Logitech X56 fan seeks stronger built equivalent

[Dragsham]

The X56 is a fab stick for elite.
But it has a few drawbacks.
1) the joystick is too long for those with smaller hands.
2) build quality is poor so doesn't last long. Especially the twist action.

But it also has a few plusses.
1) 5 hats across throttle n stick.
2) twist action rudder (more robust would be perfect)
3) literally dozens of buttons.

I'm on my 2nd one in 2 years (250 quid a pop) with the joystick failing due to poor build quality and materials used ie plastic instead of metal.
I've a 3rd one boxed ready to go hehe.

Stick only
I've looked at all the vkb, virpil, thrustmaster alternatives but none seem to have all l want namely, 2 hats, an analogue mini stick, & twist action etc.
So I ask those of my betters, which joystick (I'm happy with x56 throttle) would best replace my x56 stick with as many hats, a pinky, main trigger, analogue mini stick, twist action rudder etc, with a better build quality?

 

[NascentChemist]

While they are expensive, Virpil's build quality is great and improves every time they upgrade their products. And their warranty is insane. I've had a unit shipped back and repaired for free due to a worn button switch.

If you want a ton of buttons, I'd consider:

• Virpil Constellation Alpha Grip
• Virpil Warbrd base
• Medium desk mount, to lower the height of the stick relative to your hands

That'll get you an analog thumbstick, DURABLE twist action, a pinky button, two main triggers, and more than two hats.

I haven't tried their new Constellation Alpha Prime grip, that uses metal for the main body.

The YouTuber Noobifier covers their products and has great videos about them. Uh, just watch out for all the content for "that other game."

 

[Dragsham]

Thx for the advice

 

[Felix DiCestria]

I've been looking at the X56 myself as possible replacement for my Thrustmaster if my attempt to fix the yaw (twist grip) fails.
I'm curious what you use the mini stick for.
The X56 appears to have a better button layout than the Thrustmaster, having to reach across from the throttle to the stick is a pain when there's a lot happening.

 

[Dragsham]

There's 2 mini sticks.
One on the throttle housing. Another on the stick.
I use em as thrusters for up, down, left ,right, forwards and backwards. Main engines on forwards/backwards main slider.
In combat and landing having the mini sticks is fab

 

[Arthur McLeod]

I have made quite good experiences with a Titanwulf Flight Stick (Vulture) in combination with a good throttle and pedals.

It has a switch that allows to bind most of its keys to three different functions, a twist axis and is surprisingly accurate for a stick in this (really low) price range.

 

[robbyp]

The gap between good and very good is too big for me, money wise

My 16000t plus the ch pro throttle is my current level

 

[Sylow]

In terms of button layout and ministicks, i have not found anything yet on par to my X-56.

Even the vipril, depite having more buttons, in the end seems less ideal to me. And that's before considering that Vipril is sited in Belarus. If you want to support that country or not is up to everybody himself, but always keep in mind what they even write on their website: they collect orders and only when enough orders have accumulated, they start producing another batch of devices. Which means that waiting for six month for a vipril device is not uncommon.

On the X56 and hand size: i got used to it. And on quality, i can say that the new Logitech-Version has improved things a lot. In old times i replaced it on a yearly basis. (To my luck, Amazon always only checked when they last sent it to me, saw that it was like a year ago, and replaced it without further questions. ) This was even true for the first one with the Logitech on the label, it still had quality issues. But the replacement for that one now works fine since many years. No broken centering spring or cable breaks any more, like i had so many times before.

And it's not like i am not using the stick any more... it actually now shows a problem which none of my previous sticks ever had a chance to develop: the stick has a plastic centering cone, which slides up the metal shaft when moving the stick to the side and is pressed down into by the spring to center the stick again. The hole in the plastic by now is so worn out that i can wiggle the top of the stick for several millimeters in any direction without moving the centering cone. Currently a little deadzone in the profile still solves the problem well enough. When things get worse, i have an idea which might fix it, or might ruin the device... i will see.

But i can say that while i previously experienced all the issues this HOTAS was "famous" for, the newest Logitech version avoided all of these problems for several years now. A huge improvement for sure.

 

[Sylow]

There's 2 mini sticks.
One on the throttle housing. Another on the stick.
I use em as thrusters for up, down, left ,right, forwards and backwards. Main engines on forwards/backwards main slider.
In combat and landing having the mini sticks is fab

Yea. The ministick on the throttle is awesome for me, it gives me so much more options in combat and is vastly superior to binding lateral thrust to a four way switch.

The one on the joystick... not so much, at least for me. It just is too inaccurate. Maybe it's because of the angle it is built in, but i suspect it's because i move the joystick a lot, which means that my hand position also always adjusts and throws my thumb off. I can't say for sure what it is, but the joystick thumb button i mostly use as two-way switch, up and down, while the other positions are too troublesome to use properly in a busy situation.

 

[Rat Catcher]

And that's before considering that Vipril is sited in Belarus. If you want to support that country or not is up to everybody himself

And Lithuania, where they are assembled & shipped. But, naturally, some would prefer to support China, or even a Russian owned company operating out of China

but always keep in mind what they even write on their website: they collect orders and only when enough orders have accumulated, they start producing another batch of devices. Which means that waiting for six month for a vipril device is not uncommon.

If you were current in your observation, you might note that these days the wait is much shorter, with only a few weeks being typical (my last 2 orders took 10 days from order to delivery) - their workforce has grown substantially over the last couple of years, apparently. (and, of course, they are workers, not politicians...)

Both Logitech HOTAS I had failed within a year or so. I guess you have been fortunate, or I was unfortunate. I certainly wouldn't be singing their praise to anyone else. But would with Virpil gear.

 

[Sylow]

If you were current in your observation, you might note that these days the wait is much shorter, with only a few weeks being typical (my last 2 orders took 10 days from order to delivery) - their workforce has grown substantially over the last couple of years, apparently. (and, of course, they are workers, not politicians...)

Can be true. I have not been shopping for a new hotas for a while. I just know that when i more than once had to replace my X-56, i always found that their own website spoke of delivery times of several months.

Both Logitech HOTAS I had failed within a year or so. I guess you have been fortunate, or I was unfortunate. I certainly wouldn't be singing their praise to anyone else. But would with Virpil gear.

As said: i had many X-56 break down here, before Logitech took over and then, after still building one bad batch, went over it and improved things. Mostly simply by using slightly higher quality materials. (Merely not using the absolutely cheapest wires and springs on the market already helps a lot in avoiding most of the issues the old MadCats thing had. )

So for many years i fully agreed that the X-56 had massive quality issues. And i only stuck to it due to always getting a replacement for free from Amazon and Vipril having many months of delivery time at that time at least. I merely can say that according to my personal observation, when Logitech said they improved things, they actually did. I did not run into the notorious problems of the older X-56es any more. Merely by now, after many years of use, found another place of wear and tear, which my older ones never survived long enough to develop. But after so many years and so many hours of use, i can forgive that. At least according to my observation, the Logitech version is not the utter quality disaster, which MadCatz made the stick "famous" for.

 

[Dragsham]

Yeah the build is still inferior to the vkb virpil sticks. Even the warthog is better although it lacks twist.
But the x56 is a third of the price.
Literally you get what you pay for

 

[Rat Catcher]

when Logitech said they improved things, they actually did

The X-56 I had was the Logitech G product, not the Madcatz (the X-52 pro was the Saitek, which was probably Madcatz) and failed at 13 months.
I could have just been unlucky. But having both fail quickly doesn't inspire me to consider them good value. (it is a shame, really, as I did like the X-56 in use)

 

[Sylow]

The X-56 I had was the Logitech G product, not the Madcatz (the X-52 pro was the Saitek, which was probably Madcatz) and failed at 13 months.
I could have just been unlucky. But having both fail quickly doesn't inspire me to consider them good value. (it is a shame, really, as I did like the X-56 in use)

Also as said: the very first batch of the Logitech ones also were still a mess. I also had one of those, came broken out of the box. And yea, i also got to say: would i not always quickly have gotten a replacement for free, i would have given up on the X-56 many years ago. But between "another one for free in three workdays" and "an expensive replacement in several months", the quick replacement for free just always won out for me. (And it was more the waiting time than the price which stopped me. I have spare money for hobbies, but having to wait for several months... i avoid that if i can. ) I replaced them often enough that i finally made it to get to the generation where their actual quality improvements were inside.

 

[Fnord Velkor]

.... they collect orders and only when enough orders have accumulated, they start producing another batch of devices. Which means that waiting for six month for a vipril device is not uncommon.

...

That is uninformed claptrap. I didn't have to wait long for my Alpha and WarBRD and they have even reduced prices lately - add to that the fact that they handle the customs side now so no longer do we in the UK have to pay the "Brexit Tax" AKA the courier's administration fee.

 

[Dragsham]

Kk I've ordered the virpil constellation alpha. Warbird base. I don't need a mount hehe..I have a custom chair with plates bolted either side.
I'm in VR so rgb is pointless hehe

Can't wait to get this stick

 

[Rat Catcher]

Kk I've ordered the virpil constellation alpha. Warbird base. I don't need a mount hehe..I have a custom chair with plates bolted either side.
I'm in VR so rgb is pointless hehe

Can't wait to get this stick

Did you order the Cosmosim cams also? I have the soft centre ones, they have an even force requirement over the entire travel of the stick on any axis, the standard cams have increased effort to simulate air resistance the further toward full travel the stick is moved.

 

[Dragsham]

Ohh no l didn't .... damn.

 

[Fnord Velkor]

Ohh no l didn't .... damn.

Email them and arrange to have them added to your order, save you having to pay more delivery.

 

[Dragsham]

Done