Best and Worst IIDX Controllers...

In your opinion, based either on personal experience or advice, on the several different IIDX controllers which are the best and which are the worst: I'll start with a few I know or own and I'll mention some of the pros and cons (I apologize if I'm quoting some other forum sayings):

Beatmania Konami Official IIDX Controller (Japanese):
Pro: Affordable and can be easily modded to fit a IIDX Players playing style. Also, has a button which can turn the controller from a 1P to a 2P controller.
Con: Keys can become sticky so some maintenance is required for proper play.

Beatmania Konami Official IIDX Controller (USA):
Pro: More affordable than the Japanese controller (I've heard that the game and the controller can be bought less than $40). Keys are spring loaded so this eliminates the sticky key problem with the Japanese Konami Official Controller.
Con: The turntable is not as *loose* as the Japanese Konami Official Controller. Also, the controller takes a little more time to be "broken in" for best results.

Conclusion: If you are starting IIDX and want a IIDX controller, I suggest getting the USA IIDX Official Controller. The price is attractive and, with no sticky keys, this controller can last you a very long time until you want to upgrade to a more quality controller.

Better Controllers:

Konami Arcade Style Controller:
Pro: Very arcade feel and the keys doesn't stick at all (or much *correct me if I'm wrong). Turntable is arcade perfect and the controller can be flipped from a 1P to a 2P controller with the press of a button on the bottom of the controller (Similar to the Konami Official Controllers).
Con: Expensive (you probably are going to pay at least $400 and up for one controller). Also, this isn't going to be much of a con, but the turntable takes a while to get used to if you are used to playing with the Konami Official Controller.

Ransei and Desktop Arcade Controllers:
I can't say too much about these controllers except that they can be customed to your needs. More Information is needed about these controllers please...

Best Controllers:

DJ Dao Perfect Edition Evolution:
Pro: Arcade perfect in dimensions and size. Also, this beauty has lightable keys (which you can customize to your liking) and the turntable has a lighted right around it. Also, I heard that customer support is awesome. Prices are very reasonable for its (DJ Dao Perfect Edition Evolution) performance. Just a side note: a new PEE (Perfect Edition Evolution) is being released sometimes this month.
Con: Not much to say except that shipping can be brutal (I'm quoting someone), sometimes the controller doesn't work the way it should, but DJ Dao supports his products 100% and will fix your problem, sometimes for free....

DJ Dao Final Product 7 (FP7):
Pro: I have this product at home, and I can tell you, this is the best IIDX controller I've EVER had. I have two Konami Official Controller at home (One Japanese and One USA) and this beauty gets two thumbs up. This product, just like the DJ Dao Perfect Edition Evolution has a lighted keys and a lighted turntable. Mines have the Sanwa keys, and I love every minute of playing with this controller.
Con: Took me a while to get used to the turntable position (Arcade Perfect so pinky scratching is tricker), but overall great controller. Paid about $325 for my controller (twice as much for the two Konami Official Controllers). The only reason why I would sell this controller is when I upgrade to a Perfect Edtion Evolution sometimes next year..

In Conclusion:

For a beginner IIDX player: buy the Konami Official Controller, particularly the USA Controller since it's more affordable (around about $40 or lower) less prone to sticky keys and it (the KOF) is a good starting point. As your skills and interest improve in IIDX, I would personally recommend the DJ Dao FP7 or (if you have a little more cash to invest in a controller), the Perfect Edition Evolution. The Konami Arcade Style Controller can also be a good investment as well, but I just suggest the DJ Dao controllers a little more...

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My DASC has lasted me for two years. It's pretty sweet. Custom paint job too. Maintenance every once in while; Sometimes turntable gets a bit sticky, but that can be fixed by loosening the nut. Recently had to fix a sticking problem, but its the first time its happened in my 2 years of owning this. It's got a handle on it, so it's easy to carry. The rubber feet make it nearly impossible for this thing to move. There are other people who have rough plexiglass, but mine came smooth. LED's are cool. The production time was REALLY slow though. Took Steve 4 months to finish. It could have just been the timing though, because I also got a popn asc from him and I got it in 2 weeks.

You also don't have to pay obnoxiously large shipping charges for it.

The USKOC is really good though. I have had no problems with it other than loose plastic and weak rubber feet. Also, it's pretty much impossible to get a USKOC working with your computer. I've tried both parallel and usb adapters and either it doesnt work or it's laggy. If you're using it for just PS2 use though, I recommend it.

Also Ransai ASCs are a myth.

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I only have a BMUS controller, so I can't sell my opinion on all of these controllers.

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I want a DASC but I probably will never obtain such a thing. No money

What's a DASC?


I only have the US KOC, so I'll comment on that.
First, the keys ARE NOT spring loaded. I've opened mine up, and indeed there are the same type of rubber plungers as the JKOC.
They have sort of a "track" they follow though, so its impossible for the key to get stuck under the frame like the JKOC.
And you can modify the US KOC's keys with cardboard just like the JKOC, it just takes a little more effort. But I've done it, works great!
Second, the turntable is indeed pretty stiff when you first get it, but if you do the slipmat/wax paper mod like with the JKOC it spins beautifully once you break it in.
The spacing is vastly different from the actual IIDX arcade controller, but for such a small price and good quality I'm not gonna complain.

DASC = Desktop Arcade ASC

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Really? I'm lucky then I guess since my IIDX controller worked perfectly with Lunatic Rave 2. No lag either.

Well what can you pass in IIDX?

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Only 5's and 6's

Then I don't think you would really notice the difference.

No offense.

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None taken. I know I'm not too great compared to others on the internets.

I have two USKOC I played my imports and my lunatic rave with them. I don't need much more since they are broken in how I like them to be. I just want to add lights to the key pads.

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I've played on a JKOC, USKOC, and arcade KOC. I have to say the official arcade controller is THE SHIT. I couldn't get my hands off of it. Luckily, though, the JKOC is awesome too since you barely have to put any pressure on the keys. I love that. USKOC is a cheap way to play.

I like them all.

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I must bump this to show everyone the best controller ever:

I own Real Edition from DJ Dao, have played quite a lot on PE from dao and I own two JKOCs.

Real Edition feels perfect to me. keys feel great (sanwas), sound great. TT is arcade like, lags a bit, misfires rarely but it does. (modded TT works flawlessly though). It's expensive as hell, but for doubles play it's perfect.

PE felt almost the same as RE. I have no idea what are the differences between RES and PEE though. I would have bought PEE if I would be playing only singles. But I play on both sides and you can't change it as on KOCs.

I spent last two days playing on KOC (I'm not at home but wanted to play IIDX so took my JKOCs with me). The keys get sticky quite often. It's easy to press the keys (compared to other controllers I played on). If the KOC is modded with paper or something the sensitivity gets MUCH higher, which for me is really bad as I trigger what I don't even want to press. Probably you will just get used to it, but for me it's annoying as hell.
the TT is pretty close the keys which made me miss the TT many times today. Also I'm used to scratching with my ring finger and I don't scratch on the far edge of the TT but I have to say it still registered when I hit it somewhere in the middle and scratched just a bit. With KOC there is not the lag I noticed on RE. But in my case a lot of scratches register twice getting me 1 perfect + 1 poor for some reason.
Not sure about the spacing of the keys, but it seems they are closer. what was happening to me today was that I was often hitting the sides of the keys (namely 1,2 and 6,7). on RE or arcade I hit the center part of the keys or I miss the key entirely.

Anyway I tried connecting RE, PE and KOC to the computer to play DJT and it works fine if you use a good converter. Many people were telling me that EMS converter is fine, but that one has a lag that is too big for IIDX and it's not even constant. I have some super dragon double converter and with this all controllers work fine on a computer. but majority of converters I tried lagged as hell even those on the list for being good for playing DDR (check stepmania.com for the list)

Anyway if you can get KOC for 40-60USD I would buy it. I got mine for 109USD each + shipping that cost me a fortune as well. Would never buy this for such a price. Anyway if modded and the problem with sticky keys solved the controllers seems to work well and probably lasts for a long time as well.

I have a PEE2 from DJ DAO, and it's pretty much what everyone said it is. The clicky sounds of the sanwa buttons makes timing 11's and 12's a lot easier. The only problem i had (and tofu had this problem as well) is that some of the microswitches (omron) are just pure shit and misfire. I fired DAO an email and he sent me 2 microswitches + pcb's for free though so it's all good. Overall it's an excellent controller.

USKOC's get sticky keys pretty easily so i don't know what'chu people were talkin' bout up there

and holy hell stsung, how did you afford a real edition?

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I have NEVER had this problem.

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have you played on it for a while? I blew through 2 US controllers pretty quickly and i have a couple friends that are starting to get sticky keys too

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A Dao is the best way to go, absolutely. You can't go wrong haha!

I had/have a US KOC, and before I had my Dao I loved it. You have to mod the crap out if though. I put cardboard in my keys and wax paper in the turntable. This made the keys only have to go a fraction of an inch down to register, and the turntable is loose as all hell. It's not perfect, but it's pretty good. If you're doing 11s and higher it's not that great, unfortunately. You really need to be able to hear the keys when you do harder songs, or it goes awry.

I currently have a DASC and it is awesome. Best IIDX controller I've had. Had a little sticking problem when i first got it, but i sprayed a little WD-40 on the keys(Just in case the others start sticking), and it's fixed. WD-40 is a special spray that fixes rusty parts and sticky mechanisms, and it's perfect. But for my birthday, I am definetly moving up to the DJ-Dao real edition.

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