The $120 Mechanical Keyboard That Took 3 Years To Make - Bauer Lite
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- Опубликовано: 11 дек 2023
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Keyboard: Omnitype Bauer Lite (Atomic)
Board insulation: None
Plate: Polycarbonate
Keycaps: GMK DMG
Switches: Gateron Ink divinikey.com/products/gatero...
Stabilizers: TX AP Screw In divinikey.com/collections/key...
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For the JST / daughterboard cable, I think the custom fight stick community solved this ages ago... cover it with a paracord sleeve. Instant style and no ugly wires showing.
That is genius!
Appreciate the background/history of the board as well as all the factors that were changing at the time from 2020-2023 :-) Keep it up as always
I have a Neo65, Mode Envoy, and Bauer Lite. They are all great and unique boards.
Mode's boards are kinda mid tbh considering how much they cost
@@Seeeaaan In 2023, yes. Though, if you're like me and was also in search of an in-stock 65% CNC frosted polycarbonate board for less than $250, the Mode Envoy is basically the only option at the moment and I've been pretty happy with it so far. I know Andy mentioned inconsistent sound/feel on the Envoy but I honestly can't even notice it.
lol
People are commenting on my envoy review saying the PC one is the worst sounding one, implying I chose to review an inferior board lol
I love poly and got the envoy not spending over 500 and for sure not 800 plus cause their are non in stock only 2nd hand
This board is so fun! I love having one board in my collection when I don’t feel like lugging an Alu keyboard to work. I have GMK Haku on a seafoam bottom and Clear top and it’s perfection.
I would buy this, but the Neo65 for the same price is just way too good of a deal.
Both are sick choices. I have been lucky enough to build both for friends. They both have their strengths.
Neo sounds soo good without foam
@@JesusXina only the alpha, the border is pinging af
I'm really glad the Bauer Lite made it to market, though. It's a great-looking keyboard, and it has a lot of legacy and prestige to it. That alone makes it a really cool proposition compared to other "budget" boards from newer brands, and it brings a great WKL design closer to the mainstream.
Also, I think the opposite of what you said could be true: Now that heavy aluminum cases are as common as they are, it could instead become less "special" to have a metal case, and all things being equal, people could instead learn to appreciate the sound profile of a plastic case more readily. I actually prefer the sound profiles of OEM plastic Topre cases compared to metal cases, for example, compared to the aftermarket metal ones.
As someone with an Alu/Brass Bauer 2, I can say the aesthetics of the board are undeniable. I ordered a Bauer Lite just because.
The contrast aesthetic is nice af
@@AndyVNguyenafter building it, I’m not impressed with it. It’s a shame. I’m probably just spoiled at this point.
Happy holidays uncle Andy
I agree with the general sentiment, but it will all come down to what's in stock at the time you're considering this purchase. I have the Rouge board with Ergo Clears and DCX Garnet rn, only things I wish it had was an Alu plate (PC is my least favorite plate material for this kind of mount) and maybe a weight that's designed to sit in that space in the bottom case where the two fasteners are. Otherwise, while there's metal boards with weights out there for a similar price, I'm still happy with my Bauer Lite.
Aluminum plates are now availabe on their site!
Believe the build guide has you place the bottom into the top, not the top into the bottom so gaskets don’t fall out
That would make a lot more sense lol. Old building habits I guess
for the neo6, I found that the sound of the neo65 was a bit muted, but clacky even with mxblacks and did not get the sound signature, i was looking for but the Bauer Lite has the signature bassy sound to it that makes any and switch sound good. Some keyboards need a good switch to sound good but Bauer Lite i one of those keyboards that can make any switch sound 'good'.
Your videos are well produced. Subscribed. :)
Wow I must say anytime I’ve used inks on a plastic plate it has sounded super muted, those Ink V1s sound very lively on PC in this board! I really like the red color! I’m not into 75s or spending on boards at this price point anymore (I’ve picked up too many budget boards), but always stoked to see more solid options. Materials aside, this seems like a great no compromise custom (daughterboard, open source PCB programming, proven mounting style, etc.).
What can you advise to someone who just got his 3rd budget prebuilt and hungry for more 🥲
@@L2DA41 haha, I'd say it depends on your budget and the preferences you've developed so far. Given that most prebuilt keyboards tend to use a plate mounted gasket design, I think branching out to try something with a different style of mounting (e.g. top mount, gummy o ring mount, or if you're willing, a soldered plateless build) would be a good way to experience a different side of the hobby. I personally am a huge huge fan of gummy o ring 60% keyboards. You can pretty easily get a bakeneko case 3d printed and get a PCB / daughterboard from cannonkeys (or other sites), or you could get the full bakeneko 60 kit. 60% PCBs (e.g. H60, SNOP60, Bastion60) are plentiful, and most 60% plates (assume they're not specifically designed for plate mounted gasket) are compatible. It's a very modular platform (think tuning Hondas if you're at all familiar with car culture). If you're willing to spend more / wait for a longer delivery, you could consider looking at the group buys available on geekhack or look at what's available on mechmarket. Honestly the most economical way to get a sense for what you like is by going to a meetup.
I'm going to build one soon. I'm spring swapping in 75 gram kinetic lab springs into my jupiter reds and I'll use my spare DSA set on it for now. seafoam baby
If this came out around the time the KBD Lite boards were popular I might have gotten one but it's too late now.
I don’t really think this board will have a hard time selling (at first at least), and I definitely think there’s a market for it purely based on the name. I don’t think many people are gonna buy this looking for the best min-maxed entry level board, but because it’s a bauer and it’s cool. I have zero interest in the neo65 because I already have an alu 65 that I really like, but I’d pick this thing up for sure if I had the cash
Love this board. Built one and its super amazing. Sure there are alu boards that are similar price now, but if you are just buying a bunch of entry level alu boards for the sake of it and not having some actual variety in your collection. Why own more than one board? This board is definitely unique and clean af
What are some similar priced Alu boards?
One of my favorite things about the BL is that you can’t see the gaskets when it’s built. I love how slick the PC Kohaku looks mostly… but would never pick one up simply bc no matter how good it sounds I think the visible gaskets ruins the look of the board.
Apparently she’s selling it with white gaskets for the next drop
@@AndyVNguyen That would be sick!
Ty brian
The initial run sold out quick, probably due to it being an Omnitype product and in the Bauer line so you've got cool factor and years worth of hype and buildup but I think the time for a low budget polycarb board has come and gone. Having said all that, I bought one in atomic. Mostly because I'm a keyboard degenerate and I've had a set of DMG sitting around waiting for a nice gameboy-esq purple for a while, have too many TKLs and not many 65% boards. It's pretty solid, especially for $120. But unless this becomes an in-stock option, I would not be pointing someone new to the hobby in this direction with so many aluminum boards (with weights!) getting close to this price.
This is an in-stock option...
Also atomic gang but big reason I got it too is that I can do clicky switches very well, it's plastic and hollow, and doesn't have strange compromises and features past injection molded translucent boards had like flex cuts and strange silicone mat gasket mounts and other issues, so great for clicky switches.
Andy is there any info on the specs of that QK65 you showcased in the video? That colour scheme is so gorgeous and I'm trying to recreate it.
NGL, this board gets me very hype... For the Sat75 X.
Hope you get a chance to review that one too and give us your thoughts.
Sat75 X looks super exciting!
I think it is a nice board. If you like it then good for you! If you don’t then just skip it. No big deal.
While the board is not for me at this point of my keyboard journey, I don’t think the keyboard is “too late”. It may have sold more units in 2021 or have a higher after market value compared to 2023 but at the end of the day that specifically should not have any effect on your purchasing decision.
There are a lot of great options around this price point and I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them
considering we have competitors like cycle7 and neo65 in the game ill say the only attraction for me to get a bauer lite is simply the weight and clean design, and surprisingly it does sound great as well. its good for the new comer to the hobby and for those who wants to add a full PC board into their collection. definitely worth a purchase
As a Tiger Lite owner, I will wait for NK+.
It's a fair price on it's own, and it seems like a solid board. But with the competition these days it's tough to justify much more than $100 for an injection molded plastic case as a consumer.
What 75% board should I get for a silent creamy sound
If this came out way earlier, I would have 100% bought it because I love the Bauer look and the colors, but the fact it came out so late when now you can get a really good metal keyboard for around the same price, Idk if these are gonna sell well.
man id actually love to cop those stabs, but they're sold out 😭
I understand not liking the look of it, but I'm pretty sure the cable being visible on the bottom is part of the Gameboy aesthetic.
great video!
look at the qk65v2!
What is total weight of the keyboard? Is it good option to use for travel/office?
It's totally light enough to bring for travel/work. But keep in mind you won't have a windows key and it will need to be mapped to something else.
Yeah just noticed this. Are there any alternatives, or say what would you recommend for a lightweight ~65% keyboard? I guess I need to go with plastic, to save some weight. Currently have a keychron q1 pro, which is very heavy to bring to the work in my backpack.
@@MrUdensI picked up a keychron v2 max and it's decent for the price. It's no custom but good enough.
i thought this keyboard was made by bauer who create high end chassis of topre keyboard
I mean it is a nice looking board but it is essentially a gas67 but for double the cost. I really like the acrylic look but is is rather pricey for what it is.
I kinda hoped for a brass plate to be available purely for aesthetics cause I think it would look sexy as hell even though the feel is gonna be a brick
there is a brass plate on their store, though since it's just the Bauer 2 plate, you don't have the guides and you can't easily cut the plate to do a full backspace and need a machine to do that that is capable to cut brass.
@@roundduckkira honestly dont mind split backspace since I have bounded both backspace and backslash to backspace. but it would be more fun if there was a proper bauer lite brass option.
ik the polycarb see through gasket thing is not appealing to most people, but man the monokei kei does it so well for whatever reason... it does it so well and i dont know why its so cool to me
hey andy i have a question , i have 550 dollars us to spend on a keyboard which one would you recommend for me that are stock because a lot of the keyboard i want are not in stock . Thank you for your advice .
Just wait for next year there will be better groupbuys for sure
@@parisgiovanos766 oh ok understood
I have both the neo65 and Bauer lite. The neo looks boring tbh and Bauer lite looks way cooler, it also has a poppier sound which I like.
Yeah the cheap boards tend do not have as poppy sounds. But the Bauer wasn’t all that poppy as the metal variants imo. Slightly better than most injection molds tho since most injection molds using rubber sleeves and silicone, bringing it to a deeper tone
Sounds like a kbd67 lite
Cannot believe this thing hits i was so sure it was gonna be ass lol
Lol forreal you know was thinking the same
At least we now know it's real and this'll be a small push for others to maaaaybe make a 75lite *wink *wink. I love my TigerLite but I want a 75 lite version of it.
Great video, Andy. The board sounds better than my $450 Thermal tbh.
Thermal had the ping issues right?
@@AndyVNguyenI don’t necessarily experience ping. The alphas sound pretty decent, nothing to write home about, but decently neutral. However, the space bar sounds hollow 🤢. That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited for my Kohaku.
So I just got the mode envoy and the bauer lite and I gotta say.... the bauer sounds miles better man I am impressed
That's high praise! These sold out within a day, and they sound good - I think taking the time to get it right was worth it.
The Mode Envoy isn't really that good to begin with imo
has anyone tried frosting this board?
That's very unhygienic
@@danzo5521 wdym
Not a fan because they don't allow for mix and match top and bottom, Also I really want a non clear board. I basically want to recreate the dave2d board
you can do it now.
@@yeegykgnope
If it was a year and a half ago. Would have been great. Too late to the game. However, they have the fan base to move anything at any price.
I got one after watching this video. It’s fine to me, nothing special imo. It’s better than a NK65. Slightly better feel than a KBD67 lite, but overall not much better imo.
this might be a dumb question. but how do yall live without windows key. i use it with win + tab / and just for searching / opening applications.
any tips?
Right alt becomes windows
I mean......yeah. I already have a KBD67 Lite so no need for something like this to fill that plastic board need
Mustard and yellow? Mustard and ketchup.
dammit
Year 2024!
Plastic 120!
Why?
It’s odd I know
you took the words out of my mouth: it’s a little too late. with the giants in the mk scene right now popping out full cnc alu boards with dual-mounting capability and brass weights, the bauer lite would not be my top pick unless i was just starting out.
Personally not a fan
Lol when I hit the pc bauer.
How come that you also got a polyhaku 😂
I’m making a review video, just been lagging it
@@AndyVNguyen looking forward !
the "neo65 eats this for breakfast" line sums up all I think about this keyboard. too little, too late, and very poor value for the money.
Imagine buying this for $1000 when a neo65 exists now xD the keyboard honestly looks mid
its abauer drive its abauer bauer we stay hungry we debauer
yo this actually came out? this was actually real?
lol yeah it did
lol 120$ and 50$ on ebay 😂
hollllllllllllllowwwwwwwwwwwwww
I feel like andy's ability to do stabs good is getting worse and worse. All tx stabs, including the AP and rev 3 just feel and sound horrible to me. Cherry screw ins and clip ins for life!!! Even Alexotos said this on a recent video that cherry stabs have yet to be surpassed in sound
Rev 4 TX are definitely ass. I’ve bought, lubed & tuned 5 sets of them in the last 2.5 months and every single wire was warped so bad. What’s worse is that they were warped the SAME way so it took like 3x longer to do. Tho I did recently try their screw in option and was pleasantly surprised.
I've had good results with the TX stabs myself, but I have to agree that Cherry (and old GMK) stabs are still probably the best overall. Every time I go back to a build with them on it I'm still satisfied. Maybe not the most smooth, or the most on-rails, but no single thing about them is bad and they don't involve any real compromise. Staebies for example have less wobble and grain for an extra stable, extra smooth experience - but are more prone to binding and are more picky with caps, so depending on your other parts (or skill level) you might just have a straight up bad time where the Cherries would just work.
@@dhoffnun I think the next batch of stabs I’m gonna try are the Knight ones. I don’t wanna get stuck being a fan boy for one brand lol.
way too late. this was good about a year or two ago. now with metal keyboards pushing under 100 usd, some are now from china for less than 70 USD. Why even consider this is my question.
Why would anyone buy this other than clout behind the name? Neo65 is same price point and better. Or spend a little more and get an envoy?
clicky switches sound good on it, and because it's a cheaper polycarb board if that's what you want for aesthetic or sound reasons, vs the envoy.
@@roundduckkira Most enthusiasts that are deep into mech keyboards enough to know what a Bauer is, probably aren't using clicky switches
@@riceshakes yeah that is true, because clicky switches are either very niche or noob bait, I do hate they get treated as such though when they tend to have the most innovation in the market, despite less competition overall. Zeal Clickiez, NK Cream Clickie, and Box clickies are very radical departures from their MX counterparts and each other compared to tactiles and linears which fundlementally use the same design basis as Cherry does.
love the design. love the sound. but wkl... kthxbai. i use winkey a lot and i am not willing to remap to a different position