MAS VS. X-Arcade stick Impressions

A while back I made a thread regarding what arcade stick I should buy. My main concern was getting a good one for the PC, consoles were secondary. I knew virtually nothing about arcade sticks. My main choices were either the MAS systems Super Pro Stick, or the X-Arcade Solo. As it happened, I ended up buying both. Below are my thoughts on the products and their customer service. I know some people are always looking into arcade sticks, so here's another opinion.

I originally went with X-Arcade Solo.

http://xgaming.net/Merchant2/graphic...Untitled-1.jpg

Basically, I ordered it because I was impatient. I had phoned MAS repeatedly earlier in the day and had not received any answer. I was desperate. The X-Arcade had mixed reviews, but the customer service was supposed to be great. That, plus the adaptability of the unit (it has adaptors for every major system) made me order it.

Ordering was easy online. I received conformation and a tracking number for my package quickly. It arrived the next week.

From the moment I received it I had problems. The diagnols were not responsive. I opened up the stick as perscribed on their website and bent the metal joystick switches inside (The X-Arcade uses replica super sticks). Still, nothing worked. After quite some time of tinkering I realized that one of the switches was actually bent under part of the stick and it was obstructing it's movement. I pried it upward with a fork, and I had the stick working well. Not perfect, but well. Throughout the next few days, I had to tweak the stick here and there. Sometimes it would be to responsive, other toimes not enough. Even other times I would do a move that the system recognized as a different move. After about 5 days, I became fed up.

I decided to return the X-Arcade and call MAS.

http://www.massystems.com/Prostick-dc.jpg

This time, on my first try I got through. I spoke to a polite and professional woman about my order. I knew MAS really wasn't a company, but a home where someone built these sticks. I asked how long it would take to get my stick out, and she told me wensday of next week. After going through some custimatization options with her (Buttons, sticks, springs), I gave her my credit card number and hung up. After doing some reading, I wanted to change my order so that I would have a perfect 360 stick and convex buttons (Non idented). I called her up, and it wasn't a problem. My stick ended up going out thursday instead of wedsenday. I received it the next Tuesday.

While I waited for the MAS stick to come, I gave the X-Arcade yet another shot. I tweaked it, and low and behold it began working solidly. I was pleased with it, and decided to keep it. After all, i would have to send it back and when all was said and done I would only save around 60-80 bucks.

Upon receiving the MAS, it was everything I wanted it to be. Basically, the Arcade stick is exactly what I remember from the Arcade, if not better handling. Not only does it replicate the feel perfectly, but the look as well.

Comparing them, I have to tell you I think the MAS flat out smokes the X-Arcade Solo. The solo is a good stick, and has some definite advantages in quicker customer service, and adaptability. Others also say it's easier to alter. I can only go on my impressions though-

The Joysticks

My Mas uses a perfect 360. My X-Arcade uses replica supers. I think the 360 is a superior stick, by far. It feels tighter, smoother and more responsive. The replica supers are good, but feel very loose.

The Buttons

Convex for the MAS, concave for the X-Arcade. Convex feels more responsive to me, but both are good.

The layout

I prefer MAS's layout with a select and the start on top, and four buttons on top and four on bottom. X Arcade is classic SF2 layout, with two extra buttons off to the left on the bottom, pinball butons on both sides (Very cool), and a start button somewhat close to the top three punch buttons. Both are good layouts. My main reason for picking MAS is that I can have the top four for geo games or just use the Sf2 pattern as well.

Construction.

The X-Arcade might get the Nod here. It feels a bit more secure then the MAS. Both are HUGE sticks and extremely well built. They both seem to be able to withstand a bomb blast. The X-Arcade seems a little more stable, probably because of the extra pegs at the bottom of the stick. The MAS might feel a little heavier, and it is indeed bigger then the X-Arcade. Neither are very cumbersome, and both can be set upon a table or on your lap and used comfortably. The X-Arcades top actually slops down which feels natural on the wrists, MAS is more of a box shape. I can't comment on the insides of the MAS, but the X-Arcades were all neat and tidy. The parts of the MAS's construction I much prefer over the X-Arcade is the surface and look. It looks much prettier IMO. It also feels a lot better. I can rub my hands across the top of the MAS, on the X-Arcade that is uncomfortable.

Price-

MAS cost me $160. $95 for the stick, $35 extra for the perfect 360 joystick, 30 for shipping. X-Arcade cost me $130. $100 for the stick, 30 for shipping.

Customer Service- X-Arcade is the winner here. They got back to me pretty quickly. They even did this when I wanted to return the stick. They were always polite. The women at MAS is very polite, and in the end I always got ahold of her. However, there was a time when they were very hard to get ahold of.

Conclusion-

MAS wins by a KO. The X-Arcade is a decent stick, but I'd take the MAS over it any day of the week and twice on Sunday. I've decided to keep my MAS for the PC, and use my X-Arcade as a second for friends. I'll most likely purchase the console adaptors for the X-Arcade as well, because it is after all a good stick. For me, the MAS is the King. Beautiful look, perfect feel.

Thanks for the excellent impressions.

really nice reviews..

makes me wanna save this thread to look up when i decide to get one for myself..

Thank you, I've been thinking about getting a MAS stick for a while now.

Thanks for the impressions. To date, I haven't played on a better stick than a Mas, excluding a homemade stick here and there (keep in mind I haven't tried a Sav Stick yet). Mas sticks are worth the hefty cost, but make sure you get the specifications tailored to your liking.

Did you post this on SRK?

My MAS stick is now a little over 3 years old, and its held up perfectly over all this time. It doesn't get quite as much use now as it once did, but I've still put it through a lot of hours of gameplay, and it feels as sturdy as it was when it was new.

Great impressions, thanks a lot. I nearly purchased an X-Arcade in favor of the MAS.

i was going to buy an x-arcade, but i read your impressions and changed my mind. one question though: is it possible to hook a mas stick up to multiple consoles? this is very important, as i need an arcade stick for at least 5 different systems.

Does the MAS stick let you use adaptors for use on different systems? I saw one of them at a local game store, and man, I was impressed. $160 is a bit steep, though. I'd love to get one for use with Capcom vs. SNK 2 on XBox Live.

Heh, looks like I'm not the only one curious about this.

Thank you guys, it wa smy pleasure to post this.

Yes, I posted this on SRK.

The cheapest you could buy a Mas for is $115. 20 for ground shipping, and an ultimate stick with either concave or convex buttons. I think super and competition sttick sare available for choice at no additional cost, and that only the perfect 360 costs money. One of the cool about MAS is it's level of custimzation. You can choose different buttons, and every stick out there. You can choose the box color. I've heard people even invested the time to choose the face color and button color (One guy I knew got all black face and red buttons).

Yes, Mas offers additional adaptors. From what I understand, they are extra wires that stick out of the stick. They are not cheap, $35 per wire. They also do not support X-Box or gamecube, but I have heard that people have used PS2 adaptors to make their MAS stick work on the X-Box.

If your choice is for adaptability first, I would say go with the X-Arcade. It offers cheap adaptors ($20) for every major system. That's the main reason I am keep keeping it. Mas is a little expensive for adaptors and somewhat a headache for the X-Box. The X-Arcade is a good stick, it just offers some headaches. With the X-Arcade it was not plug and play, I had to tinker with it. I don't want to do that, no one does. I want to get what I am paying for.

A word of advice, if you choose to get an arcade stick get EXACTLY what you want. If you want the better quality, go for the MAS. But, don't forget anything like I did. I should have waited and purchased a DC adaptor so I could play 3rd Strike. It kills me that I can't play that amazing game with this amazing stick. I could send it back to MAS to have them give me another hookup, but it would be $75 (40 for shipping to and back, 35 for the hookup). I'd be better off just buying another stick. So, don't rush. Take your time. Get exactly what you want.