Hardware & Technical Saitek X56 Rhino and product quality

B1rdy

B1rdy
Hi folks,

I really need to let of steam. Since my X52 Pro broke for the second time in about 8 months, I decided to replace it against the X56 Rhino. What a huge disappointment! You obviously need to be Hulk to reach the second fire button on the stick, which means you either have to use your pinkie for shooting - very - or use the coolie hats for shooting - beyond question. If you go to full throttle, the base lifts off, even at lowest resistance. If you move the throttle a few times back and forth the resistance gets way lighter, reaching levels of X52 Pro throttle resistance. Leaving it for a while, the throttle will become much stronger again, without any change on the resistance wheel. Let's remember this thing is being sold for 260€! And now look and hear this: [video=youtube_share;H4K7dLXnD40]https://youtu.be/H4K7dLXnD40[/video]
It's beyond belief![mad]

So what other experiences do I have with Saitek:

-my brother has a x52 (non pro) for about nine years. It began to have some issues with z-axis and it makes some noise, which is acceptable for its age.
-a mate had a x52 (non pro) which made out-of-the-box about the same noise as the X56. He replaced it with a Warthog.
-my X52's throttle broke three weeks after buying it. Had it replaced by Amazon, because Saitek support was slow (it took a week of e-mailing back and forth, before they told me to send it to them on my own expenses priomising me it would take about four weeks). Six months later the throttle was broken again.

Any thoughts on Saitek?
 

Heavenly-Hammer

Heavenly-Hammer
Simple thought: You're not alone and your case is not unusual. Saitek products suck. Poor quality, poor quality assurance, poor longevity, poor construction.

Been known for a long time now.

The better move is to get something other than a Saitek product. CH Products are what I have and they're rock solid. Thrustmaster products seem to be generally low-issue products as well. Every other choice, it seems, will outlast a Saitek.
 

Raptoyd

Raptoyd
I have an X-52 pro for 2 1/2 years without issue (185.00 USD) except for about a month ago the locking mechanism for the throttle broke so it would make a horrible clicking sound. Simply went into the bottom of the unit and removed that piece. Other than that it has been a good unit for the price. If you can depending on where you are putting it drill through the 2 open holes and bolt it onto the desk, table, etc. Suction cups are never great for something like this.
 

Windscreen Smudge

W
Thrustmaster or CH Pro.

Anything CH Pro won't disappoint, they'll even sell you parts to repair it after your warranty expires.

Some people have been using their CH Pro sticks for over 2 decades.

Thrustmaster Warthog is a beauty. The only thing you need to do to get it to last a decade or more is clean out the cheap grease they put in it and add some good sticky stuff that won't dry out.

Saitek has been at the bottom of the heap since 2008/9. They're the bargain bin company charging a premium price.

Edit: I also really wish FDev hadn't decided to do so many brand deals with Saitek. It may be the most popular and easily afforded HOTAS, but they've got a well earned reputation for shoddy hardware and when people's stuff starts to fall apart that reflects just as badly on the game developer that officially endorsed them to the point of modeling the flight control in-game after Saitek's products.
 
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William J Smith

William J Smith
Dunno whats happened to product quality there

I run a saitek cyborg evo 1 and apart from having to replace the trigger earlier this year (see my thread https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/298081-Joystick-engineer-found?p=4637983#post4637983 ), its been pretty much rock solid and its about 7 yrs old now, although buttons 5+6 are being a bit 'sticky' now, but since they only for cycling through local ships, its not much of a bother.

Bill

<<currently drunk and in charge of a spacecraft.... [woah]
 

Heater

Heater
3 of them in a 1 year time frame, the quality is crap.....
After a long process money was refunded and went with the warthog!
 
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bitstorm

bitstorm
Raptoid said:
This looks pretty sweet if they ever actually build it. This is the Saitek - Logitech mergers first run at a new HOTAS.

http://www.saitek.com/uk/blog/index.php/could-be-the-best-new-hotas-concept-in-a-decade-polygon
Click to expand...

Really?

That was shown ages ago as a Star Citizen joystick, look at the article date.

It's essentially an X52 (pro?) with some changes, arguably for the worse, so a mini trackball where the joystick hat would be, less throttle buttons...

On Warthog and CH Pro, yeah they may be more reliable but no yaw which is a dea breaker I think for most people.

If you want yaw on the joystick then the unfortunate reality is the X52Pro is probably your best bet. :(
 
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[VR] Enexemander

[VR] Enexemander
bitstorm said:
Really?

That was shown ages ago as a Star Citizen joystick, look at the article date.

It's essentially an X52 (pro?) with some changes, arguably for the worse, so a mini trackball where the joystick hat would be, less throttle buttons...

On Warthog and CH Pro, yeah they may be more reliable but no yaw which is a dea breaker I think for most people.

If you want yaw on the joystick then the unfortunate reality is the X52Pro is probably your best bet. :(
Click to expand...

Thrustmaster T16000m is a fantastic stick with a twist yaw. It uses the same sensor tech as the Warthog. They also have a new throttle to go with it. I just got the throttle for Christmas and I love it. (I've been using the stand alone stick for considerably longer).
 

Windscreen Smudge

W
bitstorm said:
Really?

That was shown ages ago as a Star Citizen joystick, look at the article date.

It's essentially an X52 (pro?) with some changes, arguably for the worse, so a mini trackball where the joystick hat would be, less throttle buttons...

On Warthog and CH Pro, yeah they may be more reliable but no yaw which is a dea breaker I think for most people.

If you want yaw on the joystick then the unfortunate reality is the X52Pro is probably your best bet. :(
Click to expand...

Pedals.

Your right hand has enough to do without worrying about yaw. 26 functions plus steering on a Warthog stick, why would I want to pile yaw on top of that?
 

bitstorm

bitstorm
Enexemander said:
Thrustmaster T16000m is a fantastic stick with a twist yaw. It uses the same sensor tech as the Warthog. They also have a new throttle to go with it. I just got the throttle for Christmas and I love it. (I've been using the stand alone stick for considerably longer).
Click to expand...

Needs more joystick buttons.

- - - Updated - - -

Windscreen Smudge said:
Pedals.

Your right hand has enough to do without worrying about yaw. 26 functions plus steering on a Warthog stick, why would I want to pile yaw on top of that?
Click to expand...

Sure, I know pedals exist. I'd rather it be on the stick though.
 

Some1else

Some1else
It is very obvious that Mad Catz really did a lot of damage to the Saitek brand. Before MC, Saitek was known for their quality. And anyone with the old ones will tell you this. However, I think the move to logitech will help restore their previous quality.

My experience with Saitek.
1 X-52pro still working fine, but lacks in options.
1 X-55 not working, and voided warranty after fixing the first failure.
2 X-56 first one I broke the Yaw spring (have sense put a dead zone at the top of the yaw). Sent in on warranty right when Logitech bought them. Logitech sent me a brand new one, when they only had to replace the joystick handle. The second one is working fine.

Here is my take on the X-56. It has the most options for setting your binds by far. You can easily by pass the use of a keyboard with this HOTAS. Due to the fragility of it, I do not recommend it for beginner pilots, or anyone that has a propensity to yank and slam controllers around. However, if you can control yourself in high stress game play, it is a very functional HOTAS. And now with Logitech backing it, you will get very good customer support.

@ OP. You really need to attach the HOTAS to the surface it sits on. I use Velcro tape. Also if you put the joystick on an angled block leaning back towards you, it becomes much easier to reach the secondary fire button.

S1E
 

lemny

lemny
I have my X55 for a while and have no issues.
I putted some lube on den "slide disc" which breaks the initial resistant at the beginning of movement. Maybe this could help you with the noise.
 

B1rdy

B1rdy
GTwannabe said:
Logitech bought Saitek so maybe quality will improve. Or they just kill it off.
Click to expand...
Quality of Logitech products went down the drain the last couple of years, while the ramped up the prices. So I don't see any improvment on QA, maybe on support though.

bitstorm said:
On Warthog and CH Pro, yeah they may be more reliable but no yaw which is a dea breaker I think for most people.

If you want yaw on the joystick then the unfortunate reality is the X52Pro is probably your best bet. :(
Click to expand...
CH Pro looks like the 80s are back.;) I see, it has Windows 98 support.[big grin] It seems overpriced, doesn't it?
Warthog is pretty sweet, I would probably buy it, if it had a yaw-axis. I think pedals are overkill for ED, as its too arcady. At the moment I am tending to X52 or...
Enexemander said:
Thrustmaster T16000m is a fantastic stick with a twist yaw. It uses the same sensor tech as the Warthog. They also have a new throttle to go with it. I just got the throttle for Christmas and I love it. (I've been using the stand alone stick for considerably longer).
Click to expand...
I came across it. If it had a better placement of the buttons, I would buy it immediately. Button placement on the base of the stick is not good, especially in VR.

How hard can it be to deliver a solid joystick?

Edit:
lemny said:
I have my X55 for a while and have no issues.
I putted some lube on den "slide disc" which breaks the initial resistant at the beginning of movement. Maybe this could help you with the noise.
Click to expand...
The noise doesn't come from the spring disc on my X56, it's from the inside.
 
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Whiterose

Whiterose
My Saitek X52 Pro is fine. It will creek due to crap getting in the throttle base. Just clean it and lightly oil it. Stay calm, the worst that can happen is you die. Be nice to your stick and your stick will be nice to you. If you thrash a stick around, then get a warthog, if you can lift it....
 

[VR] Enexemander

[VR] Enexemander
T16000 buttons on the base- better than nothing imo, but I use those for non essentials like cargo scooping, retracting hardpoints, and general jumping options. I have so many button options on the new thrustmaster throttle that I don't use them all (yet). I don't have to use the keyboard at all except for communications.

It's a great twist stick for the price. It's the only option I know of at the moment that isn't Saitek. QA issues have disqualified that company from my consideration at present. I will look at the new designed and manufactured after the Logitech buyout, though. It seems most of my gaming kit is slowly being overtaken by Logitech and I don't have any complaints.
 

Iskariot

Iskariot
Heavenly-Hammer said:
Simple thought: You're not alone and your case is not unusual. Saitek products suck. Poor quality, poor quality assurance, poor longevity, poor construction.

Been known for a long time now.

The better move is to get something other than a Saitek product. CH Products are what I have and they're rock solid. Thrustmaster products seem to be generally low-issue products as well. Every other choice, it seems, will outlast a Saitek.
Click to expand...

I used CH sticks in the past. Great tools. Great quality.

But to be honest CH has been frozen in time as far as HOTAS are concerned.
Especially the throttle lacks convenient options for a game like Elite.

I'd buy Thrustmaster, but I need Z axis (yaw) on the stick.
If Thrustmaster added this to it's Warthog stick I'd buy it without thinking twice.

Saitek HOTAS quality is poor, but the general design is very good. They are superb as far as usability is concerned. They have all the options I need, or wish for.
I just don't get these Saitek guys. I would gladly pay 100 bucks more for a high quality version of their products. It is so frustrating to have a HOTAS I really enjoy using and then having it fall apart after a year.
 
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