when using them. I brought the pedals to assist with the lack of yaw, but tbh I found them not as precise as the twist yaw, especially when driving the SRV. Also the warthog was a pain to use in VR.
The warthog is a great flight sim stick, but just didn't give me the right impression I was flying a fly by wire space craft. I always expected the space craft to need a light touch seeing as there is no mechanical linkage between joystick and thrusters. The warthog felt like I was having to move ailerons and control surfaces in an atmosphere, which isn't what I was expecting or looking for.
There was also the price I can buy X2 X52 pro for the price of an X56 and X3 X52 pro for the price of a warthog and in my view the difference between X52 and the rest didn't justify the extra. If warthog had twist yaw however....
so, in short they both went back as I still prefer my X52 and while it's true I have gotten used to it. I did give both the X55 and Warthog a good go and I really wanted to like them.. But for me.. I just didn't.
Started off with an X52 pro, used it for about 5 months then the little plastic stopper inside the throttle at gives extra resistance at 75% broke. It was a quick job to remove it and it's been right as rain for over 2 years and 24+weeks of gameplay
Tried an X55, while the joystick was nicer I didn't like the fact it didn't have button on the stick itself and that the throttle just wasn't as intuitive to use. Not having buttons on the stick means that you have to stop manuvering while you activate them. Not a real deal breaker but it added up to a hotas that for me just didn't feel right
Then tried a warthog+pedals. The stick felt precise but like I was flying in 5g all the time. Throttle was nice, but most of the buttons are of the toggle variety meaning you need to flip them twice when using them. I brought the pedals to assist with the lack of yaw, but tbh I found them not as precise as the twist yaw, especially when driving the SRV. Also the warthog was a pain to use in VR.
The warthog is a great flight sim stick, but just didn't give me the right impression I was flying a fly by wire space craft. I always expected the space craft to need a light touch seeing as there is no mechanical linkage between joystick and thrusters. The warthog felt like I was having to move ailerons and control surfaces in an atmosphere, which isn't what I was expecting or looking for.
There was also the price I can buy X2 X52 pro for the price of an X56 and X3 X52 pro for the price of a warthog and in my view the difference between X52 and the rest didn't justify the extra. If warthog had twist yaw however....
so, in short they both went back as I still prefer my X52 and while it's true I have gotten used to it. I did give both the X55 and Warthog a good go and I really wanted to like them.. But for me.. I just didn't.
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Just to add confusion where there was just uncertainty...
Consider twin sticks?
If you have any pedals (flight or racing) defo, DEFO! consider twin sticks.
I have two Thrustmaster T16000M FCSs. I have the right stick set for the three rotational axis, the left for the left/right and up/down. (I have twist for left/right too; just because...). Pedals for forward and backwards.
I fly FA off and I have never felt more connected to my ship! So much control! I am really enjoying it.
[video=youtube;tXPEpdEIUwg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXPEpdEIUwg[/video]
Honestly, you could gve me a full Warthog HOTAS setup and I would still use my twin T16000M FCSs in this game.
All the best!
ps
Without pedals you can use the twist on the left stick for forward and backwards, like the throttle on a motor bike.
Consider twin sticks?
If you have any pedals (flight or racing) defo, DEFO! consider twin sticks.
I have two Thrustmaster T16000M FCSs. I have the right stick set for the three rotational axis, the left for the left/right and up/down. (I have twist for left/right too; just because...). Pedals for forward and backwards.
I fly FA off and I have never felt more connected to my ship! So much control! I am really enjoying it.
[video=youtube;tXPEpdEIUwg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXPEpdEIUwg[/video]
Honestly, you could gve me a full Warthog HOTAS setup and I would still use my twin T16000M FCSs in this game.
All the best!
ps
Without pedals you can use the twist on the left stick for forward and backwards, like the throttle on a motor bike.
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I use a x52 pro and I really love it. Only the config tools... As soon as you found out that you have to deactivate the clutch button (which is done in another config window than the configurator tool) in order to map it, and the information overflow of the mapping tool settled in and you only see what's relevant, it's awesome.
Thanks to the pinky button multiplier I can use every button twice and the only thing that's keyboard only for me is silent running.
So after I chewed through the config I really came to love the hotas.
Thanks to the pinky button multiplier I can use every button twice and the only thing that's keyboard only for me is silent running.
So after I chewed through the config I really came to love the hotas.
I suppose one could try to enclose the wires exiting the throttle handles into the throttle base with a sleeve of some type, but I think the weak points would just move elsewhere.
Go for the warthog if you can afford it or the elite dangerous thrustmaster stick. If you really wamt saitek go for x52 but the quality is terrible. I am lucky that mine works now for months without major malfunctions. Small stuff I can repair by myself.
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I wouldn't buy anything with the word Saitek on it until Logitech really digs their claws in. Mad Catz ruined the name for a long time.
I recommend CH products over everything. I use a full CH setup (pro throttle, fighterstick, and pro pedals), and I can say their build quality is unrivaled. They also have some of the best tech/customer support I've ever seen from any company.
I recommend CH products over everything. I use a full CH setup (pro throttle, fighterstick, and pro pedals), and I can say their build quality is unrivaled. They also have some of the best tech/customer support I've ever seen from any company.
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[yesnod] Here's the skinny:
A company called Mad Catz bought the Saitek brand a few years ago and gutted quality control in favor of quick profit before selling the Saitek brand to Logitech and then going bankrupt. While Mad Catz owned Saitek, the company put out inferior, or at least variable-in-quality merchandise and this included both the X-52, X-55 and X-56 HOTAS. Since, when Mad Catz bought Saitek the X-52 had already been in production for a few years there were and are a few "Pre-Mad Catz" X-52 HOTAS kits out there. They are unicorns and the ones built after Mad Catz took over Saitek have spotty quality control. A great HOTAS, I use an X-56 myself but it has been replaced as defective twice so far.
Logitech is working to clean up the mess left to them by Mad Catz. Logitech replaced my HOTAS even though it was technically out of (U.S.) warranty and extended my U.S. warranty from 90-days to two (2) years. I still recommend it, even over the X-52 because of the extra mini-joysticks and X-axis (twist) control. o7
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