New updated videos with more ABS keycaps: Lewitt Mics ONLY (best one for comparison purposes) - ruclips.net/video/0Php5kFkPHM/видео.htmlsi=1NXHcGXx3BHxdKko All 5 hours - ruclips.net/video/ESAC-nfPpBY/видео.htmlsi=gtHWjQ5N9Y_ziye2 Explanation of why I used two fully foamed boards (Rainy/CSTM) - ruclips.net/video/MjUYPa6h-ns/видео.htmlsi=LvreFMuIQKkRhQUq Rainy75 - ruclips.net/video/kqRsyPAKO48/видео.html CSTM65 - ruclips.net/video/idu6o7YiGog/видео.html PC Jixte - ruclips.net/video/tFvpsx0vZNA/видео.html Alu Jixte - ruclips.net/video/9-Ka0SoM5sA/видео.html
Thanks so much for the comparison! I am always asked about the comparison between all these brands, and now I can finally link them to this video. Essential community resource! :D
Wow, thank YOU! There were some small errors (like putting the keycap spec of the neo65 when in reality, there was no reason to because the keycaps were changing anyways) along with not having access to quite as many abs sets (domikey, pbtfans abs, and others) as I would've liked to make a more comparitive video, so I'll definitely remake this in the future to be better. I appreciate your comment very much!
Haha, thanks so much! I wasn't expecting it to be so popular, but I'll make a better one with a few more abs brands in the future once I get my hands on them!
Honestly, it definitely surprised me! I mean, granted, I didn't opt for a plate so it had to be plateless and gasket mounted, but I did not expect such a fantastic feel (bouncy) and sound with the long poles haha
I'm a biiiig fan of DCS! Yes, the abs sets that you can find nowadays from them for the recent runs are thinner than other abs brands, but in turn that really allows the switch characteristics to be more prominent
Same here! If I see a really good deal on them, I'd love to try them. We all know it's preference at the end of the day, but I really do like the story as well as the feel/look/sound of DCS. Yes, DCS abs is definitely thinner compared to what we regard as "the best" abs brands, but I think a lot of people automatically assume thin = low quality. I definitely do not think that, and actually am probably going to grab the DCS Sleeper set on Drop since it's on sale and I can use a friend's coupon on them. Looking forward to what your thoughts are once you try out DCS!
Yup! The easiest way to tell the difference between each is the spacebar and mods. IRL, the difference is a bit more subtle, but still noticeable when testing the mods and spacebar
Thank you! To my ears (it's less distinct IRL than in this recording), Keykobo is the closest to GMK sound wise. I'll post a keyboardcompare link that allows obscuring of titles and whatnot and is only audio (no video) for a better comparison tomorrow! I felt like once I closed my eyes and listened to the audio, it was much easier to determine which sets sounded deeper/higher pitched and which ones sounded the same. IRL, dcx and the round 2 aifeis sound super close and the deepest, then jtk and KKB are kinda similar (maybe jtk is sliiiiightly deeper), then gmk is distinctly higher pitched than jtk/KKB, and DCS has the highest pitch of them all. But it'll be easier (or maybe harder) to differentiate once I put all the audio into kbcompare tomorrow
may i know if your aifei wob is semi-transparent like pbtfans or just solid black? seems like they released 2 versions with this mold. iirc the semi-transparent is fully abs while the solid color is 40/60 abs/pbt blend. also, how's the surface of aifei when compared to gmk? is it rougher/more textured?
@@nograsstotouch it's the newer (round 2) variant with a near full inner wall and it's the pbt/abs blend These aifeis are smoother to the touch than GMK in my opinion. Stay tuned for a few upcoming videos where I compare the same aifei molds with other abs keycaps as well!
@@HubertTheMad i see, i guess both the semi-transparent and solid color are pbt/abs blend then. im considering kkb and gmk but the prices are wayyy to crazy for me. vendors near me sell kkb and gmk and both are relatively the same price with kkb being slightly higher. as for pbt keycaps, have you ever tried anything from jkdk?
@@nograsstotouch Agreed. I can't speak for anywhere else than the US, but the aftermarket prices on new and used GMK/KKB as well as great sales for both from different vendors definitely make it easier to get GMK/KKB for cheap ($40-$60 shipped for new GMK/KKB), but for other places around the world, I'm sure it's much harder. I have not! I was thinking of making a similar comparison vid with PBT, but I've sold/given away so many that the only PBT I still have is DCD/XMI/JCS/CRP R5 and R6/some other unnamed blanks manu. Plus, too lazy haha. I have not come across jkdk, at least not knowingly
@@wiko3357 some older GMK sets are less textured than the newer ones, but for me the PBTfans Ronin and set is smoother than the newer GMK. Not by much/not suuuper noticeable, but for me they are
@@phucmai5458 Check out my new video with more sound tests here! ruclips.net/video/0Php5kFkPHM/видео.htmlsi=_WCMUOdkBb4iI-xX For me, it's hard to get JTK super cheap, but if you can get it cheap, I think it's very nice. But in terms of price, Aifei seems like it will always be cheaper especially if bought during an AliExpress sale or something similar. Sound wise, I prefer JTK, but if it's too expensive, I would not buy
Great question! So this is purely based off on what I personally enjoy, so please take it with a grain of salt as we all have different preferences. These are all based on US dollar pricing and mostly US-based vendors. I am a huge fan of GMK, but especially GMK which you can get for cheap. When there are sales like Black Friday/Cyber Monday, random sales, or just situations where you can get in-stock GMK for $50-$90 shipped with an extensive base kit, I always go for GMK. I enjoy the vibrancy of colors, the sound, and the feel. Plus, being half-German, it's kind of cool to have German-made keycaps. When not on sale or in stock, except for very specific instances, I tend not to spend full price for GMK. Keykobo is nice, however, I'd only get them if there was a specific colorway that I know won't be covered by GMK, and if it's on sale. The keycap trays are really nicely packaged, and sometimes during sales, you can get it for $60 shipped. I'd say they sound the most like GMK, albeit some differences. JTK is what I'd only buy if on sale, and was around $51 shipped at the lowest price that I saw. Honestly, they are super close (for me) to Keykobo, and for some boards, JTK even sounds better than KKB or GMK. Aifei and DCX sound virtually identical to me IRL, even though there may be some differences when listening to the recording, specifically Aifei round 2. I respect DCX for running GMK colorways, but DCX isn't really my cup of tea since I can get Aifei round 2 that sounds virtually identical for cheaper unless there is a specific DCX colorway I want. Signature plastics (DCS profile) is something I also enjoy, and while a bit pricier (even on sale), still is something I enjoy both with the thinner nature of the ABS, the story behind SP, and so on. The thing to remember is that while GMK may sound fantastic on one board, it may not actually sound AS good as KKB/JTK/insert brand here on a different board. For example, I had the opportunity to try GMK and JTK on a Frog TKL, and I actually liked JTK more. I think all in all, each brand or type of keycap works in different situations. Personally, I love GMK the most (especially on sale), but that doesn't mean that I dislike any of the other brands!
@@HubertTheMad Thanks, you help me a lot. I only tried GMK, Domikey before. GMK has specific poppy/clacky sound signature I think. Domikey is thockier than GMK. I'll try different brands you mentioned if having chance.
@@yanhuan1 of course! Glad I could help. If I'm able to get a domikey set on sale, that and the pbtfans abs are two sets that I'd like to compare with these six
Whoops, forgot to add that in the description! I'll do that now. They're just cherry clip ins with 205g0 on the housings and dielectric grease on the end of the wires where the wires touch the plastic housings (not a thick coat, just a thin one)
If sound isn't TOO big of a deal, and it's difficult to get GMK wherever someone lives due to either cost and/or availability, Aifei isn't a bad option. It doesn't sound like GMK perfectly because it's an ABS/PBT blend, but if money is tight, and there aren't any good GMK deals (I've been seeing the US aftermarket and vendors sell GMK for $50 shipped and below), Aifei isn't the worst choice. I stay away from their clones since I'm not someone who knowingly buys clones nowadays anymore, but I won't pass judgment on any that do. At the end of the day, it's all preference, and if you enjoy how a keycap sounds/feels/looks like, it's perfect!
@@HubertTheMad What!? didn't know Aifei's are ABS/PBT blend I thought it's all ABS I guess the double shot legends are the PBT part and the outer shell is ABS? Weird I have their mictlan clone the colorful doubleshot legends seems to be too saturated and colorful to be PBT same with their relegendables. Man I wish I didn't sleep on it when the gmk set was still available that calavera skull keycap on the novelties looks really cool.
@@christiancabiles8498 Apparently, the newer Aifeis (the ones with the "wolf" novelty escapes and text mods) have a nearly full doubleshot inner layer, with their outer layer being ABS like you stated. Yeah, I'm definitely a fan of Mictlan for sure! I'm a basic guy though, so anything that's WoB + colors is pleasing to me haha
That's the best part about the hobby (besides the community)! Someone may dislike abs and someone else may dislike PBT, someone may like linears but hate tactiles, there is no "right" or "wrong" way to enjoy the hobby since it's all preference in the end
@@HubertTheMad I agree that in the end it's all preference. I started out in the hobby liking the whole creamy pe foam sound but now 2 years later I'm a clacky guy that prefers without any foam and my keycaps should be ABS made rather than PBT. It's like telling someone why they prefer a bright colored shirt rather than a dark colored shirt then vice versa.
New updated videos with more ABS keycaps:
Lewitt Mics ONLY (best one for comparison purposes) - ruclips.net/video/0Php5kFkPHM/видео.htmlsi=1NXHcGXx3BHxdKko
All 5 hours - ruclips.net/video/ESAC-nfPpBY/видео.htmlsi=gtHWjQ5N9Y_ziye2
Explanation of why I used two fully foamed boards (Rainy/CSTM) - ruclips.net/video/MjUYPa6h-ns/видео.htmlsi=LvreFMuIQKkRhQUq
Rainy75 - ruclips.net/video/kqRsyPAKO48/видео.html
CSTM65 - ruclips.net/video/idu6o7YiGog/видео.html
PC Jixte - ruclips.net/video/tFvpsx0vZNA/видео.html
Alu Jixte - ruclips.net/video/9-Ka0SoM5sA/видео.html
Thanks so much for the comparison! I am always asked about the comparison between all these brands, and now I can finally link them to this video. Essential community resource! :D
Wow, thank YOU!
There were some small errors (like putting the keycap spec of the neo65 when in reality, there was no reason to because the keycaps were changing anyways) along with not having access to quite as many abs sets (domikey, pbtfans abs, and others) as I would've liked to make a more comparitive video, so I'll definitely remake this in the future to be better.
I appreciate your comment very much!
I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A COMPARISON LIKE THIS UR SUCH A GOAT THANKS!!!!!!1!1!1!1!1!
Haha, thanks so much!
I wasn't expecting it to be so popular, but I'll make a better one with a few more abs brands in the future once I get my hands on them!
What this convinced me was that plateless Neo65 with Wisterias freakin rock
Honestly, it definitely surprised me! I mean, granted, I didn't opt for a plate so it had to be plateless and gasket mounted, but I did not expect such a fantastic feel (bouncy) and sound with the long poles haha
thank you for the dedication , really helps.
Thanks for the kind words! I'll have an updated video with a couple more brands and boards in the next few weeks.
So, dcs gives us a fucking awesome high pitched retro clack sound. My ears love it so much
I'm a biiiig fan of DCS! Yes, the abs sets that you can find nowadays from them for the recent runs are thinner than other abs brands, but in turn that really allows the switch characteristics to be more prominent
You won a sub after this review !
Wow, thanks so much! I appreciate it very much. It's thanks to people like you that makes me want to create more and better content!
I wish pbtfans abs was included, but this is already amazing. I think dcs stands out the most, curious to try them out soon.
Same here! If I see a really good deal on them, I'd love to try them.
We all know it's preference at the end of the day, but I really do like the story as well as the feel/look/sound of DCS. Yes, DCS abs is definitely thinner compared to what we regard as "the best" abs brands, but I think a lot of people automatically assume thin = low quality.
I definitely do not think that, and actually am probably going to grab the DCS Sleeper set on Drop since it's on sale and I can use a friend's coupon on them.
Looking forward to what your thoughts are once you try out DCS!
i cant tell if your stabs are messed up on the spacebar but you can definitely hear the differences on the mods
Yup! The easiest way to tell the difference between each is the spacebar and mods. IRL, the difference is a bit more subtle, but still noticeable when testing the mods and spacebar
@@HubertTheMad definitely man! thanks for this vid. now i can explain the difference in sound to my friends when they want more keebs hahaha
DCX, KKB, and GMK seem to be my favorites. The others sounded harsher to my ears here, and DCS just sounds thin on top of that.
Amazing comparison! Which set do you think is the closest to GMK in terms of sound?
Thank you! To my ears (it's less distinct IRL than in this recording), Keykobo is the closest to GMK sound wise.
I'll post a keyboardcompare link that allows obscuring of titles and whatnot and is only audio (no video) for a better comparison tomorrow!
I felt like once I closed my eyes and listened to the audio, it was much easier to determine which sets sounded deeper/higher pitched and which ones sounded the same.
IRL, dcx and the round 2 aifeis sound super close and the deepest, then jtk and KKB are kinda similar (maybe jtk is sliiiiightly deeper), then gmk is distinctly higher pitched than jtk/KKB, and DCS has the highest pitch of them all.
But it'll be easier (or maybe harder) to differentiate once I put all the audio into kbcompare tomorrow
Here is the KBCompare link. You can hide the titles and scramble them as well. Pretty useful website!
kbcompare.com/test/IiXRc7
@@HubertTheMad Wow this info is super useful. It proves that DCX is not worth it for me
may i know if your aifei wob is semi-transparent like pbtfans or just solid black? seems like they released 2 versions with this mold. iirc the semi-transparent is fully abs while the solid color is 40/60 abs/pbt blend. also, how's the surface of aifei when compared to gmk? is it rougher/more textured?
@@nograsstotouch it's the newer (round 2) variant with a near full inner wall and it's the pbt/abs blend
These aifeis are smoother to the touch than GMK in my opinion.
Stay tuned for a few upcoming videos where I compare the same aifei molds with other abs keycaps as well!
@@HubertTheMad i see, i guess both the semi-transparent and solid color are pbt/abs blend then.
im considering kkb and gmk but the prices are wayyy to crazy for me. vendors near me sell kkb and gmk and both are relatively the same price with kkb being slightly higher.
as for pbt keycaps, have you ever tried anything from jkdk?
@@nograsstotouch Agreed. I can't speak for anywhere else than the US, but the aftermarket prices on new and used GMK/KKB as well as great sales for both from different vendors definitely make it easier to get GMK/KKB for cheap ($40-$60 shipped for new GMK/KKB), but for other places around the world, I'm sure it's much harder.
I have not! I was thinking of making a similar comparison vid with PBT, but I've sold/given away so many that the only PBT I still have is DCD/XMI/JCS/CRP R5 and R6/some other unnamed blanks manu. Plus, too lazy haha.
I have not come across jkdk, at least not knowingly
are PBTFANS ABS keycaps smooth just as GMK? What do you think about their smoothness?
@@wiko3357 some older GMK sets are less textured than the newer ones, but for me the PBTfans Ronin and set is smoother than the newer GMK. Not by much/not suuuper noticeable, but for me they are
Should I choose aifei or jtk, does jtk sound better?
@@phucmai5458
Check out my new video with more sound tests here!
ruclips.net/video/0Php5kFkPHM/видео.htmlsi=_WCMUOdkBb4iI-xX
For me, it's hard to get JTK super cheap, but if you can get it cheap, I think it's very nice.
But in terms of price, Aifei seems like it will always be cheaper especially if bought during an AliExpress sale or something similar.
Sound wise, I prefer JTK, but if it's too expensive, I would not buy
What's your recommendation?
Great question! So this is purely based off on what I personally enjoy, so please take it with a grain of salt as we all have different preferences. These are all based on US dollar pricing and mostly US-based vendors.
I am a huge fan of GMK, but especially GMK which you can get for cheap. When there are sales like Black Friday/Cyber Monday, random sales, or just situations where you can get in-stock GMK for $50-$90 shipped with an extensive base kit, I always go for GMK. I enjoy the vibrancy of colors, the sound, and the feel. Plus, being half-German, it's kind of cool to have German-made keycaps.
When not on sale or in stock, except for very specific instances, I tend not to spend full price for GMK.
Keykobo is nice, however, I'd only get them if there was a specific colorway that I know won't be covered by GMK, and if it's on sale. The keycap trays are really nicely packaged, and sometimes during sales, you can get it for $60 shipped. I'd say they sound the most like GMK, albeit some differences.
JTK is what I'd only buy if on sale, and was around $51 shipped at the lowest price that I saw. Honestly, they are super close (for me) to Keykobo, and for some boards, JTK even sounds better than KKB or GMK.
Aifei and DCX sound virtually identical to me IRL, even though there may be some differences when listening to the recording, specifically Aifei round 2. I respect DCX for running GMK colorways, but DCX isn't really my cup of tea since I can get Aifei round 2 that sounds virtually identical for cheaper unless there is a specific DCX colorway I want.
Signature plastics (DCS profile) is something I also enjoy, and while a bit pricier (even on sale), still is something I enjoy both with the thinner nature of the ABS, the story behind SP, and so on.
The thing to remember is that while GMK may sound fantastic on one board, it may not actually sound AS good as KKB/JTK/insert brand here on a different board. For example, I had the opportunity to try GMK and JTK on a Frog TKL, and I actually liked JTK more.
I think all in all, each brand or type of keycap works in different situations. Personally, I love GMK the most (especially on sale), but that doesn't mean that I dislike any of the other brands!
@@HubertTheMad Thanks, you help me a lot.
I only tried GMK, Domikey before.
GMK has specific poppy/clacky sound signature I think.
Domikey is thockier than GMK.
I'll try different brands you mentioned if having chance.
@@yanhuan1 of course! Glad I could help. If I'm able to get a domikey set on sale, that and the pbtfans abs are two sets that I'd like to compare with these six
@@HubertTheMad Such useful information here dude. You're the best
@@HubertTheMad can you share link where you bought aifei
stabs??
Whoops, forgot to add that in the description! I'll do that now.
They're just cherry clip ins with 205g0 on the housings and dielectric grease on the end of the wires where the wires touch the plastic housings (not a thick coat, just a thin one)
nice sound bro 🥰🥰
@@nsnhjj1295 Thanks so much! I appreciate your kind words
aifei 8/10 gmk?
If sound isn't TOO big of a deal, and it's difficult to get GMK wherever someone lives due to either cost and/or availability, Aifei isn't a bad option. It doesn't sound like GMK perfectly because it's an ABS/PBT blend, but if money is tight, and there aren't any good GMK deals (I've been seeing the US aftermarket and vendors sell GMK for $50 shipped and below), Aifei isn't the worst choice.
I stay away from their clones since I'm not someone who knowingly buys clones nowadays anymore, but I won't pass judgment on any that do.
At the end of the day, it's all preference, and if you enjoy how a keycap sounds/feels/looks like, it's perfect!
@@HubertTheMad What!? didn't know Aifei's are ABS/PBT blend I thought it's all ABS I guess the double shot legends are the PBT part and the outer shell is ABS? Weird I have their mictlan clone the colorful doubleshot legends seems to be too saturated and colorful to be PBT same with their relegendables. Man I wish I didn't sleep on it when the gmk set was still available that calavera skull keycap on the novelties looks really cool.
@@christiancabiles8498 Apparently, the newer Aifeis (the ones with the "wolf" novelty escapes and text mods) have a nearly full doubleshot inner layer, with their outer layer being ABS like you stated. Yeah, I'm definitely a fan of Mictlan for sure! I'm a basic guy though, so anything that's WoB + colors is pleasing to me haha
Jesus it sucks a lot. Thick PBT is the best in term of sound
That's the best part about the hobby (besides the community)!
Someone may dislike abs and someone else may dislike PBT, someone may like linears but hate tactiles, there is no "right" or "wrong" way to enjoy the hobby since it's all preference in the end
Its All preference
PBT is SUCKS SOUND
@@HubertTheMad I agree that in the end it's all preference. I started out in the hobby liking the whole creamy pe foam sound but now 2 years later I'm a clacky guy that prefers without any foam and my keycaps should be ABS made rather than PBT. It's like telling someone why they prefer a bright colored shirt rather than a dark colored shirt then vice versa.