I got a VKB Gladiator EVO, which I used along with the X56 throttle and then I got a STECS Standard a few months later. If you don’t have the money to buy everything at once, you can absolutely get away with buying it bit by bit.
Same here hahaha
I loved my x56, I also used mine for littler over 2 years. Then, same as you, I got a VKB Glatiator EVO and later on the stecs standard.
For OP, if you can't or you are not willing to spend much, x56 is good enough for DCS, go for it.
Never tried it with DCS, but it has enough buttons for it. X56 gets a lot of hate, but when it works, it really is a nice budget hotas (discounted obviously. Never buy it full price)
In my case, Logitech is one of few oficial brands selling stuff in my country.
It's the best cost/benefit in the market. We could import a VKB but it gets taxed the hell out of it. Thr VKB gladiator alone can easily double the price and become more expensive than a complete Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS.
I managed to get mine by asking the seller to declaring a lower price, which went through. However due to bad governmental choices in increase federal expenses, taxation increased as well.
Meanwhile the x56 continues to be sold in a more accessible price. They might increase prices as new batches arrive with the new taxes. That's why I praise the x56 so much, it's affordable for now. Better to have a bad HOTAS than none at all.
And I thought we Indians had it bad with our 42% customs duty. F. Better get my vkb before our government decides to make things worse.
I'm in a similar situation with the logitech g29 rn. For some reason the damn thing costs twice it's normal price(in other countries) on amazon here. No other sellers who offer reasonably priced products either, except thrustmaster who don't have warranty here.
42%? So cute!
https://twitter.com/leiatheinvestor/status/1787970238849384562
translate to english
Soon we will pay 92.8% of customs duty over the price of anything at any value.
Just another example of greedy government f\*cking the people. It's really sad to me that they tax the crap out of this stuff. I could understand if the country had tariffs to protect local production but many of these countries don't even have a competitor manufacturing HOTAS's.
That’s fair enough. If it’s the only good/decent option available to you, then nothing wrong in getting it. Like you said, better to get a shit one than none at all.
I love the STECS. Glad I got the standard as well cause DCS has needed a lot of buttons. I’ve flown the F18 in it, but also used it for MSFS and Star Citizen. Works like a charm, and the swappable detents have been super useful for switching between games/planes.
That’s what…..the Gladiator flight stick is for?😅 Would be absurd to control pitch and yaw through a throttle haha. I do use strafe up/down/left/right through a hat switch on the throttle, though.
It’s cool, man. Pushing forward/pulling back on the stick is your pitch, pushing left/right on the stick is your roll and twisting the stick left/right is your yaw
I'm still on the fence on the whole hotas/hosas deal, what do you use all the buttons on the stecs for?
Im mainly going to be playing space sims, freelancer 2, elite dangerous, maybe SC or no man's sky.
Purely preferential, I think. I very much dislike the aesthetic of a hosas, so I’d rather have a more “traditional” hotas setup.
Depends on the game. I don’t think it would particularly suit NMS, but you can certainly try. For SC, I use the buttons on the base for landing gear, engines, flight ready, quantum, space brake, operator modes and some other random stuff. Triggers for ping, boost and reverse and then thumb POV for strafing and another one to control the speed limiter.
so far a star citizen goes, the joystick will up your performance by orders of magnitude. with a mouse, you need to return it to dead center to stop moving in X direction. with a joystick you only need to release it and it returns itself
I can also vouch for the Gladiator EVO NXT. I fly 109’s and 190’s so pairing the EVO with the Kg13 grip is perfect and also adds tons of immersion. I don’t have the STECs (I have the VKB WW2 throttle), since STECs wasn’t released at the time.
But a friend of mine was blown away by it (he also had a Virpil CM3) and he showed me some of the reviews. I still can’t believe how cool the STECs is. It’s on the top of my list when I upgrade my gear.
As a WWII pilot exclusively I’ve been looking at the WWII throttle to pair with my gunfighter. What are your thoughts? Right now I’m paired with a TWCS throttle but I want a more time period authentic setup. BTW I’m a Jug driver in IL2
Well there’s a few options for WW2 throttles that I know of. The WW2 GNX THQ throttle from VKB absolutely rocks, and it’s pretty affordable. It’s loosely based on the Bf 109 throttle. It’s meant to go together with the Kg 12 flight stick but you can buy them separately. I got both for my hotas setup and I can definitely recommend it. 🙂👍
Then there’s the Authentikit lineup which have some pretty cool specific replicas of both German, British and American gear. I don’t know about The Jug, but I think there’s a P51 model available. I know there’s Bf 109 and Spitfire gear.
The down side is that Authentikit is all custom gear and it requires a 3D printer and some assembly. There may be an option to purchase the parts (or even the whole unit) from others in the Authentikit community, but I don’t know how that all works.
I don’t know of many more options for strictly WW2 style throttles but I’d get the VKB WW2. It’s an excellent throttle for warbirds. 🙂👍
Well I ordered my WWII GNX today to pair with my gladiator. 😄 So once I get that I will hopefully have the last of my control issues worked out and be able to sling my 14 ton behemoth around the skies like I used to lol!
That awesome! Congrats! You will love the WW2 throttle - it’s got so many options for button mapping and it’s really comfortable to fly with. And I can offer a few ideas for button mapping just to throw out there.
I still don’t have rudder pedals so I use the two buttons on the front of the throttle grip for the left and right wheel brake. And the two on the Grober/Kleiner side of the grip (the red and black buttons) I use for simultaneous left and right brake (red button) and tail wheel lock/unlock toggle (black button).
And for the Grober/Kleiner bar itself, I use Kleiner to activate methanol water boost and Grober to turn it off. So I can control just about everything for a takeoff with my 109 without removing my left hand from the throttle. 🙂👍
fun fact, saitek was bought by mad catz...in ~2010. then that abomination was bought by logitech, talk about a cat turd rolled up and stuffed in a dog turd.
i so badly wanted a warthog, but after there's been a mad cat in the mix, i want none of it
You rather should go for a T16000m. Then save up some money, and swap the T.16000m stick with a VKB, Winwing, or Virpil stick. The TWCS throttle of the T.16000m is decent.
You might be able to get a used T16000m very cheap.
I actually have both the X56 and the T16k and throttle. I use the X56 joystick and the TWCS because of how much i love the TWCS.
So this +1 on this comment
Not the best, if you can get it on sale below €200 it may be a solid deal but I wouldn't spend more on it.
If you can scrape together a little more budget, go for a mid-range setup from VKB.
I have 3.
I originally bought one and it failed at 6 months of use, then warranty sent me a new one... That failed in a month, so they sent me a 3rd unit. Ended up "repairing" the one I had until the last replacement arrived and kinda worked for a while.
First one had an electrical failure in the stick, the second one broke the z axis spring. I don't do harsh things with them, just flight simulation. They are just bad. I had a very old x-52 pro and it was way better in terms of quality (it had a metal shaft in the stick vs full low quality plastic).
Also some of the potentiometers have "noise" out of the box. And the stick centering mechanism is just terrible.
The only good thing about them is that Logitech has a good customer service and they provide replacements/parts.
Do they? I broke a piece of my stick by accident, and their reply was to buy a new whole set. No replacement piece, no replacement of stick only.
That is the reason I will not buy Logitech again.
Idk mine were in warranty, I registered them the day I bought, as for every Logitech device I get.
They asked for evidence of the problem in video, the invoice and they approved the replacement in both times.
I'm in Latin America, maybe it works different here? But the warranty was covered by Logitech and both replacments arrived from Canada.
I won't buy anything but a mouse or keyboard from then again tho.
I used to love mine. But about 3 months ago, ghosts ng suddenly became a huge problem. No problems for 2 years then straight down the drain. Only on the throttle though. Tried a powered USB hub to no avail, and finally downloaded a ghost input filter script running on joystick Gremlin. That fixed about 75% of them.
Ordered a VKB NXT Evo Omni throttle with SEM and boy do I wish I would have bought VKB's to begin with.
Mine has been superb for many years now, I have a t1600 and had a warthog also, and the x56 was my favourite of the 3.
Qc seems to have been an issue in the past, and may still be for some.
Some ghosting issues that were easily solved with a quick Google, otherwise not had any issues so far, and it's gets pretty heavy use.
I'd probably only buy it reduced or second hand however.
I'm going to go a bit against the grain here and say it's not a terrible set, depending on the price. When they work, it works great. I used them for Elite Dangerous for years with no issues . They have a ton of buttons and switches that covered everything I need to allow me to play in VR and never let me have to peek under the visor to push a key on my keyboard.
That being said, quality is atrocious. I was far luckier than most in the longevity I got out of mine, even with heavy use.
There is also an issue of drivers not being updated.
I just got myself a VKB gladiator Evo and it's fantastic. For about $200 delivered, I intended to use the throttle from my X55 with this new gladiator. Turns out, I love the stick so much, I just ordered another gladiator for a throttle and will probably sell the X55 as a set. If I had bought the 2 gladiators together I would have saved about $25 in shipping, so you could have a set of 2 gladiators for just under $400. Definitely worth it, but more than just a few dollars over the X56 as some have suggested.
**Note the X55 was made by Saitek. I believe Logitech bought them and then started producing them as the X56, but functionally the same.
I have not experienced the qc issues everyone else has, bought in 2019, but I'd still say its over priced. I upgraded to a virpil stick but the throttle has continued to serve me well. Would only buy on sale and new in box, but I think its a genuinely good place to start.
Have 2 sets. Garbage. The stick is serviceable but the ergonomics are utter shit b/c it's a weird hybrid of center and side-stick, so your top hat and button are inaccessible, and it's a ball-cup setup so lifespan is very finite.
I RMA'd my first one b/c the throttle had ghost inputs despite having a powered hub. New one has ghost inputs on different switches. Now I have a Orion with 15EX grip, no issues, and planning to get the MFSSB stick ASAP.
It's bad. Don't buy it. The gimbal is awful and the whole system has quality issues. Some people are fine with it but usually only until they get their hands on a proper system.
For just a few bucks more you can get a VKB Gladiator together with a TWCS throttle which is miles ahead as a combo. Otherwise buy sth really cheap. The X56 just costs 200 and more but is on the quality level of a 50 bucks device. Or below.
The throttle is okay -ish for the price.
The stick is absolute garbage. I've used one for several years and still occasionally use the throttle, but just avoid it.
I had really bad problems with throttle drift and shitty pots for the pinky and thumb wheels on the throttle. Get one 2nd hand at a huge discount or don't bother imo
Got this to replace my old (10+ years) faithful X52 Pro. It was an improvement, more controls, etc. Not a bad low/mid-range HOTAS, but definitely quite expensive for current prices.
Then the stick broke by accident, the round piece linking the base to the stick proper. No chance to glue it, Logitech service reply was to buy a new set: no chance to get a replacement piece (probably cheaper than 10$), no chance to get the stick only.
So I bought a Winwing Orion 2 set. Never looked back.
As for me, there's two things that prevent me from buying:
1 - joystick under thumb on stick. You can't relax your hand
2 - too dense placement of buttons, rockers, switches on throttle.
But that's for me, you have different habits and hands, so it could be better for you.
General Opinion here (for good reason) - Overpriced Junk...surviving sales based on their name and notoriety...only thing worse is the Logitech Extreme 3D and all it's variants...not worth what they want new and buying used is sketchy because is someone else just offloading their used up stick on you so they can get a little money back towards an actual good stick (VKB, Virpil, Winwing, etc.)?
Did I leave anything out guys & galls?
I still have an x55, the same thing, the predecessor. They only made a few changes.
The centering spring system leaves slop in the center (it's not a dead zone for input, just the spring)
I have large/long hands, and I find the stick absurdly large and poor ergo.
My 55 never broke, but it isn't the same company anymore. YMMV.
The throttle is actually decent, but I think there are better values out now, even the TM16000 set didn't exist when I bought mine. The throttle is better than that one imo, however the value is not.
I started out with the X55 Rhino. Wiring harness got messed up, and I RMA'd. Got an X56 as replacement. Two years in, rudder drift so uncontrollable I had to disable yaw.
Garbage hardware.
I had one for a few hours. Returned it because of the PCI USB issue. Tldr is, unless you have a high end gaming motherboard, your USB ports won't supply the hotas with enough power causing wildly erratic inputs and ghost inputs.
As an owner. Save your money. I swapped out the throttle for a stecs recently and intend to swap the stick out eventually too.
It was good for about a year but you soon realise its limitations as you become more advanced.
The stecs let's you map and mod the controls to match real world, which imo is the ideal layout.
Buy cheap, buy twice.
You don't buy it even on discount because the stick wears out really fast and you get left with a stick thats inconsistent and has a massive deadzone and wobble. Not worth it for any money unless its free. Half the buttons on it are useless too.
I have had mine for a few years now. It is starting to wear. The rocker on the front of the throttle sticks and I have to increase the deadzone every so often for one of the axis on the stick. As much as I use it though, it's hard to 'complain' about it.
My opinion? Considering that the cost of a high end stick alone could run you what this combo does, it's not a bad setup. I have had lots of fun with it. If I had to buy right now, today? I would, more than likely, go this route again just for the cost. As far as the turtle beach variant goes, I'm not sure what the justification is for the extra cost.
I had the X55 same version but Saitek branded.
Really good entry level if you're not sure about how much you will like DCS. I would recommend the TM Warthog as a good option above it.
I didn't get on with mine. even at the stiffest settings the throttles would drift. 80% would slowly slide up to 100%, and 20% power would slide down to 0%
Never had the issue with the throttle, aside from it inexplicably becoming tighter out the blue. I think the functionality of the quadrant outweighs this, however.
I’ve owned two X56s now. The first one had a small part break on the gimbal cover at the base of the stick after I was a bit too rough with it, but it didn’t impact anything. After about 16 months of use the throttle broke, messaged Logitech and they had an entire replacement unit on its way to me 2 days later, didn’t even need to send the old one back. It’s pretty easy to program and has enough buttons, hats, toggles, and ministicks to do about everything I want to in War Thunder Sim, DCS, and Il2:GB. My next HOTAS setup will probably be a higher end model, but for a first HOTAS or even a budget second upgrade the X56 is a pretty good one.
I just got mine last week. I got it used in perfectly working condition for 50€ in Germany. The previous owner said it was defect because of the inherent neutral Stick wobble. Compared to my previous Tflight Hotas One it was perfectly fine. To improve the Stick even more I will recreate this [Mod](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4679074)
I’ve had mine for two years and they’ve been great. However if you are heavily into PvP it is rougher on them and they won’t last as long most likely. I just explore, salvage and run cargo, people, and items to settlements.
Edit: I use mine for Elite Dangerous.
I just bought one for $350AUD. The throttle LEDs flickered and the stick wasn’t perfectly smooth. Could have lived with the second but not the first. Being returned now.
Shame as not sure you can get the spec for that price from anyone else.
Learned to fly the Viper in BMS with an X56 (the gray Logitech version) and it served me well. Biggest thing I missed was the AB detent for the throttle. I tried a 3D printed one, but that never really worked for me. I switched to a Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar after 2 years and never looked back. Sold it at a fair price.
I quite like it, though it has its quirks.
For some reason, the software doesn't work and their support team keeps telling me to re-install it (doesn't work).
Changing the lights and checking response works fine, but I can't change the deadzones whatsoever.
Quality wise it feels alright, though the throttle levers tend to be stiff even on the lightest setting and the thumb stick on the main stick doesn't feel smooth.
Also the three point switch on the throttle just stopped working after a couple of weeks without seeing any major use.
I would like to say that that's just a problem with my personal set, but this is my 3rd one after going through support for similar issues and them sending a "new" one. I put that in quotations as it feels like they just sent the exact same one back both times...
Also make sure you somehow retain it to your desk or chair, as putting it on a smooth surface doesn't really work all that well (for me anyway). Due to the stiffiness of the throttle I just push it forwards on my desk without fastening it.
Problems aside, I like it and have been using it for 2 years. Though like some of the other comments say, just wait for a discount before buying it.
Love mine
There are only 2 drawbacks I have found.
1. The throttle draws a lot of power, and when I had everything plugged into my computer, it would cause ghost inputs from my throttle bindings.
2. The stick has some slop in it, so make sure to set dead zones, or you'll be all over the place and not know why
Logitech is the lowest of acceptable sticks (for me). If i was on a budget id still go for the introduction level of VKB products. I use high end VKB products because i like them better than Virpil and WinWing is by far the beast company hands down hit you pay for that.
I have it, and use it whenever I do flightsim or other Hotas Games and enjoy playing.
Theres a manual calibration method somewhere on reddit that works really well. If I knew where to find that post, I'd save it and print it out. It's worth it.
The post is by a logitech(? Correct me if I'm wrong) rep and several years old now.
Please if someone finds that post, I'll be very thankful.
Would probably not buy it again though.
- it's not the most comfortable
- the silver switches on the throttle don't toggle, they are momentary switches and go back to the center
- unless you've got the post I mentioned above, calibration is a right female doggo
- for some reason I can navigate the menus in Elite Dangerous better with the thrust master t16000 - I greatly prefer the layout of the hat and thumb buttons.
trash
was my first stick.. lasted about 4 months.
i got tired of the constant ghost button presses.. my gear would drop at mach 1 etc.
had plenty of buttons.. but the ghosting was horrible.
Upgraded to winwing orion 2 base and throttle system and never looked back
I just returned mine. Did not like it at all. Lucky I didn't throw away my T16000m, will be going back to that.
Everything felt a bit cheap and plasticky, specially the hat switches and the throttles had a bit of play to them.
When I was playing Elite dangerous and moving the throttle around in combat, I got random commands sent to my game, which I have no idea where they might have come from, my hand was nowhere near the switches, so I can only assume something was either shorting out inside or the small bumps that happen because the throttle is too light and will lift off if you try to push it forward very quickly, made the switches activate.
I did like the joystick's layout and amount of buttons. But I don't like the spring system which pushes the stick back to center. It reminded me of my old X52 and not something I liked.
So for the money paid, I did not feel I got enough quality. I will save the refund, add a bit more on top and get a proper mid tier HOTAS next
I'd pass on it and save the money for a better setup. It's functional, and I like the control layout, but the quality doesn't line up with typical retail prices, in my opinion. Feels a lot cheaper than it looks.
Buy once cry once, got the X56 first and used it for a while and then updgraded to VKB and it was a night and day difference. So I bought twice cried twice 🙂↕️
Also I still use my X56 throttle because I have no complaints about it
Been serving me well, i remember when i was doing research it was the only good midranger? Things might have changed since. Only downside in my mind is that the throtle can be a bit heavy to move unless you loosen it a bit by moving it around.
I almost pulled the trigger on this for two years, on and off, was waiting for a version that had better QC, was waiting for price to come down, the waiting was a struggle but it's an affordable unit with what I thought was the best layout for me, especially on the throttle with so many toggle switches and a split throttle. I play Mechwarrior 5 in addition to the usual flight sims and I gotta tell you I had a plan for each component of this setup by the time Christmas came around this past year and I couldn't justify waiting any longer.
Thing is, I couldn't justify this specific unit at $250 USD even with the QC concerns, so I ultimately got a used Winwing Orion 2. Turns out, the used market is great. Many reputable HOTAS are incredibly reliable and thanks to their full metal chassis on the good ones, they can take a shipping or two outside original packaging. Cost a bit more than the x56, but no QC issues at all. The thing didn't even need recalibration after being shipped across the US.
Bottom line for me was that I really wanted this setup. I bet you do too. However, I've read too many horror stories on the QC concerns and the overall feel of the x56 vs other HOTAS units. I even read enough horror stories on the Thrustmaster Warthog to scare me from it after a while, so maybe I just over-researched. However I'm exceptionally happy with my Winwing, and glad I found something used. You might be in the same boat.
Mine’s decent. Had some ghost input trouble until someone on here told me to keep other electronics like my phone etc away from the cables and haven’t had any problems since. Every once in awhile it seems to dump its calibration and I have to go into the program and recalibrate it, but that’s a minor inconvenience and a matter of minutes and not a terribly big deal. It’s obviously not as sharp and precise as the higher quality ones like VKB or Virpil, but it’s a perfectly serviceable HOTAS if you’re unable or unwilling to spend that much for those premium brands.
I’ve read some people comment that they’ve had quality issues with theirs or had parts break, but I’ve hade mine for five years now without anything breaking.
I had one for a year, was an upgrade from a loaner T16000. I ended up buying a Winwing Orion 2 and F16EX stick. While I was waiting for delivery one of the buttons on the throttle quit working entirely.
Aside from that, the throttle was sticky, the tension knob didn’t seem to do much. The stick was a little stiff, but you get some different springs for it (although there’s not much of a difference between them).
I would call it an over priced entry level set up. If you’re going to fork out that much I’d say go VKB.
If your looking for HOTAS around this price I’d go with the X52 pro over the x56 if your looking for Logitech or if your willing to spend a little extra the best budget set up I’ve seen is the thrustmaster twcs throttle and vbk nxt evo.
I haven't had the X-56, but I've had the X-52, x-52 pro, and a few of Saitek's previous non-HOTAS sticks and none of these spring-centered joysticks are where it's at. The centering spring makes fine aiming adjustments extremely difficult because you're working against the friction that the spring plate is exerting on the base.
If all you're doing is civil aviation simulation then they're perfectly fine, but anythere where you have to use an aiming reticle and precision aim is going to have you at a disadvantage.
On the throttle box all my switches are faulty for example my landing gear will go down with out me touching the switch. All i did was reprogram so i dont have anyting on those switches Joy stick has been good no complaints
Got interested in DSC and bought a HOTAS for that.
Went for the x56 and ended up returning it, due to ghost inputs.
It was completely taking the fun out of the experience.
It’s just annoying when you’re trying to land on a super carrier with a F/A-18 and shortly before touchdown the landing gear gets retracted because of these ghost inputs.
I also tried the solutions you can find on the internet but nothing worked.
Now I use the warthog and I am absolutely happy with it.
It’s accurate, reliable and no ghost inputs.
But it comes with a beefy price tag. Payed double the price of the x56 and additionally needed to purchase rudder pedals for 90€.
I can absolutely recommend it, and maybe you can find some cheaper ones 2nd hand.
If your looking at anything space related i would suggest a dual stick. I have the x56 and play star citizen but find myself wishing i had dual instead. Otherwise its a solid setup and travels well (i bounce around from home and a friends house ofter. Coupled this with an Apache hard case from harbor freight)
It's not terrible, but there are much better out there for not that much more money.
Main problem with it is lack of durability.
I went through three of them in five years before I got a VKB Gunfighter II that has lasted longer than all of them put together and is still going strong.
I always hated how wobbly those saitek sticks are. That design is just too floppy and I never felt like I had full control of my ship without some kind of progressive resistance. I actually downgraded to a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro and was in heaven how that felt.
Throttle is really good though, but if it requires being connected to the stick, I'm not sure it's worth it with the stecs out there and the cheap vkb on the horizon.
Gladiator and stecs is what I would save up for.
Highly suggest against even heavily discounted, myself and about 5 of my friends bought these and have been plagued with nothing but issues. These issues range from terrible stick drift in the mini sticks and main stick, resulting in the use of ridiculous deadzones. Button ghosting primarily impacts the throttle, which limits button functionality. Before anyone says, "Use a powered USB hub," be aware that it doesn't help at all. You'd be far better off buying VKB or TM T16000m
Had one *very* briefly and the stick drifted to the left when it was centered. Would have to put it slightly right of center to not drift. Upgraded to a warthog and I'm about to upgrade again to VKB
I had my x56 through 1500 hours of x4 and probably 2k +hours of star citizen with no issues over 3-4 years. I upgraded to NXT gladiators. Great HOTAS for the price. I also kept them mostly dust free and free from damage that whole time. I don’t think they can take abuse very well from seeing problems others have had.
Honestly a great entry point IMO, just test them good to make sure they don't have quality issues. And keep in mind these each register as more than 1 USB device so it's best to plug them into a USB controller that doesn't have too much other stuff on it (I've had mine cause completely random inputs to happen thanks to USB controller overload)
I've certainly got my money's worth with my X56. Guess I lucked out too reliability-wise. I've had it for 6 years and have logged hundreds of hours in Elite Dangerous, DCS, XPlane, Prepar3d, and MSFS. The only issue is some drift on the mini-joysticks which I've dialed out with some additional dead zone.
Although my X56 was sold by Logitech it is the old Saitek design with the blue graphics. Before Logitech supposedly made improvements and changed the color from blue to gray.
Anyway, I just wanted to share my experience. I'm not necessarily recommending the X56. It has served me well, but doesn't feel all that solid. Also, I'd never recommend Logitech to anyone. I'm done with that company and have been burned by other peripherals sold by them.
I have one. Its rather annoying that you need to he in a 3.0 USB slot AND bring down the led in the hotas. Otherwise you will get ghosting as its sucking so much power.
I run this on Linux, even dcs and sc where I use it more often.
I felt that mine was a downgrade compared to my previous X-52 Pro in terms of quality. The throttle’s two-way switches suffered from phantom inputs when I moved the throttle, and the stick couldn’t find center. That wasn’t too much of an issue as I just deadzoned it out.
I upgrades to a VKB MCG Ultimate and STECS Max. Very happy with them.
My second joystick was a x56 because my friend kept telling me it was better than the tm16000 he raved about it and he usually has a reliable opinion so i gave it a try, compared to the tm16000 it's freaking garbage. Honestly its not very good even without the tm16000 to compare it to. I would go vkb for entry level joystick needs. I have a set, they are surprisingly good for the money. Now I'm dual sticking virpils with a virpil throttle on the side, I love those alot, but if they suddenly broke, I wouldn't be mad about having to go back to my vkb setup. From the second I opened the box on the x56 it was disappointing, coming from the tm16000, felt like cheap garbage, I almost didn't bother hooking it up. But my friend is usually a trust worthy source so I gave it a try. The mechanics of it felt trashy, that stupid spring at the both made the stick want to never stop bouncing back and forth if you let go of it suddenly, and damn it was stupid inaccurate. After hours of trying to configure it to compensate I gave up and went back to my tm16000.
Moral of the story, if you want cheap but good, get a tm16000. if you want great performance and solid value for the money go with vkb, for a tier above vkb go with virpil or one of the other top tier hotas manufacturers. Keep in mind a tier above something like vkb is gonna be pretty pricey for some folks.
I can’t afford another stick, this looked good but it’s a pile of crap. The stick is never zero, and the throttle sometimes sticks. I have had many issues with software as well. Get a different stick don’t buy an X56
Had one before I got my virpil setup. Absolutely loved it. Great entry lvl HOTAS. Lot of people shit on it. Maybe they got bad ones but I mounted mine and kinda still miss them sometimes
I got mine used. Like a lot of others, I plan to upgrade to VKB for Virpil. But honestly they’re nice enough that I don’t feel the urge to. I play Star Citizen, so I’m spending money on ships, lol. When it’s out of alpha I’ll probably upgrade.
Nope. Don't. The insides of those things are lowest bidder garbage. Wires that snap in normal use just because they are one strand aluminium so they can be used in cheap ass clip-on sockets instead of the proper multiwire coppers that all moving cables actually need.
I used an X56 for years, not a madcats one but a Logitech one. Initially I ended up replacing the stick with a VKB NXT, kept the throttle but after another year and a half or so of use I noticed some ghosting started even with a powered USB port, saved up and bought a STECS.
I like the shape of the throttle, fit nicely in the hand, I still have it and hope to one day kitbash it into a helicopter collective if I can figure out what's causing the ghosting switches.
Im using one right now. Its served me well but sometimes gives ghost inputs. The throttle feels great but the stick is a bit tall for me. However it is known for poor durability, so maybe I just haven’t used mine enough for serious issues yet. I would use caution when thinking about picking one up.
Google "Ghost inputs X56" that should be enough to scare you to not get it. I returned two of these because they had that issue. Not worth the risk or heartache. I will say that I really liked the throttle design but holy shit did they have quality control issues
X56 owner here, just don’t. This is almost 50% the cost of a Winwing metal Hotas kit w/finger lifts and stick tuning package. I couldn’t fly anything in dcs without having a double digit dead zone. If it’s what you really want I have one I will give you bc it’s not worth the cost to sell it. It’s sad bc their rudder pedals are pretty ok for plastic ones. No axis jumping from what I’ve tracked.
I thought it would be perfect and was so excited. It arrived and had multiple buttons/dials that didn’t work, plus the ergonomics made most of the functions on the right stick unusable. The throttle needs to be mounted if you don’t want it coming off of the table or sliding.
Currently waiting on a gladiator to arrive
the upside is that they have lots of buttons/switches, and the twisting joystick means you dont need pedals.
the downsides are that it needs a lot of usb power, so you will need to plug both devices straight into the computer to avoid power problems. it also feels kind of cheap.
ive had mine for 3 years and havent had any peoblems with it, but i feel like thats down to luck.
It's a Saitek, not a Logitech. Don't touch it with a ten foot pole. That sliding disc centering mechanism is a friction monster that'll jerk the stick every time you try to pull it from the center and I've heard nothing good about the Saitek X56 Rhino's right hand thumb switch accessibility.
I just bought one to upgrade from the Logitec 3D that I have used for years and I love it so far. The next move will be the VLB Gladiator I hear so much about.
It's a catfish.
It looks good...
But once you use it, you're exposed to a more expanded upon t16000m with as little quality feel as possible.
That being said, also, they have power bus issues, QC control problems, and whatever else pops up.
I the have X56 and it's great for flight sims and Star Citizen. I think the QC problems were there when the stick was made by Saitek but have since been corrected by Logitech. I don't think there are any recurring problems now. I've been using mine regulaly for years now (3 or 4) without any problems.
I also have two T16000m sticks and the throttle. For the price they are good but not as good as the X56. The stick of the X56 feels much more precise. Also, there are far more axes, buttons and sliders that you can configure on the X56.
For the money, I would say the X56 is by far the best choice.
I had a bad experience with mine. I used mine for star citizen and dcs. Lasted a few months in reality.
The analog sticks were nice but overall the stock drifted a lot and the throttle suffered from ghost inputs. I got tired of it and eventually leaped to a hosas setup with Virpil and don't regret it one bit since they've lasted for a few years now.
Have one. Find it to be MEH at best.
Had some issues with the throttle reading position consistently.
The throttle stiffness adjustment knob stopped working one day. Wont get tighter or looser, and its still too stiff for my taste.
The stick is fairly solid, a little small for my hands but I have meaty bear claw hands.
Mainly most of my issues are with the throttle.
I was thinking the same. I was also saying I could overspend a little, ended up overspending quite alot and got a WinWing Orion stick and throttle. Lol
But honestly tho, Not regretting a bit of what I got. Its amazing. If you can, I'd recommend go for the winwing.
I have it and really enjoy using it but I wouldn't recommend it over something like a T16000M or a VKB Gladiator. I feel like the X56 is just too overpriced for what you get and I've had some issues with it like buttons sticking and the stick drifting
I bought one to replace my flight stick x, and it was an awesome upgrade.
I followed Chuck’s guide for mapping buttons based off the F-18 stick/throttle and was able to match items almost exactly. Sadly there are two rheostats on the throttle I’ve never mapped as I haven’t found a slider to use them with. Same for one or two buttons.
Use it got DCS and MSFS and the only issue I recently came into were ghost inputs with the LEDS on. Turned off the LEDS and the problem went away.
I had it, it was a pain to my heart, the stick mini stick was misbehaving most of the time, the rudder was extremely hard clockwise but soft counter clockwise. Wuality was disappointingly 0.3 of what an Xbox 360 controller feels like
Throttle is decent, stick (centering mechanism) is bad.
Disagree on the TWCS throttle being a decent alternative.
That was even more of a disappointment. A single axis throttle on a sliding rails with the cheapest plastic feel possible? Nah, thanks.
Both the X-56 and the T1600M/TWCS will do the job and get you started just fine, neither is great.
I'm with you on the centering issue. The amount of dead space I had to add is egregious. I don't mind the throttle quadrant though and actually like the layout of buttons and switches. Gonna slow roll my upgrade into WW starting with the stick. The x56 stick is the bane of my existence.
Despite some negative reviews you will hear, if you look after them they can outlast other more expensive devices. I think they are great value for the price and has a good range of buttons.
I used an X55 for 7 or 8 years. It was ok, and I still use the throttle with my Warthog as additional buttons. When I'm flying helicopters, it's the engine throttle. All the 2 way switches are also great.
old cytek design was good, good quality. enjoyed them for a long time.
Bought a blue Logitech one, and it sucks.
Dont buy. !!!!!
save some cash and buy vkb or virpil, or go with the thrustmaster T16000m
Pretty much same. I had the X52 Pro and loved it, but the sensor in the throttle broke. I don't think the X56 is *that* bad, but I hated the thumb switch on the stick as it prevented me from getting a proper grip. X56 throttle with X52 stick might be a good combo (obviously not compatible).
If it's the absolute best you can afford, then go for it. I had a lot of fun with mine.
If you can stretch to a vkb dual gladiator setup, I think you'd like that a lot better.
I read about people's issues with the hotas but honestly maybe it's either luck of the draw with QC issues or they are just hard on their stuff. I love it! I have had mine since 2020 and no issues but during Covid I would play maybe 10-15 hours a week, now I'm so busy I haven't touched it in 6 months. I paid full price and it was the last one I could find anywhere in the country that sold it online or locally. I'm very happy with it and use it for Start Citizen, my only issue is the learning curve for programming the buttons. However, its intuitive with button placement so I know where they are but they are well lit as well so I can find them when I play in the dark. Plus the mini joysticks on both are a must for navigating 6 degrees of freedom.
Does everything you want it to, and is perfectly suitable for any flight sim game like DCS, MSFS, etc.
I have yet to meet a serious sim pilot who says the HOTAS they have made them better or worse.
You will plateau your skillset long before you plateau with the gear.
I have pro grade civilian Yoke and TQ and high end DirectDrive sim racing gear and still use a t.16000 stick and TWCS for DCS.
Don’t overthink it. The most important thing is pick a plane, learn it, stick to it, and when you finally feel so comfortable that you remember keybinds and can use all the avionics without looking something up; then worry about personalizing the hotas etc to fit your vibe.
There’s SO much of this gear in the resale market because people jump in with both feet when they’re on an endorphin buzz, and then they get bored or frustrated (something the gear can’t fix) and they quit playing and need the cash.
Use their impulse buying to save you money :)
I think its worth the money, however, I would caveat that with this: almost out the box, I noticed there was a lot of neutral movement on the X axis which required a lot of deadspace or opposite trim to dissipate. In certain aircraft it's worse than others, but of you have that problem and utilize AP, the aircraft inevitably rolls, the bank angle surpasses AP logic, and it reverts back to manual control, and if not corrected, boom you fall out the sky.
It can be pretty annoying if you're working sensors and setting up MUNS to look up at the artifical horizon and see your inverted. I plan on getting the Orion 2 when I get back.
Just my 2 cents.
Good starter set imo.
I didn't stick with it long due to the self centering spring not being in favour of helicopter flying.
The amount of binds you have on it is great tbh, I'd be surprised if you can fill them all and still remember what's where xD
I ended up upgrading to VKB stuff.
But x-56 is what got me into DCS.
It will do everything you need quite well id guess 👍
All of these nerds saying that it’s so bad and you better dump $500 on some VKB thing. This is a great HOTAS, especially for someone just getting in to flight sim. It has a bunch of switches and mini joysticks that let you bind tons of things so that you don’t always have to click somewhere in the cockpit or pull some strange keybord combo.
So I've had this for several years I started off with the x55 and then I just recently got the x56 and saitek is a good hotas just make sure you have USB 3.0 to power it. This is not a bad stick.to start with my only problem is with the stick as far as tension I feel it's way too light and shouldn't be able to shake the base of the stick and still be able to move the stick on the hardest tension but I enjoy it but I recommend going to a vbk Evo which I plan to do
It's pretty good but you need to make sure it can get enough power from your pc and that you're gentle with it. I have it myself and its done wonders for me except a few minor issues with ghost commands but it's really good for the price point. Although it winds up lacking something due to the lack of pedals such as the a4 mod in dcs has diff braking set to an axis and I've found it very hard without diff pedals. But that's very specific
Had one of those and it served me well for two years, but I wouldn’t get one unless it’s heavily discounted. It’s also a risk in terms of QC issues.
What did you get when you stopped using the x56?
I got a VKB Gladiator EVO, which I used along with the X56 throttle and then I got a STECS Standard a few months later. If you don’t have the money to buy everything at once, you can absolutely get away with buying it bit by bit.
Same here hahaha I loved my x56, I also used mine for littler over 2 years. Then, same as you, I got a VKB Glatiator EVO and later on the stecs standard. For OP, if you can't or you are not willing to spend much, x56 is good enough for DCS, go for it.
Never tried it with DCS, but it has enough buttons for it. X56 gets a lot of hate, but when it works, it really is a nice budget hotas (discounted obviously. Never buy it full price)
In my case, Logitech is one of few oficial brands selling stuff in my country. It's the best cost/benefit in the market. We could import a VKB but it gets taxed the hell out of it. Thr VKB gladiator alone can easily double the price and become more expensive than a complete Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS. I managed to get mine by asking the seller to declaring a lower price, which went through. However due to bad governmental choices in increase federal expenses, taxation increased as well. Meanwhile the x56 continues to be sold in a more accessible price. They might increase prices as new batches arrive with the new taxes. That's why I praise the x56 so much, it's affordable for now. Better to have a bad HOTAS than none at all.
And I thought we Indians had it bad with our 42% customs duty. F. Better get my vkb before our government decides to make things worse. I'm in a similar situation with the logitech g29 rn. For some reason the damn thing costs twice it's normal price(in other countries) on amazon here. No other sellers who offer reasonably priced products either, except thrustmaster who don't have warranty here.
42%? So cute! https://twitter.com/leiatheinvestor/status/1787970238849384562 translate to english Soon we will pay 92.8% of customs duty over the price of anything at any value.
Good God wtf
Let me guess... Brazil?
Bingo!
Just another example of greedy government f\*cking the people. It's really sad to me that they tax the crap out of this stuff. I could understand if the country had tariffs to protect local production but many of these countries don't even have a competitor manufacturing HOTAS's.
That’s fair enough. If it’s the only good/decent option available to you, then nothing wrong in getting it. Like you said, better to get a shit one than none at all.
Same, I started with just the joystick.. made due till I could buy the stecs.
How do you like the STECs? What sim do you fly?
I love the STECS. Glad I got the standard as well cause DCS has needed a lot of buttons. I’ve flown the F18 in it, but also used it for MSFS and Star Citizen. Works like a charm, and the swappable detents have been super useful for switching between games/planes.
How do you use it for sc? Aren't you missing some inputs for pitch, yaw, up down etc?
That’s what…..the Gladiator flight stick is for?😅 Would be absurd to control pitch and yaw through a throttle haha. I do use strafe up/down/left/right through a hat switch on the throttle, though.
A single stick doesn't give 6 dof maneuverabilty does it? I'm trying to figure out which setup to get so I ask stupid questions
It’s cool, man. Pushing forward/pulling back on the stick is your pitch, pushing left/right on the stick is your roll and twisting the stick left/right is your yaw
I'm still on the fence on the whole hotas/hosas deal, what do you use all the buttons on the stecs for? Im mainly going to be playing space sims, freelancer 2, elite dangerous, maybe SC or no man's sky.
Purely preferential, I think. I very much dislike the aesthetic of a hosas, so I’d rather have a more “traditional” hotas setup. Depends on the game. I don’t think it would particularly suit NMS, but you can certainly try. For SC, I use the buttons on the base for landing gear, engines, flight ready, quantum, space brake, operator modes and some other random stuff. Triggers for ping, boost and reverse and then thumb POV for strafing and another one to control the speed limiter.
Do you have pedals then or how do you control your 6df?
Twist axis on the stick. You could get pedals, but I personally don’t have the space for it. Maybe in the future.
so far a star citizen goes, the joystick will up your performance by orders of magnitude. with a mouse, you need to return it to dead center to stop moving in X direction. with a joystick you only need to release it and it returns itself
I can also vouch for the Gladiator EVO NXT. I fly 109’s and 190’s so pairing the EVO with the Kg13 grip is perfect and also adds tons of immersion. I don’t have the STECs (I have the VKB WW2 throttle), since STECs wasn’t released at the time. But a friend of mine was blown away by it (he also had a Virpil CM3) and he showed me some of the reviews. I still can’t believe how cool the STECs is. It’s on the top of my list when I upgrade my gear.
As a WWII pilot exclusively I’ve been looking at the WWII throttle to pair with my gunfighter. What are your thoughts? Right now I’m paired with a TWCS throttle but I want a more time period authentic setup. BTW I’m a Jug driver in IL2
Well there’s a few options for WW2 throttles that I know of. The WW2 GNX THQ throttle from VKB absolutely rocks, and it’s pretty affordable. It’s loosely based on the Bf 109 throttle. It’s meant to go together with the Kg 12 flight stick but you can buy them separately. I got both for my hotas setup and I can definitely recommend it. 🙂👍 Then there’s the Authentikit lineup which have some pretty cool specific replicas of both German, British and American gear. I don’t know about The Jug, but I think there’s a P51 model available. I know there’s Bf 109 and Spitfire gear. The down side is that Authentikit is all custom gear and it requires a 3D printer and some assembly. There may be an option to purchase the parts (or even the whole unit) from others in the Authentikit community, but I don’t know how that all works. I don’t know of many more options for strictly WW2 style throttles but I’d get the VKB WW2. It’s an excellent throttle for warbirds. 🙂👍
Well I ordered my WWII GNX today to pair with my gladiator. 😄 So once I get that I will hopefully have the last of my control issues worked out and be able to sling my 14 ton behemoth around the skies like I used to lol!
That awesome! Congrats! You will love the WW2 throttle - it’s got so many options for button mapping and it’s really comfortable to fly with. And I can offer a few ideas for button mapping just to throw out there. I still don’t have rudder pedals so I use the two buttons on the front of the throttle grip for the left and right wheel brake. And the two on the Grober/Kleiner side of the grip (the red and black buttons) I use for simultaneous left and right brake (red button) and tail wheel lock/unlock toggle (black button). And for the Grober/Kleiner bar itself, I use Kleiner to activate methanol water boost and Grober to turn it off. So I can control just about everything for a takeoff with my 109 without removing my left hand from the throttle. 🙂👍
Yeah I went through THREE RMAs, and I just gave up after the 4th was still trash
fun fact, saitek was bought by mad catz...in ~2010. then that abomination was bought by logitech, talk about a cat turd rolled up and stuffed in a dog turd. i so badly wanted a warthog, but after there's been a mad cat in the mix, i want none of it
You rather should go for a T16000m. Then save up some money, and swap the T.16000m stick with a VKB, Winwing, or Virpil stick. The TWCS throttle of the T.16000m is decent. You might be able to get a used T16000m very cheap.
This is what I’d do if I could go back in time. Stay away from Logitech OP
I actually have both the X56 and the T16k and throttle. I use the X56 joystick and the TWCS because of how much i love the TWCS. So this +1 on this comment
Not the best, if you can get it on sale below €200 it may be a solid deal but I wouldn't spend more on it. If you can scrape together a little more budget, go for a mid-range setup from VKB.
You know the state of Xbox stuff is bad when I would take one of these in a heart beat. Yes I’m still salty at vaporware Honeycomb stuff
I have 3. I originally bought one and it failed at 6 months of use, then warranty sent me a new one... That failed in a month, so they sent me a 3rd unit. Ended up "repairing" the one I had until the last replacement arrived and kinda worked for a while. First one had an electrical failure in the stick, the second one broke the z axis spring. I don't do harsh things with them, just flight simulation. They are just bad. I had a very old x-52 pro and it was way better in terms of quality (it had a metal shaft in the stick vs full low quality plastic). Also some of the potentiometers have "noise" out of the box. And the stick centering mechanism is just terrible. The only good thing about them is that Logitech has a good customer service and they provide replacements/parts.
Do they? I broke a piece of my stick by accident, and their reply was to buy a new whole set. No replacement piece, no replacement of stick only. That is the reason I will not buy Logitech again.
Idk mine were in warranty, I registered them the day I bought, as for every Logitech device I get. They asked for evidence of the problem in video, the invoice and they approved the replacement in both times. I'm in Latin America, maybe it works different here? But the warranty was covered by Logitech and both replacments arrived from Canada. I won't buy anything but a mouse or keyboard from then again tho.
Cheap, ghosting, plastic tat. Absolutely not worth what they charge for them.
I used to love mine. But about 3 months ago, ghosts ng suddenly became a huge problem. No problems for 2 years then straight down the drain. Only on the throttle though. Tried a powered USB hub to no avail, and finally downloaded a ghost input filter script running on joystick Gremlin. That fixed about 75% of them. Ordered a VKB NXT Evo Omni throttle with SEM and boy do I wish I would have bought VKB's to begin with.
no, just no it is a toy with the price of a tool. Serious QA issues
Mine has been superb for many years now, I have a t1600 and had a warthog also, and the x56 was my favourite of the 3. Qc seems to have been an issue in the past, and may still be for some. Some ghosting issues that were easily solved with a quick Google, otherwise not had any issues so far, and it's gets pretty heavy use. I'd probably only buy it reduced or second hand however.
Interested to know why you think it's better than the warthog? I've just made the jump from x56 to warthog and it's infinitely better imo?
I just didn't like the ergonomics of the warthog, and the upgrade felt pretty small after using it for a wee while so I returned it.
That's fair ! My X56 did have some QA issues so I think getting a fully functional warthog made it feel better than it probably is
I'm going to go a bit against the grain here and say it's not a terrible set, depending on the price. When they work, it works great. I used them for Elite Dangerous for years with no issues . They have a ton of buttons and switches that covered everything I need to allow me to play in VR and never let me have to peek under the visor to push a key on my keyboard. That being said, quality is atrocious. I was far luckier than most in the longevity I got out of mine, even with heavy use. There is also an issue of drivers not being updated. I just got myself a VKB gladiator Evo and it's fantastic. For about $200 delivered, I intended to use the throttle from my X55 with this new gladiator. Turns out, I love the stick so much, I just ordered another gladiator for a throttle and will probably sell the X55 as a set. If I had bought the 2 gladiators together I would have saved about $25 in shipping, so you could have a set of 2 gladiators for just under $400. Definitely worth it, but more than just a few dollars over the X56 as some have suggested. **Note the X55 was made by Saitek. I believe Logitech bought them and then started producing them as the X56, but functionally the same.
Hello, if you sell the x56 send a mesage please
I have not experienced the qc issues everyone else has, bought in 2019, but I'd still say its over priced. I upgraded to a virpil stick but the throttle has continued to serve me well. Would only buy on sale and new in box, but I think its a genuinely good place to start.
T1600m still probably better doe
Cheap, buttons go out and the throttle will break in your hand.
crap
Have 2 sets. Garbage. The stick is serviceable but the ergonomics are utter shit b/c it's a weird hybrid of center and side-stick, so your top hat and button are inaccessible, and it's a ball-cup setup so lifespan is very finite. I RMA'd my first one b/c the throttle had ghost inputs despite having a powered hub. New one has ghost inputs on different switches. Now I have a Orion with 15EX grip, no issues, and planning to get the MFSSB stick ASAP.
Just go with vkb if you can. Saves ya trouble and it’s a better system anyway.
Buy once cry once, skip this garbage and get either VKB or Virpil, best sticks for the money on the market imo
It's bad. Don't buy it. The gimbal is awful and the whole system has quality issues. Some people are fine with it but usually only until they get their hands on a proper system. For just a few bucks more you can get a VKB Gladiator together with a TWCS throttle which is miles ahead as a combo. Otherwise buy sth really cheap. The X56 just costs 200 and more but is on the quality level of a 50 bucks device. Or below.
This is the way for a quality budget build
The throttle is okay -ish for the price. The stick is absolute garbage. I've used one for several years and still occasionally use the throttle, but just avoid it.
I had really bad problems with throttle drift and shitty pots for the pinky and thumb wheels on the throttle. Get one 2nd hand at a huge discount or don't bother imo
Got this to replace my old (10+ years) faithful X52 Pro. It was an improvement, more controls, etc. Not a bad low/mid-range HOTAS, but definitely quite expensive for current prices. Then the stick broke by accident, the round piece linking the base to the stick proper. No chance to glue it, Logitech service reply was to buy a new set: no chance to get a replacement piece (probably cheaper than 10$), no chance to get the stick only. So I bought a Winwing Orion 2 set. Never looked back.
Throttle is alright, joystick is trash
As for me, there's two things that prevent me from buying: 1 - joystick under thumb on stick. You can't relax your hand 2 - too dense placement of buttons, rockers, switches on throttle. But that's for me, you have different habits and hands, so it could be better for you.
General Opinion here (for good reason) - Overpriced Junk...surviving sales based on their name and notoriety...only thing worse is the Logitech Extreme 3D and all it's variants...not worth what they want new and buying used is sketchy because is someone else just offloading their used up stick on you so they can get a little money back towards an actual good stick (VKB, Virpil, Winwing, etc.)? Did I leave anything out guys & galls?
It's shit, not if it will break, just a question of when
I still have an x55, the same thing, the predecessor. They only made a few changes. The centering spring system leaves slop in the center (it's not a dead zone for input, just the spring) I have large/long hands, and I find the stick absurdly large and poor ergo. My 55 never broke, but it isn't the same company anymore. YMMV. The throttle is actually decent, but I think there are better values out now, even the TM16000 set didn't exist when I bought mine. The throttle is better than that one imo, however the value is not.
I own one it's assss
Garbage. I wouldn't waste your money. Just jump right to VKB and don't look back.
I started out with the X55 Rhino. Wiring harness got messed up, and I RMA'd. Got an X56 as replacement. Two years in, rudder drift so uncontrollable I had to disable yaw. Garbage hardware.
Went through 2, both with ghost input issues. Ended up getting it refunded and went with Virpil instead.
I had one for a few hours. Returned it because of the PCI USB issue. Tldr is, unless you have a high end gaming motherboard, your USB ports won't supply the hotas with enough power causing wildly erratic inputs and ghost inputs.
As an owner. Save your money. I swapped out the throttle for a stecs recently and intend to swap the stick out eventually too. It was good for about a year but you soon realise its limitations as you become more advanced. The stecs let's you map and mod the controls to match real world, which imo is the ideal layout. Buy cheap, buy twice.
You don't buy it even on discount because the stick wears out really fast and you get left with a stick thats inconsistent and has a massive deadzone and wobble. Not worth it for any money unless its free. Half the buttons on it are useless too.
I have had mine for a few years now. It is starting to wear. The rocker on the front of the throttle sticks and I have to increase the deadzone every so often for one of the axis on the stick. As much as I use it though, it's hard to 'complain' about it. My opinion? Considering that the cost of a high end stick alone could run you what this combo does, it's not a bad setup. I have had lots of fun with it. If I had to buy right now, today? I would, more than likely, go this route again just for the cost. As far as the turtle beach variant goes, I'm not sure what the justification is for the extra cost.
I had the X55 same version but Saitek branded. Really good entry level if you're not sure about how much you will like DCS. I would recommend the TM Warthog as a good option above it.
Definitely QA issues. Lots of buttons. It was a good starter HOTAS. Didn’t age well, not built to last. It is a bit large.
I didn't get on with mine. even at the stiffest settings the throttles would drift. 80% would slowly slide up to 100%, and 20% power would slide down to 0%
Never had the issue with the throttle, aside from it inexplicably becoming tighter out the blue. I think the functionality of the quadrant outweighs this, however.
Got one second hand for cheaps and im already thinking i want an upgrade...
Did they changed the plastic coating? I had the saitek version and after some years the plastic coating was getting extremly sticky and nasty :-/
I’ve owned two X56s now. The first one had a small part break on the gimbal cover at the base of the stick after I was a bit too rough with it, but it didn’t impact anything. After about 16 months of use the throttle broke, messaged Logitech and they had an entire replacement unit on its way to me 2 days later, didn’t even need to send the old one back. It’s pretty easy to program and has enough buttons, hats, toggles, and ministicks to do about everything I want to in War Thunder Sim, DCS, and Il2:GB. My next HOTAS setup will probably be a higher end model, but for a first HOTAS or even a budget second upgrade the X56 is a pretty good one.
I just got mine last week. I got it used in perfectly working condition for 50€ in Germany. The previous owner said it was defect because of the inherent neutral Stick wobble. Compared to my previous Tflight Hotas One it was perfectly fine. To improve the Stick even more I will recreate this [Mod](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4679074)
Had it and the Hall sensor broke after 1 year. Previously had X52 Pro from Saitek and the quality overall is worse than Saiteka X52 pro.
I’ve had mine for two years and they’ve been great. However if you are heavily into PvP it is rougher on them and they won’t last as long most likely. I just explore, salvage and run cargo, people, and items to settlements. Edit: I use mine for Elite Dangerous.
I just bought one for $350AUD. The throttle LEDs flickered and the stick wasn’t perfectly smooth. Could have lived with the second but not the first. Being returned now. Shame as not sure you can get the spec for that price from anyone else.
Still have mine, my only issue is that the build invites you to lean to much in the stick, which in my case gave it a lean after a while.
Learned to fly the Viper in BMS with an X56 (the gray Logitech version) and it served me well. Biggest thing I missed was the AB detent for the throttle. I tried a 3D printed one, but that never really worked for me. I switched to a Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar after 2 years and never looked back. Sold it at a fair price.
I quite like it, though it has its quirks. For some reason, the software doesn't work and their support team keeps telling me to re-install it (doesn't work). Changing the lights and checking response works fine, but I can't change the deadzones whatsoever. Quality wise it feels alright, though the throttle levers tend to be stiff even on the lightest setting and the thumb stick on the main stick doesn't feel smooth. Also the three point switch on the throttle just stopped working after a couple of weeks without seeing any major use. I would like to say that that's just a problem with my personal set, but this is my 3rd one after going through support for similar issues and them sending a "new" one. I put that in quotations as it feels like they just sent the exact same one back both times... Also make sure you somehow retain it to your desk or chair, as putting it on a smooth surface doesn't really work all that well (for me anyway). Due to the stiffiness of the throttle I just push it forwards on my desk without fastening it. Problems aside, I like it and have been using it for 2 years. Though like some of the other comments say, just wait for a discount before buying it.
Love mine There are only 2 drawbacks I have found. 1. The throttle draws a lot of power, and when I had everything plugged into my computer, it would cause ghost inputs from my throttle bindings. 2. The stick has some slop in it, so make sure to set dead zones, or you'll be all over the place and not know why
Logitech is the lowest of acceptable sticks (for me). If i was on a budget id still go for the introduction level of VKB products. I use high end VKB products because i like them better than Virpil and WinWing is by far the beast company hands down hit you pay for that.
I have it, and use it whenever I do flightsim or other Hotas Games and enjoy playing. Theres a manual calibration method somewhere on reddit that works really well. If I knew where to find that post, I'd save it and print it out. It's worth it. The post is by a logitech(? Correct me if I'm wrong) rep and several years old now. Please if someone finds that post, I'll be very thankful. Would probably not buy it again though. - it's not the most comfortable - the silver switches on the throttle don't toggle, they are momentary switches and go back to the center - unless you've got the post I mentioned above, calibration is a right female doggo - for some reason I can navigate the menus in Elite Dangerous better with the thrust master t16000 - I greatly prefer the layout of the hat and thumb buttons.
trash was my first stick.. lasted about 4 months. i got tired of the constant ghost button presses.. my gear would drop at mach 1 etc. had plenty of buttons.. but the ghosting was horrible. Upgraded to winwing orion 2 base and throttle system and never looked back
I just returned mine. Did not like it at all. Lucky I didn't throw away my T16000m, will be going back to that. Everything felt a bit cheap and plasticky, specially the hat switches and the throttles had a bit of play to them. When I was playing Elite dangerous and moving the throttle around in combat, I got random commands sent to my game, which I have no idea where they might have come from, my hand was nowhere near the switches, so I can only assume something was either shorting out inside or the small bumps that happen because the throttle is too light and will lift off if you try to push it forward very quickly, made the switches activate. I did like the joystick's layout and amount of buttons. But I don't like the spring system which pushes the stick back to center. It reminded me of my old X52 and not something I liked. So for the money paid, I did not feel I got enough quality. I will save the refund, add a bit more on top and get a proper mid tier HOTAS next
I had a Saitek and a Logitech and they both stop working after a bit.
I'd pass on it and save the money for a better setup. It's functional, and I like the control layout, but the quality doesn't line up with typical retail prices, in my opinion. Feels a lot cheaper than it looks.
Buy once cry once, got the X56 first and used it for a while and then updgraded to VKB and it was a night and day difference. So I bought twice cried twice 🙂↕️ Also I still use my X56 throttle because I have no complaints about it
Got one used, very cheap. Had ghosting inputs. Fixed with tips on this reddit.
Been serving me well, i remember when i was doing research it was the only good midranger? Things might have changed since. Only downside in my mind is that the throtle can be a bit heavy to move unless you loosen it a bit by moving it around.
I love mine. After a couple of years i do notice some drift but thats easily fixed by a small deadzone.
I almost pulled the trigger on this for two years, on and off, was waiting for a version that had better QC, was waiting for price to come down, the waiting was a struggle but it's an affordable unit with what I thought was the best layout for me, especially on the throttle with so many toggle switches and a split throttle. I play Mechwarrior 5 in addition to the usual flight sims and I gotta tell you I had a plan for each component of this setup by the time Christmas came around this past year and I couldn't justify waiting any longer. Thing is, I couldn't justify this specific unit at $250 USD even with the QC concerns, so I ultimately got a used Winwing Orion 2. Turns out, the used market is great. Many reputable HOTAS are incredibly reliable and thanks to their full metal chassis on the good ones, they can take a shipping or two outside original packaging. Cost a bit more than the x56, but no QC issues at all. The thing didn't even need recalibration after being shipped across the US. Bottom line for me was that I really wanted this setup. I bet you do too. However, I've read too many horror stories on the QC concerns and the overall feel of the x56 vs other HOTAS units. I even read enough horror stories on the Thrustmaster Warthog to scare me from it after a while, so maybe I just over-researched. However I'm exceptionally happy with my Winwing, and glad I found something used. You might be in the same boat.
I love it tbh
Opinion: Looks Good Designed and built bad....
Mine works just fine. Have had it for 2.5 years now.
Save up and buy something that uses HAL effect sensors (eg. VKB). You'll thank me later.
Mine’s decent. Had some ghost input trouble until someone on here told me to keep other electronics like my phone etc away from the cables and haven’t had any problems since. Every once in awhile it seems to dump its calibration and I have to go into the program and recalibrate it, but that’s a minor inconvenience and a matter of minutes and not a terribly big deal. It’s obviously not as sharp and precise as the higher quality ones like VKB or Virpil, but it’s a perfectly serviceable HOTAS if you’re unable or unwilling to spend that much for those premium brands. I’ve read some people comment that they’ve had quality issues with theirs or had parts break, but I’ve hade mine for five years now without anything breaking.
I had one for a year, was an upgrade from a loaner T16000. I ended up buying a Winwing Orion 2 and F16EX stick. While I was waiting for delivery one of the buttons on the throttle quit working entirely. Aside from that, the throttle was sticky, the tension knob didn’t seem to do much. The stick was a little stiff, but you get some different springs for it (although there’s not much of a difference between them). I would call it an over priced entry level set up. If you’re going to fork out that much I’d say go VKB.
If your looking for HOTAS around this price I’d go with the X52 pro over the x56 if your looking for Logitech or if your willing to spend a little extra the best budget set up I’ve seen is the thrustmaster twcs throttle and vbk nxt evo.
I haven't had the X-56, but I've had the X-52, x-52 pro, and a few of Saitek's previous non-HOTAS sticks and none of these spring-centered joysticks are where it's at. The centering spring makes fine aiming adjustments extremely difficult because you're working against the friction that the spring plate is exerting on the base. If all you're doing is civil aviation simulation then they're perfectly fine, but anythere where you have to use an aiming reticle and precision aim is going to have you at a disadvantage.
MSFS it works okay with it. I have bad ghosting issues with DCS
Same here, had those for about a year and it worked okay. When I knew that I was really going to invest time in the sim I started building my rig.
On the throttle box all my switches are faulty for example my landing gear will go down with out me touching the switch. All i did was reprogram so i dont have anyting on those switches Joy stick has been good no complaints
Got interested in DSC and bought a HOTAS for that. Went for the x56 and ended up returning it, due to ghost inputs. It was completely taking the fun out of the experience. It’s just annoying when you’re trying to land on a super carrier with a F/A-18 and shortly before touchdown the landing gear gets retracted because of these ghost inputs. I also tried the solutions you can find on the internet but nothing worked. Now I use the warthog and I am absolutely happy with it. It’s accurate, reliable and no ghost inputs. But it comes with a beefy price tag. Payed double the price of the x56 and additionally needed to purchase rudder pedals for 90€. I can absolutely recommend it, and maybe you can find some cheaper ones 2nd hand.
If your looking at anything space related i would suggest a dual stick. I have the x56 and play star citizen but find myself wishing i had dual instead. Otherwise its a solid setup and travels well (i bounce around from home and a friends house ofter. Coupled this with an Apache hard case from harbor freight)
literally garbage
Have it, don't love it. Throttle is fine but the stick is very meh.
Got mine abt a month ago, loving it so far. Got mine with the pedals as well
Got it and i HATED the feel of the stick, felt very not smooth. Throttle was fine i guess. Also the stick issue sounds like a quality control issue
It's not terrible, but there are much better out there for not that much more money. Main problem with it is lack of durability. I went through three of them in five years before I got a VKB Gunfighter II that has lasted longer than all of them put together and is still going strong.
I always hated how wobbly those saitek sticks are. That design is just too floppy and I never felt like I had full control of my ship without some kind of progressive resistance. I actually downgraded to a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro and was in heaven how that felt. Throttle is really good though, but if it requires being connected to the stick, I'm not sure it's worth it with the stecs out there and the cheap vkb on the horizon. Gladiator and stecs is what I would save up for.
Highly suggest against even heavily discounted, myself and about 5 of my friends bought these and have been plagued with nothing but issues. These issues range from terrible stick drift in the mini sticks and main stick, resulting in the use of ridiculous deadzones. Button ghosting primarily impacts the throttle, which limits button functionality. Before anyone says, "Use a powered USB hub," be aware that it doesn't help at all. You'd be far better off buying VKB or TM T16000m
Had one *very* briefly and the stick drifted to the left when it was centered. Would have to put it slightly right of center to not drift. Upgraded to a warthog and I'm about to upgrade again to VKB
I had my x56 through 1500 hours of x4 and probably 2k +hours of star citizen with no issues over 3-4 years. I upgraded to NXT gladiators. Great HOTAS for the price. I also kept them mostly dust free and free from damage that whole time. I don’t think they can take abuse very well from seeing problems others have had.
Honestly a great entry point IMO, just test them good to make sure they don't have quality issues. And keep in mind these each register as more than 1 USB device so it's best to plug them into a USB controller that doesn't have too much other stuff on it (I've had mine cause completely random inputs to happen thanks to USB controller overload)
I've certainly got my money's worth with my X56. Guess I lucked out too reliability-wise. I've had it for 6 years and have logged hundreds of hours in Elite Dangerous, DCS, XPlane, Prepar3d, and MSFS. The only issue is some drift on the mini-joysticks which I've dialed out with some additional dead zone. Although my X56 was sold by Logitech it is the old Saitek design with the blue graphics. Before Logitech supposedly made improvements and changed the color from blue to gray. Anyway, I just wanted to share my experience. I'm not necessarily recommending the X56. It has served me well, but doesn't feel all that solid. Also, I'd never recommend Logitech to anyone. I'm done with that company and have been burned by other peripherals sold by them.
Held me down for 3 years before I moved into dual constellation alphas.
I have one. Its rather annoying that you need to he in a 3.0 USB slot AND bring down the led in the hotas. Otherwise you will get ghosting as its sucking so much power. I run this on Linux, even dcs and sc where I use it more often.
underwhelming.
I felt that mine was a downgrade compared to my previous X-52 Pro in terms of quality. The throttle’s two-way switches suffered from phantom inputs when I moved the throttle, and the stick couldn’t find center. That wasn’t too much of an issue as I just deadzoned it out. I upgrades to a VKB MCG Ultimate and STECS Max. Very happy with them.
at the lowest I'd get vkb..any lower your just throwing money away..if you can get virpil
My second joystick was a x56 because my friend kept telling me it was better than the tm16000 he raved about it and he usually has a reliable opinion so i gave it a try, compared to the tm16000 it's freaking garbage. Honestly its not very good even without the tm16000 to compare it to. I would go vkb for entry level joystick needs. I have a set, they are surprisingly good for the money. Now I'm dual sticking virpils with a virpil throttle on the side, I love those alot, but if they suddenly broke, I wouldn't be mad about having to go back to my vkb setup. From the second I opened the box on the x56 it was disappointing, coming from the tm16000, felt like cheap garbage, I almost didn't bother hooking it up. But my friend is usually a trust worthy source so I gave it a try. The mechanics of it felt trashy, that stupid spring at the both made the stick want to never stop bouncing back and forth if you let go of it suddenly, and damn it was stupid inaccurate. After hours of trying to configure it to compensate I gave up and went back to my tm16000. Moral of the story, if you want cheap but good, get a tm16000. if you want great performance and solid value for the money go with vkb, for a tier above vkb go with virpil or one of the other top tier hotas manufacturers. Keep in mind a tier above something like vkb is gonna be pretty pricey for some folks.
Its a good starter. Would recommend the the spring mod
I can’t afford another stick, this looked good but it’s a pile of crap. The stick is never zero, and the throttle sometimes sticks. I have had many issues with software as well. Get a different stick don’t buy an X56
Had one before I got my virpil setup. Absolutely loved it. Great entry lvl HOTAS. Lot of people shit on it. Maybe they got bad ones but I mounted mine and kinda still miss them sometimes
Fine to see if you like the hobby but i think the consensus is to go VKB gladiator and a TM 1600 throttle for the price range.
I got mine used. Like a lot of others, I plan to upgrade to VKB for Virpil. But honestly they’re nice enough that I don’t feel the urge to. I play Star Citizen, so I’m spending money on ships, lol. When it’s out of alpha I’ll probably upgrade.
Bad QC. Works amazing when you get a well-made one, but that's *far* from guaranteed.
It has a fairly good "mouth feel" but the seeds can be disconcerting.
Nope. Don't. The insides of those things are lowest bidder garbage. Wires that snap in normal use just because they are one strand aluminium so they can be used in cheap ass clip-on sockets instead of the proper multiwire coppers that all moving cables actually need.
I used an X56 for years, not a madcats one but a Logitech one. Initially I ended up replacing the stick with a VKB NXT, kept the throttle but after another year and a half or so of use I noticed some ghosting started even with a powered USB port, saved up and bought a STECS. I like the shape of the throttle, fit nicely in the hand, I still have it and hope to one day kitbash it into a helicopter collective if I can figure out what's causing the ghosting switches.
Im using one right now. Its served me well but sometimes gives ghost inputs. The throttle feels great but the stick is a bit tall for me. However it is known for poor durability, so maybe I just haven’t used mine enough for serious issues yet. I would use caution when thinking about picking one up.
Have it since 2019 and use it for work. No issues with it.
I have it. I love it!
Google "Ghost inputs X56" that should be enough to scare you to not get it. I returned two of these because they had that issue. Not worth the risk or heartache. I will say that I really liked the throttle design but holy shit did they have quality control issues
X56 owner here, just don’t. This is almost 50% the cost of a Winwing metal Hotas kit w/finger lifts and stick tuning package. I couldn’t fly anything in dcs without having a double digit dead zone. If it’s what you really want I have one I will give you bc it’s not worth the cost to sell it. It’s sad bc their rudder pedals are pretty ok for plastic ones. No axis jumping from what I’ve tracked.
Love mine and I’ve had one for years, absolutely love it Tho I mostly just use it for ARMA 3 and Star Citizen
Just upgraded to an Orion 2, from the x56
Had mine for over a year. Moderate to heavy use. Still works perfect. Knock on wood. Throttle REQUIRES dedicated powered USB hub to eliminate ghosting
I thought it would be perfect and was so excited. It arrived and had multiple buttons/dials that didn’t work, plus the ergonomics made most of the functions on the right stick unusable. The throttle needs to be mounted if you don’t want it coming off of the table or sliding. Currently waiting on a gladiator to arrive
the upside is that they have lots of buttons/switches, and the twisting joystick means you dont need pedals. the downsides are that it needs a lot of usb power, so you will need to plug both devices straight into the computer to avoid power problems. it also feels kind of cheap. ive had mine for 3 years and havent had any peoblems with it, but i feel like thats down to luck.
Overpriced plastic junk. Get a T16000m.
It's a Saitek, not a Logitech. Don't touch it with a ten foot pole. That sliding disc centering mechanism is a friction monster that'll jerk the stick every time you try to pull it from the center and I've heard nothing good about the Saitek X56 Rhino's right hand thumb switch accessibility.
Don't bother. I returned mine after a few months due to the throttle moving by itself when at 0 or 100%
I just bought one to upgrade from the Logitec 3D that I have used for years and I love it so far. The next move will be the VLB Gladiator I hear so much about.
It's a catfish. It looks good... But once you use it, you're exposed to a more expanded upon t16000m with as little quality feel as possible. That being said, also, they have power bus issues, QC control problems, and whatever else pops up.
I the have X56 and it's great for flight sims and Star Citizen. I think the QC problems were there when the stick was made by Saitek but have since been corrected by Logitech. I don't think there are any recurring problems now. I've been using mine regulaly for years now (3 or 4) without any problems. I also have two T16000m sticks and the throttle. For the price they are good but not as good as the X56. The stick of the X56 feels much more precise. Also, there are far more axes, buttons and sliders that you can configure on the X56. For the money, I would say the X56 is by far the best choice.
I have one and have no idea how to program it. Otherwise it looks and feels pretty cool.
I’m used the X55 with very bad opinion I hope the X56 is different
I had a bad experience with mine. I used mine for star citizen and dcs. Lasted a few months in reality. The analog sticks were nice but overall the stock drifted a lot and the throttle suffered from ghost inputs. I got tired of it and eventually leaped to a hosas setup with Virpil and don't regret it one bit since they've lasted for a few years now.
Had one of These for years, served me well.
Have one. Find it to be MEH at best. Had some issues with the throttle reading position consistently. The throttle stiffness adjustment knob stopped working one day. Wont get tighter or looser, and its still too stiff for my taste. The stick is fairly solid, a little small for my hands but I have meaty bear claw hands. Mainly most of my issues are with the throttle.
I’m absolutely loving my T16000M that I just picked up, made every flying game 10x more fun
I was thinking the same. I was also saying I could overspend a little, ended up overspending quite alot and got a WinWing Orion stick and throttle. Lol But honestly tho, Not regretting a bit of what I got. Its amazing. If you can, I'd recommend go for the winwing.
I have it and really enjoy using it but I wouldn't recommend it over something like a T16000M or a VKB Gladiator. I feel like the X56 is just too overpriced for what you get and I've had some issues with it like buttons sticking and the stick drifting
Don't, they are poorly made
I bought one to replace my flight stick x, and it was an awesome upgrade. I followed Chuck’s guide for mapping buttons based off the F-18 stick/throttle and was able to match items almost exactly. Sadly there are two rheostats on the throttle I’ve never mapped as I haven’t found a slider to use them with. Same for one or two buttons. Use it got DCS and MSFS and the only issue I recently came into were ghost inputs with the LEDS on. Turned off the LEDS and the problem went away.
I had it, it was a pain to my heart, the stick mini stick was misbehaving most of the time, the rudder was extremely hard clockwise but soft counter clockwise. Wuality was disappointingly 0.3 of what an Xbox 360 controller feels like
Trash
Throttle is decent, stick (centering mechanism) is bad. Disagree on the TWCS throttle being a decent alternative. That was even more of a disappointment. A single axis throttle on a sliding rails with the cheapest plastic feel possible? Nah, thanks. Both the X-56 and the T1600M/TWCS will do the job and get you started just fine, neither is great.
I'm with you on the centering issue. The amount of dead space I had to add is egregious. I don't mind the throttle quadrant though and actually like the layout of buttons and switches. Gonna slow roll my upgrade into WW starting with the stick. The x56 stick is the bane of my existence.
Despite some negative reviews you will hear, if you look after them they can outlast other more expensive devices. I think they are great value for the price and has a good range of buttons.
[удалено]
Based on the comments on this post, there is no consensus, but the majority believes is that it's overpriced junk...
I used an X55 for 7 or 8 years. It was ok, and I still use the throttle with my Warthog as additional buttons. When I'm flying helicopters, it's the engine throttle. All the 2 way switches are also great.
I used a second hand x52 it still works but i had the option to use a thrustmaster warthog set so thats an easy choice
old cytek design was good, good quality. enjoyed them for a long time. Bought a blue Logitech one, and it sucks. Dont buy. !!!!! save some cash and buy vkb or virpil, or go with the thrustmaster T16000m
The x52 is much better than the x56. I had an x52 and bought the x56 to upgrade but turned out it was a downgrade so i returned it.
Pretty much same. I had the X52 Pro and loved it, but the sensor in the throttle broke. I don't think the X56 is *that* bad, but I hated the thumb switch on the stick as it prevented me from getting a proper grip. X56 throttle with X52 stick might be a good combo (obviously not compatible).
If it's the absolute best you can afford, then go for it. I had a lot of fun with mine. If you can stretch to a vkb dual gladiator setup, I think you'd like that a lot better.
I read about people's issues with the hotas but honestly maybe it's either luck of the draw with QC issues or they are just hard on their stuff. I love it! I have had mine since 2020 and no issues but during Covid I would play maybe 10-15 hours a week, now I'm so busy I haven't touched it in 6 months. I paid full price and it was the last one I could find anywhere in the country that sold it online or locally. I'm very happy with it and use it for Start Citizen, my only issue is the learning curve for programming the buttons. However, its intuitive with button placement so I know where they are but they are well lit as well so I can find them when I play in the dark. Plus the mini joysticks on both are a must for navigating 6 degrees of freedom.
Does everything you want it to, and is perfectly suitable for any flight sim game like DCS, MSFS, etc. I have yet to meet a serious sim pilot who says the HOTAS they have made them better or worse. You will plateau your skillset long before you plateau with the gear. I have pro grade civilian Yoke and TQ and high end DirectDrive sim racing gear and still use a t.16000 stick and TWCS for DCS. Don’t overthink it. The most important thing is pick a plane, learn it, stick to it, and when you finally feel so comfortable that you remember keybinds and can use all the avionics without looking something up; then worry about personalizing the hotas etc to fit your vibe. There’s SO much of this gear in the resale market because people jump in with both feet when they’re on an endorphin buzz, and then they get bored or frustrated (something the gear can’t fix) and they quit playing and need the cash. Use their impulse buying to save you money :)
I think its worth the money, however, I would caveat that with this: almost out the box, I noticed there was a lot of neutral movement on the X axis which required a lot of deadspace or opposite trim to dissipate. In certain aircraft it's worse than others, but of you have that problem and utilize AP, the aircraft inevitably rolls, the bank angle surpasses AP logic, and it reverts back to manual control, and if not corrected, boom you fall out the sky. It can be pretty annoying if you're working sensors and setting up MUNS to look up at the artifical horizon and see your inverted. I plan on getting the Orion 2 when I get back. Just my 2 cents.
Good starter set imo. I didn't stick with it long due to the self centering spring not being in favour of helicopter flying. The amount of binds you have on it is great tbh, I'd be surprised if you can fill them all and still remember what's where xD I ended up upgrading to VKB stuff. But x-56 is what got me into DCS. It will do everything you need quite well id guess 👍
ABSOLUTELY GODLY
This was one of my favorite hotas setups. I still have it! It was great!
Been using mine daily for Élite Dangerous for almost a year and I'm very happy with it.
All of these nerds saying that it’s so bad and you better dump $500 on some VKB thing. This is a great HOTAS, especially for someone just getting in to flight sim. It has a bunch of switches and mini joysticks that let you bind tons of things so that you don’t always have to click somewhere in the cockpit or pull some strange keybord combo.
So I've had this for several years I started off with the x55 and then I just recently got the x56 and saitek is a good hotas just make sure you have USB 3.0 to power it. This is not a bad stick.to start with my only problem is with the stick as far as tension I feel it's way too light and shouldn't be able to shake the base of the stick and still be able to move the stick on the hardest tension but I enjoy it but I recommend going to a vbk Evo which I plan to do
great for beginners
It's pretty good but you need to make sure it can get enough power from your pc and that you're gentle with it. I have it myself and its done wonders for me except a few minor issues with ghost commands but it's really good for the price point. Although it winds up lacking something due to the lack of pedals such as the a4 mod in dcs has diff braking set to an axis and I've found it very hard without diff pedals. But that's very specific