Dipping in on this discussion...I've been eyeing the CH Throttle stuff for a while now, and have no problem spending $400, but I just can't commit. I hear various complaints about the sensor quality and the joystick x-y springs mechanism being hard to use. Any input?
A few years ago the CH stuff would have been the obvious choice and my default recommendation, but there is actually some competition now, so it's less clear cut.
Overall quality is very good, but the design and electronics are ancient and, if one looks at it from a pure hardware perspective, I definitely understand the argument that the CH stuff is overpriced. It probably costs 40 dollars to make the entire fighterstick + throttle + pedals kit and they sell for almost 400.
My biggest complaint with CH is that the QA is often quite hit or miss. I've had four throttles, two fighter sticks, and two sets of pedals and no one sample is like another. Default firmware calibrations, especially of the throttle (both slider and ministick) are all over the place. The ministick hardware is also not consistent quality wise, though all of my samples have been usable.
The opening for the ministick is too narrow to allow for the full range of motion, but this is a problem with almost every part with similar functionality. I bored out the hole it passes through on my second set and it vastly improved the range of motion and accuracy.
A minor problem is how light the Fighterstick is; without something to hold it down, it's very easy to move out of position.
On the plus side, the buttons/hats are of excellent quality as are the pots used. The plastic casing is also very durable. Parts are relatively easy to repair or replace if something goes wrong, and most of what is likely to go wrong are very simple fixes. After 5000+ hours of use my first set still works nearly like new after simply being dusted out and having some loose wire connections tightened up. Out of my eight products, only one of my buttons has ever had an issue and this was fixed by cleaning it. None of the pots has ever failed or become jittery due to an issue with the pots themselves...and if they do, they can be removed easily and cost five dollars to replace.
CH's software is solid. It's also ancient, but in a good way. It works well, it's powerful, and it's very lightweight.
The precision of the analog pots is only 8-bit, but when properly setup, actual precision exceeds that of many sticks with 12 to 16-bit hall sensors.
I don't have any issues with the clear distinction between the x and y axes. It felt a little awkward at first, but if anything, it helps accuracy and makes for much easier isolation of inputs.
In the end, I don't think there is anything at or below the CH price range I'd rather have for
Elite: Dangerous, but I'd caution those who aren't mechanically inclined that these controls often need some tinkering to get the best performance out of. Closest competitor is the X56, but even the Logitech revisions have their share of issues. I've used the Warthog, but I don't really consider it a good alternative to CH for Elite...the stick itself is too heavy and requires too much force for prolonged combat sessions in a space sim and the lack of good analog axes for the vertical and lateral thrusters automatically makes it inferior in this regard---yes, it can also be modded to mitigate these issues, but at that point I'd rather have something even better. Stuff like the X52 isn't even in the running for me and the T-Flight HOTAS X is missing critical axes for complete control.
I'd almost certainly find a set of VKB or Vipril sticks/bases paired with MFC Crosswind pedals, or a similarly high-end setup to be superior, but that's another huge jump in price over the CH stuff.
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