GAN 356 X
Member
Gan is well known for its top of the line cubes that are endorsed by top cubers including Feliks Zemdegs, Max Park, and many others. As of today, they are renowned for their for their unique and groundbreaking innovations, such as their GES nut and GMS systems. Their most recent cube, the Gan 356 X, follows the trend of high prices and new innovations , and topping off at $88 (all values in AUD), is a distant dream for many cubers. Only recently, I bought the numerical IPG version from speedcube.com.au, and have since been using it daily over the Moyu Weilong GTS2M.
So, is it worth the extreme amount of money? Perhaps.
A quick overview:
-stickerless and stickered
-56*56*56mm
-80g
Corner cutting was great, the reverse in particular. Comes with GES nuts and GMS interchangeable magnets. Best for beginner to advanced solvers, although beginners shouldn't invest in such an expensive cube
OOTB: 9/10
Corner cutting: 9.75
Flexibility/stability: 9/10
Customisation: 10/10
Setup: 9/10
Speed: 6.5/10
Control: 10/10
Out of the box:
This cube came dripping with lube, which coated my hands within seconds of use. The settings were set to the default green nuts installed, and the strongest magnets inside. The shades were very vibrant and contrasted well with each other, the black internals making for a unique look.
9/10
Corner cutting:
Corner cutting is unrivalled on these cube. With the right amount of force, it will pretty much cut from anywhere, par one spot right between where it reverse cuts and forward cuts. Reverse corner cutting is just about the best on any cube ever, and even though I have only used 4-5 3x3's ever, one of which is a flagship, the others budget options, I am backed up by the many reviews I have watched and read on the internet and on YouTube. Smaller cuts are effortless, and make a nice, sucking sound when properly lubed.
9.75/10
Flexibility/Stability:
The Gan 356 X boasts a high amount of flexibility, which is mellowed down by the strong magnets available. Setup with the magnets on null, the flexibility is made well known, almost unbearable as it catches and deforms in the hands.
9/10
Customisation:
As it comes with both of Gan's newest innovative systems, the 356 X offers high customisation potential. It is the only cube to date that has interchangeable magnets, which come in different coloured capsules for easy identification. Both the Moyu GTS3M, the WRM and itself are the only cubes today that you can change the springs and tensions with ease, and although Moyu's system is easier, the Gan 356 X is still a breeze to swap out.
10/10
Setup:
I setup my cube with weight a mixture of silk, compound x, and weight 3 spread throughout the cube, and after playing with the settings for a while, finally settled on the default settings that came with the cube. The compound x added an awesome smell (imo), whilst the weight 3 and silk made the cube even more smooth than before, which has lasted me several hundred solves in.
9/10
Speed:
There is not much to say here except that the speed is pretty good, slower that the GTS2M's and faster than the Yulong.
6.5/10 (1 being a Rubiks Brand and 10 being unbearable. 6.5= faster than standard)
Control:
The Gan 356 X when equipped with the above settings, is very easy to control and is a joy to turn
10/10
Is it worth it? The bottom line:
Yes and no. Aside from offering huge amounts of customisation and days oof use, this cube is damaging to your wallet. If you have $88 dollars to spend, sure, use it. If you get this cube it will last you many years, until better options come out. Because of the customisation, it is likely you will find a setting you enjoy.
So, is it worth the extreme amount of money? Perhaps.
A quick overview:
-stickerless and stickered
-56*56*56mm
-80g
Corner cutting was great, the reverse in particular. Comes with GES nuts and GMS interchangeable magnets. Best for beginner to advanced solvers, although beginners shouldn't invest in such an expensive cube
OOTB: 9/10
Corner cutting: 9.75
Flexibility/stability: 9/10
Customisation: 10/10
Setup: 9/10
Speed: 6.5/10
Control: 10/10
Out of the box:
This cube came dripping with lube, which coated my hands within seconds of use. The settings were set to the default green nuts installed, and the strongest magnets inside. The shades were very vibrant and contrasted well with each other, the black internals making for a unique look.
9/10
Corner cutting:
Corner cutting is unrivalled on these cube. With the right amount of force, it will pretty much cut from anywhere, par one spot right between where it reverse cuts and forward cuts. Reverse corner cutting is just about the best on any cube ever, and even though I have only used 4-5 3x3's ever, one of which is a flagship, the others budget options, I am backed up by the many reviews I have watched and read on the internet and on YouTube. Smaller cuts are effortless, and make a nice, sucking sound when properly lubed.
9.75/10
Flexibility/Stability:
The Gan 356 X boasts a high amount of flexibility, which is mellowed down by the strong magnets available. Setup with the magnets on null, the flexibility is made well known, almost unbearable as it catches and deforms in the hands.
9/10
Customisation:
As it comes with both of Gan's newest innovative systems, the 356 X offers high customisation potential. It is the only cube to date that has interchangeable magnets, which come in different coloured capsules for easy identification. Both the Moyu GTS3M, the WRM and itself are the only cubes today that you can change the springs and tensions with ease, and although Moyu's system is easier, the Gan 356 X is still a breeze to swap out.
10/10
Setup:
I setup my cube with weight a mixture of silk, compound x, and weight 3 spread throughout the cube, and after playing with the settings for a while, finally settled on the default settings that came with the cube. The compound x added an awesome smell (imo), whilst the weight 3 and silk made the cube even more smooth than before, which has lasted me several hundred solves in.
9/10
Speed:
There is not much to say here except that the speed is pretty good, slower that the GTS2M's and faster than the Yulong.
6.5/10 (1 being a Rubiks Brand and 10 being unbearable. 6.5= faster than standard)
Control:
The Gan 356 X when equipped with the above settings, is very easy to control and is a joy to turn
10/10
Is it worth it? The bottom line:
Yes and no. Aside from offering huge amounts of customisation and days oof use, this cube is damaging to your wallet. If you have $88 dollars to spend, sure, use it. If you get this cube it will last you many years, until better options come out. Because of the customisation, it is likely you will find a setting you enjoy.