Qanba Obsidian Joystick for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 and PC (Fighting Stick) Officially Licensed Sony Product

but wait. There's still more to come. I needed to replace my old Mad Catz TE PS3 stick because I didn't want to go through the hassle of modding it or using a Brook adapter and risk "losing" some input lag (I know, this is the boogey man in arcade sticks, but going over 20 milliseconds equals more than a frame, so if you play Street Fighter 3 or 4 Ultra you know some combos have extremely strict timing). br>I'll be honest, I was a little hesitant about doing this because we all know how expensive these sticks can be. I was about to close my eyes and purchase a Mad Catz TE2 for $350 (Mad Catz, by the way, went bankrupt a few months ago, I believe it was April?).
So! Let's talk about obsidian for a moment. br>The box wasn't as "nice" as some of the other brands, such as Mad Catz, but it was still adequate, and I eagerly opened it. I couldn't believe how nice this stick looked when I first took it out of the box. My old TE was completely outclassed by this. It was extremely sleek and elegant, but it also had a hidden feature. It is WAY MORE DURABLE (at least in the frame; I'm not sure about the PCB), and since everyone here knows that Sanwa buttons are the same in all Arcade sticks (except Hori), we don't need to go into great detail about Sanwa's superior quality. br>Those silver things you see in the pictures? Those are the only compromises in this stick. The entire structure is made of SOLID aluminum. The Qanba Dragon must be a monster, because this is the most solid stick I've ever held in my hands. br>At this point, I'm all smiles and wishing I hadn't purchased a Razer or a Mad Catz. Don't get me wrong: those are also fantastic products! But the difference is that those feel like plastic toys, whereas this feels like a beautiful, well-made piece of machinery. br>br>Advantages-
- Construction of unrivaled quality. This thing is built like a tank, but it's not as heavy as a Qanba Q4 that I used to have. It's a lot more durable than the Mad Catz TE, and the parts aren't as flimsy as they are on some other sticks.
- I've never had a stick that looks as good as this one. Period. It has it all: sleek, elegant, and robust (I don't use the side lights because I'm not a fan of them, but I'm glad you can turn them on and off at will; it's still a free feature considering other sticks don't have anything similar).
- Sanwa's JLF stick and OSBF buttons always deliver a high-quality product. Consider this: The buttons on a $150 Hori RAP are good, but not as good as these, so you'll spend the same amount.
- I'm amazed at how Qanba was able to put together such a fantastic package for such a low price. This stick appears to be much more expensive. It was well worth the money. Only a $300 Hori VLX could possibly compete in terms of durability, and oddly enough, the VLX has one of the worst input lags of any stick.
- Support a company that isn't well-known but gives you the most bang for your buck.
- It is perfectly possible 100% to modify it. If you're a little savvy and skilled with your hands and electronic equipment, you should be fine. br>br>CONS (which, in my opinion, are not at all cons)br>- The cable bay is a tad cramped. That's the only thing that appears to require some attention. (For example, the FRAME on the Mad Catz TE2 feels flimsy, which is unacceptable in such an expensive stick, so keep that in mind. )
- If you're into modding, replacing parts isn't as simple as it is on a TE2, but I think it's worth it because the frame is so much better. Conclusion. br>br> br>This is the best stick I've ever owned, and I've owned them all except the Razer (which is tempting for a stick addict like me). Nothing, I repeat, nothing, will look as good in your lap as this guy. If you google it, you can see pictures of how it looks modded (I haven't done it yet, but the procedure is nearly identical to that of a Qanba Q4 I still have, which isn't difficult). It's a thing of absolute beauty. br>In my search for the ideal stick, I came across this one. I haven't tried the Razer yet, but this one puts the Mad Catz to shame in terms of durability. If I were you, I'd only get a Mad Catz TE2 if you're completely useless, clumsy, and still want to mod it. In comparison to modding a Razer, this is a lot easier. If you want to change the art on a Razer, you'll need to use a hair dryer to remove the super hard plexi/acrylic top. That is a major annoyance. br>In this one, you only need to remove a few covers and the buttons (in the Mad Catz, you only need to remove the plexi, which is only a click away). If I could, I'd give it a six-star rating. My old Qanba Q4 blue was more durable than a Mad Catz, but it didn't look nearly as good. They were on par, in my opinion. This one is significantly more well-built and attractive than any other stick I've ever owned. It is impossible to overstate how highly I recommend it. br>br>For comparison's sake, I placed a photo of my old modded Qanba next to it.

Ahmed Golden

| Sep 12, 2021

Also, I didn't notice any difference in audio quality between the three. The stick is a true JLF with a good spring, the balltop is chrome, and you can change the artwork but I won't be doing so anytime soon because the stick is just plain sexy. There isn't any lag at all! The only thing I'd like Qanba to change is their policy that opening the stick voids your warranty, because it's a little unfair to force all buyers to play with a square gate (I prefer the octagonal gate). br>THIS STICK IS BETTER THAN THE DRAGON IN MY OPINION!.

Remi Vazquez

| Jan 09, 2021

For more information, continue reading. TL; DR : Yes, I strongly advise it. br>br>2 WEEK UPDATE: I docked one star because the wire compartment broke, just as I had predicted. It's so tight that you have to use a lot of force to open it, and if you use too much force or there's something stuck between the lid and the body (which is difficult to tell because it's so stiff), it'll snap right off. Because I now have a broken peg, this should have been made of metal or made to detach. To be fair, it's such a tight fit that you can close it with the cord in or out and it'll function normally (at least for now). br>br>Read on for more information! br>br>I was in need of a new stick and remembered trying Qanba at a friend's house, so I went with this one. br>First, let's look at the advantages:

- Quality of construction: Despite the fact that it is not particularly heavy, it weighs in at around 6-pounds. It weighs 7 pounds and has a substantial feel to it. It's wide enough to sit comfortably on your lap with your knees apart, and the top plastic that surrounds the buttons and stick has no flex, making it feel like you're sitting at a game cabinet. In addition, I believe the top of the ball and the sides that house the LEDs are made of metal.

- Gameplay: It's made with Sanwa components, so it'll respond just like you'd expect. br>br>- Looks: It looks fantastic in my opinion. While I am not a big fan of glossy black plastic on anything I buy, it looks great on this. The silver and black color scheme is elegant and simple. Also attractive is the Qanba badge on the front. The blue LEDs add a bit of bling and can be set to respond to vibrations, your inputs, or just be on or off all the time. br>br>- Features: This is a stick with all the bells and whistles. One of a select group. There's a touch pad, R3/L3 buttons, tournament lock switch, PS3/PS4 and LS/RS mode switches, and a Dpad. It even includes the elusive number three. Microphone input is 5mm. br>br>And now for the drawbacks:

- Black plastic with a high gloss finish: It looks nice when it's clean, but finger prints and smudges are a problem. As a result, be prepared to wipe it down with a microfiber cloth on a regular basis. I'm not sure how scratch-resistant the plastic is, but I'm guessing it'll get scratched eventually and won't look very nice. There are six what appear to be screws holding the front in place, so it's possible to replace it, but I'd rather companies stop using glossy black plastic on items that are constantly touched! However, that is merely an opinion; if you agree, disregard this. br>br>- Wire and container: I'm afraid I'll break the lid because it's extremely tight and difficult to open. The wire isn't braided, as stated in the description, but ehh. That isn't a bad result.

- Lights with LEDs While they are a nice touch and look great, they are hidden in the sides and cannot be seen when they are on. These are primarily for the viewing pleasure of others. I suppose it's nice that they don't distract me, but since I can turn them off if they bother me, I'd like to see them while I'm playing. br>br>- Touchpad: For the most part, it works, but it appears to be slow to respond to presses. To reset my character in Street Fighter V training mode, it takes a few presses before it recognizes the left and right inputs to the pad. Even though it isn't the worst thing, I believe it should be mentioned.

- Buttons that perform various tasks: I don't like the placement of the buttons, even though they function properly. They're all the same size and are lined up at the top of the stick's face; I'd prefer to see the Option and Share buttons separated from the others rather than clumped together. Even if you get used to the stick, I'm sure you'll make mistakes when pressing the buttons.

- Adaptability: While it isn't a particularly heavy stick, it lacks the handle of the Crystal and the shoulder strap attachments of the Mad Catz. So, if you're going to a tournament, you'll have to carry it in your arm, backpack, or whatever. Unfortunately, this is the case.

- Modding: Even though it already has Sanwa parts, having easy access to the inside of the stick would have been nice. Your warranty will be voided if you open it up. Even with the disadvantages, I would still recommend this stick. It's a joy to use, fits comfortably in your lap, and has a mic port to boot!.

Anika Bright

| Jul 04, 2021