Main > Reviews
SpectraLite vs. Ultralux vs. Paradise Arcade Illuminated Buttons
RandyT:
--- Quote from: Donkbaca on July 14, 2011, 11:40:12 am ---OKay.... so baiscally all you really need to know is that the ultralux buttons are probably nicer, and built to a better standard since Andy controls his own supply chain. The other buttons that look like it are basically chinese knockoffs. I have the paradise arcade ones. They work fine. I am sure Randy's work just fine. Buttons are cheap, if you really want to know, spend 20 bucks and order a couple from each vendor and decide for yourself. Things like inverse square laws don't mean squat to me. All I want to know, and I am sure most people care to know, is this: I know there is a difference in price, what is the difference in quality that makes up that difference in price, and is it worth the premium for that quality? I bought the Paradise Arcade buttons because they were the cheapest, are other buttons better? Maybe yes, maybe no, but I am satisfied with how they look both lit and unlit, and I have gotten compliments on them.
Buttons are cheap, and there are SOOOO many different varieties, concave, convex, japanese style, leaf swith type, lit, unlit, translucent... etc. Buttons are also fairly simple devices, its 2 or three molded pieces of plastic and a spring. That's it, no complicated bits to it. Also I have bought from Randy/Andy/Bryan none of what they sell is garbage, in my opinion and they are all active members on this board so they can't sell garbage or they would get flamed around here. Figure out what type of button you want, then just try some out. If you hate them you are out a couple of bucks, not a big deal. Probably a better idea to find out what you like and what matters to you than to get opinions form others, especially when we are talking about 2 dollar buttons.
--- End quote ---
QFT.
If you look at the switch holder in Andy's buttons, you'll see immediately that they are not the same as the ChromaLite, or similar chrome buttons, and have more in common with the SpectraLite switch-holder design. Knowledge of inverse square laws aren't necessary to get a button which does what you want, at the price you want to pay. It, and similar engineering/physics principles, only help once you start picking apart the designs to figure out why things function (or don't function) as you expect them to. For that, they are invaluable.
blind_dado:
Of course, Groovy Game Gear's Novagem pushbuttons beat out all of these, in my opinion. BUT THEY HAVE BEEN SOLD OUT FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER! (And rumors of the upcoming release of the NovaGem 2 buttons have been greatly exaggerated.)
RandyT:
--- Quote from: blind_dado on July 14, 2011, 10:42:45 pm ---Of course, Groovy Game Gear's Novagem pushbuttons beat out all of these, in my opinion. BUT THEY HAVE BEEN SOLD OUT FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER! (And rumors of the upcoming release of the NovaGem 2 buttons have been greatly exaggerated.)
--- End quote ---
:banghead: They are indeed coming, I promise. Just yesterday I received a box of 50 GOOD yellow NovaGem2 buttons with the extra feature I requested. It took the factory a while to work out the kinks (I know, that's putting it mildly), but they are finally up to the quality I have been pushing for. Sent the go ahead to start production on all colors as soon as we went over the samples with the proverbial "fine tooth comb". More EI buttons are on the way as well.
lastrega:
I like ultralux myself, I bought the rgb kind, and the colors are so vibrant.... I also dig the chrome trim package great effect.... ML :)
jimfath:
Cool thread.
I'm actually going to be upgrading my buttons to LED's and have on order Ultralux and paradise test buttons. I'm waiting on EI and Novagems to become available to see what they are like.
Randy, Is it likely that the Novagems and EI will sell out quickly? I'm new to this and fear wanting a button that will suddenly not be available so I thought I'd ask. Also are the EI and NG's concave? They look like it but I thought I'd ask that as well.
I'm a noob and didn't even notice the spectralites underneath the classx buttons. I'm assuming that I'm going to like the EI's for what I'm hoping to do with my cabinet.
Let this Lincoln/Douglas debate continue. ;)
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version