Cobalt Flux Review (including pictures)

drkhwk · Trick Member Joined: 31 Oct 2002 Location: Columbia, MD

I've noticed there isn't a lot high quality pictures of the newer Cobalt Flux, and the pics on their website do not do the pads justice. So I have decided to include a couple pictures hidden throughout my review, or if your too lazy to read the review and just want to see the pics, then here they are:

Cobalt Flux Pictures

For those of you that want to read the review, it starts now

After all the hype surrounding the Cobalt Flux I finally convinced myself to drop the cash and order one (unfortunately 2 weeks before they dropped the price $30, doh!). It took exactly 3 weeks from the time I placed my order for it to arrive at my doorstep. I was soooo happy when it finally came

So naturally I began to frantically unpack it. After finally going through about 3 layers of cardboard and tape the I could finally see the bottom of the pad. Then I flipped it over and did a little "ooooh, ahhhhh" as i saw the front of the pad. And the front again from a different angle. After opening the massive 50lb box I then proceeded to open the little box. Inside is the breakout box. I then proceeded to get everything hooked up so I test this baby out. Finally I fired up DDRMAX USA (PS2) with everything hooked up..

Thats the end of my little picture story I hope you enjoyed it

I've had the pad for a little over 2 weeks now and have a chance to give it a pretty good beating. I've played a few 4-5 hour sessions on it, as well as some of my friends.

My opinions on the pad:

Sensitivity: Very, very close to arcade. In fact, it may be better depending on the condition of the pad at your local arcade. I have yet to experience a "ghost" step (which i have encountered MANY on my modded soft pad).
Durability: I don't think this is ever going to break. It still looks and performs exactly the same as the day I got it. There really is no reason it shouldn't last - there really isn't anything to break. See craftsmenship section below.
Craftsmanship: This pad is very well made, its a simple yet effective design. From what I can tell the base of the pad is a little over an inch thick and made out of some REALLY heavy duty wood. On the bottom of the pad are 2 strips of anti-grip material (you can see these in the picture above). On top of the wood base is a piece of metal. Then on top are the individial squares. Each square has a top piece of metal and a bottom piece. The top of the squares are made out of a plastic/lexar surface and I really doubt they will ever crack. A paper insert (arrow design) goes under the surface then a piece of sheet metal under that. That piece of sheet metal is velcroed and screwed to the bottom (base of the pad) so that there is a little space inbetween the two metal surfaces. When the two parts of the square make contact (ie you press the square) a signal is sent via a small wire that is connected to the square. NOTE: BE CAREFUL if you buy/own one of these and try to remove the individual squares. There is a small wire attached that can be easily ripped apart. You can remove the plastic/lexar part but DO NOT remove the metal part of the square unless you know what you are doing.
Compatibility: Works perfectly with the EMS PSX->USB adapter for DWI. Link to the adapter: http://www.levelsix.com/products/pc/EMSUSB2.shtml

Complaints:
1) The serial connector on the end of the breakout box that plugs into the pad is not really secured, it just sorta plugs in. Sorta like how on monitor/VGA cables you can plug them in without tightening the 2 screws on the side. Same thing here, except there is no screws. It came loose a number of times but I found using some tape and tightling wrapping it around the serial connector from the top of the platform to the underside of the platform keeps it in place snugly. Kinda hard to explain I can take a picture if anybody is interested in seeing how I did it.
2) The shiny stuff on the side of the wood base is actually aluminum foil, but it really doesnt matter. I just think its sorta ghetto

3) I found that the pad manages to slip very slightly on my carpet, something like 1 inch to the left and up on a fast song. Purchasing a few feet of anti-grip stuff from home depot did the trick. You can find it in the tape aisle of home depot its something like $2/ft.

Thats about all I can think of right now, if anybody has any questions or comments just post a reply and I'll reply. Hope you enjoyed my review

TRIPLEG · Trick Member Joined: 16 Aug 2002 Location: California

u have convinced me to drop the cash and to get this one and test it out against my cyphergames im also goin to get a mymybox for christmas i think so hopefully i can test them all out against each other and see which ones are the best.
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NoLimits3D · Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2002 5:19 pm Post subject:

Nice Review! I can't wait to get mine on X-Mas, with DDRMAX! *goes back to screenshots*.
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321 SARS · Trick Member Joined: 21 Jul 2002 Location: Buffalo, NY

Hey drkhwk, I was just wondering, where did you get the EMS PSX->USB adapter from? I wanna test this baby with DWI too, once I get it (I just placed my order

)
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nico_ddr · Trick Member Joined: 25 Jan 2002

Where can i order this pad ?

321 SARS · Trick Member Joined: 21 Jul 2002 Location: Buffalo, NY

www.cobaltflux.com
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Anime: My anti-drug.

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drkhwk · Trick Member Joined: 31 Oct 2002 Location: Columbia, MD

I purchased the EMS PSX to USB adapter from Levelsix. Here is a direct link to the item. http://www.levelsix.com/products/pc/EMSUSB2.shtml

Kailin · Trick Member Joined: 05 Nov 2002

mine's in the queue, so if you could snap a pic of what you mean with the tape dealie, that'd be sweet.

I plan on taking a lot of pix of mine from arrival to abuse to xmas day pounding when everyone is all together. But you made me feel a little better about the investment!

eViL_bOrIs_Beethoven · Trick Member Joined: 20 Oct 2002 Location: Lakewood, NJ

I just bought a Cyphergames metal pad and an Ignition. Time to start saving up again.

**Starts saving up again**
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Wompa164 · Trick Member Joined: 02 May 2002 Location: Dallas, TX

NoLimits3D · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2002 9:09 am Post subject:

Your the one always pissing me off. But I'm not gonna flame you cause I don't want to get anything about flaming in my PM messages.*calms down* Well, in my avatar, that's actually a Konami Metal Pad(take a look by clicking my profile, there in big bold letters it says Konami), as you probably wouldn't know, as all pads are the same to you. And the reason why I've changed so many times is because I've had terrible bad luck with metal pads. Bad Service and dented metal on Cyphergames pad, BNS pad didn't work. So I decided to just wait till X-Mas. So hopefully the cobalt flux pad will change this bad luck of mine.
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Centrifuge · Trick Member Joined: 24 Oct 2002

Flamers are more annoying than fanboys. If you don't like his posts, just ignore them instead of having an aneurism next time.

Shen · Trick Member Joined: 04 May 2002 Location: TN

Were you playing with shoes in your video? If so, then have you ever tried with socks only and is it comfortable? Also, have you done any mods to it like the ones suggested by _ter?

drkhwk · Trick Member Joined: 31 Oct 2002 Location: Columbia, MD

drkhwk · Trick Member Joined: 31 Oct 2002 Location: Columbia, MD

Kailin, here is the picture as you requested. I hope its of some help

Pic here

Basically all you do is get a few pieces of tape, and loop around the connector by sticking the tape on the bottom of the pad, then go around the connector and tape it somewhere on the top of the pad (i choose to put it under the bottom layer of sheet metal so it looks a little better and isn't in the way).[/url]

Centrifuge · Trick Member Joined: 24 Oct 2002

Hmm, I usually play without shoes. Basically, it can be really slippery if you play in fresh socks and the surface is really clean (just like a kitchen floor

) However, after the pad is kind of broken in, this problem goes away, because the surfaces get a little scuffed after months of beating and they get a little dirtier as well. (I recommend treating it just like an arcade machine pad, and not using glass cleaner and wax on it every time after you play to keep it shiny, lol)

Now I play Max300, So Deep, etc. exclusively in socks and I haven't slipped in a long time. Of course, maybe it's not slippery anymore because it's covered in a fine layer of sweat that's dripped of my and the 10 other people who play on it's faces, lol =)

I do remember when I first started playing on it though I slipped a couple of times. But since then I've worn holes through at least 3 or 4 pairs of socks, so it turned out fine.

Shen · Trick Member Joined: 04 May 2002 Location: TN

CoastalMixX · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2002 9:38 pm Post subject:

OMG...

I just watched the media files from the site...

THAT THING DOESN'T MOVE!! AND YOU CAN SLIDE!

I want it for my b-day

I'll prolly have the money by then cuz of Christmas.. but I don't wanna spend it all on 1 thing. So maybe when I get a job and a few pay checks I'll get it.[/b]

Centrifuge · Trick Member Joined: 24 Oct 2002

Hmmm... As far as I can tell that mod is for replacing the foil tape with sheet metal on the buttons. Cobalt Fluxes already have sheet metal for both contact surfaces, so that mod isn't necessary at all, as its benefits are already implemented. =) If Fluxes used foil tape for contact they'd be a much poorer pad.

CoastalMixX · Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2002 10:53 am Post subject:

What song were you playing?