37:19 - thought I'd let you know, Matrix coating on alu plate can cause the feel to be stiffer compared to anodized alu plate. Vertex has also confirmed this when they were testing it with the Angle and decided not to use coating on alu plate.
@@Blacksimon they did and reverted to ano only for plates, but unfortunately all their alu plates are the skeletal kind now. Hoping that the fact that more matrix boards are being sold internationally than in china these days changes that.
Xmas verson is not representative of how 2.0add sounds. Go grab some regular 2.0add version, put some cherry blacks lubed with GHv4 on alu/PP plate and then we'll talk. But lastest Matrix boards are a huge dissapointment for me.
@12:58 If there were the same number of parts, a one off would be exceedingly expensive, much more expensive than 850. What you're saying is only correct if we assume your design is not the same as what matrix is offering, with less parts. I think your reviews would be better if you two separate ratings: (An absolute quality rating) + (A price to performance rating). I understand there are some enthusiasts who care mostly about price to performance. There are a separate set of people who care about quality above everything else. Personally I wouldn't buy a board below a certain quality rating no matter how good its price to performance was. I firstly care about something being amazing, before I look at the price.
I agree with you to some degree, but price determines everything. I'm ok spending upwards of 700 dollars for a keyboard, as long as it delivers on the price. I know that diminishing returns are a thing, but my disappointment with this board is so damn high, I've heard from SO MANY 2.0 owners how unexpectedly bad their experience with the board was
Except you look at this board and realize it's not amazing for the price. The rating for both on the 2.0add Xmas would be low. Your very own boards eclipse this one (yes)
@@Blacksimon I wouldn't buy this keyboard either, there are other versions of the 2.0 that are objectively better; but value proposition is subjective and can change relative to competition. Your rolex isn't a good value proposition versus microbrands that you can buy for sub 1k. The price difference between those watches is much larger and the quality change relative to price outside of the movement is arguably much less than between this and a 500 dollar keyboard (S tier vs A tier stock as you had mentioned; 30+ parts etc). Why are you willing to spend 4-6k more on a watch with diminishing returns but find the thought of 300 dollars more spent on a keyboard unacceptable? I think you must understand what i'm saying about an absolute quality rating otherwise you wouldn't be willing to spend so much more on something that is a worse value proposition
Aren't the cuts on the plate supposed to be relief cuts contributing to a consistent sound and feel per key all across the board? I find no rationale for those cuts to serve as anything to produce flex, even for a softer plate.
Historically relief cuts are meant for flex. Acoustic cuts (when used properly) tend to be alongside stabilized keys, and those can be used to brighten up (make higher pitched) the sound compared to no acoustic cuts. As for relief cuts not impacting flex, I'm not sure how to better explain, but less material connecting two points means more deformation of the material generally. Its miniscule in the grand scheme of things, but noticeable when typing. The extreme example of this would be plates with flex cuts for every key (seen on some meme china boards), where each and every key is FAR more flexy than before (there are vids showing this)
It has come to my attention that this keyboard might have brass in it. Considering this weighs 1800g built, that comes as a surprise to me. This keyboard is still not worth anywhere close to its asking price.
@@hatefulconduct the upgraded weight had the brass inner piece in addition to the raw outer. The standard only had the coated outer piece brass, inner was coated alu. That’s the weight diff
Matrix has been doing a lot more meme cutting in plates the last few boards and offering PC plates. Also last few boards have offered different mountings and some kinda neat "screwless" opening with the last board.
The illuminati keyboards to-date have been me. I also often assist other makers when it comes to feel/sound tuning. You've likely typed on something I've helped out with. (I can't say names :p)
@@appleborbs5065 My Montage has deep mods, somewhat deep alphas. I'm using retooled cherries on top alu plate, og dyesub. It wasn't that deep with gmk I guess, can't remember for sure. Sounds to me like a more muted, slightly deeper and less hollow version of the gmk one with h1s in lightningxi's clip. Guess there may be variance between boards, since the one with epbt he built sounds worse to my ears, might just be a bad batch of blacks.
When I typed on this exact same keyboard back in 2019-2020 I instantly entered the hobby. Thank you Lovidore for introducing me to custom keyboards.
Simon is my keyboard friend
37:19 - thought I'd let you know, Matrix coating on alu plate can cause the feel to be stiffer compared to anodized alu plate. Vertex has also confirmed this when they were testing it with the Angle and decided not to use coating on alu plate.
That's really interesting, I hope matrix stops doing it as well then
@@Blacksimon they did and reverted to ano only for plates, but unfortunately all their alu plates are the skeletal kind now. Hoping that the fact that more matrix boards are being sold internationally than in china these days changes that.
just buy the $800 keyboard from gb reviews yesterday 4hed
terrible screw review 2/5
april fools was weeks ago...
Xmas verson is not representative of how 2.0add sounds. Go grab some regular 2.0add version, put some cherry blacks lubed with GHv4 on alu/PP plate and then we'll talk. But lastest Matrix boards are a huge dissapointment for me.
@12:58 If there were the same number of parts, a one off would be exceedingly expensive, much more expensive than 850. What you're saying is only correct if we assume your design is not the same as what matrix is offering, with less parts.
I think your reviews would be better if you two separate ratings: (An absolute quality rating) + (A price to performance rating). I understand there are some enthusiasts who care mostly about price to performance. There are a separate set of people who care about quality above everything else. Personally I wouldn't buy a board below a certain quality rating no matter how good its price to performance was. I firstly care about something being amazing, before I look at the price.
cope
I agree with you to some degree, but price determines everything.
I'm ok spending upwards of 700 dollars for a keyboard, as long as it delivers on the price.
I know that diminishing returns are a thing, but my disappointment with this board is so damn high, I've heard from SO MANY 2.0 owners how unexpectedly bad their experience with the board was
Except you look at this board and realize it's not amazing for the price. The rating for both on the 2.0add Xmas would be low. Your very own boards eclipse this one (yes)
@@Blacksimon I wouldn't buy this keyboard either, there are other versions of the 2.0 that are objectively better; but value proposition is subjective and can change relative to competition. Your rolex isn't a good value proposition versus microbrands that you can buy for sub 1k. The price difference between those watches is much larger and the quality change relative to price outside of the movement is arguably much less than between this and a 500 dollar keyboard (S tier vs A tier stock as you had mentioned; 30+ parts etc). Why are you willing to spend 4-6k more on a watch with diminishing returns but find the thought of 300 dollars more spent on a keyboard unacceptable? I think you must understand what i'm saying about an absolute quality rating otherwise you wouldn't be willing to spend so much more on something that is a worse value proposition
I wonder what you'd think of the non xmas edition.
regular 2.0add and 2.0og is def better
Aren't the cuts on the plate supposed to be relief cuts contributing to a consistent sound and feel per key all across the board? I find no rationale for those cuts to serve as anything to produce flex, even for a softer plate.
Historically relief cuts are meant for flex. Acoustic cuts (when used properly) tend to be alongside stabilized keys, and those can be used to brighten up (make higher pitched) the sound compared to no acoustic cuts.
As for relief cuts not impacting flex, I'm not sure how to better explain, but less material connecting two points means more deformation of the material generally. Its miniscule in the grand scheme of things, but noticeable when typing. The extreme example of this would be plates with flex cuts for every key (seen on some meme china boards), where each and every key is FAR more flexy than before (there are vids showing this)
39:43 those are PCB "fiducials" which help align the PCB during fabrication and assembly. In my opinion they are good to see.
this was a 720 dollar board on gb, not 850
Some vendors had it at 850 apparently 🤷♂️. But yeah, the maker can control the sales price for the board, but in this case they didn't
Hmmm
The owner picked it up at 850 retail, I'll try to figure out where this happened 🙈
@@Blacksimon most likely was bought aftermarket, prices are higher there
It’s a keybort
It has come to my attention that this keyboard might have brass in it.
Considering this weighs 1800g built, that comes as a surprise to me.
This keyboard is still not worth anywhere close to its asking price.
doubtful. the 8xv3 standard weight says it's partial brass but having that piece coated v raw in hand, one clearly weighs more than the other.
and yes I'm the dumbass that bought two 8xv3's. I wanted all brass and NK's listing was misleading/I can't read.
@@hatefulconduct the upgraded weight had the brass inner piece in addition to the raw outer. The standard only had the coated outer piece brass, inner was coated alu. That’s the weight diff
It appears that the PH424A chips is a Low-Voltage 24-Bit I2C and SMBus I/O Expander.
Matrix has been doing a lot more meme cutting in plates the last few boards and offering PC plates.
Also last few boards have offered different mountings and some kinda neat "screwless" opening with the last board.
i'm gonna need a bussy town drive through review from now on simon
giggle
Love the videos Simon. Can't catch too many livestreams but love these long reviews 🎉
bad video no thocc
mine glides around like an air hockey puck w or w/o deskmat
🤣🤣🤣
Always love your detailed analysis. What keyboards have you designed?
The illuminati keyboards to-date have been me. I also often assist other makers when it comes to feel/sound tuning.
You've likely typed on something I've helped out with. (I can't say names :p)
Simon, the typing test was without case silicone and without plate silicone?
It was with the silicone, but it has very little effect on the sound
@@Blacksimon case silicone only, or plate silicone as well?
case silicone sheet makes the board super stiff. it feels better without it. great vid
Damn Simon! You've really been grinding monkeytype and it shows!!!!!!
i like the regular 2.0 Add over the Xmas versions in regards to sound and aesthetics
I do like the equal widths of all the bezels!
I think you are the first person to trash this keyboard sheesh
*everyone disliked that*
@@Blacksimon in ur opinion is the lin montage more classic or boring sounding haha
@@appleborbs5065neither classic nor boring, it's pretty thick sounding thanks to the big brass weight and a good bit deeper than "classic" boards.
@@9core wasit the alphas for u thqt was deeper?
@@appleborbs5065 My Montage has deep mods, somewhat deep alphas. I'm using retooled cherries on top alu plate, og dyesub. It wasn't that deep with gmk I guess, can't remember for sure. Sounds to me like a more muted, slightly deeper and less hollow version of the gmk one with h1s in lightningxi's clip. Guess there may be variance between boards, since the one with epbt he built sounds worse to my ears, might just be a bad batch of blacks.
Been waiting for this review :D
Thanks for the video Simon
Nice vid mate
Great review Simon! I cannot for the life of me understand the appeal of Matrix boards...which is probably why I don't own one.
25:36 "Hey, what do I know? I'm just a keyboard, man." Simon is confirmed NOT HUMAN.