Control Panel input - Ultimarc Ultralux or Classic RGB buttons

[imtrashed]

Going to start putting together my own control panel to replace my X-Arcade Tankstick.  I plan on going with LED buttons for Player 1 and 2.  Probably going to order everything through Ultimarc and use their Ultimate I/O. 

Does anyone have experience with their RGB LED buttons?  Not sure if I want to go with the Ultralux or Classic RGB buttons.  I think I'll like the classic concave buttons, but before I place any orders, I wanted to get some feedback from those that own one or the other or have tried both. 

I think I'm also going to go with their LED-lit U-Trak trackball and SpinTrak spinner.  And Servostik for joysticks.  Not sure if I'm adding RGB handles yet.  Probably. 

For my admin buttons, I haven't decided if I will be lighting them or just going with cheaper regular buttons.  If I do light those, I will likely buy some pushbutton label inserts and go with some cheap translucent LED button.  If anyone has input on that as well, I'd love to hear it.  Possibly just Ultralux for those, so that I can just place the one order with Ultimarc. 

Any thoughts on all of this? 

[Mike A]

You are building a control panel not a Christmas tree. Save the money, time, and materials and just use unlit buttons.

[imtrashed]

You are building a control panel not a Christmas tree. Save the money, time, and materials and just use unlit buttons.

I do appreciate the input, but I am already set on LED buttons for the playing buttons (lighting the active buttons for each game).  The question is not whether to buy LED buttons or not, but rather which LED buttons. 

[jkimrey]

I would also be interested in anyone's experiences with those buttons and sticks.

I'm in a similar situation - trying to decide what to get .

[acjgoblu]

I had the same dilemma, and ended up going with the ClassicRGBs.

I wanted LEDs for the same reasons as you (light up the correct buttons for each game in the color palette of the original cabinet), and decided to go with the Classics mostly for the concave feel. I thought long and hard about the Ultralux because the chrome would have looked cool with my CP...but in the end, it's about gameplay, and it just wouldn't have felt right without the concave feel to the buttons.

I have not been disappointed - they were easy to install (since you're planning to use one of Ultimarc's iPac encoders) and play great. LEDBlinky works really well with that setup, too, making it easy to select individual colors for individual games. A bit more cost, unfortunately, but well worth it in the long run...

I don't have any experience with the sticks, unfortunately - just went with Sanwa JLFs...

[Lamaman1971]

My CP has Ultralux buttons and the Ultimarc  Ultimate IO. I use Sanwa JLF's for the sticks but plan to upgrade to ServoStiks shortly. Im very happy with them - the integrated package using LEDBlinky and Hyperspin works a treat. The only issue Ive had thus far is that Ive ran out of LED connections on the ultimarc IO and need to use a supplemental PEDLED64.

From a practical perspective, the Ultimate IO does have a pre-built wiring loom but it does mean you may have a large amount of cables running to the same spot on the underside of your CP, making cable management a little bit tricky. Thats about all I can think of - and the cable management piece is probably just me!