Throughout my life, I have been a tech enthusiast. Starting from a young age I got experience in multiple fields including building PCs, programming, writing about computer peripherals, and more. I wish to spread knowledge about these different fields and provide information about different niches that may be popular but are not written about often.
Skyloong has a reputation for making strong valued keyboards that provide a good medium between gaming keyboards and going fully custom. Skyloong’s GK75 Aluminum Kit allows you to get a keyboard that is well made and sounds good with only ten minutes of actual build time.
The Skyloong GK75 is a 75% mechanical keyboard that you can find either as a prebuilt or kit. The GK75 is feature-packed and offers a lot of flexibility.
If the Skyloong GK75 sounds like an interesting board for you keep reading to find out more.
The Verdict
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
The Skyloong GK75 is a great-value keyboard that gives buyers an opportunity to experiment with the mechanical keyboard hobby without too much risk or difficulty. With a hotswap PCB, preassembled case, installed foam, and prelubed stabs, the GK75 just needs switches and keycaps.
Additionally, the aluminum build, knobs, MacOS support, vibrant backlighting, and optional wireless connectivity are all great features that add to the experience.
Unfortunately, the Skyloong GK75 uses north-facing sockets on its PCB, preventing the use of cherry profile switches keycaps. This is paired with dated software and plate mount stabilizers. At this price point, those are downsides that most competitors don’t have.
That being said if you like the knobs on this board and the GK75’s high-quality design then it is a solid option. Ultimately Skyloong gives the buyer an easy-to-use package. It requires minimal if any modding to make the board sound good and comes with plenty of extras in the box.
If you want a number of features and the GK75 design is enticing then it may be the board for you. Plus if you don’t plan to use cherry profile keycaps then you may find the GK75 does not have any major issues.
Opening the box you will find the GK75 with a plastic cover over it. Additionally, there are a variety of accessories.
Coiled USB-C Cable: There is a pretty decent quality braided and coiled cable. It features an aviator and comes with a black and red colorway that doesn’t really match the theme of the keyboard. At the end is an adapter already plugged in to make it support USB-A but you can remove this for a USB-C to USB-C connection.
Keycap and Switch Puller: This comes as a switch and keycap puller in one. Usually, I find these a bit harder to use than a dedicated one for each purpose but this one does the job.
USB-A to USB-C Adapter: Whether you want to use the GK75 with a laptop or computer you should have no issues with connectivity with this adapter. That being said you probably won’t need this adapter as there is already an adapter on the cable that you can remove.
CNC Aluminum Knobs: You get 4 high-quality CNC aluminum knobs in the box that you can add to the board as you wish.
Split Spacebar Module: If you would like to use the GK75 with a split spacebar then you can. This way you can have 3 buttons instead of just one where the spacebar is. The stabilizers here will already be lubed and ready to go.
2.4 Ghz Dongle: If you opt to get the wireless version of the board then it will come with a 2.4 Ghz dingle in a slot at the bottom of the board.
Extra Parts: In case you ever need them, Skyloong includes some extra screws, standoffs, and silicone washers. This is really nice to see if you ever lose a part or are further modding your keyboard.
Documentation: You get a manual about the board that comes in what appears to be Mandarin Chinese, along with some information about Skyloong.
Advertisements
In my prebuilt copy, I got a few other accessories. These should come with the GK75 kits.
Extra Keycaps: I got all the remaining keycaps that would have been in a set. Skyloong lets you get all the keycaps that you don’t use with your board in case you want to use the keycaps with another board or want to try using different switches.
Extra Switches: Additionally you will have about six switches that match whatever you get in your board. This is helpful if you ever bend a pin or want to replace a knob with a switch.
Note that if you choose to get a prebuilt then the extras that you get may include different keycaps as Skyloong sells many different versions of the GK75.
Overall all the extras inside the box are really nice to see. Few companies match this experience and it is helpful as you don’t need to buy any extras.
Build Quality
The main element that makes the GK75 Aluminum Kit an upgrade over the standard GK75 is the build quality. For $100 more you get an upgraded aluminum case that feels heftier. It comes in at about 1.2 Kg or 2.65 lbs. The aluminum kit comes in either a medium grey or a dark blue color.
Although the stock angle of the board is quite comfortable, there are two additional levels of flip-out feet. These are made of plastic, as is the rest of the bottom of the board. All the major touchpoints like the top case and the knobs are still aluminum though.
You get a left-mounted USB-C port that is quite deep in the board. This is paired with routing channels through the left, center, and right parts of the front of the board. Personally, I find that cable routing channels don’t actually do that much for cable management and just add more hassle. Next to this USB-C port is a spot for the USB dongle.
When buying the kit you get your choice of either a polycarbonate or fiberglass (FR4) plate. Both materials are on the softer side compared to materials like brass or aluminum. I personally went with the FR4 plate for a slightly firmer and muted sound but many people prefer polycarbonate for a flexible and thocky typing experience.
The plate uses a gasket mount structure similar to that of the KBDFans KBD67 Lite. The mount is integrated into the silicone dampening between the plate and the PCB. This offers a deeper and softer typing experience that has made the gasket mounting system popular. However, this form of gasket mount won’t be extremely soft and will still provide a decent layer of firmness because the silicone dampening limits the amount of possible flex in the PCB and plate.
Generally, Skyloong makes well-made products and the GK75 is no different. The build quality of the GK75 Aluminum Kit matches up with other boards at its price point.
The Build Experience
As with all keyboard kits we like to discuss the build experience. Typically when building a keyboard it is nice to have a guide but luckily the GK75 kit is so easy to build with, so you don’t even need a guide.
The case, PCB, plate, and stabilizers are already assembled in the board. Additionally, the already lubed stabs mean you don’t need to open up the board if you don’t want to. You just need to throw in some switches and put on your choice of keycaps. The GK75 Kit can be assembled in about 15 minutes or less.
The best part about the build experience for the GK75 is that it is easy to work with and that sounds good out of the box. This is especially nice for those who are new to keyboards.
The Keycaps
With the GK75 kit, there are no keycaps included with the board. However, Skyloong included some of their own keycaps for me to try out. I tried their Dark Blue Pink set in the custom GK5 profile. This profile is similar to other low profiles like XDA but it has a substantial difference in the angle of each row for a more comfortable typing experience.
This set is included with the Dark Blue GK75 boards and feels pretty high quality. It is made from PBT plastic, with some texture, and doubleshot legends for durability.
Since the GK75 Aluminum comes as a kit, you can choose whatever keycaps you would like. Note that because the GK75 PCB only supports north-facing switches, it will not be compatible with any cherry profile keycaps.
If something similar to cherry profile is important to you, check out Drop’s DCX profile keycaps. However, if price is a concern, there are sets that cost as low as $20 that support the layout of the GK75.
Advertisements
The Switches and Stabilizers
Since this board comes as a kit, no switches come with the GK75. However, the board does come with some prelubed plate mount stabilizers that sound pretty decent.
Typically plate mount stabilizers are not as good as PCB mount stabilizers but I found these to be pretty decent in my unit. At this price point, it would have been nice to see PCB mount stabilizers.
I did have the opportunity to test some of Skyloong’s Glacier Brown switches that come in some of their prebuilts. The Glacier Browns feel about as heavy as Cherry Browns but have a tactile bump that feels similar to some top tactile switches like Boba U4Ts. I am quite impressed with the Glacier Browns and lubed they feel pretty smooth too.
Since this is a kit, almost all mechanical switches will work in this board. If you need any help check out our best linear switch, tactile switch, or clicky switch guides.
If you do opt for a prebuilt version of the GK75 make sure to get one that is mechanical. Not only do the optical switches often feel less satisfying but you have vastly fewer options to choose from on the aftermarket compared to mechanical switches. Additionally, you only save $20 to get optical switches.
The gasket mount system and included foam allow the GK75 to sound good with the majority of switches. If you put in lubed switches then minimal if any modding will need to be done.
Hotswap PCB
Skyloong offers a hotswap PCB with the GK75. This makes it possible to change out switches in just seconds. The sockets support 3 and 5-pin switches.
Unfortunately, the sockets come in a north-facing configuration. This means that there will be interference with cherry profile keycaps. As a result, the typing experience will be less satisfying with cherry profile keycaps.
Some of the sockets are equipped for both switches and knobs. The knobs fit along the right side of the board or can replace the escape key. Swapping the knobs won’t necessarily be as quick as changing out switches but the fact that the knobs don’t need to be soldered is nice to see.
For anyone who likes a split spacebar, Skyloong gives you the choice of both. With a few screws, you can take out the full space module and replace it with the split one. This is a simple solution where you can try both without needing to buy a totally new version of the keyboard.
The hotswappable knobs and spacebar module are unique features to see in a keyboard. However, the north-facing switches are potentially the biggest downside of this board.
Advertisements
Knobs and Media Keys
The GK75 offers media key functions both through onboard commands and with the knobs. You can swap out the knobs in six different positions. This means you can use four different knobs or just one.
The knobs have the ability to do anything from changing the volume in the middle of a game to moving through a timeline while editing a video. Whatever it is, Skyloong offers you more than enough knobs to control whatever you may need to do.
Wireless Connectivity
The GK75 offers wireless connectivity both via 2.4 Ghz and Bluetooth 5.1 with a $10 upgrade. Via Bluetooth, you can connect to up to 3 different devices.
Note with Bluetooth you will also only get 6-key rollover compared to N-key rollover. That being said, I would recommend using the 2.4 Ghz over Bluetooth as it is faster and in my testing had similar performance to a wired connection.
The GK75 comes with a 4000 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery. This should get you about three weeks of normal usage. If you don’t plan to use the RGB for a cleaner look you could get more than a month of use and only need to occasionally charge the board.
The GK75 offers the standard 1000 Hz polling rate. This paired with the GK75’s power saving mode helps it keep its solid battery life with good performance. If you start typing, the GK75 will immediately wake from sleep.
Advertisements
Mac Support
Skyloong and Epomaker are typically good about Mac support and the GK75 is no different. On the bottom of the board is a switch to change between Mac or Windows.
You can even use the board with an iPhone or Android although you may not have some functionality in the modifier keys.
If you plan to use the GK75 with a Mac we would recommend getting a set with Mac-specific keycaps. Most of the sets from Skyloong come with support for Mac and Windows keys. If you opt for the GK75 prebuilts then you should find extra Mac-supporting keycaps.
Backlighting and Software Support
Skyloong’s GK75 offers vibrant RGB lighting that is addressable both with the software and onboard controls. Personally, I like the lighting off with regular keycaps but if you choose to get some shine through keycaps then they will look quite good with this board.
Software is another weakness in the GK75. The Epomaker and Skyloong software looks quite dated and is pretty confusing in 2023. The 6+ software is better than offerings from Redragon but at this price point, most custom boards support QMK or VIA.
Changing the lighting requires you to scroll through a list of vague names. Editing the key functions is not very difficult but it also has a potentially confusing labeling scheme. The software does take good use of the knobs and it is worth mentioning that you can enjoy this board without the software.
That being said, I would like to see either a big overhaul of the 6+ software or a switch to VIA. Not only is VIA open source but it is very easy to use, looks good, and runs easily on any system.
Skyloong’s GK75 is a feature-packed keyboard that comes in a practical but efficient 75% form factor. Wireless connectivity, a collection of knobs, a hotswap PCB, and a generally easy-to-build experience make the GK75 Aluminum Kit a great option. The GK75 offers a build that will sound good with minimal work.
If you find that the aluminum build is not important to you, you can save your money and take a look at the plastic GK75 that comes in at about $100 cheaper. In fact, the plastic version of the GK75 is one of Skyloong’s best lines.
Skyloong makes fantastic boards and the GK75 Aluminum Kit is no different. Before you go out and buy the GK75 though, you should consider other options like the Keychron Q1 or Glorious GMKK Pro if you want south-facing switches.
If you are looking for a kit that just needs some switches and keycaps then I would still recommend the GK75 in many cases. The GK75 offers wireless connectivity, multiple knobs, and a split spacebar which are features that you don’t see in many other boards at this price.
If Skyloong upgraded its software and supported a PCB with south-facing switches then the GK75 Aluminum Kit would be an easy favorite over the other competition but for right now it’s just one of the options in the mix.
In the world of gaming mice, we have grown accustomed to slim, lightweight mice for FPS titles. However, the UtechSmart Venus Pro provides a package that suits those with bigger hands who want more buttons for MMO, strategy, or any other non-FPS title.
If the UtechSmart Venus Pro sounds like a potential new mouse for you, then keep reading to find out more.
The Verdict
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
The UtechSmart Venus Pro is a wireless gaming mouse that boasts a total of 19 buttons. This makes the Venus Pro an excellent choice for MMO, MOBA, and RPG titles. If you have a palm grip and medium- to large-sized hands then this mouse could be very comfortable for you.
However, the Venus Pro is also a mixed bag. The buttons and sensor may not be a problem for everyone but in FPS titles they would require a refresh to compete with the newest mice at this price point.
To compound on that, the Venus Pro is quite heavy making it harder to perform quick flicks, despite the high-quality feet. Additionally, while the RGB lighting is impressive for its price point, the software falls behind most of the competition today.
The niche design can make the Venus Pro either a great or terrible fit for you. Its ergonomic shape, vibrant RGB lighting, and numerous buttons make the Venus Pro a perfect option for the right audience. On the other hand, if you are an FPS gamer looking for the quickest response times and lightest possible weight, then the UtechSmart Venus Pro may not be the option for you.
In the box, you will find the UtechSmart Venus Pro with a solid amount of accessories.
Manual: This helps explain the basics of the mouse, the functions of the software, and basic warranty information.
Cable: A 1.9m (6.2 ft) braided USB-A to USB-C Cable.
Dongle: 2.4 Ghz dongle for the wireless connection.
USB Stick: Attached to a small card to download the software for the mouse.
Sticker: A square sticker with the logo.
Bag: Grey-colored bag that holds the mouse if you are on the go.
Extra Feet: Probably not needed but you will find some extra feet just in case.
Build Quality
The UtechSmart Venus Pro is constructed from strong plastic with liberal use of textured material throughout. The mouse features an all-matte black look with one portion in the palm area that is gloss plastic that, honestly, looks a bit out of place.
At just under 127g, the Venus Pro feels quite hefty for a mouse in 2023. That being said, the use of materials makes the Venus Pro feel premium.
One area that makes the weight slightly less noticeable is the feet. The Venus Pro comes with decent-sized feet, made from PTFE, that provide a smooth glide. Now you won’t get quick flicks with this mouse but it does make it better.
The Venus Pro has a standard USB-C port for charging and at the bottom of the mouse is a slot for the dongle. The slot is magnetic which makes it very easy to find the spot for the dongle, but unfortunately, the dongle does not fit flush in the slot.
Overall the mouse feels well made and that is supported by a one-year warranty. There is minimal rattle and no flex in any part of the mouse. It would just be nicer to see a lower weight.
Advertisements
Style and Comfort
The styling of the Venus is really what makes it unique. It has an ergonomic shape that forces all your fingers into place. The Venus is on the taller side and does have a decent curve to it. The 12 side buttons are positioned perfectly for the thumb.
The styling of the Venus Pro is perfect for a palm grip but not the best fit for fingertip or claw grips. Additionally, the mouse is designed for right-handed use. For those with smaller hands, the Venus Pro might not work too well. However, those with medium to large-sized hands should find this mouse to be a comfortable fit.
Advertisements
The main two buttons and scroll wheel are easy to find. However, since there are 12 small side buttons, it can be hard to click the right one. This is especially the case due to the lack of texture on each button. One strong element is that each row is angled differently so you can find each one.
With muscle memory, this could definitely become earlier, but I found the buttons to be more inconvenient than normal button placement in games. They could be nice to have in some slower-paced games or for work-related tasks.
The design of the Venus Pro can be either an upside or a downside. If the Venus Pro suits your hand then it could be perfect because there are not a lot of alternatives at this price. However, if you are not used to a mouse of this style, then it may take some time to get used to.
Switches and Scroll Wheel
The UtechSmart Venus Pro comes with 16 programmable buttons and 19 buttons in total. The DPI buttons, and “profile switch” button on the bottom of the mouse, cannot be programmed.
The scroll wheel is rubberized with light tactile steps. All the buttons on the top side of the mouse are clicky and feel snappy. On the other hand, the side buttons feel a bit inconsistent. Underneath the buttons are Omron switches that are rated for up to 10 million switches.
There is a button that triple clicks very quickly, but it would have been more helpful if this could be switched to a spam click button. In my experience, it is quicker to triple-click with mouse button one rather than move my finger to this dedicated button.
Additionally, the lack of forward and back buttons out of the box was frustrating, but this can be easily changed within the software.
Sensor and Polling Rate
The UtechSmart Venus Pro comes with a Pixart PAW3335 sensor. It offers a DPI range from 100 to 16000 with adjustment steps of 100. While the PAW3335 might be an outstanding option for mice at the $30 price point, it is average for the $50 price point in 2023.
The lack of adjustment of DPI in increments of 50 is pretty disappointing to me as I was not able to use my usual DPI. Additionally, if you aren’t looking for this mouse shape, there are plenty of mice from the likes of Glorious or Logitech that will give you better sensor performance for only about $10 more.
The Venus Pro features an industry-standard 1000 Hz polling rate. This can be changed both in the software and with the profile switch button at the bottom of the mouse.
Advertisements
RGB Lighting
The UtechSmart Venus Pro features RGB lighting on the logo, side buttons, scroll wheel, and front of the mouse. I didn’t find the lighting to be over the top and the lighting is defused quite well. It can help add to the theme of your desk and if you don’t like it, you can easily turn it off.
The lighting also serves some functions. When plugged in, the Venus Pro glows yellow until the battery is full. When the mouse drops to 20% charge, a red breathing effect lets you know that it needs to be charged.
Additionally, four red LEDs display your selected DPI level. These will be on regardless of if the rest of the RGB is on or not.
On the bottom of the mouse, you can either turn on the Venus Pro in RGB On or RGB Off mode. RGB Off is a great way to save battery or have a more discrete look for the office. However, if you are in RGB Off mode, you won’t know that your device is low on battery until it dies.
Wireless Connectivity
The main difference between the regular UtechSmart Venus and Venus Pro is the wireless connectivity. The Venus Pro supports 2.4 GHz wireless via a USB dongle. Note this won’t be as fast and reliable as the wireless tech from top gaming brands like Razer or Logitech, but it is certainly a step up from Bluetooth.
A 2.4 Ghz connection may perform slightly worse than wired but in my experience it did not impact me in RPG, sim, or open-world titles. Only in FPS games may you benefit from a wired or better wireless mouse but that mostly comes from the high switch latency and sensor.
The Venus Pro does not feature Bluetooth but that is pretty common for gaming mice. For travel or using the Venus on multiple devices, this may be annoying but you can store the dongle in the bottom of the mouse and take it with you.
As for battery life, the UtechSmart Venus Pro is rated for 70 hours of battery life but with RGB on at a 1000Hz polling rate, you should get about half a week of regular usage.
Advertisements
Software Support
Generally, software is not the most important element of a gaming mouse, but it is a great way to unlock its potential. This is especially the case with all the programmable buttons. UtechSmart’s software allows you to change DPI, button mappings, lighting effects, and create macros. Battery life is also displayed in increments of ten here.
Honestly, the UtechSmart software is not the best. While it does not miss any major functionality, it lacks refinement. One key flaw is the gamery look with a non-rectangular window. Additionally, you can’t even maximize the window. Unfortunately, this software also only works on Windows, limiting functionality for anyone who primarily runs MacOS or Linux.
In the UtechSmart software, some features don’t feel as complete as other mice in the category. For example, only one lighting effect can be applied to all LEDs. Furthermore, there is only one user profile, which could be inconvenient for someone who potentially shares the mouse between different devices or people.
I will commend the fact that UtechSmart includes a USB with the software. This makes setting up the software easy and saves you from trying to find it on their website.
The UtechSmart Venus Pro might not offer the market’s usual hyper-lightweight, FPS-ready mouse, but it serves a distinct audience. For those who want an ergonomic mouse with tons of buttons, wireless connectivity, and quality RGB lighting, the Venus Pro is a fantastic option that won’t break the bank.
Despite the unique design, there are several flaws that come with its lower price point. You get an average sensor found in $30 mice and a click latency that makes the Venus Pro a second choice for competitive gaming.
If you like the Venus Pro but are looking for top-of-the-line performance, consider the Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless or Razer Naga V2 Hyperspeed. They will offer more accurate sensors, lower latency, and better software if you are willing to pay double the price.
With plenty of buttons for macros, vibrant RGB, and a design that perfectly suits a palm grip, the UtechSmart Venus Pro is the ideal option under $50 for any MMO, MOBA, RPG, or simulation gamer.
The QWERTY layout is almost universal on computer keyboards. However, in the past decade, the use of alternative keyboard layouts has gained popularity.
In the midst of COVID lockdowns, with more time to devote to mechanical keyboards, I decided to start an experiment. What if I switched from the popular QWERTY layout to Colemak? After over two years of experience with Colemak, I wanted to share why someone should or shouldn’t switch to Colemak.
What is Colemak?
While alternatives to QWERTY are not necessarily new, there are a variety of different options to choose from today. Colemak is a relatively new keyboard layout that combines the benefits of layouts such as Dvorak with a few changes to make the shift less extreme.
Colemak is now the third most popular keyboard layout in English. Additionally, Colemak makes less than 20 changes to the QWERTY layout, reducing finger movement by 2.2 times compared to QWERTY.
Layouts like Colemak or Dvorak are designed to make typing both more ergonomic and efficient. This is achieved by moving some of the most used keys to the home row. For typists who use the home row frequently, this means they can move their hands around the keyboard less. Theoretically, this makes this layout both faster and better for longer periods of typing.
Advertisements
Why Colemak?
After learning about different layouts such as Dvorak, Colemak, and Workman, I decided to try out Colemak. Layouts such as Dvorak or Workman move different keys to new positions, which disrupt functions in Windows and Mac. For example, keys like ‘c’ and ‘v’ are moved to new spots. This means that although functions like copy and paste still work, they are moved to different spots on the keyboard.
In contrast, Colemak maintains most of this function, allowing you to still have most keyboard shortcuts in the same spots while still getting the benefits of a more efficient layout. In fact, all but one key on the bottom row is the same. This makes Colemak easier to switch to than most other layouts but still very functional.
Advertisements
Time To Switch
Luckily when I decided to switch, I had the advantage of shifting to online work due to COVID. This gave me significantly more time to practice getting used to the new layout. I tried practicing the layout via Monkeytype and then in January of 2021, I downloaded the Colemak layout to my computer.
At first, I struggled greatly as I did not know how to use the home row. I even needed a picture of the layout to guide me. However, after downloading the layout to my computer and practicing more, I started growing more confident.
To test my performance, I took three 25-word typing tests. I then took the average typing speed. All tests had accuracy scores of 95% or higher.
15WPM
December 10th (start)
30WPM
January 10th (first month with it downloaded to my PC)
55WPM
Feb 10th (occasionally used it when I had more time to work or text)
91WPM
March 10th (switched entirely to Colemak)
101WPM
April 10th (only used Colemak)
110 WPM
May 10th (used both Colemak and QWERTY with various keyboards)
118WPM
June 10th
125-140WPM
July 10th
130-150WPM
Today
By May 10th, although my average was 110WPM, I was able to reach 140WPM with 90% accuracy. Also, by that time, I felt very comfortable with the layout. I was able to switch between low-profile, ergonomic, and my usual keyboards all without issue.
One of the main factors that helped me gain confidence is that I learned with QWERTY keycaps rather than buying keycaps that support other layouts. This meant I had to rely on memorizing keys rather than looking down at my keyboard. This is a key skill to learn a new layout, touch type, and reach typing speed upwards of 100WPM.
Within 6 months, there was no difference between my speed for Colemak and QWERTY. However, I felt comfortable switching to the layout after only three months. If I had switched earlier, I probably would have gotten comfortable with the layout faster, but it would have prevented me from doing some of the work I needed to get done.
How To Switch
If you are looking to try Colemak, or any other keyboard layout, the best way to start is by testing it out through typing tests such as Monkeytype. This will allow you to practice without needing to download anything or switch away from the comfort of QWERTY.
If you want to continue further, the next step would be trying Colemak in different apps besides online typing tests. MacOS will include Colemak in the operating system and is as simple as adding it in your keyboard settings. For Windows and many Linux distros, you will have to download it from the official Colemak website.
Note some layouts, such as Dvorak, will already be included in Windows and will not require any downloads. Downloading or adding the layout via settings will provide the best experience. Doing things like remapping keys on your keyboard may cause problems in video games or certain apps. In these programs, you will have to remap keys to their correct positions if you remap keys to a new layout.
Advertisements
Should You Switch?
After my six-month experiment, I decided to continue using Colemak. Today, I use Colemak in the vast majority of situations. If I have to use a different computer for work or I am working on a public computer, I still use QWERTY and am able to type on it just about as fast. Due to my muscle memory with both, I am able to switch between both instantly.
Despite my comfort with both, I still prefer Colemak much more. It makes it easier to type for longer and due to me learning to touch type (type with the home row), I was able to transition to an ergonomic keyboard effortlessly.
Although Colemak worked out perfectly for me, you may prefer other layouts such as Workman, Dvorak, or Norman. If you do not need keyboard shortcuts, Dvorak and Workman are great options to consider. Reading a little bit about each layout and seeing pictures of where each key is oriented can help you decide better too.
Another important factor to note is that QWERTY may still be the best layout for you. If you don’t type much, don’t want to take time to learn a new layout, or game frequently, alternative keyboard layouts may not be the best option for you.
Most games will work ok alternative layouts, but I have had issues with a couple games. A simple fix is just to remap the keys used by the game, but if you spend most of your time gaming, an alternative layout may not be that practical.
Conclusion
If you are willing to take the time to switch to a new layout, I would argue that Colemak gives you the benefits of most alternative layouts while still preserving keyboard shortcuts, a must for me. This makes Colemak a great option to consider, especially for those who type throughout an entire day.
After using Colemak for about two and a half years, I anticipate that I will continue using Colemak in the future. It allows me to type faster for longer and is more comfortable. However, it is important to consider that you will only notice the benefits of a new layout after you are confident with it.
When Drop and Stack Overflow first collaborated to release The Key macropad on April Fools, they never anticipated that it would be such a success.
With now The Key V2’s 10k sales and 20k sales between both iterations, Drop has created a useful macropad with a playful character.
Today we are looking at this fun little macropad and see if The Key V2 is the piece of character that your desk setup needs.
The Verdict
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
For only $30, Drop delivers an incredibly fun and useful macropad. You get a great-looking macropad that can serve as a means of copying and pasting or anything else that you choose.
With a solid case, keycaps, and switches, Drop delivers one of their best keyboard products with great value. Additionally, it can be programmed to different functions relatively quickly.
If you want a simple macropad for something like dedicated media keys or you just find the Stack Overflow theme humorous, The Key V2 makes a great addition to any developers’ desk setup.
The unboxing experience is pretty simple but well-packaged.
Macropad: The Key V2 comes preassembled and surrounded by some clear plastic.
Coiled USB-C Cable: You get a rubberized cable. Personally would prefer a straight cable rather than a coiled cable.
Extra Screws: You are given extra screws although I anticipate you won’t need them.
Rubber Feet: There are no feet on The Key V2 to start, but you are given four feet to place on the pad.
QR Code Card: You are given a card with a QR code with important information about setting up The Key V2.
Advertisements
Build Quality
The Key V2 is made from an all-frosted acrylic construction. It feels sturdy in the hand and is held together quite well with four metal screws. They include extra screws if needed and four rubber feet that you will need to attach the macropad yourself. When the feet are placed on, the pad does not move around the desk.
The macropad utilizes a right-mounted USB-C connection. Regardless of the price point, The Key V2 is well made.
Keycaps
Drop and Stack Overflow’s The Key V2 comes with a set of XDA profile PBT keycaps. One keycap features a Stack Overflow logo while the other two are the ‘C’ and ‘V’ keys.
These keycaps have durable dye-sub legends meaning you don’t have to worry about the legends wearing off. The use of PBT prevents shine from developing and creates a nice texture on the top of the caps. The XDA profile that the keycaps come in is shorter than OEM profile but taller than cherry profile keycaps.
The keycaps create the playful part of the design. The use of ‘C’ and ‘V’ keys adds to the joke of copying and pasting from the site Stack Overflow.
Overall the keycaps are good quality and add a lot of character to this macropad.
Advertisements
Switches
Drop opted to put Kailh Black Box switches. They feel pretty smooth stock and sound pretty decent as well. There is no significant ping and the acrylic case helps the sound too. The Black Box switches also come with clear top housings to help the lighting shine through them better.
Although the stock switches are 3-pin, The Key V2’s PCB supports both 3-pin and 5-pin via hotswap. This means you can change out the switches in Drop’s macropad in under a minute to almost any mechanical switches that you would like.
If you wanted to use The Key as just a switch tester you could because of the hotswap PCB. It also allows for customization to be a lot easier if you say, prefer tactile switches in your macropads.
Backlighting
To pair with the frosted acrylic case, you will see five LEDs on The Key V2. This was the main improvement over The Key V1 which did not have LEDs.
The LEDs paired with the translucent look of the acrylic create a cool glow. The LEDs are quite bright with the stock switches. I found that putting some opaque switches in the macropad still looked great and aren’t uncomfortable for me. For most people, I anticipate this will not be an issue.
The lighting makes The Key V2 look quite good. The only change that I would suggest is having more LEDs on the bottom to have a more even distribution of the lighting.
Advertisements
Software Support
While The Key V2 does not offer the ease of use of software like Razer Synapse, it does still use a favorite among keyboard enthusiasts: QMK. QMK is an open-source software that is quite powerful. It is perfect for all your lighting and button mapping changes.
Although the board has a default mapping of ‘Ctrl,’ ‘C,’ and ‘V,’ you can change this to various other options. You can switch the function of the keys to have media keys, quickly open apps, create macros, have additional keys for editing, add more navigation keys, and much more.
Although this software may seem intimidating for people who have minimal experience with keyboards, there is actually a lot of information out there about how to use it and it has grown easier to use as more updates have been released.
While it is nice to see VIA support for custom keyboards and macropads, QMK is still more than acceptable and provides a good experience. It is not plagued by the bugs and bloatedness of software from big gaming brands like Corsair or Logitech.
In the niche world of macropads, Drop delivers arguably their best-value keyboard product with The Key V2. You get bright RGB lighting, a solid build, durable keycaps, decent stock switches, and QMK software support.
Drop and Stack Overflow’s The Key V2 is a great addition to the setup of a programmer, for a playful touch and some function too. You can have dedicated media keys or macros while getting laughs from your coworkers.
Royal Kludge is a peripheral manufacturer that recently has focused on making value prebuilt keyboards. With their RK84 Pro, they provide quality materials at a competitive price point.
The Royal Kludge RK84 Pro is a 75% mechanical keyboard that offers an aluminum case, wireless connectivity, and a hotswap PCB for modability.
So if the RK84 Pro sounds interesting to you, keep reading to see if this board could be the right one for you.
The Verdict
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
The Royal Kludge RK84 Pro is a 75% mechanical keyboard that comes with an all-aluminum case, a hotswap PCB, wireless connectivity, bright backlighting, software support, and MacOS support. You get all this for a competitive price that makes the RK84 Pro a star option to consider in this price bracket.
Regardless of if you want to use this keyboard for gaming, at the office, or as a way to get into the mechanical keyboard hobby, the RK84 Pro is a solid choice. The only potential downsides are the under-lubed stabilizers and lack of PBT keycaps.
If you want a board with a ton of features, a solid build, and incredible value, the Royal Kludge RK84 Pro is certainly a good option to go with.
In the box with the RK84 Pro, you will receive a few extra items to add to your overall experience.
USB-C Cable: This is just your standard rubberized cable. This is mostly useful for gaming or charging due to the wireless connectivity of the board. The cable also is about 6 feet long.
Keycap and Switch Puller: You get a keycap and switch puller in one. It is not the best one that I have seen included in the box but certainly isn’t the worst. It gets the job done without issues.
Extra Switches: Some extra switches are included in case a switch ever breaks. They will match the switches in your board.
Add-on Feet: If you would like to raise the level of height on the board, some feet are included that magnetically attach to the bottom of the board.
Documentation: There is a sheet to explain macro functions and answer any basic questions you may have about how to use your board.
There is nothing to complain about on the packaging front and everything is organized nicely.
Advertisements
Build Quality
The factor that gives the RK84 Pro the pro name is its build. The RK84 Pro comes with an all-aluminum case with thin bezels and a silver look.
The board feels quite hefty at comes in at 1.08 kg (2.37 lbs). You get a rigid build and an audible thunk when you place this board down on your desk. If a plastic build would be adequate for you then you can save about $20 and opt for the standard RK84.
On the bottom of the board are 4 large rubber strips to keep to board from sliding around. There are no flip-out feet but there are magnetically attached feet included in the box. The stock typing angle is pretty comfortable so for most people you won’t need any feet.
The RK84 Pro has a left-mounted USB-C connection. On the bottom of the board are two switches. One to turn on the board and the other to switch between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth wireless.
At this price point, the RK84 Pro has one of the best builds of any prebuilt keyboard. If you want something more refined then you will want to go the custom keyboard route, but compared to Keychron or gaming brands, the RK is a solid option.
The Keycaps
The RK84 Pro comes with the same white ABS shine-through keycaps that are on its non-pro counterpart. These keycaps are in the OEM profile and feature a slight sculpt that makes them more natural to type on than laptop keyboards. They also offer sub-legends to show the secondary functions of the keys.
The keycaps allow a decent amount of light to come through, while the double-shot legends mean the letters will not fade away. The legends look clean and don’t have any gamery font. This means the RK84 Pro can go in a setup for work or gaming.
The caps are about what I would expect on a pre-build keyboard of this price. In my experience, they did not develop shine, but for most people, you may find shine developing after a few months. These keycaps feel and sound pretty average but they are better than some budget ABS sets from Logitech and Keychron.
Advertisements
The Switches and Stabilizers
The only choice you make when buying the RK84 Pro is what switch to put in your board. You can get either a linear, tactile, or clicky switch.
RK Red
A light-weight linear switch with a smooth travel
RK Brown
A medium-weight tactile switch with a light tactile bump
RK Blue
A medium-weight clicky switch. It has a loud sound and sharp tactility
Royal Kludge’s RK switches may not be from a large switch manufacturer, however, having tried all three, they are pretty decent considering this price point. The RK Red switches aren’t the smoothest red switch I have tried but also not the worst. Also, the brown switches actually have a noticeable bump compared to Gateron and Cherry Browns. Their blues feel just about the same as any other blue switch.
When compared to after-market switches, the RK switches are no competition but they are a good stock offering at this price point. The inclusion of plate foam makes the board not sound too hollow or pingy either. That being said, the RK84 Pro has audible ping compared to its plastic case counterparts.
For stabilizers, Royal Kludge offers slightly lubed stock stabs. They have some rattle stock but they aren’t unbearable and certainly ok if this is your first mechanical keyboard.
If you are willing to lube the switches or stabilizers, the RK84 Pro actually has a decent amount of potential. The stock sound may be the weakest aspect to a keyboard enthusiast but it is still more than passable.
Hotswap PCB
The RK84 Pro features a hotswap PCB that supports both 3-pin and 5-pin switches. This means that almost all mechanical switches will fit in this board.
The sockets come in a north-facing configuration. That means cherry profile keycaps will face an issue called interference. Although switches will still activate, when pressing down on cherry profile keycaps, they will make contact with the housing of the switch before they bottom out. What that means is if you plan to use cherry profile keycaps, you may lose out on some of the satisfaction of a mechanical keyboard.
Overall a hotswap PCB is a great feature for anyone that wants to mod their keyboard or try out different switches. If you would like to tune your stabilizers or play around with the foam in the board then you can do so too.
Advertisements
Wireless Connectivity
Like the Royal Kludge RK96 or RK84, the RK84 Pro allows for three options of connectivity. In addition to the wired connection, you can use the included dongle for the 2.4GHz connection or connect to up to three devices via Bluetooth 5.0. I would recommend using the 2.4 GHz connection over Bluetooth as it is faster and seemed to have similar performance to a wired connection.
The dongle for the 2.4GHz connection is magnetically attached to the bottom of the board so you don’t have to worry about losing it when on the go. It is nice that you have so many options for connectivity with this board so you can create a clean wireless setup.
The RK 84 Pro includes a 3750mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery that is rated for up to 200 hours with lighting off. I found that I was still able to get about two weeks of usage with lighting, which is quite respectable. It takes about six hours to fully charge the board from empty.
To conserve battery, the RK84 Pro will go to sleep when you are not using the board. However, the board will wake up instantly when you start using it again.
Advertisements
Mac Support
If you are a Mac user then the RK84 Pro will still work with your board. Just switch the board’s mode with the function and s keys.
If you want to use this board with a tablet or phone, you may not get all the onboard functions but the board will still work like a regular keyboard.
Backlighting and Software Support
Royal Kludge’s RK84 Pro offers bright RGB lighting. The lighting can be controlled both through software and with onboard presets. If you want a cleaner look you can change the lighting to an all-white look or just turn the lighting off because the keycaps are easy to read even without lighting.
Compared to other options at the same price, the RK84 Pro is brighter than the Keychron K6 but about the same as the Epomaker GK68XS.
The software does the job. It is not as simple to use or clean looking as Razer Synapse or VIA but it has all the needed functions. You can change between lighting effects, create macros, and switch profiles. The software can also save a profile to the board so you can keep your settings on different systems.
Royal Kludge’s RK84 Pro is a solid competitor in the $80 to $120 price bracket. With various options from Keychron, Vissles, Epomaker, and new custom keyboard options, the RK84 Pro delivers a variety of features that make the board a great option for a variety of audiences.
The wireless connectivity and sleek design make the board a great option for the office. The RGB lighting and software support might make this a good option for a gaming setup. For those that want to modify their keyboard, the hotswap PCB makes this board very easy to change switches and make changes.
It would be nice to see better-lubed stock stabilizers and PBT keycaps but if you would like to modify your keyboard then you will end up replacing these components anyway.
We hope that you enjoyed this article and you find the right keyboard for your setup. For more, check out our other keyboard reviews for more content.
Royal Kludge is a gaming peripheral company that is known for making mechanical keyboards with incredible value. The Royal Kludge RK96 continues with this same reputation.
The RK96 is a 96% mechanical keyboard that offers wireless connectivity, media controls, and an efficient layout while still maintaining all the important keys.
Today we will take a deeper look at the Royal Kludge RK96 and see if this board is the right one for you.
The Verdict
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
If you are looking for efficiency while maintaining function, Royal Kludge delivers a great value pick with their RK96. The RK96 gives you all the abilities of a full-size keyboard while taking up less space. For under $80 you get wireless connectivity, a hotswap PCB, bright backlighting, software support, and MacOS support.
These features make the board incredibly versatile and useful regardless of whether this is a keyboard for gaming, work, or as an entryway into the mechanical keyboard hobby. You won’t get an aluminum build or PBT keycaps but you will still get a solid build for the price.
If you want a board with a ton of features and a great price, the Royal Kludge RK96 may be the right board for you.
In addition to the RK96, Royal Kludge gives you a few other accessories to improve your experience.
USB-C Cable: You get a rubberized cable included with the board. Due to the wireless connection, this is mostly useful for gaming or charging. The cable is about 6 feet long.
Keycap and Switch Puller: You get a keycap and switch puller in one. This is pretty decent and gets the job done without issue.
Extra Switches: In case any switch ever breaks, you get a few extra switches. They will be the same kind as the ones in your board.
Plastic Wrist Rest: If you would like a wrist rest then the idea of one being included is nice. That being said the included one is nothing special. It is made of hard plastic and stretches the width of the board.
Documentation: There is a sheet that helps explain all the layers and how to set up your keyboard.
Overall the packaging is well done and keeps everything secure.
Advertisements
Build Quality
The Royal Kludge uses an all-plastic build with thin bezels all the way around. You can get the RK96 in both black and white colorways.
The weight comes in at about 0.94 Kg (2.08 lbs). For its size, the board feels on the lighter side but still feels quite solid. The board features a steel plate which gives it a rigid build and a decent amount of its weight.
The RK96 allows for three heights with two levels of rubberized flip-out feet. Additionally, there are four strips of rubber on each corner of the board so the RK96 isn’t sliding around on your desk.
The board offers a left-mounted USB-C connection at the front with two switches at the bottom of the board. One switches between 2.4GHz or Bluetooth wireless and the other turns the board on.
At this price point, the RK96 delivers a solid experience. If you would like an aluminum case or a heavier weight then you will need to look at a board at or above $100 though.
The Keycaps
The RK96 features ABS shine-through keycaps that are color-matched to the board. The keycaps come in OEM profile and also feature sub-legends to show the secondary functions of the keys. The OEM profile is common with prebuilt keyboards. They are sculpted to make typing more comfortable but are taller than something like a laptop keyboard.
The ABS keycaps are average. They are nothing special but better than many other gaming keyboards. Like most budget ABS sets, these keycaps will develop shine after a few months of usage. However, these keycaps seem to hold up better than some other budget ABS sets I have used from Keychron, Corsair, and Logitech.
The keycaps let in a decent amount of light and the double-shot legends mean the letters will not fade away. The legends don’t have a gamery-looking font, allowing the RK96 to fit in both at home and in the office.
Advertisements
The Switches and Stabilizers
Royal Kludge offers three different switch options with their RK96. You can either get a linear, tactile, or clicky switch.
RK Red
A light linear switch with a smooth travel
RK Brown
A medium-weight tactile switch with a light tactile bump
RK Blue
A medium-weight clicky switch. It has a loud sound and sharp tactility
Royal Kludge’s RK switches may not be from a large switch manufacturer, however, they are pretty decent considering this price point. The tactility of their brown switches is actually noticeable compared to Gateron or Cherry Browns. Also, their RK Red switches aren’t the smoothest switch in the world but are smoother stock than again Gateron or Cherry’s Red switches. The inclusion of case foam makes this board not have any case or plate ping too.
All that being said, these aren’t anything groundbreaking. When compared to any more premium after-market switch, I would take those over these RK switches. Additionally, I cannot speak to the reliability of these switches but extra switches are included in the box and I had no issues in the first few months of usage.
As for stabilizers, they aren’t amazing but aren’t terrible either. They are not the best stock stabs I have tried but didn’t have an unbearable amount of rattle either. As someone who is used to more premium, I felt the need to mod the stabilizers, but for most people, they should sound and feel adequate.
If you are willing to lube then you could make the switches sound pretty decent without buying a new switch. Most of the weakness in the switch is the springs sounding quite pingy, but after lubing most of this should go away. Again, however, most people will find the switches and stabs quite good.
Hotswap PCB
The RK96 comes with a hotswap PCB that supports both 5-pin and 3-pin switches. This is a fantastic feature for those who want to mod their keyboard or just try out different switches. The support for 5-pin switches means that almost all mechanical switches will work with the RK96.
The sockets come in a north-facing configuration. This means that cherry profile keycaps will face an issue called interference. This will cause cherry profile keycaps to not bottom out properly. While switches will still activate normally with cherry profile keycaps, the interference will take away from the satisfaction of the board.
Overall the hotswap PCB is a great feature to have. If you want to tune your stabilizers, change your switches, or add additional foam to your keyboard then you can take out the existing switches in just a couple of minutes.
Advertisements
Wireless Connectivity
The RK96 allows you to connect up to three different devices with Bluetooth 5.0. If you don’t want to use Bluetooth you can also opt to use the 2.4GHz connection. This will be faster and more reliable than Bluetooth. These both make for fantastic options to keep your setup clean. The dongle also has a magnetically attached spot at the bottom of the board so you don’t have to worry about losing it.
Royal Kludge includes a 3750mAH rechargeable lithium-ion battery that is rated for up to 250 hours with lighting off. In my experience, I was able to get two weeks of usage out of the board with lighting enabled. If you game wired frequently, you may never need to take time to charge the board either.
To save power, the board will go into a low-power mode. If you start typing, the board will wake up almost instantly though.
I still would recommend using a wired connection while gaming, but during casual gaming I found the dongle to work perfectly fine. Overall I didn’t have any issues with the wireless connectivity.
Mac Support
Although the RK96 does not come with any mac specific keycaps, it still offers MacOS support. To switch to Mac press the function and s keys.
Not all the onboard functions will work on iOS or even Android but the main function of the keyboard works perfectly fine.
Backlighting and Software
The Royal Kludge RK96 offers blue lighting that can be controlled both onboard and within the software. The lighting is decently bright and makes the letters easy to read both during the day and at night.
The software isn’t simple or clean but it does the job and can be understood after a few minutes of playing around with it. The software will allow you to choose between about 30 different lighting effects, create macros, and switch between different profiles. Note the software will only save one profile to the board, so you may want to keep it installed to make changes.
Advertisements
Media Keys and USB Passthrough
If you want to control your volume on the fly, the RK96 features a textured aluminum scroll wheel and a mute button. This is a great addition to quickly change volume in the middle of a game or if an ad comes on in the middle of a podcast.
Additionally, next to the USB-C port, sit two USB 2.0 ports. This is good for plugging in a flash drive or maybe an additional macro pad. This makes for a welcome addition, especially in laptop setups where USB ports are already scarce. Unfortunately, the ports are disabled when in wireless mode though, making this feature often useless.
The sub $100 market has been a great area of growth in the past few years and Royal Kludge’s RK96 is another great addition. It offers a ton of features and great potential if you want to mod the board too.
You get bright backlighting, media controls, wireless connectivity, a hotswap PCB, and many more features. Additionally, you get the function of a full-size keyboard with a numpad without taking up as much space with the more compact 96% form factor.
The board doesn’t have any major downsides for the price point and honestly is impressive on many fronts. In fact, the RK96 may just be the best 96% out now at its price point, especially if you can find it on sale.
We hope that whatever your needs may be, you can find the right keyboard for you. If the RK96 does not suit your needs or preferences, maybe check out some of our other keyboard reviews for some other potential options.
Vissles is relatively new to the mechanical keyboard space. However, their V84 75% mechanical keyboard gives the impression that they have experience in the world of keyboards.
The Vissles V84 is a mechanical keyboard that delivers Bluetooth and a decent stock sound all in an efficient 75% layout.
Today we will take a deeper look at the Vissles V84 and see if this board beats out the competition.
The Verdict
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
The $100 price point has become a very competitive segment in the past few years. What was once an easy referral to one of Keychron’s K series boards is now matched by many options, including Vissles new V84.
The V84 improves on some of Keychron’s issues and offers a solid overall package that might just be the best option at this price point. You get solid RGB lighting, a painless Bluetooth 5.1 connection, a hefty feeling build, and a decent stock sound experience.
The V84 gives you a quality stock experience but with its hotswap PCB, you can easily modify the board for a better sound and feel. You can choose between a few different switch and keycap offerings too. Additionally, Mac support also makes the V84 more versatile.
If you want a board with a ton of features and a solid competitor in the space, the Vissles V84 is a solid value offering. Regardless if you are working from home, in the office, or gaming the Vissles V84 could be the right option for you.
Note: Before March 31st you can get an additional $10 discount by using the code “V84” if you buy from Vissles website.
Besides the keyboard, Vissles gives you a variety of accessories to add to your experience with the V84.
USB-C Cable: You get a rubberized cable included with the board. You will mostly need this if you are charging the board or gaming.
Keycap Puller: If you ever want to mod the keyboard or you are just cleaning it, a wired keycap puller is included.
Switch Puller: You are also given a switch puller to change out switches whenever you would like. Often hotswap keyboards include pretty useless switch pullers but this one I would use while working on other keyboards.
Mac Keycaps: If you are a mac user, mac specific keycaps are provided to go along with the mac support of this keyboard.
Wrist Rest: If you are someone who likes wrist rests or is not used to the height of mechanical keyboards, the pleather wrist rest is a great addition for you.
Microfiber Cloth: This is great for cleaning the board. Plus it’s always nice to have another microfiber.
Grips with Adhesive: Honestly I didn’t find much use for these but it looks like you can just attach these to the bottom of the board if you would like.
Documentation: There is a sheet that shows you all the macros and keyboard commands along with a user manual with all the information to help you get started.
Overall the packaging is quite nice. It is one of the nicest experiences I have had at this price point and the accessories add to the stock experience of the board.
Advertisements
Build Quality
The Vissles V84 offers a dense all-plastic construction with a blacked-out look. The board has a moderate weight at about 0.82 Kg (1.82 lbs). Despite the plastic construction, the weight of the board still makes it feel quite hefty. In the hand, it feels more premium than most gaming keyboards at this price. Vissles also opted to put a removable plastic bezel around the sides of the board to improve the look of the board.
Unfortunately, competitors at the same price point are able to achieve the same look but with better materials like aluminum. The plate appears to also be plastic but feels quite solid and with a tray mount system, it creates a firm typing feel.
The V84 offers a 6-degree typing angle but comes with strong magnetic feet for more adjustment. Also on the bottom are four rubber feet that make the board only move around when you want it to.
The board utilizes a right-mounted USB-C connection along with a button on the bottom of the keyboard to turn on the keyboard for wireless connectivity.
Although there is no use of metals to be found on this board, the Vissles V84 feels more solid than other keyboards in the price segment such as the Keychron K6 or gaming boards from Corsair or Logitech.
Advertisements
The Keycaps
Depending on what version of the keyboard you purchase, there are two options for switches. There is a white PBT set in cherry profile and a grey ABS set in OEM profile with shine-through legends. The PBT option of the board will cost about $10 more but also comes with better switches. The ABS keycaps are the same keycap set offered on Keychron’s K series boards.
ABS material will develop shine more quickly than PBT keycaps. However, in my experience, these keycaps usually don’t develop much shine for the first few months of usage. The shine will come from the natural greases and oils of your hands. The OEM profile that they come in is the standard among pre-build keyboards. Since these keycaps are also shine-through, if you do care about RGB lighting then I would recommend getting the ABS keycaps with your Vissles V84.
The PBT keycaps, on the other hand, are thicker, sound better, and look more durable. Unfortunately, however, I don’t recommend the PBT keycaps for one main reason. The Vissles V84 offers north-facing switches, what this means is that certain profiles of keycaps are not fully compatible with switches. This is the case with the Vissles V84 and cherry profile keycaps. As the keycaps are pressed down, the switches are not able to bottom out. Although the switches will still activate your key presses. The satisfaction that comes with mechanical keyboards goes away with this issue.
For this reason, I would save your money and go with the ABS keycaps. Then you can upgrade your keycaps to something in the MT3, XDA, or DCX profiles. For most people, the ABS keycaps are already a decent starting point so there is no need to worry about upgrading your keycaps unless you are interested in modifying your keyboard.
Advertisements
The Switches and Stabilizers
The switches are slightly disappointing for the price. It would have been nice to see some Cherry or Gateron switches. Instead, you can either choose from a selection of Outemu switches or Vissles’ own VS II switches. If you opt to get the Outemu switches you can choose from a linear, tactile, or clicky option, while Vissles’ VS II is a linear switch.
Vissles VS II
A prelubed, light linear switch with a smooth travel
Outemu Blue
A medium-weight clicky switch. It has a loud sound and sharp tactility
Outemu Brown
A medium-weight tactile switch with a light tactile bump
Outemu Red
A light linear switch with a smooth travel
Outemu typically provides switches for budget boards around the $50 price point or less. They are quite scratchy and don’t provide the best experience. In contrast, the VS II switches are prelubed and after a few days of usage feel pretty smooth. They aren’t as smooth as some higher-end linear switches, but they feel and sound better than the Outemu offerings.
The VS II switches are advertised as being silent switches. Despite them being quieter than Outemu switches, as they are lubed, they will not be as quiet as silent switches. They should be quiet enough for most office settings though.
As for stabilizers, they come prelubed and sound as good, if not better, than most of the competition at this price point. They sound about as good as Keychron’s options and better than most big gaming brands or companies like Redragon or Royal Kludge.
One of the best things about this keyboard is the sound. The stabs being prelubed as well as the inclusion of foams into the case of the board provide a full sound with no significant ping.
Hotswap PCB
As mentioned previously, the Vissles V84 comes with a hotswap PCB. The PCB supports 5-pin switches in a north-facing configuration. The sockets supporting 5-pin sockets mean that almost all mechanical switches will work with this keyboard. Again the north-facing sockets do prevent you from using cherry profile keycaps with this keyboard though.
Overall this is a great feature to have. If you want to change your switches, tune your stabilizers, or add additional foam to your keyboard. If you want to try out different switches to find your preference or just need to replace a switch that is broken then the V84’s hotswap PCB allows you to change out switches within just a few seconds.
Advertisements
Wireless Connectivity
One of the best features of the Vissles V84 is that it allows you to connect to up to five devices via Bluetooth 5.1. This makes this board a nice option as a work or travel keyboard. The Bluetooth works with all operating systems and is great for keeping your setup clean.
The battery is a 3750mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery rated for about 20 hours with backlighting on and 160 hours with backlighting off. Their estimates are pretty accurate in my testing. Unless you are using shine-through keycaps, you could turn off the lighting and use your board for weeks or even a month without charging.
The board will go into a low power mode to save battery, however, it will wake up almost instantly. This is much better than other competitors like Keychron’s boards which take a few seconds to wake up from sleep.
The latency with Bluetooth is not really noticeable, although I would still use the wired connection for competitive gaming. Overall my wireless experience with the V84 has been flawless.
Mac Support
A nice feature of the Vissles V84 is that it has official MacOS support. Vissles not only supports Mac with this board but also offers additional keycaps for option, control, and command. Mac support is not uncommon with current keyboards but the additional keycaps are nice to see.
Note you will need to switch the keyboard into MacOS mode by pressing the function and s keys at the same time.
RGB Backlighting and Software
The Vissles V84 offers per-key RGB lighting. This can be controlled both via onboard commands or with Vissles’ software. The software is not too difficult to use and is better than what most of the competition has to offer at the price. The only downside of the software is that it is only supported on Windows. This leaves Mac users to only use onboard functions.
As for lighting, there are a variety of effects and it is decently bright. Their software allows you to control the lighting in more depth, but you can switch between up to 28 different effects without it.
Note: Before March 31st you can get an additional $10 discount by using the code “V84” if you buy from Vissles website.
Even in a competitive segment, the Vissles V84 seems to come out on top and beat out even the long-standing recommendation of the Keycrhon K2.
You get brighter RGB lighting, more accessories, a better stock sound, software, and a heftier feeling build. The use of foam makes the board sound pretty decent stock and the use of software is not even a feature that Keychron offers.
The only downsides compared to Keychron are a worse stock switch selection and no aluminum case option. The use of Outemu switches is pretty disappointing and if you want to opt for Vissles VS II switches you will be given cherry profile keycaps that will cause interference ruining the best available switches between the two of the boards. The no aluminum case option isn’t great but the V84 still managed to have solid-feeling buttons, nice front USB-C placement, and a weight that makes the board feel sturdy.
Additionally, Vissles provides mac support and prelubed stabs. If you do throw in some after-market switches and keycaps into this board though, then you can get a very solid sound experience without needing to build your own keyboard.
If you really want an aluminum case but still want to maintain wireless connectivity, then options like the Royal Kludge RK84 Pro or Keychron K2 may be better for you.
We hope that whatever your needs are, you find the right keyboard for you. If you would like to keep looking at other options, check out some of our other keyboard reviews.
While understanding basic audio terms like bass or treble may not be too confusing, many audio terms can make understanding the world of audio confusing to understand. If you are just getting into the audiophile hobby, you may hear a ton of terms that you are not familiar with.
Today we will help you understand a variety of audio terms that you may find useful now and in the future.
Notes
The audiophile world is filled with subjective opinions. Even though this guide will help you to understand phrases that reviewers or fellow hobbyists may use, many of these terms are used to describe how something subjectively sounds to them. While there is an objective point to many points made about how something sounds it is good to take into account the personal bias and preferences of others.
Advertisements
What Even Is An Audiophile?
What Is An Audiophile?
An audiophile is someone who is enthusiastic about high-fidelity audio in the music that they listen to. Someone who is in the audiophile hobby or has an interest in it may try out different headphones, speakers, amplifiers, and other audio devices to experience music from a different perspective or to get a clearer sound.
What Is Hi-Fi Audio?
Hi-Fi or High Fidelity audio is a type of audio where there is a lot of detail in the sound. A strive for Hi-Fi audio is one of the main interests of audiophiles.
Hi-Fi audio is only supported in certain file formats and on a few platforms. The popularity of Hi-Fi audio is constantly growing and because of that more platforms are supporting it than ever. Still finding tracks with high quality isn’t always the easiest.
Finding a track that has a high resolution is also just one part of the equation. Having a pair of premium headphones, an amp, and maybe a DAC is also necessary to fully appreciate this music.
It is also important to note that you can still appreciate quality music without listening to a song labeled as being Hi-Fi or Hi-Res.
Advertisements
Audiophile VS Regular Listener
While audiophiles and regular music listeners both like music, both appreciate music in different ways. An audiophile appreciates music in the same way as a regular listener but focuses more on the clarity of the sound. They may also focus on how different sounds interact with each other and how these instruments or vocals act within a space.
A regular listener can appreciate their music on any device such as a phone speaker but an audiophile is willing to spend an extra buck to take in every part of the music. This means audiophiles are willing to spend more money on audio equipment and devices.
Am I An Audiophile?
Understanding if you are an audiophile depends on what you want and look for in the music that you listen to. If you find that you are always looking for more in your audio and there is maybe more you are looking for in the sound then that is a common trait among audiophiles.
The thing to know about audiophiles is there is no one perfect way for something to sound and everyone has their own preferences. If you are interested in getting more out of your music and you especially want to analyze your music then it may be a good idea to upgrade to a more premium pair of headphones.
It is important to note that not all audiophiles like to analyze music but those who do often become or are audiophiles.
Ultimately you will know if you find that you appreciate cleaner and higher quality audio.
The A-Z To Headphones
There are a ton of devices, terms, companies, and categories to know if you want to dig deep into the audiophile hobby. Here are the most common terms that are useful to know as well as some in-depth terms.
A
AES: Audio Engineering Society, also known as European Broadcasting Union (EBU), is a standard for audio transfer. It is most popular in professional equipment. The newest version is AES3. AN AES3 signal can carry two channels of PCM audio over several forms of transmission media, for example, balanced cables, unbalanced cables, and fiber optic.
Airy: A way of describing sound with a sense of space and openness. This term is typically used when describing an audio device like a pair of headphones.
ALAC: Apple Lossless Audio Codec is an audio coding format developed by Apple. The Audio compressed with this codec is claimed to be half the size of the original uncompressed data.
Ambience: The overall impression, mood, or feeling invoked by the environment that the music was made in. For example, recorded live in a stadium.
Amplifier: A headphone amplifier, or an amp for short, is a device that takes a low-power signal from a DAC and increases the volume of that signal to something that can be used by headphones, speakers, and IEMs. Better amps will be able to power more premium headphones and can provide a cleaner sound. There are two kinds of amps. Tube amps and solid state amps. To find out more check out our do you need an amp article.
Amplitude: In audio, amplitude is a measure of the height of a sound wave. Amplitude can be defined as the extent that air particles are displaced or the loudness.
Analog Audio: Contrary to digital audio, analog audio is a type of signal that can be understood by devices like headphones or speakers to create sound. Analog audio can also be stored in mediums like vinyl or tape. Recording on analog mediums can have small imperfections that can result in audio artifacts in the playback.
Analytical Listening: A way of listening to music where the listener focuses on the different elements of the song. They may focus on the notes, the mood, or the mastering of the music. This type of listening is popular among many audiophiles, artists, and music critics. It is very different than more laid-back listening as the person is focusing on understanding the elements of the music and potentially critiquing the elements of the music.
APE: Monkey’s Audio, also known as the APE codec is a free lossless audio compression format. Although available for other operating systems, it is mostly used by Windows users as the decompression speeds on operating systems like Linux are not very fast. APE files can be decompressed into identical copies of the original recordings. APE also has better compression rates than codecs lkie FLAC but can be very demanding when trying to decode.
Attenuator: A device or component that lowers the volume of an audio signal. It is effectively the opposite of an amplifier.
Advertisements
B
Balance: A type of tuning in headphones, speakers, and IEMs where there is not one particularly dominant frequency and instead all frequencies appear to be equal or “balanced”.
Balanced Audio: A method of delivering audio information to your device by processing the sound for the left and right ears. Balanced audio can reduce external, unwanted noise and overall improves the sound experience. This system requires a cable going to each of the devices on each side as well as an audio source (typically an external amp) that supports it.
Bass: The sound at the lower frequency range of human hearing. Bass can be measured in quantity and quality. For example a song with a lot of bass that is quite clean may be described as both heavy and clear. Sounds is this range go from about 50 to 200 Hz.
Bit Rate: How much data is in a single second. Bit rate is used to describe digital audio.
Bit Depth: How much data is recorded in an audio sample. Bit depth is used to describe digital audio. Like with bit rate, the higher the bit depth the better the quality and the larger the file size.
Bloat: An issue when there is a lack of clarity and definition in the bass.
BNC: A locking connector often used with coaxial cables.
Bright/Brightness: A boost in upper in the treble. This is can create a nice sound experience for analyzing sound but at times can become unpleasant due to sibilance from the high-frequency sounds.
C
Capacitors: Capacitors or caps for short store energy inside of a device temporarily. They can have a number of functions. They are typically used for amp power supplies, DC coupling, filtering, and tone controls.
Circum-aural: Full size headphones that fit over-the-ear.
Clarity: Referring to high-quality audio that sounds clean.
Closed-Back Headphones: A type of headphone in which the outside of the drivers is sealed. This creates a more closed-off sound stage however you do not have any noise leakage and you should hear less out of the outside world compared to open-back headphones (for more information check out our guide on open and closed-back headphones).
Coloration: An effect when an audio device shifts the way the music sounds. For example when something is more bass-heavy or bright.
Congestion: Poor clarity as a result of too many sounds overlapping each other. Congested sound can make it hard to hear different instruments and can make the music sound muffled.
Crisp: Another word for clear.
Cups: On close-back headphones, cups are the name of the casing on the outer side of the drivers for over-ear and on-ear headphones.
Customs: Customs or custom-fit IEMs are IEMs that have been designed for a specific ear. This provides a better fit to the user.
D
D/A: D/A is short for Digital to Analog. Digital to Analog is the process of digital audio coming from something like a computer being turned into an analog signal that a speaker or headphones can use to make sound.
DAC: A Digital to Analog converter or DAC for short is a device that converts digital information into an analog signal. Most audio today is stored as digital data but things like headphones or speakers only play an analog sound. To make this happen a DAC converts information from something like a computer or phone and then sends that information to an amplifier so that data is loud enough to be turned into sound. DACs are built into most electronics today but external DACs are quite popular because of their boost in sound quality.
Dark/Darkness: A way of describing a sound signature where higher frequencies are less apparent.
Decay: The fade effect of a sound or note.
Decibel (dB): A Way of measuring how loud something is.
Depth: A way of describing how far an instrument sounds in front or behind you.
Detail: A specific element in the sound. For example a certain note.
Digital Audio: Sound that has been recorded or converted to a digital format. Digital audio stores sound saves as encoded numerical samples. Bit rate and bit depth (see above) are two factors that highly influence the quality of digital audio.
Driver: The speaker of a pair of headphones, IEMs, or other audio devices. They can be of various sizes and use various technologies, most notably dynamic and planar magnetic drivers.
DSD: Direct Stream Digital or DSD for short is a high-resolution audio format that is meant to compete with other high-resolution formats like PCM. DSD by some audiophiles is considered the best audio format because it maintains certain “natural” aspects of the sound but ultimately it has many competitors and it is hard to categorize it as the best audio format.
Dynamics: The volume of different sounds or notes on a track.
Dynamic Driver: The most common driver used in headphones and IEMs. They function by using a moving coil of wire to generate sound waves. They are good at creating dynamic range however they aren’t always as accurate as other driver technologies.
E
Earbud/Earphone: A stereo speaker system that is worn inside of the user’s ears.
Efficiency: Referring to how much power a pair of headphones, IEMs, or speakers use. It is often used to explain if a pair of headphones need an amp for them to run properly.
Electrostatic Driver: A Headphone driver with a very thin membrane in between two electrified plates. Static electricity moves the membrane so there are no moving parts. Electrostatic drivers allow almost no distortion but are expensive and require specific amplifiers.
EQ: An EQ or equalizer is a software or hardware device that controls the relative volume of different frequencies in the audio. An EQ can allow a user to add more volume to an area where the listener thinks something is lacking like adding more bass.
Advertisements
F
Fatigue: The result of prolonged listening causing discomfort to the listener. Fatigue can come on with headphones or songs that produce harsh or unpleasant sounds.
FLAC: Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) is an audio coding format for compressing lossless digital audio. FLAC is an open format that is free to use. It has support for things like album cover art and metadata tagging too.
Forward: A way of representing music that is more intense and with sounds that appear to be more in the listener’s face. For example, some headphones can make the upper mid-range more forward so certain vocals may appear closer.
Frequency Response: A measurement of frequency (in Hz) vs amplitude (output volume in dB). This is often used to describe the sound signature of a pair of headphones, speakers, or IEMs.
Frequency Spectrum: The frequency spectrum is the range of audio frequencies measured in Hertz (Hz). The audio hearing ranges from about 20Hz to 20kHz on the sound spectrum.
G
Gain: A level in which an audio signal is increased by an amplifier. The signal is increased or decreased by the number of volts in or out. Gain is normally expressed in dB.
Glassy: A way of describing audio that is very bright.
H
Harsh: Typically used to describe upper-mid frequencies then there is too much treble making it sound unpleasant.
Headphone: A stereo speaker system that is worn either on or over the listener’s ears.
Hi-Fi: Hi-Fi or Hi-Fidelity audio is a term to describe the high-quality reproduction of sound.
Hi-Res: A certification on headphones, amps, and other audio devices to show that a device can support high-resolution audio. This means that these devices can support audio with higher bitrates.
High-End Audio: Refers to the sound equipment that is used by audiophiles. These devices are typically better made than standard consumer gear for a more accurate and clear representation of the sound.
Highs: The upper range of the audible frequency spectrum (6 to 20kHz).
Hiss: An audible, unwanted noise caused by electrical fluctuations.
Hollow: A sound, often produced by lower quality headphones, that causes a lack of fullness in music. A hollow effect is caused by recessed midrange production.
Advertisements
I
In-Ear Monitor (IEM): In-Ear Monitors or IEMs are small audio devices that look similar to earbuds. They often provide a better seal and focus on having better sound quality. In-ear monitors are able to compete with headphones at many different price points too.
Imaging: The placement of a specific instrument within the sound environment. While similar to soundstage, imaging explains how accurate the location in which a sound comes from is rather than the size of the environment.
Impedance: A measurement of how much power is needed to power a driver. The higher the impedance the more power is needed to properly run the headphones or speakers and visa versa. Impedance is measured in Ohms.
Isolation: An effect created by tight sealing headphones, earbuds, or IEMs preventing sound from leaking out.
J
Jitter: A loss of a sample or group of samples in a stream during audio playback introducing noise. This is caused by issues between analog and digital audio conversion. Jitter is considered an unpleasant attribute and can be an issue with all digital devices.
Judgment: A lister’s assessment of the quality and accuracy of a reproduced sound.
K
N/A
L
Layering: A reproduction of depth and distance in which different vocals and instruments are placed one behind another.
Listening Style: The way someone prefers to listen to music. This is all subjective and based on the listener’s preferences. Some enjoy listening more analytically, while others prefer to listen to music more laid back and “get lost” in the music.
Lossless: Music file compression methods that do not remove data when compressing the file. Some popular examples include FLAC, WAV, APE, and ALAC.
Lossy: Music file compression methods that remove the least audible sounds from music to compress them. Compression can not be reversed like with lossless formats. Some examples include MP3, AAC, OGG, and WMA.
Low-Level Detail: The quietest sounds present in an audio recording.
Lush: Music reproduction with a rich tone, which typically is pleasing and warm sounding. This effect typically is the result of tube amplification.
M
Mastering: The final step in the music creation process. This is where the artist corrects issues in the sound and enhances their sound. The quality of mastering can reveal the quality of an artist.
Microphonics: A type of sound heard in headphones caused by movement or rubbing of the cable against itself or another object. The rustling noise is a result of vibrations being converted into or otherwise affecting electrical signals. Microphonics or cable noise can be greatly minimized with higher-quality cables with better shielding.
Midrange: Between around 250 Hz and 4000 Hz this is where vocals and many instruments are. The midrange is sometimes referred to as the mids. Headphones with bad midrange can make instruments and vocals sound hollow or telephone-like.
Monophonic: Monophonic audio or mono is a form of sound reproduction that uses only one channel. This means there is no separate channel for left or right.
MP3: A popular coding format for digital audio that is able to compress audio into small files. The format is a lossy format because some information is lost in compression.
MQA: Master Quality Authenticated or MQA is a lossless audio codec that is about one-third the size of the FLAC format. MQA works by matching a digital fingerprint to guarantee a file came from the original recording. MQA files are also backward compatible with FLAC decoders but if you want all the qualities of MQA then you must use an MQA decoder.
Muddy: An unclear and low-quality presentation of sound. The opposite of clear or clean sounding.
Advertisements
N
Nasal: An unpleasant sound with a quality of a person singing with their nose blocked off. Typically this is a result of a peak in midrange frequencies.
Natural: A sound that is perceived to be a realistic reproduction of the music.
Neutral: Referring to a reproduced sound signature in which the sound has no coloration. There is no emphasis on any part of the sound (bass, midrange, or treble).
Noise: Any background noises that are not a part of the music. This can include hissing, crackles, pops, and more.
Advertisements
O
Ohm: A unit of measurement for electrical resistance or impedance.
Openness: Referring to audio where there is a lot of depth and width to the sound stage. There is plenty of room between the instruments.
Open-Back Headphones:Open-back headphones are a type of headphone with an exposed or partially exposed driver. The earcups will often have grills to allow the sound out. This allows for a much more open sound, other benefits in treble and midrange, and improved long-term comfort. Heat build-up is less of an issue.
P
Pads: The earpads on the earcups of headphones.
PCM: Pulse-Code Modulation or PCM for short is the standard form of digital audio in computers and CDs. PCM is used to digitally represent sampled analog signals. A PCM stream has two variables to determine its accuracy to the original analog signal. The sampling rate, the number of times per second that samples were taken, and the bit depth, the amount of information in a sample.
Planar Magnetic Driver: A popular headphones driver technology. Planar magnetic drivers feature a series of electromagnets on both sides of a large and flexible diaphragm containing very small, electrically charged wires. Planar magnetic drivers typically are known for providing a wide sound stage and a punchy sound, especially in the bass. As a downside, they are often on the heavier side and can be bigger than headphones with dynamic drivers.
Preamp: A preamp or preamplifier is a device that increases the volume of an audio signal and then sends it to the amplifier. This provides a cleaner and louder audio signal for the amplifier.
Q
Quality: A way to describe the accuracy, fidelity, and cleanliness reproduced by an audio device or in an audio track. While much of this measurement is subjective, the quality of a song can be partially judged by the sample rate or the amount of data making up each second of the song.
R
RCA: A type of coaxial connector used for unbalanced analog connections. The center pin connects to the signal while the outer sleeve is connected to the ground.
Recessed: A decrease in a section of the audible frequency spectrum. For example, ‘V Shaped’ sound signatures will have a more recessed midrange.
Relaxed: A non-fatiguing sound as the result of a rolled-off treble. The quality of the sound will not be overly detailed and analytical but can be enjoyable for long listening sessions.
Resistance: When the flow of electrons is slowed, commonly in an electrical circuit. Resistance is measured in Ohms. This coincides with the impedance of a device.
Resolving: An audio equipment’s ability to produce and separate different instruments, vocals, and sounds. This will affect how detailed or undetailed the sound reproduction will be.
Reverb: Reverb or Reverberation describes the reflection of sound waves. Sound waves may be trapped so they continue to reflect off surfaces causing a sort of echo. This can cause distortion in the audio.
Rolloff: When a frequency response gradually rises above or falls below the average frequency in a device like headphones. This contrasts the term cutoff meaning a sudden loss of audio going above or below the average frequency range.
Advertisements
S
Sample Rate: A measurement to see how many samples of audio data were taken in a second.
Sense of Presentation: The way the sound is presented to the listener. The sense of presentation affects the way listeners perceive the location of where sounds come from.
Sensitivity: Sensitivity is a measurement of how loud headphones can get with a certain amount of power (typically 1 milliwatt). Sensitivity is measured in dB/mW. Sensitivity is also known as Efficiency or the Sound Pressure Level.
Sibilance/Sibilant: Upper peaks in the treble that become unpleasant to the ear if too prevalent.
Smooth: Describing a sound reproduction with no irritating qualities. This occurs when there is no sibilance or overly forward sound. This is not always a positive attribute as it can make some tracks feel slow and uninteresting.
Solid State Amp: Also known as transistor amps, solid state amps use transistors to raise the volume of a signal from a DAC. They are known for being efficient and providing a very clean sound. Solid state amps are more popular than tube amps.
Sound Card:A sound card functions as a DAC and amp built in computers and other electronic devices. Sound cards are built into all modern computers but better sound cards can be purchased for an improved sound over the one built into your computer’s motherboard.
Sound Signature: The unique sound qualities of a pair of headphones, an amp, DAC, cable, or other audio devices. There are many unquiet sound profiles Some devices focus on treble, some bass, and others keep a neutral sound. Each is good in its own way. There is no correct sound signature as it is highly related to preference. Each listener will have a preference to suit the way they look at the music and to better enjoy the genres that they listen to.
Soundstage: The 3D environment created by a headphones driver. A wide soundstage allows the listener to discern sound from different positions and can allow for a more realistic sound. A good soundstage is often desired by many audiophiles.
Source: The first device in a signal chain that sends out an audio signal. For example, a computer or turntable.
S/PDIF: Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format, or S/PDIF for short, is a type of digital audio connection. It is based on the AES 3 standard and typically uses coaxial cables with RCA connections or fiber optic cables with Toslink connectors.
Studio Monitors: Commonly referred to as monitors, studio monitors are speakers, designed to produce sounds that have been recorded in a studio setting. While they are often designed for professional situations, studio monitors are also very popular among audiophiles because they don’t have the coloration in the audio reproduction that consumer speakers create.
Sub-bass: Sounds that are so low-pitched that they are lower than bass notes. They range from 15 to 60 Hz and are hard for cheaper headphones to replicate. Sub-bass can make instruments that use bass feel more impactful.
Supra-aural: Referring to headphones that rest against the listener’s ears. Also known as “on-ear” headphones.
T
Tall: Referring to sound stage. Tall is used to describe a sound that feels above or below you. Comparatively, short can be used to describe a sound stage that has little space above or below you.
Texture: Texture or texturing is a perceptible pattern or structure in a reproduced sound, even if it is random in nature.
Total Harmonic Distortion: THD or Total Harmonic Distortion is a measurement of the degree to which equipment distorts the sound. This is often used when talking about amps to see how much they affect the sound. An amp with lower THD will allow for a cleaner sound.
THX: THX is an American Audio company founded by George Lucas in 1983. THX is most famous for creating the audio and visual reproduction standards for movie theaters, home theaters, speakers, headphones, gaming consoles, car audio systems, and more.
Timbre: The character of a musical note or vocal. Timbre differentiates different sounds from each other. For example, two instruments can play the same note but the Timbre is different because they are two different instruments.
Tonality: Another word for sound signature.
Transparent: Used to describe audio when there is a lot of clarity in the sound presentation.
Treble: Referring to sound from 10 to 20 kHz. These sounds are high-pitched. They allow for additional detail and clarity in the music. Too much treble can cause problems like fatigue.
TRS: TRS or the Tip Ring Sleeve connector is the most common connector used with headphones. It features sizes such as 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 1/4 inch.
Tubes: The part that is used in tube amps to amplify the sound. Tube amps can often be replaced to slightly change the sound produced by a tube amp.
Tube Amp: A tube amp is a type of amplifier that uses vacuum tubes to raise the volume of the audio signal from your DAC. They function similarly to light blub by burning electrons from a filament. They are popular because they can provide pleasant coloration to the music. They typically cause the audio to sound a bit warmer.
Turntable: A device with a circular revolving plate supporting that supports a record as it plays. Unlike record players, turntables do not have speakers or an amp built in so these are separate devices that need to be accounted for.
Advertisements
U
Uncolored: Referring to a neutral sound.
Upper Bass: Higher-pitched bass notes that are not high pitched enough to be a part of the midrange.
Upper Highs: The part of the treble that sounds especially high-pitched. This upper range reaches the limit of the human ear.
Upper Mids: Ranging from 900 Hz to 4 kHz, the upper mids make up higher-pitched vocals.
V
Voltage: The electromotive pressure or force that pushes electrons, typically measured in volts. Voltage is typically something that people think about with audio devices like amps.
Veiled: When there is a loss of clarity due to noise or a loss of detail in the sound. Often sounds like there is a haze blocking out the complete sense of clarity so some notes may not fully come through.
W
Warm/Warmth: A way of describing a sound profile with more forward vocals, bumped mid-base, and a clear midrange. This type of profile can be applied to amps, headphones, or IEMs.
Watt: A unit to express the rate of energy usage. It is calculated by getting the voltage times current. Mainly important for devices like amps.
Weight: A feeling of solidity and good foundation delivered to the music by natural and strong bass.
Width: A way of describing the sound stage in a lateral way. Different headphones will be able to display more width to the stereo image that is the music.
WMA: Windows Media Audio Lossless (WMA) is a propriety lossless audio data compression technology developed by Microsoft. It was designed to compete with FLAC and Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC).
WAVE: Waveform Audio File Format (WAVE), more commonly referred to as WAV is a Microsoft and IBM audio file format. It is the standard for storing audio on PCs. A WAV file can contain compressed audio or uncompressed audio. For uncompressed audio, the linear pulse-code modulation (LPCM) format is used. LPCM is also the standard audio coding format for CDs.
X
XLR: A type of connector commonly used with professional and high-end audio. You can find this connector in a three-pin or four-pin configuration for a balanced connection. XLR connections can be used with headphones, mics, and other devices.
Y
N/A
Z
N/A
Other Resources
There are some other resources that we recommend using like the audiophile subreddit page. Another great resource is our discord. There are many experienced people in this hobby that can help answer any additional questions that you may have.
We also have different guides and reviews to help you get started on our audio page.
When building a mechanical keyboard, one of the key decisions is finding which key switch is right for you.
A linear switch is a switch that has uninterrupted travel all the way down. There is no feedback in the travel and the only way to tell you have actuated the switch is when the action shows up on your screen.
If you are a fan of linear switches there are a large number of options available, so which one is the right switch for you? Today we are going to discuss the top ten linear switches in our testing so you can find the right switch for your next build.
Terminology
Just like in our Tactile Switch article we have included a short guide to clarify some terminology that might be thrown around when describing switches.
Actuation: Actuation is when the switch actually activates and outputs to the device.
Bottom out: When the switch finishes traveling and hits the bottom housing.
Leaf: The metal contacts in a switch. The leaf actually is responsible for actually actuating the switch. The leaf is in the bottom housing as the picture shows.
Ping / Spring Ping / Leaf Ping: This is a metallic reverb produced by the sound of the spring, leaf, or both. In most cases, it can be fixed by lube.
Advertisements
Disclaimer… Please Read!
This review is largely preference, my rankings will likely be very different from yours. Do not base your opinions solely based on mine.Use this guide to gain a general understanding of the switch and where enthusiasts like me stand on these switches. Guides like this, sound tests, and opinions of content creators like Teaha Types are good ways to find switches that you believe are interesting and worth trying. Ultimately we recommend you to just hit up your local vendor and buy a pack of whatever switch your fingers and ears desire to try out. That way you can find the best switch for you.
1. Durock POM Linear: The Best Long Pole Linear
Durock’s POM linears initially lit up the keyboard market with their interesting sound produced by the long pole stem. Like many popular tactiles such as Drop’s Holy Pandas or Boba U4Ts, the POM linears feature a longer than usual stem which changes how the switch sounds when bottoming out.
The POM linears can be described as having a clacky sound profile but the long pole stem exaggerates this sound by making it sharper and slightly louder than a normal linear bottoming out. Stock these switches are quite smooth but lubed they become one of the best switches on the market. Their smoothness lines up with the performance of many other high-end switches produced by JWK.
We do recommend lubing your POM linears for the best sound and feel but filming is not necessary as the housings are already nice and tight.
Due to the unique and pleasant sound profile paired with the silky smooth travel these switches definitely take the number one spot on our list. They are a top option to consider if you are looking for a long pole linear.
2. KTT Strawberry: Poppy, Smooth, and Great Value
KTT’s Strawberries are one of KTT’s offerings as a high-end switch. At around 40 cents per switch, their price puts them in the mid to low-end range of switches in terms of price. However, this switch outperforms its price point by delivering what we would consider to be one of if not the best-valued linear switches on the market.
The KTT Strawberries are one of the smoothest stock switches out there right now as they are prelubed and when lubed they still deliver an experience to many of the other top switches on this list that are as much as double the price. They are not as smooth as Tangerines but when lubed they are able to even outperform popular options such as Ink Blacks.
As for sound, they are similar to the rest of KTT’s linear lineup with a nice poppy sound that is enjoyed by many enthusiasts and content creators. Their clean and not overly thin-sounding clack makes them a satisfying option if you are sick of the thock hype train and you want to try something a bit different.
Like the KTT Roses, the Strawberries come with a 63.5g progressive spring. This is especially enjoyable if you like light initial force when pressing down your switch. Neither lubing nor filming is required with these switches as their housings are quite solid and they are already prelubed. If you do want a slightly deeper sound and smoother travel though, lubing with a thinner lube like Tribosys 3204 over the stem is a good way to improve the experience.
The Strawberries take the number two spot on this list for being a solid option without breaking the bank. Despite being so cheap their combination with carbon fiber plates has made for one of my favorite keyboard configurations out there.
Advertisements
3. Gateron Ink Black V2: Heavy Weight with Thock
Gateron Ink Black V2s are arguably Gateron’s most popular switch. They are on the heavier side with a 60g actuation and a 70g bottom out. Like most linears they actuate at 2mm with a total travel of 4mm. They do not come prelubed and stock are decently scratchy for the price. However, when lubed they provide their popular thocky sound signature.
We do recommend lubing these switches as stock you don’t really get to experience the Inks’ potential. Filming is also recommended but the switches are not terribly loose without films.
Ink Blacks take the number three spot on this list because they do provide a nice deep sound but there are many switches that provide better smoothness.
4. C3 Equalz x TKC Banana Splits: Good Looking, Good Sounding
The Banana Splits are amazing. They are produced by both TKC and C3 Equalz adding to their fruit switch lineup with other popular options such as Tangerines, Kiwis, and Dragonfruits. They feature a hyper smooth experience and nice creamy yet clacky sound that is enjoyed by many keyboard enthusiasts. Banana Splits sound especially good on spacebars. Not to mention they also have a creative colorway.
TKC’s Banana Splits feature the typical 2mm actuation point and 4mm bottom out. They have no long stem action and come with only a 62g weight option. Banana Splits do not require filming but lubing really brings out the best in these switches.
They take the fourth place spot on our list because despite having a popular sound and a great feel they are not super accessible, are costly, and there are still a few other switch options that I like a little more.
Advertisements
5. Bobagums: The Best Silent Linear
Gazzew’s Bobagum linears took inspiration from the Boba U4s, which are top-tier silent tactiles. Bobagums come in both 62g and 68g spring variations. They also feature great silencing ability and an incredibly smooth travel.
Lubing these switches is always recommended but filming is not as housings may struggle to close with many types of film since they are already so tight.
These switches are perfect for a work or school keyboard. So if you want a mechanical keyboard experience without disturbing the people around you, the Bobagums could be the right choice for you.
6. Gateron Milky Yellow: Thock on a Budget
Despite being on the market for many years at this point, Gateron’s Milky Yellows are still considered the king of budget switches. Coming in at only 23 cents per switch they deliver a sound that competes with switches three times the cost and only sacrifices a bit on the smoothness. They have a pleasant thocky sound and feature quite a smooth travel after lubing and filming. Milky Yellows weigh in at about 50g actuation and 60g bottom out.
Gateron’s “Yellow” switches come in many forms and revisions but the black bottom and milky top housings are regarded by many as the best configuration. This configuration provides the best smoothness and a creamy, deep sound that is loved by many keyboard enthusiasts.
Do lube and film these, as without they are quite scratchy and the housings are pretty wobbly stock.
7. KTT Roses: Poppy on a Budget
While not quite as cheap as Milky Yellows, KTT Roses deliver a lower-pitched clack at the low price of about 27 cents a switch. Roses can be decently smooth after being lubed and are better than most budget switches which are often still quite scratchy even after being lubed. KTT Roses have a standard 4mm total travel with a 63.5g progressive spring. This spring is liked by many because of the initially light force of the progressive spring.
If you have a bit more room in your budget and you would like a switch that provides a higher pitched sound than Milky Yellows then Roses might be the option for you. If you would still like a switch with the same sound profile but a lighter spring, KTT also offers recolors in their Grapefruit, Peach, and Sea Salt Lemon switches. They still offer the same housing and stem materials as well as a progressive spring.
Lubing these switches is recommended as they are not prelubed like KTT’s Strawberries. After lubing them their performance reaches a similar level as the Strawberries with a slightly lower pitched sound. You can film them but it is not required.
Advertisements
8. PrimeKB Alpacas V2s: The King of Clack
The Alpacas are arguably the most popular of JWK’s recolors following famous designer Minterly’s Bliss colorway. They feature asmooth travel and a lower-pitched clack. Essentially you won’t get the same thock as Milky Yellows or Black Ink Blacks but Alpacas are also lower pitched than Tangerines. They feature JWK’s gold-plated 62g springs making Alpacas have a nice medium spring weight.
These switches do not need lube or films as they do come pre-lubed with a slight layer of oil and they have pretty tight housings. Lubing these switches can definitely bring out a smoother feel and creamier sound if you are willing to take the time.
Note that the latest V2 Alpacas were tested. The previous iteration for this switch had quite loose housings but that has since been fixed. All official sellers of Alpacas sell the V2 Alpacas but if you are buying or buying a recolor, make sure you are getting a switch with the V2 molds.
Despite being considered such a great switch they sit at our number eight spot because the JWK recolors are all the same and aren’t considered super interesting.
9. C3 Equalz x TKC Tangerine: Smoothest Stock Switch
When the Tangerines first came out in late 2020 they shocked the keyboard community for being arguably the smoothest keyboard switch available. Today TKC’s Tangerines are still considered one of the smoothest linears. They feature a standard 2mm actuation with a 4mm bottom out. They are also offered with either a 62g or 67g spring with a light green or dark green stem respectively.
Although the Tangerines are incredibly smooth, the sound profile is considered by many to be boring and flat. This doesn’t make Tangerines a bad switch by any means, especially because sound preference is subjective. However the other switches on this list I have found to still have a similar level of smoothness and as well as more interesting sound profiles. If you do find that you find that the sound of Tangies suits your preferences then it is certainly a fantastic linear switch to consider.
These switches are fantastic stock because they are pre-lubed but if you would like a more creamy sound then lubing could improve the sound. Lubing with a thinner lube like Tribosys 3204 is recommended as Krytox 205g0 may be too thick. Tangerines do benefit from filming but it is not completely necessary.
10. Vintage Cherry MX Blacks: A Classic
Chances are if you have even the slightest experience in this hobby you have heard of Cherry’s lineup and cherry MX Blacks. These switches are those exact things, except old. When a switch is made a mold is used to cast the plastic, so these switches use an older mold which was known to be very smooth. This paired with cherry’s magically sounding amazing housings made the holy grail of linears.
Now if there so good why aren’t they number 1? Because these switches are very hard to come by, for starters it is near impossible to get these switches through a commercial vendor like NovelKeys, Cannonkeys, etc. Second, in most cases these switches must be removed from an old keyboard (like really old) and then cleaned and sold via mechmarket or something like that. That being said, these switches follow the standard Cherry MX Black weighting which is about 60g operating and 80g bottom out.
These switches do need lube but filming is hit or miss since they have nice and tight housings from the factory.
If you really want this typing experience but you are unable to find Vintage MX Blacks or you just don’t want to pay that much for a used switch you can also use machine broken in switches like RNKBD’s Cherry MX Black Ultraglides. Machine broken in switches are able to simulate a similar level of smoothness as vintage MX Blacks which have been naturally broken in over time.
Advertisements
Conclusion
All these switches are great choices for any linear build. Some switches that weren’t included which are also great are most JWK manufactured linears such as the Durock L Series, Halu Halos, H1s as well as Tealios, KTT, and TTC switches. If you want to hear some sound tests to better make a decision check out my YouTube channel for some sound tests.
If you want to try or buy any of these switches then a great place to start is by looking at your local vendor. Take a look at our vendor list. A compilation of tons of keyboard vendors sorted by region.
If you enjoyed this article and you want to talk more about tech then consider joining our Discord!
Are you a fan of a crisp tactile bump paired with a nice, sharp click? Clicky switches are a favorite of many but are often not talked about.
A clicky switch is a keyboard switch that produces a bump at some point in the travel, paired with a higher-pitched click. Clicky switches pair the tactility that is popular with tactile switches with additional audio feedback.
With the abundance of clicky switches in the custom keyboard market, it can get extremely confusing to find the right switches for you. Today we are going to discuss the best clicky switches from our testing.
Terminology
Whenever switches are mentioned, there are always some confusing terms involved, so let’s go through them.
Click Jacket: A system that makes a loud click sound when pressed down but no click when the upstroke. This system functions by having a collar around the stem of the switch that is pushed downward and actually causes the clicking sound and activates the switch. Click jackets are the system used in Cherry MX Blues and clones.
Click Bar: A system in which a metal bar is placed and when pushed it creates a click. The click bar plays no role in the switch actually being activated but simply makes a sound and provides a tactile feel. The stem of the switch then makes contact just under the contact from this bar to activate the switch. This system is preferred by enthusiasts who like clicky switches because it allows for a more satisfying experience with stronger tactility.
Box Switches: Although there are box switches for all types of switches, they are especially popular among clicky switches. Box switches don’t get the word box from the shape of their stem but rather a different internal mechanism for activating the switch that is surrounded by a small box within the switch. This structure allows these switches to be dust-proof.
Tactile Event: The bump in the switches travel.
Pre-Travel: Any linear or smooth uninterrupted travel before the tactile event.
Post-Travel: Post-travel is the linear travel after the tactile event.
Actuation: Actuation is when the switch activates and outputs to the device.
Bottom Out: When the switch finishes traveling and hits the bottom housing.
Leaf: The metallic contacts in a switch, these themselves actually actuate the switch. The leaf is in the bottom housing as the picture shows.
Ping / Spring Ping / Leaf Ping: This is a metallic reverb produced by the sound of the spring, leaf, or both. In most cases it can be fixed by lube.
Advertisements
Disclaimer… Please Read!
This review is largely preference, my rankings will likely be very different from yours. Do not base your opinions solely based on mine.Use this guide to gain a general understanding of the switch and where enthusiasts like me stand on these switches. Guides like this, sound tests, and opinions of content creators like Teaha Types are good ways to find switches that you believe are interesting and worth trying. Ultimately we recommend you to just hit up your local vendor and buy a pack of whatever switch your fingers and ears desire to try them out. That way you can find the best switch for you.
Also, note we will not talk about the feel of these switches after lubing. Typically clicky switches do not require lubing and can even take the clickiness or even tactility away from the switch. If you do want to lube your clicky switch then we would suggest lubing the spring with Krytox GPL 105 oil although this truly isn’t needed.
1. Kailh x NovelKeys Box Jades: Thick Clicks, Nice Weight
The NovelKeys Box Jades are a clicky switch designed by NovelKeys and manufactured by Kailh. Box Jades feature a thick clickbar for peak tactility and a click that is probably the loudest of any switch I have tested.
The Jades activate with a force of 50g at a travel distance of 1.8mm and bottom out at 3.6mm with a force of 65g. NovelKeys states they are IP56 water and dust-resistant.
We have put them at the top of this list as they feature an extremely sharp tactile bump paired with a very crisp click. Additionally, the weight does not get too fatiguing after typing for long periods.
2. Kailh x NovelKeys Box Navys: Strong Click, Heavy Weight
If you think you would like the Box Jades then NovelKeys’s Box Navy switches are the same switch except with a heavier spring.
The Box Navys have the same IP56 rating, thick clickbar, 1.8mm actuation distance, and 3.6mm total travel. The only difference is that they actuate at 75g and bottom out at 90g.
We do like the thick clickbar of the Navys and Jades but because the spring is heavier we find that they can get fatiguing more easily.
Advertisements
3. Kailh Box Whites: Jades Younger Cousin
Kailh’s Box Whites are a fantastic clicky switch utilizing a clickbar for a strong tactile bump and thick click. Unlike the Jades and Navys, the Box Whites do not use a thick clickbar meaning the tactility will be less sharp and they will not be as loud.
Box whites still utilize the box mechanism, hence the name, so they are rated for IP56 dust and water resistance. The switches activate at 1.8mm with a force of 45g and bottom out at 3.6mm with a force of 55g.
If you want a sharp tactile bump and a crisp click but you find that your finger gets fatigued easily, the Box Whites may be a better option for you over either the Jades or Navys.
Advertisements
4. Kailh x NovelKeys Sherbet: Long Travel, Strong Bump
NovelKeys’s Sherbet switches still provide a clickbar like the previous options on this list but have a few key differences. The Sherbets feature the standard MX switch design rather than the shape of box switches.
The NovelKeys Sherbets feature a 45g actuation force at 2mm and bottom out at 4mm with a force of 85g. For those that prefer a longer travel and may be looking for a slightly quieter click. The Sherbet will provide that over the Jades, Navys, or Whites.
The clickbar allows the Sherbets to still have a very satisfying click and makes them a very solid option for clicky switches.
5. Outemu Phoenix: Solid Clickjacket
Typically we find that clicky switches with a clickbar mechanism feature the best experience but there are a few clickjackets that are quite solid. The Outemu Phoneix features a clickjacket, the same system as switches like Cherry MX Blues.
Unlike Blues, Outemu Phoenix’s have a strong tactile bump, albeit less than the Jades, and feature a click both when activating the switch and on the return. You also get two different weight options with either a 62g or 68g option.
Although there are many clicky options to consider the Outemu Phoenix’s provide a unique take on the clickjacket system that is worth trying if interested.
Conclusion
All of these switches are great option to make your keyboard clicky. We do recommend that before you make any decisions you consider multiple different options and maybe watch some reviews or listen to some sound tests as it is hard to fully describe the experience of a switch in just a few paragraphs.
If you are also looking at tactile and linear switches, check out our best linear and best tactile switch articles. When you are ready to try or buy any of these switches then a great place to start is by looking at your local vendor. Take a look at our vendor list. A compilation of tons of keyboard vendors sorted by region.
If you enjoyed this article and you want to talk more about tech then consider joining our Discord and as always thanks for reading!
The Tech Frontier 
You must be logged in to post a comment.