Opinions on Joystick.

[AceHavok]

Hello, I just wanted some opinions on the Joystick the Saitek X-52. I'm currently using a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro. Do you all think the X-52 is worth buying?

Thanks,
Ace

[shiv]

Yes, good stick. There are some quality control issues it seems  - some players, including me - have had X52s with spiking and when it spontaneously loses calibration. But the one of the two I had that worked properly was great, really liked it.

[M0nkey_Man]

i still have my 3D pro lol. I like the x52 a lot more but its kinda hard to get used to since the x52's stick is so easy to move

oh and the lights are pretty nice too

[Dichotomy]

If you know you're in game for the long haul invest in CH gear.  That's just my opinion

[ink]

If you know you're in game for the long haul invest in CH gear.  That's just my opinion

ditto

would have saved me at least 600$ in the long run.

CH way to go.

but the Saitek peddles are nice

[guncrasher]

I owned the x52.  great stick.  get a self-powered usb hub, it is worth it.  I traded my x52 stick for a ch fighterstick, I am using my second ch in less than a year.  I wish I had my x52 back.  the x-52 is easier on the wrist than the ch as the ch you need big hands or mod it to make it confortable.  x52 has an adjustable hand rest and you can easily reach all the buttons.  ch you will need to use 2 fingers to hold the stick while you try to reach the upper buttons.

since I started playing 4 or 5 years ago.  i have owned the 3d extreme pro, 1 x-52 and 2 ch fightersticks.  the 3d and x52 for me worked better than the fighterstick ever will, and they cost a heck lot less than the ch set up.  300 for ch compared to 100 for x52 or 30 bucks for the 3d.

semp

[shiv]

I owned the x52.  great stick.  get a self-powered usb hub, it is worth it.  I traded my x52 stick for a ch fighterstick, I am using my second ch in less than a year.  I wish I had my x52 back.  the x-52 is easier on the wrist than the ch as the ch you need big hands or mod it to make it confortable.  x52 has an adjustable hand rest and you can easily reach all the buttons.  ch you will need to use 2 fingers to hold the stick while you try to reach the upper buttons.

since I started playing 4 or 5 years ago.  i have owned the 3d extreme pro, 1 x-52 and 2 ch fightersticks.  the 3d and x52 for me worked better than the fighterstick ever will, and they cost a heck lot less than the ch set up.  300 for ch compared to 100 for x52 or 30 bucks for the 3d.

semp

Semp maybe you should note that as far as CH sticks you're in the minority. Ch stick/throttle cost about $80 more than X52 for a reason. They last a lot longer and are more reliable.  But a good X52 can be just as good, but maybe not for as long.

[clerick]

My X52 is coming up on 5 years old.  Powered hub is a must!  Only thing i've had to do with it was some easy dissasembly of the stick and clean out the pot for the rudder.

[guncrasher]

Semp maybe you should note that as far as CH sticks you're in the minority. Ch stick/throttle cost about $80 more than X52 for a reason. They last a lot longer and are more reliable.  But a good X52 can be just as good, but maybe not for as long.

actually you also need pedals, which adds another 100 bucks.  and dont forget shipping also, where as the other sticks can be bought just about anywhere.  just giving a review based on experience.  another thing that really annoys lots of people are the damn wheels on the base, you tap them and your calibration is off.  and dont even mention that if you unplug the ch hardware then you must re-map everything, where as for the x-52 I never did.

as for reliability, i have actually owned 3 ch sticks. first one I returned it since it never worked, second one would lose calibration so much that i got frustrated and actually put it under a 20 ton steel slab.  I am on my 3rd and it's a hand me down from a friend.  so far it works good, except for when the damn wheels on the base move, i have them taped down, but even if you tap them down it will move slightly.

ch sticks are not as perfect as you guys made them seem to be.  me I just like to point out all the things that I believe are not normally included when recommending something, but are needed to know to make an informed decision.



semp

[ebfd11]

I have the Logitech g940 combo and I have had no problems with it since I git it and I am extremely happy with it.

[ink]

I owned the x52.  great stick.  get a self-powered usb hub, it is worth it.  I traded my x52 stick for a ch fighterstick, I am using my second ch in less than a year.  I wish I had my x52 back.  the x-52 is easier on the wrist than the ch as the ch you need big hands or mod it to make it confortable.  x52 has an adjustable hand rest and you can easily reach all the buttons.  ch you will need to use 2 fingers to hold the stick while you try to reach the upper buttons.

since I started playing 4 or 5 years ago.  i have owned the 3d extreme pro, 1 x-52 and 2 ch fightersticks.  the 3d and x52 for me worked better than the fighterstick ever will, and they cost a heck lot less than the ch set up.  300 for ch compared to 100 for x52 or 30 bucks for the 3d.

semp

look at this...and anyone else with a CH stick

http://snomhf.exofire.net/8-WayHat.html

very easily done stick is perfect after this.

[Blagard]

ch sticks are not as perfect as you guys made them seem to be.

I agree they are not perfect - but I would say they come as close to it as you will ever get for a retail product.

In the end, the OP has to balance up the pros and cons of everything that is important to him. Not least is the cost of the investment. Some people simply do not like the CH stick, throttle or pedals for a variety of reasons and of course there is nothing wrong in that either. Bottom line is I feel sure they offer great value for money if you are going to make use of such gear long term.

I don't know about other makes with regard to spares, but at least CH sell them for the rare occassion when something wears out or breaks.

[zack1234]

X52 was complete poo (nose bounce etc) until you do that magnet mod, it is now very nice now even

Magnet mod for hall effect is a ten minute job by the way

[Tigger29]

Hello, I just wanted some opinions on the Joystick the Saitek X-52. I'm currently using a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro. Do you all think the X-52 is worth buying?

Thanks,
Ace

As you can see many people brag about the quality of the CH brand stuff.  While the quality of the CH Fighterstick might be excellent, personally I don't like how it feels.

Here's what I recommend:

Buy the X52.  You can get it for about $83 at amazon.com.  It comes with a twisty stick AND a throttle, and both pieces are cheaper than the CH Thottle by itself!  If you like it then great!  If you don't then buy a CH Fighterstick or another stick of choice and throw the X52 stick in the closet somewhere.  You can use its throttle without it.  This way you have a decent throttle *AND* you have a back-up stick in case you ever need one.

I also highly recommend pedals.  If you go with a CH stick you'll have to have one as it isn't a twisty.  I loved my saitek pedals but they had a design flaw that caused them to come off track from time to time.  From what I understand that design flaw was corrected a long time ago.  I've heard the CH pedals are very nice but are very narrow while the Saitek pedals have a nice wide profile.  If you have bigger feet then Saitek pedals may be your only comfortable option.

As for the X52 yes the stick itself is a little bit... limp.  You can stiffen it up easily by installing a shim into the spring seat of the stick and that helps a LOT.  I see no need to spend the extra money on the X52 pro as the only real improvement in the PRO is a stiffer spring and a more programmable display panel on the throttle (which I don't think Aces High supports anyway).  Both the X52 and the X52 pro feature hall effect sensors only for the stick's X and Y axes.

A powered hub is recommended for use with the X52 as it sucks a LOT of power (comparatively speaking) and if your power supply is borderline or its USB power is already streched then a powered hub will help immensely.

[morfiend]

As you can see many people brag about the quality of the CH brand stuff.  While the quality of the CH Fighterstick might be excellent, personally I don't like how it feels.

Here's what I recommend:

Buy the X52.  You can get it for about $83 at amazon.com.  It comes with a twisty stick AND a throttle, and both pieces are cheaper than the CH Thottle by itself!  If you like it then great!  If you don't then buy a CH Fighterstick or another stick of choice and throw the X52 stick in the closet somewhere.  You can use its throttle without it.  This way you have a decent throttle *AND* you have a back-up stick in case you ever need one.

I also highly recommend pedals.  If you go with a CH stick you'll have to have one as it isn't a twisty.  I loved my saitek pedals but they had a design flaw that caused them to come off track from time to time.  From what I understand that design flaw was corrected a long time ago.  I've heard the CH pedals are very nice but are very narrow while the Saitek pedals have a nice wide profile.  If you have bigger feet then Saitek pedals may be your only comfortable option.

As for the X52 yes the stick itself is a little bit... limp.  You can stiffen it up easily by installing a shim into the spring seat of the stick and that helps a LOT.  I see no need to spend the extra money on the X52 pro as the only real improvement in the PRO is a stiffer spring and a more programmable display panel on the throttle (which I don't think Aces High supports anyway).  Both the X52 and the X52 pro feature hall effect sensors only for the stick's X and Y axes.

A powered hub is recommended for use with the X52 as it sucks a LOT of power (comparatively speaking) and if your power supply is borderline or its USB power is already streched then a powered hub will help immensely.

  Some excellent advice here!  I've owned an X52 for about 8 years now,the same stick and it works fine but I retired it for a warthog. The X52 needs a powered hub,so add in another $20,the only issue I ever had was the twist rudder started spiking after a year or so.This was a simple but fairly expensive fix,just got a set of pedal and the twist axis wasnt a problem anymore.

   So,listen to Trigg,start out with an X52,then get a set of pedals,then upgrade to a better stick if you feel the need to later on. When your really addicted then get a warthog or some other real expensive joystick,it's still cheaper than a couple nights out at the bar!!
                                               Or starbucks......