Buying a metal DDR pad.

Aceed · Basic Member Joined: 02 Apr 2004

I posted this in the general forum with some good tips and was told to post it over here for more.

Hello everyone, long time reader, first time poster. Abuse me if this is in the wrong forum or if there's a stickied thread on buying pads I seemed to have missed.

I'm looking to buy a metal pad. Money is not an issue. It will be for two people until we get better at it and work into doubles. It must be compatible with the PC (adapter is fine) as I'm using Stepmania/Dance With Intensity.

I've been looking at http://www.gameenhancer.net and http://www.cobaltflux.com. The gameenhancer pads look great, but the website is a bit dodgy. I was looking at some CF videos on their site and the pads look...cheap? Even though they're $300, the videos I've seen (mostly people using them) make them look too flat and not like the arcade pads I like.

Few questions here.

One, are CF pads as high as the arcade pads are? I like feeling a sense of sturdiness underneath me and I don't like it to slip around. The CF pads slipped around a little (not a lot) but if anyone has heard of modifications making them taller and/or more sturdy, let me know please

Second, has anyone had any experience with Gameenhancer.net? I live in Canada and not having to smuggle something over the border or spend a massive amount for shipping and customs. Albeit, their pads look highly sexy (the pictures seem broken at the moment) and i like the metal banding and polycarbonate arrows.

Finally, i've heard that acrylic arrows are prone to cracking and warping. I would assume this is true and I should only purchase a pad that is made of a polycarbonate. Are there any other "little things" I should be aware of when I make my purchase?

So, what are your recommended companies to purchase pads from? I've heard of ignition as well, but I haven't researched them quite yet. I want to hear everyone's experiences with various companies and the pads that give an arcade-like feeling.

Thanks again everyone

CryptopsyBodom · Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 9:03 pm Post subject:

if you would mod the one on gameenhancer it would be as good as a CF but more arcade-like

information on modding is in the Metal Pad Discussion

Aceed · Basic Member Joined: 02 Apr 2004

Also, I'm interested in a recommended bar and adapter box (The one I need for PC compatibility) are there boxes/bars that are better than others? I noticed CF had some good stuff as well. Obviously, those would be better equipped for my CF board.

I just checked, CF makes an adapter box I probably need to get, upping the price to a minimum of $330 minus shipping and tax. What about a bar? Any information on those?

Yoza · Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2004 5:51 am Post subject:

From what i've been reading, people don't seem to like bars, unless they're homemade, because the pad will weigh ~30kgs, and when you lean back, well.. 30kgs vs your weight. What's gunna win?

However, I might just grab one of the metal + bar pads from lik-sang. Firstly, i'm 48kgs, and I don't lean against the bar.. and I highly doubt my weight would do any damage. Secondly, with my weight, I don't think i'm going to chip the panels too quickly (though it's possible). The contact system might be a problem though, but I don't think panels + contacts are too hard to fix?

~Yoza

Cutriss · Staff Member Joined: 24 Jan 2002

Aceed,

Welcome to the forums. I'm sorry that Phrekwenci pointed you here without directing you to the specific Metal Pad Sticky, but you should really take this discussion there, as you'll get more feedback and better answers.
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