As someone who owns one of these I want to say him saying "there is no metal to be found" is not accurate, all the toggle switches and the little switch guards around the bottom 3 switches are metal. I know it's not much but they are metal so him saying there isn't any metal at all is not really fair.
I've had this thing for somewhere around two years for Elite Dangerous. I love it, though the only issue I've had is the throttle. It'll trigger random switches and buttons if it doesn't have enough power. Simply invest in a powered USB hub and plug it in separately from the Stick.
Comparison of build quality with the steering wheels. Remember that that the wheels are Logitech from the ground up, whereas the X56 is a Saitek design and build that was bought out by Logitech. That goes a long way to explain the difference in build quality.
Hey man. Look at pilot supply websites. Trust me I found them all over i just had to do some digging. Got my hotas for 299 so only 50 bucks more than retail. And the service was great. I got mine at marv golden www.marvgolden.com/?gclid=CjwKCAiAzNj9BRBDEiwAPsL0d2X5RrgZILLTmv1Nf-ZX4-kO8235x1t-8zX0hovGhJViyPnt7qpTdhoCjWAQAvD_BwE but there are many sites like it.
There have been a lot of issues with quality control, lot of people getting DoA products or they malfunction in the first weeks. They will probably kill the current production and release something under a new name.
They're so back-ordered it's not funny. They're running double production and can't keep up. Keep in mind that they will supply all of the vendors before they stock their own web store. (All vendors are back-ordered as well). I got lucky by keeping an eye on Amazon. They got 20 of them in a few days ago and all 20 were gone within 6 hours. My advice would be to check Amazon twice a day. I even got mine for less than usual retail (which is 249.99), think I paid 237 in total with free shipping. Here's a direct link to the proper page on Amazon (If you're in the U.S.) www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079P6SSHP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
just_noXi yes, my x-55 got very sticky over the past few years, but I was able to spend a couple hours with a microfiber cloth and rubbing alcohol to remove it all and get down to bare, smooth plastic. Not as nice feeling now, but at least I didn't need to throw it all away.
@@n7cmdr Yep, that's how you do it. Once the rubber desintegrates you have to remove it. It's stuff like petroleum based oils not just solvents that actually break down the rubber real fast, so if you got tiny amounts of those on your hands over time it will destroy the handles. I truly hate this stuff, it's just a gimmick, in the real world nobody uses rubberized controls, they would be worn within weeks. ua-cam.com/video/wzObaO5WF_I/v-deo.html
This hasn't been an issue with either of my 5 year old x56's, but those are pre-logitech's acquisition of Saitek and the x56. I wouldn't say those were rubberized, though.
I've had mine (secondhand off a well-known auction site) for over a year now and it's been really great barring two issues. The worst one is indeed the throttle friction problem, I solved this by carefully taking it apart and replacing the 'gunk' with a proprietary axle grease. Much improved now although great care needs to be taken with the adjustment gears. That was a bad design flaw there, they strip and jump the gears very easily, never mind the incredibly delicate wiring. The second one is the stick's deadzone, caused by the mushroom-shaped sleeve that the the exposed spring sits on wearing on the shaft so it slowly worsens over use . I'm looking into making a metal sleeve out of shim stock to press into this so it's a sliding fit, or even having a full metal mushroom-sleeve made with proper ptfe bushes, eliminating that excessive play and reducing the deadzone as close to zero as possible. Some thick grease on here helps in the short term, but it will eventually cause problems as dust is attracted to the grease from the exposed design, so the sliding metal sleeve with a good ptfe grease seems to be the path to go down here.
@@obiwankenobi5126 the good HOTAS sets use a HAL sensor. a HAL sensor.. in simple terms, it's what detects the position of the stick,, it's magnetic in nature so there is no physical contact with the stick and sensor, and hence never wears out, cheaper HOTAS setups use potentiometers for measuring position, but these wear out eventually, and cause problems when they do
@@yetidynamics Do you mean a Hall Effect Sensor? There is a chip shortage at the moment so perhaps that is what is causing the delay. Looking at them now they are in stock in Australia most places I look.
Ye same over here, a beta would be nice to see how arcade or simulation the game would be and to try out some flight sticks with it. But I’m getting goosebumps thinking about how it will be to play squadrons with VR+Flight stick.
Running my X56 with a TrackIR 5 has made flight sims SO MUCH BETTER. Been big into Elite Dangerous as of late but Arma, IL-2, DCS, and MFS2020. I also prefer it being plastic over metal because moving it around to get it into position and such with my monitors and case it's far less likely to damage anything if there's an accidental bump. Which overtime, there will be.
This told me everything I needed to know, always wanted something like this, DCS, MS Flightsim, ED and SC will feel so much better adding this to my setup, thank you for the vid.
Trust me the throttle is too stiff for small ships in star citizen. You just can’t throttle up and down fast enough. In a dog fight I still go back to keyboard mouse
Very good analysis. I bought the X56 especially for space sims mainly because of the very useful thumb analog joysticks for the 6 DOF. I found the software to program the buttons and axes very practical. Since a few months I fly flight sims mainly and have since transitioned to Virpil, mainly for increased precision in the middle as that is one of the weaker aspects of the joystick. The technique they used to have the joystick spring back makes that there is quite a bit of resistance in the middle as shown at 1:22 , which for me is the main draw back as it translates to decreased precision for aiming. Over all, it remains a very interesting proposition at that price point in my opinion. BTW, no matter the brand, I would want the HOTAS to be bolted down when using it. In the heat of the fight, simply counting on weight to have your controls remain in place is not realistic in my opinion. Yes it is a hassle to find a solution that is firmly fixed and removable when you want to, but having your HOTAS fixed makes a huge difference, no matter the model.
Guys just a heads up VKB have recently released the Gladiator K. It's their more entry level base and stick, which is also mainly plastic construction but of much higher quality and precision than the X56. Also has a ton of buttons on the stick. You'll still need a separate throttle though. For which I can definitely recommend the Thrustmaster TWCS
Good luck finding that anymore. I'm really tired of people who play nothing but flight sims piping up about buying $500+ setups. Some people have other things to spend money on
As much as I like this product, I've had 3 over the passed 2+ yrs, it's the reliability that lets it down ! The joystick has always been the week point and has failed first. Yaw, Pitch or Roll is where they've failed for me and sadly have now had to move onto another Hotas system.
I went through 3 X2 in 2 years of warranty (played 3-4hrs on it a day). Later got the X56 and it is a great piece of kit and hasn't failed yet after 18mo.
I've had problems with buttons failing, especially the mouse control. I had to open up my 52 to clean out a couple buttons. And I had to cut down a screw driver to get into the throttle. For the price tag, I expect and need it to last. You can't buy a stick every year.
I actually used two spare pieces of wood to mount my hotas on. The way i did this means I can pull them out the front, turn them upside down and then push them all the way in so that the hotas is out of the way if I don't need it for a while.
But what about the Precision? Playing DCS and the nicest Layout means nothing without precise Steering. Any advises @the Midpricesection? TM 16000? X56(Pro)? Anything Else?
You have the 2020 version of the x52 pro?! Can you confirm if it has dual USB connectors or still has the PS2 one? Even Logitechs own website states both depending where you look
Getting one that lasts as long as yours has is a complete luck of the draw. There have been so many issues with these that were not fixed when Logitech bought out Saitek.
#1 I'm fairly certain that DCS allowing itself to be FREE for the month has revived interest in flight sims - as well as Elite Dangerous and Star Citizen. #2 PROBLEM: The HOTAS WARTHOG and the VIRPIL Constellation/VFX joysticks and bases are WAY TOO EXPENSIVE for the average user - either setup with pedals will cost no less than $1000...especially if you get the HOTAS WARTHOG with PENDULAR pedals. #3 Logitech/Saitek's X-56 is probably the absolute BEST DEAL you can get on a split throttle Hotas. $250 is nothing compared to the costs of the WARTHOG or the Virpils. Add in the Logitech Pro G Pedals and you're only looking at $180+ $250 = $430 As far as functionality goes: the X56 has pretty much every button on the stick you need for DCS or any other military flight sim...including Microsoft flight simulator. My only disappointment is that the WARTHOG and VIRPIL's throttle have a 3rd slider which can be mapped to the HARRIER's Nozzle angle control while the X56 doesn't have it. #4 IF YOU PLAY ELITE DANGEROUS or STAR CITIZEN, your best option is ACTUALLY the THRUSTMASTER HOSAS 16000m with the THRUSTMAST PEDALS. $129 + $120 = $250 You can add on the Thrustmaster THROTTLE for just $89 and then you can play DCS or any space sim game perfectly. -----Right now I only have a Saitek X45 with Logitech G Pro Pedals while playing DCS modules... and I am leaning on buying an X56. I absolutely can afford the Warthog and Virpil since I'd be buying it on Credit Card (for points) and then repaying using my UA-cam money income...but I think Logitech's (saitek's) designs are more forward looking. For example: I bought my X45 in 2001 and it's still working LIKE NEW today. I also bought Logitech stock.
I had the x45, x55, and x56. Yeah, you do get what you pay for. The x56 is so cheaply made it is not worth $200, it might be worth $100. Pay $200-$250 for crap or pay $100-$150 more for a real HOTAS. Yes you do need rudder pedals with the Warthog. If you are getting a HOTAS system you should be getting rudder pedals anyway. If you are going to be playing DCS you will need pedals. I love seeing guys crash when taking off or trying to come in for a crosswind landing. I always ask them, twist stick? Always with a, yes. I hate seeing people spend their money on something that is not worth it and the x56 is definitely not worth it.
I use the top right silver knurled knob for the nozzle and that works well because I can tweak the angle with my thumb. What I’d like is some switches without a spring return so you know when flaps are down or whatever.
@@ComdrStew I fly helos and jets in DCS with X-56 without any problems here since 2015 on an almost daily basis. Pedals are not mandatory for DCS. You can do perfectly fine without them in any situation.
This was released by Saitek, which was a subsidiary of MadCatz. They were sold to Logitech about 5 years ago. I got mine around then, getting passed around between the 3 companies customer service depts and eventually having to tweet at Logitech to get help... Still, love my joysticks, even if the rudder needs recalibrated every time I've ever used it, the slider never works in any game, and the free look stick for the right hand is painfully inconsistent. If the throttle had consistent resistance and didn't randomly stiffen up on it's own during use I'd totally buy another if I was replacing these.
I co-own one with my dad, and it's pretty useful for playing Elite Dangerous. The only problem is that the joystick can start to drift due to the spring not fully pushing it straight.
I bought the X-55 a couple of years ago now and people were saying it was shit, it breaks, you couldn't do this that and the other. The X-55 is one of the best hardware I've bought, very usable, so many buttons to map, and the software to programme the buttons has been super handy. The only problem I see people having is the ergonomics, so if you have a small hand some of the buttons can be hard to reach without lifting but it's never effected me as I get this with nearly every joystick anyway.
I'm considering getting an upgrade from my T. Flight Hotas X, and whilst I've been considering the X56, I've heard a few reoccurring issues like the light construction - I don't really have any options for mounting it, so I'm sort of concerned about that. I've also heard about strong yaw which makes controls difficult (plus the placement of the thumbstick of the joystick makes it even more difficult). These are my only real concerns about this joysticks, but are they really just, or are they easy to deal with/get used to? I'm more of a commercial flight kinda guy, so dogfighting maneuvers shouldn't be too common for me (unless I decide to pull some G's in a 747, you never know)
if you fly commercial, i would recommend the honeycomb yoke! its pretty good :) If you want a stick though, i would just save up for Virpil or VKB(Vkb's gladiator seems pretty good!)
I guess that works for commercial flight. Though I would have to say as someone with a pilot's license (light aircraft) that civilian flight with a single pilot is almost always done from the left seat. It then follows if you want to fly with any accuracy to this you need a left-handed joystick, not a right-handed one. (alas, left-handed sticks are few and far between) If you're routinely flying boeing aircraft of course, what you really need is a yoke... But still... I needed a left-handed joystick to ensure my sim setup bore more of a resemblance to what the real aircraft I fly are like to control... I'm just hoping the X56 throttle is reasonable to use right-handed, even if it's clearly not optimal to do so by any means...
I still have a microsoft sidewinder force feedback 2 and have no desire to change. I love the force feedback. My only issue is the lack of buttons. The X56 throttle looks great so I'm considering getting it.
I've been disappointed with my X56. I've got a lot of Logitech stuff and it's generally very good. The X56 was dissappointing right out of the box. The joystick has a wobble in the neutral position of a couple of degrees. I had to fix that with a dead spot. There was also one rubber foot missing which meant that the thing is never stable on my desk. There is a knob that is supposed to vary the resistance of the throttle but it never worked. From a longevity point of view it's also dissappointing. First up, one of the throttle buttons started to fail. A press would register about 50% of the time. This was after a couple of years of daily use but it was not a button that I used that often. Now the trigger and pinky button are doing the same thing. Very often the action is registered a second of so after the press and sometimes the up action fails leaving the button pressed. That's really frustrating. Getting a gun solution is hard at the best of times and very often the opportunity is fleeting. When the button sticks down, you are out of ammo very quickly. In addition to the individual buttons failing, a problem with the stick has emerged. All of the buttons on the stick are now intermitantly failing at the same time. The main axes of the stick still work but none of the buttons do anything. It failure might last from a few seconds to 10 or 15 seconds and can happen 2 - 3 times in a 15 minute period. From a comsmetic point of view the chrome on the toggle switches started to rub off after about 6 months and the surface of the plastic on the throttle is peeling. I would not recommend an X56 until there is a major new version with a significant improvement in build quality.
@@DiggitySlice I got mine new and it was black (the only option at the time). I think that it you are thinking of getting one it would be a good idea to look for more recent reviews. I hope that Logitech has improved the quality by now.
X56 is a great HOTAS, but I have 3 problems from the beginning that support haven't managed to fix it: - Wheel to adjust hardness of throttle don't works fine, the hardness adjust is minimal - Wheels used for zoom are not precise, zoom jumps at some points - In factory mode I have 2 different colors in lights throttle, if I configure other color that standard all lights changes to the same color; peculiar comportment behavior
I just got the t16000m and would defo consider this just for the throttle, but they seem to be out of stock everywhere so might just wait till 2021. Gonna mod the throttle on the t16000m so it's a bit better.
So question -- is the dead zone because of the spring? What happens if you remove the spring altogether and let the stick flop around. So long as you yourself keep your hand on it and centered as you like, is there still a dead zone without the spring?
Having 2 analog thumb sticks is incredible in a space sim. I want to grab one of these, but everything is sold out. I play Elite Dangerous with a CH setup. The throttle has an analog stick, but the throttle itself is very jittery. Hoping these come back in stock soon.
I have one of the older Saitek versions and I have a lot of issues with creaking in the joystick, that even lubrication doesn’t seem to eliminate. Did Logitech change something in the construction?
I got this as an "upgrade" when my TM16000M failed. Plastic feels cheap, but the bigger issue is that the new joystick had 2 hats that were doa. I couldn't get a response or contact with Logitech at the time so I ended up returning it as I was within my return window. In the end I'm back to a TM16000M. On paper I feel that the X56 is much better, and it has the potential but the quality of the hats on the unit I received was not very good. Might just be a one off issue, but the lack of any response from logitech at the time caused me to return it and move on.
It’s like thrustmaster stop making the warthog Hotas. I’ve been waiting 3 months now to ship. May have to go another route because they can’t keep up with the demand. Does any one know if this Hotas works with DCS ?
I’ve got both and probably prefer the X56 because IMHO the Thrustmaster spring is far too strong for desktop use. I bought an aftermarket weaker spring (“green spring”) but it’s still too strong. It depends on what you fly though, for the F18 or similar the Thrustmaster spring is probably viable but for hovering, helicopters or the Harrier, not usable for me. The Thrustmaster is prettier and probably a bit more precise, the X56 rattles a bit in the centre position but that doesn’t affect performance. Now I use the Virpil base with the Thrustmaster stick, Virpil is far and away better. I like the X56 throttle, as bought it has too much friction for the fast jets, like the F18, in DCS where you have to move it fast for carrier landings etc. but if you open it up you can scrape out some of the treacle like stuff they use to give it friction until it’s to your liking . I agree it tends to slide around too but it’s easy to find a way to hold it down - I use two elastic bands. Come to that I clamp the Virpil base down as well. I don’t think he mentioned the X56 software which is excellent and user friendly.
@@glennet9613 Well, if you're flying a helicopter with realistic controls there should actually be NO spring. Though that feels a bit weird to some no doubt. (that's actually also true of small civilian aircraft that use sticks. Because it's all mechanical linkages, the only force you feel on the flight stick in such an aircraft is the air pressure against the control surfaces. Without the kind of force feedback we had in the early 2000's you can't replicate that experience...)
An easy DIY upgrade is dismantle the throttle and clean out the sticky goo that acts as resistance. Much more consistent resistance and lighter pull eliminates the tipping issue.
I have an x52. Had it since 2014. It still goes strong in elite. although had to map quite a few non essentials to keyboard. have the same issue you describe with throttle on the joystick. Narrow base and suction cups
Brunner has force feedback joystick base for 1200 Euros, they have FFB yoke as well, no FFB throttles though as throttle is usually not related to aircraft movement, nobody reviewed that Brunner joystick on YT though and it is there for more than 2 years, weird.
In stock now, fashionable to pan this stick - but actually really like mine. It is slightly large for me so could do with some foam on hand rest to elevate hand slightly. I was initially disappointed as stick jittered slightly on both X and Y axis so on windows calibration screen never settled. I searched for ages on forums and read allsorts of solutions. But in the end by random chance it's built in the software that you download from logitec, it's just hidden away !!! I clicked recalibrate and absolutely perfect now !! The spring tension bit can sometimes slip from its cup if care isn't taken attaching the stick to base so ensure it clips in properly. For £219 and amount I use it, playing other game types not exclusively flight sims it's great.
I still have my Saitek X55 which is where it originated, i suppose i'm lucky it still works. My throttle was too stiff but i opened it up and removed some viscous grease from the friction blades, also the twist grip creaks and i don't like the ball and cup. I was hoping that with Logitech buying out Saitek that they might do more with this layout keeping it similar but improving the build. Anyway thanks for the informative review, i'm not sure i'd replace mine with the X56 but there doesn't seem to be many options out there that can do so much unless paying double.
Did you get the two way hat on the throttle to work with elite dangerous? It doesn't seem to work well for me. I really wanted to use it to switch between forward and reverse thrust but it would work.
Probably because of the human malware going going around. Dont forget that China shutdown for a while assuming that's where they make them. Also been hard to get a hold of wheel and pedal controllers too. iRacing has seen a boom during this mess since people can't really get out to do anything, and I assume that goes for space and flight sims as well. Took me a while to find one of these controllers for a decent price as most were 3 to 400 bucks and up for this controller alone, and alot of places didn't even have it in stock.
They are still selling them, they are just having stock issues. When they are available on Logitechs website they are sold out within an hour or so. They just can't keep them "on the shelf". My wife and i watched thier website religiously and was able to get 2 ordered early July. They were sold out within an hour after that. I'm guessing the issues are their factorys have been crushed because of covid. Keep watching, you'll get one if you keep on it!
Still have ghost input problems on my throttle after two years, multiple powered hubs used in this period, and Logitech had swapped me out twice meaning ive had this issue on three different throttles. Some dont have this issue but for those of us who do the unit is effectively garbage. I did find a python script and two programs off github that filtered them out but I still cant wait to replace the damn thing.
Hi Tao! I just re-stumbled on your video regarding the X56 and I just want to add a little long-time information: After having severe ghosting-problems I stumbled upon on I chose to switch to powered USB Hubs (3port, nothing else attached) - and the ghosting was gone. After now 5 (maybe 6) years of constant use I just now (today, 13. November 2023) took of the bottom of the throttle, re-lubricated with silicon spray, re-attached a smoother spring for the grip and gave tha stick-base a silicon-bath as well. What can I say? If I had done that a few years ago I would have been alsomore happier. Nevertheless, the price for this equipment is much too high, too sharp. I would recommend selecting something in 50-100 €/$ above in price-range. Or being very patient and technically fit to do some retrofitting ;)
I bought a VKBSim Gladiator back in June for $100 from the X-Plane store. I started doing research on a hotas setup and the cheapest X56 I have found is $300
The latest programming software for the x56 does not seem to allow one to program the mode switches. I test the mode switch fine under the Win 10 builtin joy stick utility but no go with the Logi programming software. In ED I can't mode switch to other commands.
My biggest problem with the X-56 is the throttle. They use a very tack grease for friction, the adjustment for the throttle is a blade that adds more tacky grease to the throttle. For me it would be tacky if it sat for a while, but if you moved it a lot it would free up. Once you stoped the resistance would jump again. For its price I would have expected a mechanical resistance that was much more consistent than grease. It was such a disappointment for the price and provided me with a horrible experience for a throttle.
I have owned 2 of these. Long story short, The stick twist is too stiff to use while also trying to use your thumb for other functions. The friction oil in the throttle is inconsistent at best, nonexistent for the rest of the time. After using mine for Star Citizen for half a year, i am unable to use it for DCS anymore due to the resistant being totally shot. It has ghosting issues, especially in the throttle. Both of my units were broken when i received them, i had to take them apart and reseat the thumbsticks. Buttons on the back of the throttle tend to stick or not respond occasionally. The throttle absolutely will slide on your desk if not secured down. BUT! I still use it because the amount of buttons and placement is nice... but thats about all thats nice.
@@DiggitySlice both brand new. first one had a broken thumbstick, so i asked for a replacement. Instead, they just sent me a 2nd one no charge. It also had a broken thumbstick. I repaired both stick then used them for about 5 years. The throttle loses its friction after a few months of constant use, and the deadzone in the stick is due to the design, so it is not fixable. (the sliding collar has a small tolorance such that from top to bottom it has about a 2 degree slop... this translates to about half an inch of movement at the top of the stick without spring resistance) The throttle takes a lot of power and thus has ghosting issues especially with the bottom 3 switches. And the internal design of the z twist creates a pretty stiff resistance that you can not overcome with just palm grip, so your right thumb is often unable to use the thumbstick while trying to use twist. But... i still used it for thousands of hours, and i still love the stick. These design flaws are terrible, but the features it has and the versatility of it kinda make up for it. I now use a 1000$ virple set, and i still miss some of the features from the x56.
Are there 2 versions of this joystick for sale or am I getting confused by the sales images. One seems to have a permanent blue pattern on it and the other seems to be just black? Does the blue only appear when power is on or are there 2 versions. Many thanks for the reply in advance.
The blue version is an older model which is not available any more. The black version is the best me that is still available and also had some design improvements.
This stick was originally created by Saitek before Logitech bought them out. On the surface, this is a great stick. But they are prone to electronic failure. Mine broke twice, was replaced twice by Logitech after they purchased Saitek... The third one is still brand new in the box because I wasn't ready to trust the build quality of this stick anymore. Which is sad because this is a great HOTAS. Mine kept getting it's IC scrambled so it kept sending different buttons presses from any of the other buttons. That is if the button sends anything. It got to the point where nothing in the stick would work. The quality of the ball fails and it sticks a lot. Back when I used this stick I did get a couple hundred hours out of it as I was an Elite Dangerous player. I finally swapped over to the Warthog and never looked back. I have about 1000 hours on my warthog and still going strong.
Still got my trusty crusty X45, I really like that the rudder is on the back of the throttle (I know, you cant do that with split throttle) but to me its much nicer than a twisty rudder joystick.
Those rubbered plastics get so freakin sticky after few years that you have to remove it with alcohol or acetone and this stick is totally covered with this material. I had to do it on my old x52 Pro, but there are only "some" areas covered.
@@tlkchew I bet they don't even know. Producers don't test their products for so long. While new, this material is better in feeling than polished pure plastic.
I bought mine this week for 170 second hand, its OK, the throttle tension is stuck on INTENSE and the joy stick is well...lacking, but great for me a BEGINER!
thanks for the review! you mention it's a "ball and socket" joystick, what is the other mechanism that allows more smooth transition around centre position?
Why don't more people know more about Virpil flight sim controls people say that they cost a lot butt if you look at the quality compared to all the others on the market i have tried all the others even the warthog from what i have heard and read i really want to review virpil products
Cool review. Looks like a nice HOTAS especially for Elite Dangerous. Wonder how the Logitech X52 Pro would compare to this? Is that a Caselabs Magnum SMA8 in Gunmetal Gray in the background?
@@VirtualRealityPilot Thanks for taking time to reply. I ended up buying a CH Products HOTAS on eBay for $130. I own a CaseLabs Mercury S8 with the pedestal and probably will never need a new case. It’s too bad they went out of business.
I really like mine. Just got it. Its working well. My only complaint is when I plug them into adjacent usbs, I get random inputs every 10 min or so. But that problem went away after I changed usb ports.
I’ve owned and operated this joystick for thousands of flight hours in every type of flight sim including DCS and I’m happy to finally be getting rid of it. It’s brought only troubles, I wish I had bought the T16000 or saved up for a nicer one off the bat. I’d do serious research into other reviews considering all the well known issues.
Or you could go for the x52 if you are thinking of upgrading later on. I do think getting a cheaper Hotas first is a good idea as you start to get into simming.
i hate it. ive done everything i can in my power to try and figure out how to get it to work again with Elite dangerous. It worked one day then it didn't. its brand new. i can't figure it out.
The acronym "HOTAS" means hands on throttle and stick, however in acronyms you usually get rid of the "and". I feel like they didn't want the acronym to be "HOTS"
It was originally released by saitek, logitech aquired them. This is a good hotas, but the z axis torsion spring is prone to fail on the saitek branded models (i own 2 of them). Not sure if logitech improved the torsion spring tho. Other issues is the wiring in the throttle doesnt have any harness or sheilding besides the individual wires plastic coating and can wear down and degrade over time causingt imput to fail. The thrustmaster 16000m fcs is also a good choice, if its ur first hotas go with the tm16000m fcs then upgrade once you've got the hang of it. They are both different as x56 has a spring return to neutral and the 16000m uses magnets and hall effect sensors for return and positional data.
Here a person says that he's not precise enough in the movement. when you take aim on the goal, so at this point I would be more 'directed to the trustmaster t 16000 hotas, as it has the stik adjusted from magnets, and as they say and very precise, it costs much less, it is definitely not' very nice as x56, but I care about accuracy, she who has it , I confirm this? Thank you.
On Amazon, there's a sale for the HOTAS WARTHOG + Pedals + Cougar grip for $802 for the whole thing. ($50 off if you use the Amazon card) That's a shit ton of money compared to the Saitek X56 lol.
I’ve been waiting over 3 months for my Warthog Hotas to be delivered. It so frustrating. They will give you a good deal when they are out of stock then you have to wait forever for them to produce more. Also I heard thrustmaster changed ownership too...
The missus got me one of these for Christmas a couple of years ago and i've not even used it yet ,,,,, definitely gonna have to get this out and set it up .
Won't somebody please, please make a force feedback hotas? I can't believe it wouldn't be anything but extremely successful. I played my Sidewinder until it turned to dust because nothing else was available after the G940 was discontinued. Once you have played FF, it just isn't the same. Even a high quality stick is not as much fun.
The biggest problem is that every single stick from the Rhino to the Warthog to the Virpil Constellation R are all designed behind US AIR FORCE aircraft. The F-16 and A-10 use the same stick but different throttles. The F-14 and F-18 use a similar layout but are very different - the F14's gun switch is obsolete in the digital age. The F-35, F-22 and Harrier are all very different. Thus far, the Rhino is the only stick I've seen with a split throttle that splits the difference between the F-16, A-10, F-22 and F-35. As for the Harrier, because of the nozzle control, I'd really want the Warthog or Virpil Throttle quadrant. The Warthog is only perfect if you ALSO buy the COUGAR grip for it. But now you're talking $1000+
I'd always had specific problems with older batches. Throttle movement causing random button presses.. slider button on throttle NEVER worked even in the mapping software. 2 different units mind you. Did they really fix the quality issues? If so I might go back to one.
I’ve personally found mine to be rock solid with over 350 hours in elite dangerous with absolutely no problems at all. 18 months on and still going strong.
@@VirtualRealityPilot hmm. Just out of curiosity. Older programs, TIE FIGHTER, X-WING.. things that won't recognize 2 devices. Does the software allow for blending the inputs as a virtual? Or are we still limited to vjoy and the like?
I wish there would be a really great dual throttle high quallity HOTAS I could just put on my table... I dont want to permanentely transform my workplace into a cockpit. And I also dont want to use a 20x20cm baseplate...my desk is a desk and not a footballfield.
Has anyone had the issue to where the R Throttle doesn't function independently from the L Throttle? It doesn't do anything even with the Logitech Software. The L Throttle on the other hand makes both L & R Throttles Flicker in the Logitech Software. Should I RMA this while I still can?
As someone who owns one of these I want to say him saying "there is no metal to be found" is not accurate, all the toggle switches and the little switch guards around the bottom 3 switches are metal. I know it's not much but they are metal so him saying there isn't any metal at all is not really fair.
I recommend 1.25x speed.
thanks
Thanks!
Hahahaha! So much better! I hope he reads his comments and takes a hint :) Great video though, could be shortened to 5min just by speaking faster.
Just watched the whole thing at 1.25x worked perfectly
Amazing, well spotted, thanks.
I've had this thing for somewhere around two years for Elite Dangerous. I love it, though the only issue I've had is the throttle. It'll trigger random switches and buttons if it doesn't have enough power. Simply invest in a powered USB hub and plug it in separately from the Stick.
Got one on order to replace my X52 along with powered USB 3.
Comparison of build quality with the steering wheels. Remember that that the wheels are Logitech from the ground up, whereas the X56 is a Saitek design and build that was bought out by Logitech. That goes a long way to explain the difference in build quality.
I had a HOTAS saitek pro when I was a kid. 1998. It looked so real back then!
I just want to find ANY HOTAS. You cant find them anywhere unless youre willing to pay 2x retail
Amazon has both the X52 and the T.16000m FCS for MSRP right now.
@@OptimumSlinky +90€ shipping
Literally every single stick at a decent price where im from still use bloody gameport.
Restock on Logitech europe today on the x56 just ordered one after waiting for 2 months.
Hey man. Look at pilot supply websites. Trust me I found them all over i just had to do some digging. Got my hotas for 299 so only 50 bucks more than retail. And the service was great. I got mine at marv golden www.marvgolden.com/?gclid=CjwKCAiAzNj9BRBDEiwAPsL0d2X5RrgZILLTmv1Nf-ZX4-kO8235x1t-8zX0hovGhJViyPnt7qpTdhoCjWAQAvD_BwE but there are many sites like it.
Be great if logitech were to get their asses in gear on production lol
I know, been looking at the website for a month now and they’re still sold out...
There have been a lot of issues with quality control, lot of people getting DoA products or they malfunction in the first weeks. They will probably kill the current production and release something under a new name.
@@UltraNyan I caved and ordered the warthog instead
Not avaiable atm. There is something new coming
They're so back-ordered it's not funny. They're running double production and can't keep up. Keep in mind that they will supply
all of the vendors before they stock their own web store. (All vendors are back-ordered as well).
I got lucky by keeping an eye on Amazon. They got 20 of them in a few days ago and all 20 were gone within 6 hours.
My advice would be to check Amazon twice a day. I even got mine for less than usual retail (which is 249.99),
think I paid 237 in total with free shipping.
Here's a direct link to the proper page on Amazon (If you're in the U.S.)
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079P6SSHP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Rubberized plastic? The kind of stuff that gets sticky in 3 years?
just_noXi yes, my x-55 got very sticky over the past few years, but I was able to spend a couple hours with a microfiber cloth and rubbing alcohol to remove it all and get down to bare, smooth plastic. Not as nice feeling now, but at least I didn't need to throw it all away.
@@n7cmdr Yep, that's how you do it. Once the rubber desintegrates you have to remove it. It's stuff like petroleum based oils not just solvents that actually break down the rubber real fast, so if you got tiny amounts of those on your hands over time it will destroy the handles. I truly hate this stuff, it's just a gimmick, in the real world nobody uses rubberized controls, they would be worn within weeks.
ua-cam.com/video/wzObaO5WF_I/v-deo.html
Use it with gloves like you would a steering wheel.
This hasn't been an issue with either of my 5 year old x56's, but those are pre-logitech's acquisition of Saitek and the x56. I wouldn't say those were rubberized, though.
@@CaBarry374 I had a Saitek X52 with the same problem.
I like the way you speak, every word is precise and clear and i feel im not missing anything important re the pros and cons of this HOTAS setup
Well said, and no pun intended!
I've had mine (secondhand off a well-known auction site) for over a year now and it's been really great barring two issues.
The worst one is indeed the throttle friction problem, I solved this by carefully taking it apart and replacing the 'gunk' with a proprietary axle grease. Much improved now although great care needs to be taken with the adjustment gears. That was a bad design flaw there, they strip and jump the gears very easily, never mind the incredibly delicate wiring.
The second one is the stick's deadzone, caused by the mushroom-shaped sleeve that the the exposed spring sits on wearing on the shaft so it slowly worsens over use . I'm looking into making a metal sleeve out of shim stock to press into this so it's a sliding fit, or even having a full metal mushroom-sleeve made with proper ptfe bushes, eliminating that excessive play and reducing the deadzone as close to zero as possible. Some thick grease on here helps in the short term, but it will eventually cause problems as dust is attracted to the grease from the exposed design, so the sliding metal sleeve with a good ptfe grease seems to be the path to go down here.
i should have bought one before the HAL sensor shortage.
Wut is an HAL sensor, and why does a shortage matter? I'm looking for a first HOTAS so idk what anything is
@@obiwankenobi5126 the good HOTAS sets use a HAL sensor. a HAL sensor.. in simple terms, it's what detects the position of the stick,, it's magnetic in nature so there is no physical contact with the stick and sensor, and hence never wears out, cheaper HOTAS setups use potentiometers for measuring position, but these wear out eventually, and cause problems when they do
@@yetidynamics Do you mean a Hall Effect Sensor? There is a chip shortage at the moment so perhaps that is what is causing the delay. Looking at them now they are in stock in Australia most places I look.
I want this for the new star wars game coming
Yes
I literally thought the same thing when I seen the trailer lol
That’s exactly why I looked this up lol. I’m so excited for it
yeah that's why i'm watching this video in the first place.
Ye same over here, a beta would be nice to see how arcade or simulation the game would be and to try out some flight sticks with it. But I’m getting goosebumps thinking about how it will be to play squadrons with VR+Flight stick.
One thing you must remember is with the mode switch you can have well over 100 possible bindable functions which massively increases price
Running my X56 with a TrackIR 5 has made flight sims SO MUCH BETTER. Been big into Elite Dangerous as of late but Arma, IL-2, DCS, and MFS2020.
I also prefer it being plastic over metal because moving it around to get it into position and such with my monitors and case it's far less likely to damage anything if there's an accidental bump. Which overtime, there will be.
Still working well?
bump
This told me everything I needed to know, always wanted something like this, DCS, MS Flightsim, ED and SC will feel so much better adding this to my setup, thank you for the vid.
Trust me the throttle is too stiff for small ships in star citizen. You just can’t throttle up and down fast enough. In a dog fight I still go back to keyboard mouse
@@xeric1953 I will have a keyboard and mouse set up in the cockpit config I'm building exactly for that type of thing :)
Says “No metal to be seen” while Staring at the metal switches on the throttle
Switches are not metal just hard plastic painted. Only metal you find are the U shaped separators which does nothing
@YeTi I have it. You are correct. They are metal for sure or it's magic.
@@nickgennady That's so metal
Very good analysis. I bought the X56 especially for space sims mainly because of the very useful thumb analog joysticks for the 6 DOF. I found the software to program the buttons and axes very practical. Since a few months I fly flight sims mainly and have since transitioned to Virpil, mainly for increased precision in the middle as that is one of the weaker aspects of the joystick. The technique they used to have the joystick spring back makes that there is quite a bit of resistance in the middle as shown at 1:22 , which for me is the main draw back as it translates to decreased precision for aiming. Over all, it remains a very interesting proposition at that price point in my opinion.
BTW, no matter the brand, I would want the HOTAS to be bolted down when using it. In the heat of the fight, simply counting on weight to have your controls remain in place is not realistic in my opinion. Yes it is a hassle to find a solution that is firmly fixed and removable when you want to, but having your HOTAS fixed makes a huge difference, no matter the model.
Really helpful comment, any idea if the base has enough room in it to place lead weights?
i have a x55 rhino and i used velcro on my desk and on the hotas and it dosnt move at all. I play Elite Dangerous and DCS.
Amazing! Thank you!
Guys just a heads up VKB have recently released the Gladiator K. It's their more entry level base and stick, which is also mainly plastic construction but of much higher quality and precision than the X56. Also has a ton of buttons on the stick. You'll still need a separate throttle though. For which I can definitely recommend the Thrustmaster TWCS
Good luck finding that anymore. I'm really tired of people who play nothing but flight sims piping up about buying $500+ setups. Some people have other things to spend money on
@@DiggitySlicewell said
As much as I like this product, I've had 3 over the passed 2+ yrs, it's the reliability that lets it down !
The joystick has always been the week point and has failed first. Yaw, Pitch or Roll is where they've failed for me and sadly have now had to move onto another Hotas system.
how has the throttle held up? Im thinking of using just the throttle with another flight stick.
@@gascan
I've had no trouble at all from the throttle system :) . . seems to made of better quality componants :)
I went through 3 X2 in 2 years of warranty (played 3-4hrs on it a day). Later got the X56 and it is a great piece of kit and hasn't failed yet after 18mo.
I've had problems with buttons failing, especially the mouse control. I had to open up my 52 to clean out a couple buttons. And I had to cut down a screw driver to get into the throttle. For the price tag, I expect and need it to last. You can't buy a stick every year.
Just like the X52 the 'rubberized feel' layer will slowly dissolve and become very sticky... cleaning doesn't help and will even make it worse.
I love this Hotas I’m going to just Velcro it to my table so it doesn’t slip about.
I actually used two spare pieces of wood to mount my hotas on. The way i did this means I can pull them out the front, turn them upside down and then push them all the way in so that the hotas is out of the way if I don't need it for a while.
@gRaider As I said, i already have a solution that suits my requirements perfectly - including safe storage for when the HOTAS is not in use.
But what about the Precision?
Playing DCS and the nicest Layout means nothing without precise Steering.
Any advises @the Midpricesection?
TM 16000? X56(Pro)? Anything Else?
Apparently the 2020 version has RGB if anyone cares about that stuff. I've found it to be handy on the X52 Pro.
You have the 2020 version of the x52 pro?! Can you confirm if it has dual USB connectors or still has the PS2 one? Even Logitechs own website states both depending where you look
@@konarider443 I have the 2019 version and it has dual USB.
The X52 had single USB with another connector between joy and stick.
what is the difference between Rhino, non-Rhino version and renewed? @5:50
Getting one that lasts as long as yours has is a complete luck of the draw. There have been so many issues with these that were not fixed when Logitech bought out Saitek.
#1 I'm fairly certain that DCS allowing itself to be FREE for the month has revived interest in flight sims - as well as Elite Dangerous and Star Citizen.
#2 PROBLEM: The HOTAS WARTHOG and the VIRPIL Constellation/VFX joysticks and bases are WAY TOO EXPENSIVE for the average user - either setup with pedals will cost no less than $1000...especially if you get the HOTAS WARTHOG with PENDULAR pedals.
#3 Logitech/Saitek's X-56 is probably the absolute BEST DEAL you can get on a split throttle Hotas. $250 is nothing compared to the costs of the WARTHOG or the Virpils.
Add in the Logitech Pro G Pedals and you're only looking at $180+ $250 = $430
As far as functionality goes: the X56 has pretty much every button on the stick you need for DCS or any other military flight sim...including Microsoft flight simulator.
My only disappointment is that the WARTHOG and VIRPIL's throttle have a 3rd slider which can be mapped to the HARRIER's Nozzle angle control while the X56 doesn't have it.
#4 IF YOU PLAY ELITE DANGEROUS or STAR CITIZEN, your best option is ACTUALLY the THRUSTMASTER HOSAS 16000m with the THRUSTMAST PEDALS. $129 + $120 = $250
You can add on the Thrustmaster THROTTLE for just $89 and then you can play DCS or any space sim game perfectly.
-----Right now I only have a Saitek X45 with Logitech G Pro Pedals while playing DCS modules... and I am leaning on buying an X56.
I absolutely can afford the Warthog and Virpil since I'd be buying it on Credit Card (for points) and then repaying using my UA-cam money income...but I think Logitech's (saitek's) designs are more forward looking. For example: I bought my X45 in 2001 and it's still working LIKE NEW today. I also bought Logitech stock.
I had the x45, x55, and x56. Yeah, you do get what you pay for. The x56 is so cheaply made it is not worth $200, it might be worth $100. Pay $200-$250 for crap or pay $100-$150 more for a real HOTAS. Yes you do need rudder pedals with the Warthog. If you are getting a HOTAS system you should be getting rudder pedals anyway. If you are going to be playing DCS you will need pedals. I love seeing guys crash when taking off or trying to come in for a crosswind landing. I always ask them, twist stick? Always with a, yes. I hate seeing people spend their money on something that is not worth it and the x56 is definitely not worth it.
I use the top right silver knurled knob for the nozzle and that works well because I can tweak the angle with my thumb. What I’d like is some switches without a spring return so you know when flaps are down or whatever.
@@ComdrStew
I fly helos and jets in DCS with X-56 without any problems here since 2015 on an almost daily basis. Pedals are not mandatory for DCS. You can do perfectly fine without them in any situation.
This was released by Saitek, which was a subsidiary of MadCatz. They were sold to Logitech about 5 years ago.
I got mine around then, getting passed around between the 3 companies customer service depts and eventually having to tweet at Logitech to get help...
Still, love my joysticks, even if the rudder needs recalibrated every time I've ever used it, the slider never works in any game, and the free look stick for the right hand is painfully inconsistent.
If the throttle had consistent resistance and didn't randomly stiffen up on it's own during use I'd totally buy another if I was replacing these.
what about x52 how does it compare?
i don't have money for x56 so should I get x52
I would recommend the x52pro
@@vidarsjogren okay thanks
I co-own one with my dad, and it's pretty useful for playing Elite Dangerous.
The only problem is that the joystick can start to drift due to the spring not fully pushing it straight.
Is there any play/deadzone in the stick? That was a common complaint with the older Saitek version of the stick
I bought the X-55 a couple of years ago now and people were saying it was shit, it breaks, you couldn't do this that and the other. The X-55 is one of the best hardware I've bought, very usable, so many buttons to map, and the software to programme the buttons has been super handy. The only problem I see people having is the ergonomics, so if you have a small hand some of the buttons can be hard to reach without lifting but it's never effected me as I get this with nearly every joystick anyway.
I'm considering getting an upgrade from my T. Flight Hotas X, and whilst I've been considering the X56, I've heard a few reoccurring issues like the light construction - I don't really have any options for mounting it, so I'm sort of concerned about that. I've also heard about strong yaw which makes controls difficult (plus the placement of the thumbstick of the joystick makes it even more difficult).
These are my only real concerns about this joysticks, but are they really just, or are they easy to deal with/get used to? I'm more of a commercial flight kinda guy, so dogfighting maneuvers shouldn't be too common for me (unless I decide to pull some G's in a 747, you never know)
if you fly commercial, i would recommend the honeycomb yoke! its pretty good :) If you want a stick though, i would just save up for Virpil or VKB(Vkb's gladiator seems pretty good!)
I guess that works for commercial flight.
Though I would have to say as someone with a pilot's license (light aircraft) that civilian flight with a single pilot is almost always done from the left seat.
It then follows if you want to fly with any accuracy to this you need a left-handed joystick, not a right-handed one. (alas, left-handed sticks are few and far between)
If you're routinely flying boeing aircraft of course, what you really need is a yoke...
But still...
I needed a left-handed joystick to ensure my sim setup bore more of a resemblance to what the real aircraft I fly are like to control...
I'm just hoping the X56 throttle is reasonable to use right-handed, even if it's clearly not optimal to do so by any means...
I still have a microsoft sidewinder force feedback 2 and have no desire to change. I love the force feedback. My only issue is the lack of buttons. The X56 throttle looks great so I'm considering getting it.
I've been disappointed with my X56. I've got a lot of Logitech stuff and it's generally very good. The X56 was dissappointing right out of the box. The joystick has a wobble in the neutral position of a couple of degrees. I had to fix that with a dead spot. There was also one rubber foot missing which meant that the thing is never stable on my desk. There is a knob that is supposed to vary the resistance of the throttle but it never worked.
From a longevity point of view it's also dissappointing. First up, one of the throttle buttons started to fail. A press would register about 50% of the time. This was after a couple of years of daily use but it was not a button that I used that often. Now the trigger and pinky button are doing the same thing. Very often the action is registered a second of so after the press and sometimes the up action fails leaving the button pressed. That's really frustrating. Getting a gun solution is hard at the best of times and very often the opportunity is fleeting. When the button sticks down, you are out of ammo very quickly.
In addition to the individual buttons failing, a problem with the stick has emerged. All of the buttons on the stick are now intermitantly failing at the same time. The main axes of the stick still work but none of the buttons do anything. It failure might last from a few seconds to 10 or 15 seconds and can happen 2 - 3 times in a 15 minute period.
From a comsmetic point of view the chrome on the toggle switches started to rub off after about 6 months and the surface of the plastic on the throttle is peeling.
I would not recommend an X56 until there is a major new version with a significant improvement in build quality.
Did you get yours new or used? Also did you have the blue one or black one?
@@DiggitySlice I got mine new and it was black (the only option at the time). I think that it you are thinking of getting one it would be a good idea to look for more recent reviews. I hope that Logitech has improved the quality by now.
X56 is a great HOTAS, but I have 3 problems from the beginning that support haven't managed to fix it:
- Wheel to adjust hardness of throttle don't works fine, the hardness adjust is minimal
- Wheels used for zoom are not precise, zoom jumps at some points
- In factory mode I have 2 different colors in lights throttle, if I configure other color that standard all lights changes to the same color; peculiar comportment behavior
I just got the t16000m and would defo consider this just for the throttle, but they seem to be out of stock everywhere so might just wait till 2021. Gonna mod the throttle on the t16000m so it's a bit better.
So question -- is the dead zone because of the spring? What happens if you remove the spring altogether and let the stick flop around. So long as you yourself keep your hand on it and centered as you like, is there still a dead zone without the spring?
Having 2 analog thumb sticks is incredible in a space sim. I want to grab one of these, but everything is sold out.
I play Elite Dangerous with a CH setup. The throttle has an analog stick, but the throttle itself is very jittery. Hoping these come back in stock soon.
literally no one cares bud
@@connorrichardson1470 you do. You read it and commented.
I have one of the older Saitek versions and I have a lot of issues with creaking in the joystick, that even lubrication doesn’t seem to eliminate. Did Logitech change something in the construction?
I got this as an "upgrade" when my TM16000M failed. Plastic feels cheap, but the bigger issue is that the new joystick had 2 hats that were doa. I couldn't get a response or contact with Logitech at the time so I ended up returning it as I was within my return window. In the end I'm back to a TM16000M. On paper I feel that the X56 is much better, and it has the potential but the quality of the hats on the unit I received was not very good. Might just be a one off issue, but the lack of any response from logitech at the time caused me to return it and move on.
Is this your first flight sim related video?
It’s like thrustmaster stop making the warthog Hotas. I’ve been waiting 3 months now to ship. May have to go another route because they can’t keep up with the demand. Does any one know if this Hotas works with DCS ?
I’ve got both and probably prefer the X56 because IMHO the Thrustmaster spring is far too strong for desktop use. I bought an aftermarket weaker spring (“green spring”) but it’s still too strong. It depends on what you fly though, for the F18 or similar the Thrustmaster spring is probably viable but for hovering, helicopters or the Harrier, not usable for me.
The Thrustmaster is prettier and probably a bit more precise, the X56 rattles a bit in the centre position but that doesn’t affect performance. Now I use the Virpil base with the Thrustmaster stick, Virpil is far and away better.
I like the X56 throttle, as bought it has too much friction for the fast jets, like the F18, in DCS where you have to move it fast for carrier landings etc. but if you open it up you can scrape out some of the treacle like stuff they use to give it friction until it’s to your liking . I agree it tends to slide around too but it’s easy to find a way to hold it down - I use two elastic bands. Come to that I clamp the Virpil base down as well. I don’t think he mentioned the X56 software which is excellent and user friendly.
@@glennet9613 Well, if you're flying a helicopter with realistic controls there should actually be NO spring.
Though that feels a bit weird to some no doubt.
(that's actually also true of small civilian aircraft that use sticks. Because it's all mechanical linkages, the only force you feel on the flight stick in such an aircraft is the air pressure against the control surfaces. Without the kind of force feedback we had in the early 2000's you can't replicate that experience...)
An easy DIY upgrade is dismantle the throttle and clean out the sticky goo that acts as resistance. Much more consistent resistance and lighter pull eliminates the tipping issue.
Hello is this compatibile with mac ?
@6:40 lmao, y, for the warthog, if you can find a 'new' one thats just the stick, or throttle, not both.
I have an x52. Had it since 2014. It still goes strong in elite. although had to map quite a few non essentials to keyboard. have the same issue you describe with throttle on the joystick. Narrow base and suction cups
Brunner has force feedback joystick base for 1200 Euros, they have FFB yoke as well, no FFB throttles though as throttle is usually not related to aircraft movement, nobody reviewed that Brunner joystick on YT though and it is there for more than 2 years, weird.
In stock now, fashionable to pan this stick - but actually really like mine. It is slightly large for me so could do with some foam on hand rest to elevate hand slightly. I was initially disappointed as stick jittered slightly on both X and Y axis so on windows calibration screen never settled. I searched for ages on forums and read allsorts of solutions. But in the end by random chance it's built in the software that you download from logitec, it's just hidden away !!! I clicked recalibrate and absolutely perfect now !! The spring tension bit can sometimes slip from its cup if care isn't taken attaching the stick to base so ensure it clips in properly. For £219 and amount I use it, playing other game types not exclusively flight sims it's great.
I still have my Saitek X55 which is where it originated, i suppose i'm lucky it still works. My throttle was too stiff but i opened it up and removed some viscous grease from the friction blades, also the twist grip creaks and i don't like the ball and cup. I was hoping that with Logitech buying out Saitek that they might do more with this layout keeping it similar but improving the build. Anyway thanks for the informative review, i'm not sure i'd replace mine with the X56 but there doesn't seem to be many options out there that can do so much unless paying double.
Did you get the two way hat on the throttle to work with elite dangerous? It doesn't seem to work well for me. I really wanted to use it to switch between forward and reverse thrust but it would work.
Yes works ok for me, I use for system jumping and super cruise
It`s so hard to find. They don`t make em anymore or what?
Probably because of the human malware going going around. Dont forget that China shutdown for a while assuming that's where they make them. Also been hard to get a hold of wheel and pedal controllers too. iRacing has seen a boom during this mess since people can't really get out to do anything, and I assume that goes for space and flight sims as well. Took me a while to find one of these controllers for a decent price as most were 3 to 400 bucks and up for this controller alone, and alot of places didn't even have it in stock.
theyre on sale Amazon.co.uk for £172
lowest ive ever seen it go
Out of stock, can only by used revisited , they are going to release a new one soon only in black grey color
They are still selling them, they are just having stock issues. When they are available on Logitechs website they are sold out within an hour or so. They just can't keep them "on the shelf". My wife and i watched thier website religiously and was able to get 2 ordered early July. They were sold out within an hour after that. I'm guessing the issues are their factorys have been crushed because of covid. Keep watching, you'll get one if you keep on it!
Still have ghost input problems on my throttle after two years, multiple powered hubs used in this period, and Logitech had swapped me out twice meaning ive had this issue on three different throttles. Some dont have this issue but for those of us who do the unit is effectively garbage. I did find a python script and two programs off github that filtered them out but I still cant wait to replace the damn thing.
Hi Tao! I just re-stumbled on your video regarding the X56 and I just want to add a little long-time information: After having severe ghosting-problems I stumbled upon on I chose to switch to powered USB Hubs (3port, nothing else attached) - and the ghosting was gone. After now 5 (maybe 6) years of constant use I just now (today, 13. November 2023) took of the bottom of the throttle, re-lubricated with silicon spray, re-attached a smoother spring for the grip and gave tha stick-base a silicon-bath as well. What can I say? If I had done that a few years ago I would have been alsomore happier. Nevertheless, the price for this equipment is much too high, too sharp. I would recommend selecting something in 50-100 €/$ above in price-range. Or being very patient and technically fit to do some retrofitting ;)
I bought a VKBSim Gladiator back in June for $100 from the X-Plane store. I started doing research on a hotas setup and the cheapest X56 I have found is $300
Wanted to upgrade from X52. I'm tired of the lack of buttons. It's good but I need more buttons. Elite dangerous needs this HOTAS.
I know its a stupid question but will it work on the series S?
The latest programming software for the x56 does not seem to allow one to program the mode switches. I test the mode switch fine under the Win 10 builtin joy stick utility but no go with the Logi programming software. In ED I can't mode switch to other commands.
My biggest problem with the X-56 is the throttle. They use a very tack grease for friction, the adjustment for the throttle is a blade that adds more tacky grease to the throttle. For me it would be tacky if it sat for a while, but if you moved it a lot it would free up. Once you stoped the resistance would jump again. For its price I would have expected a mechanical resistance that was much more consistent than grease. It was such a disappointment for the price and provided me with a horrible experience for a throttle.
I have owned 2 of these. Long story short, The stick twist is too stiff to use while also trying to use your thumb for other functions. The friction oil in the throttle is inconsistent at best, nonexistent for the rest of the time. After using mine for Star Citizen for half a year, i am unable to use it for DCS anymore due to the resistant being totally shot. It has ghosting issues, especially in the throttle. Both of my units were broken when i received them, i had to take them apart and reseat the thumbsticks. Buttons on the back of the throttle tend to stick or not respond occasionally. The throttle absolutely will slide on your desk if not secured down. BUT! I still use it because the amount of buttons and placement is nice... but thats about all thats nice.
Did you get them new or used?
@@DiggitySlice both brand new. first one had a broken thumbstick, so i asked for a replacement. Instead, they just sent me a 2nd one no charge. It also had a broken thumbstick. I repaired both stick then used them for about 5 years. The throttle loses its friction after a few months of constant use, and the deadzone in the stick is due to the design, so it is not fixable. (the sliding collar has a small tolorance such that from top to bottom it has about a 2 degree slop... this translates to about half an inch of movement at the top of the stick without spring resistance) The throttle takes a lot of power and thus has ghosting issues especially with the bottom 3 switches. And the internal design of the z twist creates a pretty stiff resistance that you can not overcome with just palm grip, so your right thumb is often unable to use the thumbstick while trying to use twist.
But... i still used it for thousands of hours, and i still love the stick. These design flaws are terrible, but the features it has and the versatility of it kinda make up for it. I now use a 1000$ virple set, and i still miss some of the features from the x56.
Are there 2 versions of this joystick for sale or am I getting confused by the sales images. One seems to have a permanent blue pattern on it and the other seems to be just black? Does the blue only appear when power is on or are there 2 versions. Many thanks for the reply in advance.
The blue version is an older model which is not available any more. The black version is the best me that is still available and also had some design improvements.
@@VirtualRealityPilot Ah thanks so much, I don’t suppose you happen to know what the design changes were do you?
They extended the thumb joysticks, made them longer and easier to use. I also think they improved the reliability of the device overall.
@@VirtualRealityPilot Thank you for your replies mate. Nice channel 👍
This stick was originally created by Saitek before Logitech bought them out. On the surface, this is a great stick. But they are prone to electronic failure. Mine broke twice, was replaced twice by Logitech after they purchased Saitek... The third one is still brand new in the box because I wasn't ready to trust the build quality of this stick anymore. Which is sad because this is a great HOTAS. Mine kept getting it's IC scrambled so it kept sending different buttons presses from any of the other buttons. That is if the button sends anything. It got to the point where nothing in the stick would work. The quality of the ball fails and it sticks a lot. Back when I used this stick I did get a couple hundred hours out of it as I was an Elite Dangerous player.
I finally swapped over to the Warthog and never looked back. I have about 1000 hours on my warthog and still going strong.
Still got my trusty crusty X45, I really like that the rudder is on the back of the throttle (I know, you cant do that with split throttle) but to me its much nicer than a twisty rudder joystick.
I miss the rocker rudder. I always loved that far more than twist stick.
I thought there was 2 4way hats and 1 8 way hat on the stick?
Those rubbered plastics get so freakin sticky after few years that you have to remove it with alcohol or acetone and this stick is totally covered with this material.
I had to do it on my old x52 Pro, but there are only "some" areas covered.
I don't understand why do they keep covering them with this gunky rubber? Hate it when it becomes sticky
@@tlkchew I bet they don't even know. Producers don't test their products for so long. While new, this material is better in feeling than polished pure plastic.
Couldn't you just clean it over time rather then leaving it? Surley wiping it down would stop it getting sticky?
I placed velcro strips on the bottom if my throttle. More than enough to hold it down without drilling holes.
why the hell did logitech stopped the production of this? only left now is warthog which is double the price...
I bought mine this week for 170 second hand, its OK, the throttle tension is stuck on INTENSE and the joy stick is well...lacking, but great for me a BEGINER!
thanks for the review! you mention it's a "ball and socket" joystick, what is the other mechanism that allows more smooth transition around centre position?
is this good for DCS? and can i use it without pedals, which axis/hey i need to blind? thanks.
Why don't more people know more about Virpil flight sim controls people say that they cost a lot butt if you look at the quality compared to all the others on the market i have tried all the others even the warthog from what i have heard and read i really want to review virpil products
Cool review. Looks like a nice HOTAS especially for Elite Dangerous. Wonder how the Logitech X52 Pro would compare to this? Is that a Caselabs Magnum SMA8 in Gunmetal Gray in the background?
The x52 is still a very nice hotas. And yes - it’s an sma8 👍
@@VirtualRealityPilot Thanks for taking time to reply. I ended up buying a CH Products HOTAS on eBay for $130. I own a CaseLabs Mercury S8 with the pedestal and probably will never need a new case. It’s too bad they went out of business.
It most certainly is a shame, best case I have ever owned
2 for your pinky? I been using pinky and ring finger on those buttons separately lol
I really like mine. Just got it. Its working well. My only complaint is when I plug them into adjacent usbs, I get random inputs every 10 min or so. But that problem went away after I changed usb ports.
Enjoy the hotas, it really is a game changer for games like elite dangerous
Technically, the controllers being too light is due to them being made to be screwed down to a setup, not freely moved.
I’ve owned and operated this joystick for thousands of flight hours in every type of flight sim including DCS and I’m happy to finally be getting rid of it. It’s brought only troubles, I wish I had bought the T16000 or saved up for a nicer one off the bat. I’d do serious research into other reviews considering all the well known issues.
Were you able to configure the rty 3 and rty 4 ? I can’t map them
hello, i just received my X56 and I feel stupid as I can't dissociate the throttle axis...the throttle lock seems to have no effect..
Hi ! Knowing that the Xbox one is running under Windows 10.
Does this hotas can be used with a Xbox one ?
Thanks 👍
Quite a fantastic review - thank you!
Glad you found it helpful
i was thinking about getting this one to like get a feel for DCS before even slightly thinking about Virpil. should I get this?
Or you could go for the x52 if you are thinking of upgrading later on. I do think getting a cheaper Hotas first is a good idea as you start to get into simming.
I hope Logitech will release a FFB version of the X56 (with an improved stick)
Will these work with the Xbox series x when flight sim comes to Xbox?
i hate it. ive done everything i can in my power to try and figure out how to get it to work again with Elite dangerous. It worked one day then it didn't. its brand new. i can't figure it out.
Can you make a review of the Sidewinder Force Feedback 2?
The acronym "HOTAS" means hands on throttle and stick, however in acronyms you usually get rid of the "and". I feel like they didn't want the acronym to be "HOTS"
made me chuckle - and yes you are almost certainly right
It was originally released by saitek, logitech aquired them. This is a good hotas, but the z axis torsion spring is prone to fail on the saitek branded models (i own 2 of them). Not sure if logitech improved the torsion spring tho. Other issues is the wiring in the throttle doesnt have any harness or sheilding besides the individual wires plastic coating and can wear down and degrade over time causingt imput to fail. The thrustmaster 16000m fcs is also a good choice, if its ur first hotas go with the tm16000m fcs then upgrade once you've got the hang of it. They are both different as x56 has a spring return to neutral and the 16000m uses magnets and hall effect sensors for return and positional data.
Hi, thx for your video. Any problem with joystick? I mean on the X or Y axis ?
My X52 Pro broke when I bought it barely 1 year ago to replace my first X52 which had the same problem. Now I'm suspicious of the Saiteks
I’ve not had any problems with mine
Here a person says that he's not precise enough in the movement.
when you take aim on the goal, so at this point I would be
more 'directed to the trustmaster t 16000 hotas, as it has the stik adjusted
from magnets, and as they say and very precise, it costs much less, it is definitely not'
very nice as x56, but I care about accuracy, she who has it , I confirm this? Thank you.
I tried t'flight hot as one but it's too difficult to set up
On Amazon, there's a sale for the HOTAS WARTHOG + Pedals + Cougar grip for $802 for the whole thing.
($50 off if you use the Amazon card)
That's a shit ton of money compared to the Saitek X56 lol.
I’ve been waiting over 3 months for my Warthog Hotas to be delivered. It so frustrating. They will give you a good deal when they are out of stock then you have to wait forever for them to produce more. Also I heard thrustmaster changed ownership too...
The missus got me one of these for Christmas a couple of years ago and i've not even used it yet ,,,,, definitely gonna have to get this out and set it up .
Won't somebody please, please make a force feedback hotas? I can't believe it wouldn't be anything but extremely successful. I played my Sidewinder until it turned to dust because nothing else was available after the G940 was discontinued. Once you have played FF, it just isn't the same. Even a high quality stick is not as much fun.
I nabbed the last Logitech G940 that I could find back in ~2011 ... why aren't there any The Force Feedback joysticks anymore???
Wrong : I have a Logitech G940 HOTAS system , so I HAVE force feedback... :-)
enjoy it while it works
The biggest problem is that every single stick from the Rhino to the Warthog to the Virpil Constellation R are all designed behind US AIR FORCE aircraft.
The F-16 and A-10 use the same stick but different throttles. The F-14 and F-18 use a similar layout but are very different - the F14's gun switch is obsolete in the digital age. The F-35, F-22 and Harrier are all very different.
Thus far, the Rhino is the only stick I've seen with a split throttle that splits the difference between the F-16, A-10, F-22 and F-35.
As for the Harrier, because of the nozzle control, I'd really want the Warthog or Virpil Throttle quadrant.
The Warthog is only perfect if you ALSO buy the COUGAR grip for it. But now you're talking $1000+
Since Harrier has only one engine, why not split the Throttle and use the outside one for the nozzle? Seems to work on the test I just did. Stay well.
I'd always had specific problems with older batches. Throttle movement causing random button presses.. slider button on throttle NEVER worked even in the mapping software. 2 different units mind you. Did they really fix the quality issues? If so I might go back to one.
I’ve personally found mine to be rock solid with over 350 hours in elite dangerous with absolutely no problems at all. 18 months on and still going strong.
@@VirtualRealityPilot hmm. Just out of curiosity. Older programs, TIE FIGHTER, X-WING.. things that won't recognize 2 devices. Does the software allow for blending the inputs as a virtual? Or are we still limited to vjoy and the like?
TIEZINE I was never able to get it to work with those games
Velcro on the throttle/desk cost less than a tenner and works a treat.
I wish there would be a really great dual throttle high quallity HOTAS I could just put on my table...
I dont want to permanentely transform my workplace into a cockpit. And I also dont want to use a 20x20cm baseplate...my desk is a desk and not a footballfield.
The throttle is okay, the stick is HORRIBLE.
May I suggest for entry-medium level:
VKB Gladiator-K
Thrustmaster TWCS
VKB T-rudder pedals
ONE thing that will make this a SUPER joystick
would be ultra soft spring.
Then it will be smooooth....
Has anyone had the issue to where the R Throttle doesn't function independently from the L Throttle? It doesn't do anything even with the Logitech Software. The L Throttle on the other hand makes both L & R Throttles Flicker in the Logitech Software. Should I RMA this while I still can?