[NEW] Saitek X-55 Rhino H.O.T.A.S.

[SOLIDKREATE]

I am assuming this is the next evolution to the X-52. This one is not force sensing. Give it a look, I may purchase this one soon. I'm just waiting to see if a 'Pro' version is coming.

 

 

http://www.saitek.com/x55/

 

[CreepiJim]

I would wait before the purchase. At least until some hardcore joystick/sim fan tested this thing. The X52 Pro is only good with magnet and detent mods. The Rhino looks even in a 3D rendered version like a plastic button toting piece. But we will see.

 

For the price, the VKB might also be an alternative as soon as the metal grip is released, no throttle however, but the X52 Pro Throttle will do just fine.

[Sim]

Interesting. 16-bit hall sensors (like Warthog?) for pitch/roll, adjustable spring tension. And a twist rudder? Could be a good HOTAS. Still, best to wait for first reviews on build quality and such.

[Bearcat]

That looks very promising.

[Sokol1]

This HOTAS probable will replace X-52 and or X-52 PRO, since the use of X-65 parts simplifie production lines.

 

So expect a "all metal" one in the same price range is unrealistic.

The "16" bits sensor suggest the same Melexis 3D used in Warthog/T16000.M, G940(?) since is a tested and cheap solution with good marketing apeal.

 

A survey probable reveal that X-52 is the more used HOTAS in the whole world (a pool in BoS Russian forum indicathes that).

Is the old formuale "you get what you pay".

And this Rhino offer new good options, like dual trhottle, 4 rotaries, adjustable hand rest...

The market dont need another "Warthog" (IMO).

 

Sokol1

Edited December 23, 2013 by Sokol1

[FuriousMeow]

Already posted about this, I'm looking to replace my 52pro with it. Nothing wrong with my 52 pro but this looks to be an upgrade from it and hopefully not getting into the warthog price range.

[Aeromaster37]

I agree, we don't need another warthog. What we do need is a new FFB stick that isn't 4 or 500 like the G940, but good enough to persuade the sidewinder lovers to a new stick.

 

I really want to try a FFB stick but I'm not gonna play the now $1000 everyone wants for a G940 (wouldn't easily pay the regular 400 either). I also don't want to have to use a 10 year old second hand stick. So if they do decide to make a pro version like the x52, then I can only hope that the upgrade is FFB at least.

 

Other than that, my old x52 is still kicking.

[Sokol1]

 

Pre-order: 199,99$

 

Sokol1

[kestrel79]

Wow looks great. Not a bad price either. I like how the stick can be removed. That will come in handle when I want to play some fps shooters and swing my keyboard tray over the stick mount in my Obutto.

[[I./JG2]Commandz]

It looks great but I have a problem where you attach the stick it seems to be both plastic which over time will break if it was metal I would be fine with it so long as their is no dead zone. That's just my thought the throttle on the other hand I do like. I'll stick with my x52 Pro.

[OBT-Psycho]

seems to be a great stick. Saitek seems to be a great HOTAS maker, since all their product are really well designed.

 

I would like them to go on the FFB side, just to see if they can make something as interresting as the G940, but with saitek's quality product. There is no way I'll step back to non-FFB stick, but they make some great stuff

[Zmaj76]

Saitek seems to be a great HOTAS maker, since all their product are really well designed

Actually thats not true. x52 was notorious for its unprecision, flaws and unreliability...I had both x52 and x52pro...pro had 2 springs but shared the same unprecision and dumb plastic plate to spring mechanism....on the other hand their throttle units were good...

 

Cant wait for the first x55 reviews...maybe this time it will be a winner but I dont have high hopes...but at least it seams it has better ergonomics...

Edited January 8, 2014 by Tvrdi

[FuriousMeow]

I haven't had any issue with X52Pro precision. I did have to do the magnet mod, as everyone has had to, but that has since resolved it.

 

Saitek isn't without their issues though. I have Combat Pro Pedals and the X52, and first of all - USB 3.0 and these devices are a no go. USB 3.0 has to be disabled, even placing the X52 into USB2.0 ports still doesn't work. Tried ever BIOS option to get the damn things to work but the only option is to disable USB 3.0. Then the pedals. They work fine for a while, then all of a sudden the damn things will cause the entire USB hub to reset which disconnects every device and then reconnects them. That's great in the middle of "air combat." So far using an externally powered USB 2.0 hub plugged into a USB 2.0 port seems to have resolved it. But who knows, that could all go tits up any time. Then the mods - none of them terribly difficult but the magnet mod is perhaps the best because it made the stick much more precise and removed the huge deadzone. Removing the silly indents were also great, those things were just stupid and annoying. One last thing is the tension on the pedals, I don't mind it due to the tension itself - but the damn things need to be mounted to the floor with any amount of tension otherwise they just sliding about.

 

Then there is their customer service. They simply suck in every possible way.

[OBT-Psycho]

actually and now that I think back about my X-52, I might have gone a bit too far.

Mine worked fine for a quite while, but suddently the stick stopped working. I'm sure it was'nt a big deal, but at this moment I was still young and did'nt had the knowledge to fix it. But I kept the throttle for a while in conjonction with my FFB2 and saitek pedal and I became a happy camper.

 

but as it was my first hotas, first feeling were great. Precision to my eye was at least ok, and ergonomy was fairly good.

 

I did not had all those great impression when I first handed my G940. Still it is a great stick, and make everything easier by having all the controls in one set of hardware and therefore software, but it need to be polished and fixed right away after unboxing if you don't want to make it worst. but it is a good hotas, and it has FFB which makes it the only one in his category.

 

so X-55 still looks pretty good, and if I was not that much into FFB I would give it a look, even maybe a ride considering it is not "that" pricey but you know...once you have felt a plane bouncing, machine gun firing or stall coming through a god damned stick, non-FFB sticks look lifeless

[Pudfark]

I like the "looks" of this stick.  I admit, that I share the reservations mentioned above my post.

Please correct me, if I am mistaken?  Will this be a Saitek product or a Madcatz product?

 

I have been "burned" in the past...coming from a worn out MSFFB and transitioning to a Logitech G940 and then buying a NIB MSFFB, which I'm currently using now.

The G940 caused/effected me to quit online flying for over a year, it's still sitting on the shelf.  I really want a new "precise" stick to continue my efforts in online flying.

I'm really hoping, despite the lack of FFB, that this stick is the answer.  The price is right.  I won't prebuy it.  If, it is well reviewed, I'll jump on it..  I started "simming" in the middle

1980's and I'm pushing 60 years old,  I don't mind the younger folks handing me my "depends"?  I'm just tired of "stick wobble", when my shot glass don't.

[Sokol1]

 

 

 Will this be a Saitek product or a Madcatz product?

Saitek product, Madcatz is oficial distributor (for USA?).

 

You can use your MSFF2 with this X-52 throttle (stick and throttle have independent USB controller), as custom "HOTAS".

 

Sokol1

[Marrond]

I was looking forward to this and they yet again push this terrible centering spring solution... Throttle on the other hand seems kind of nice. Not Warthog nice, but still very nice.

[siipperi]

Pretty dissapointed. Only one stage trigger and clumsy looking Hats, not to mentioning there is only 2 hats on the throttle and not sure if CMS is hat-switch or a button. No need to bother personally. I don't have any problems with springs in joystick.

[Pudfark]

Thanx for the input Sokol1.  I'm doing something similar to that already.

I liked your video...though after an extensive hunt on the interweb, I can't find

a single "flight" review of this product.  I find that interesting, since it's going on

sale in 100 days?  Seems, that they have it in the box, ready to go?  With no

actual testing....that concerns me a bit.  I'll keep hunting for actual in "game/sim"

reviews and if/when I come across them, I'll post them here.  Thank You.

[siipperi]

Thanx for the input Sokol1.  I'm doing something similar to that already.

I liked your video...though after an extensive hunt on the interweb, I can't find

a single "flight" review of this product.  I find that interesting, since it's going on

sale in 100 days?  Seems, that they have it in the box, ready to go?  With no

actual testing....that concerns me a bit.  I'll keep hunting for actual in "game/sim"

reviews and if/when I come across them, I'll post them here.  Thank You.

That is Saitek's official unboxing video, nobody have that product yet. Wait few months if you want read reviews and they should have "boxed" version already if they don't want to delay their product or run out of stock which might happen from what I have heard.

[TP_Merlin]

Saitek product, Madcatz is oficial distributor (for USA?).

 

You can use your MSFF2 with this X-52 throttle (stick and throttle have independent USB controller), as custom "HOTAS".

 

Sokol1

Madcatz acquired Saitek in 2007 for $30M. I hope this new HOTAS fairs better than some of Saitek kit I have bought over the years.

[Zmaj76]

close up pics from various angles on amazon preorder

And first CES video (turkish)

[BMA_West]

close up pics from various angles on amazon preorder

And first CES video (turkish)

&

179.6 Euro

http://www.amazon.fr/Saitek-Flight-X-55-Rhino-Clavier/dp/B00HHAIY72/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1389984688&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=saitek+x-55+rhino

185.99 GBP

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Flight-X-55-Rhino-H-O-T-A-S/dp/B00HHAIY72/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1390401599&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=Saitek+Pro+Flight+X-55+Rhino

Edited January 23, 2014 by West

[CreepiJim]

200€ in Germany

 

Still not convinced about the quality.

[Winston60]

Would this be something people would be interested in if if were discounted by 42% ? Just register and vote here and perhaps get one at wholesale: https://www.massdrop.com/vote/saitek-x55-rhino-hotas-system-for-pc

[Talisman]

Very disappointed as I was hoping for force feedback.  But it is not a FF stick, so I am not spending any money on it. 

 

I am buying used FF sticks off e-bay while waiting and hoping for a manufacturer to produce a new FF stick.

 

Why is no one producing FF sticks?

[Pudfark]

I'm not so much looking at the "stick" part as I am the throttle unit.

Every couple of days I search for a review "in use" of this product and nothing found.

I'm a dab worried, because it's advertised to be "released" on 04-03-14 and that's two months away.

 

I'm hoping the more adventurous folks here...will obtain one and or find a reputable review of it and pass it on here.   

[Winston60]

We have gotten the required number of votes (over 200) at massdrop. The next step is to hear from Massdrop about them negotiating a discounted volume or wholesale price from Saitek.

 

Nobody has one of these yet as they will not ship until 3 April 2014.

 

You can still vote to purchase one of these at less than the $199 list price here: https://www.massdrop.com/vote/saitek-x55-rhino-hotas-system-for-pc

[Sokol1]

"Consumer" preview of X-55:

 

https://forums.robertsspaceindustries.com/discussion/102572/so-i-got-my-saitek-x-55-rhino-early#latest

 

With the traditional complain against " all plastic" (people want pay a X-52 PRO price and get a Warthog like... ).

 

IMO - This HOTAS should by compared with CH Fighterstick+PRO Thrtotle ("all plastic" and similar price).

 

Sokol1

Edited February 4, 2014 by Sokol1

[Pudfark]

Thanx Sokol1,

 

For the heads up on that link.  I'm still waiting for some sort of proper review on the X-55.

That's a step in the right direction and it was helpful.  

[-=BS=-R-H]

Just a quick FYI...Mine shipped today. Will post when it comes in and I get to test it out.

 

RH

[IonicRipper]

Same here. Cant wait to get my hands on it!

[BMA_West]

Succumbed and placed pre-order with Amazon.fr

http://www.amazon.fr/Saitek-Flight-X-55-Rhino-Clavier/dp/B00HHAIY72/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1389984688&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=saitek+x-55+rhino

178.72Euro for the moment but slightly higher for me caus of VAT for Be thou free of mailing charges.

Pre-order means served before regular orders.

Won't have it for 2 or 3 months yet but if prices drop I cash in on that while rises wont change anything for me.

In between I can  cancel my order ...

Seemed to sweet a deal to keep resisting.

[busdriver]

...

Edited March 11, 2022 by busdriver

[BMA_West]

Thanx Sokol1,

 

For the heads up on that link.  I'm still waiting for some sort of proper review on the X-55.

That's a step in the right direction and it was helpful.  

 

 

Just a quick FYI...Mine shipped today. Will post when it comes in and I get to test it out.

 

RH

 

You'll prob in for signing a NDA (nondisclosure agreement) in order to receive the beta drivers so posting on your tests will be dicey ... won't it now?

But be sure we will all apprediate and read it LOL

[Pudfark]

Good point West.

 

I sure don't want anybody to get in trouble with an NDA.

 

Maybe it's ok to say?

Buy it or Bye it...

[BMA_West]

Anyway Beta drivers may carry bugs, that is why they are Beta so it has little sense not to buy because of some wrinkles about to get ironed out.

Final drivers is a whole new ball game! 

[FuriousMeow]

Mine will be arriving Thursday next week, barring any unforseen snow storms to slam the East Coast like this past week. I read that the drivers are approximately 90% complete and that these are PR designs, but will be the same as the ones that will be going out later.

[-=BS=-R-H]

You'll prob in for signing a NDA (nondisclosure agreement) in order to receive the beta drivers so posting on your tests will be dicey ... won't it now?

But be sure we will all apprediate and read it LOL

As of now there has been no mention of an NDA. Of course that could change at any time. I am currently under 5 different NDAs for hardware and software but that's all I can say.

 

RH

[Nage]

It seams that X55 is using the same hall sensors as T16000 and Warthog and that precision much improved from x52/pro. But the hotas itself is less weight than both. All in all not that bad for now. Well see the durability.

 

Inside the X55s base:

 

 

Inside throttle:

 

 

not pushing the stick to its outer limits (not hitting the edge here

 

 

This picture shows me pushing all the way no suprises with the results.

 

 

Looks like Saitek switched to the same Melexis tri-axial Hall sensor that TM became so enamored with in the HOTAS Warthog and T.16000-M. The PCB position underneath the gimbal and what appears to be a small magnet at the bottom of the stick post with no signs of sensors beside the gimbal assembly suggest that.

 

Fortunately, it's a good sensor. Unfortunately, it makes gimbal mods much more difficult as opposed to the X-52's use of individual Hall sensors for each axis (just ask Okona about his efforts to gimbal-mod the Warthog), and believe it or not, I've seen pics of a Baur BRD-modded X-52 before, which would singlehandedly turn a cheap stick into one of the better sticks money can buy.

 

Meanwhile, the throttle's full of potentiometers. Typical Saitek...

SOURCE:

https://forums.robertsspaceindustries.com/discussion/102572/so-i-got-my-saitek-x-55-rhino-early/p4

Edited February 16, 2014 by tikvic