Ahhhh my friend. Have I got some options for you. Lmfao my specialty. So obviously you have: The Hitbox. The one found on hitboxarcade.com
View attachment 14490
This is a no frills box that's light weight but constructed well. All the extra buttons are on the back making it perfect for showing off artwork if you ever get a custom job done. It lacks your R3 and L3 that most modern sticks come with and has no touchpad connectivity so it's... Very bare bones. That being said it's still an amazing box and I'm glad I have it in my collection. Personally Seimitsus are the best buttons for it, they give it a satisfying report with each snappy input and response time is phenomenal.
Then if you head over to Arcadeshock.com you have the Obsidian Hitbox
View attachment 14491
This is the opposite of the last box. This is literally a Qanba Obsidian Arcade Stick with the stick ripped out and the box modded for Hitbox layout. It's got fancy glowing LEDs on the side that have either On analog input, On button input, or Always On modes so it will flash if you push any buttons or it'll just glow all the time. This one also features turbo functionality, R3, L3, and touchpad. This is my go-to box and what I am on 90% of the time and the best part about it, is that it isn't even that much more expensive than the regular Hitbox. AND if you go through their Colors lab you can get them to install the buttons you want on it pre-shipment. The box is a little too thick to use Seimitsu snap-ins, but if you're a Sanwa guy you're good to go. Mine personally has Seimitsu screw-ons (With one Sanwa snap on the up button since there's a problem on the interior and not enough space for a Seitmisu screw-on 30mm).
Both use 24mm for their 11 normal buttons, a fat 30mm for the up input. Both are comfortable, buuuuut... I mean it's an obsidian. It's formfactor is an absolute joy to have in your lap it feels weighty and solid.
Other things to note the normal Hitbox comes with a very long braided USB cable where the Obsidian comes with a much shorter normal cable. That being said the Obsidian has a cable holder built into it that's firm and tight and feels just as premium quality as the rest of the box, while the normal Hitbox has a rubber thingie that you use to tie the cable up after you roll it up like a hose. Eh. Minor details.
Either box will last you your entire life bar you throwing it on the ground like a ninny, and obviously there are lesser known custom shops all over the internet that might be able to get you one for a cheaper pricepoint but... I swear by both of these options and I've had my original Hitbox for two years now and bar me stupidly breaking some Sanwas while trying to change them out it's been flawless.
Oh the regular Hitbox is a lot easier to get into and mod. The rubber feet on the back that act as it's anti slip are actually the screws to open it! So regular Hitbox wins out on modification convenience as well.
EDIT: OH and I forgot, the Obsidian allows you to change the directional inputs from D-Pad, to Left Analogue, to Right Analogue. An important feature for some things. If you go with the normal Hitbox you will want to have your DS4 pad around incase you need analogue inputs for whatever reason.
