You've put to words what I've been afraid to say for some time now. It's only a matter of time before the endgame experience under $300 becomes standard and even the highest end boards struggle to set themselves apart in terms of quality. The premium on high end customs might exclusively become scarcity-driven.
When I first joined the hobby, I used to ask around why a certain keyboard is more expensive than others. People usually mentioned factors such as case material, mounting type, weights etc, but none of those are no longer premium features as they come with most customs nowadays. When I got my Mr Suit and compared it with my entry level board, the only difference I noticed was marbly sound. So I sold it.
I think prices will trend down, and this will put some pressure on the smaller brands to offer cheaper entry level boards, but I don't think true high end boards will move much in terms of price. I'm typing this on a Frog TKL. Fantastic board and the kit comes in around $375 shipped, so about $100-$150 more than the zoom tkl depending on configuration. Most of the price difference is accounted for by extra machining to create a curved side profile and overall more refined look. Most buyers won't see this as worth $100, but its a drop in the bucket to someone invested in the collection side of the hobby or to whom aesthetics are worth the premium. Taken a step further, nothing for $200 will ever come close to matching my Andromeda in terms of quality and aesthetics. Sure, $900 is a ridiculous price tag for a keyboard, but the board is ridiculous and brings a level of quality and craftsmanship I frankly didn't realize was possible with aluminum. So yea, entry, budget, and mid level keyboards should trend down in price as the popular features become cheaper to implement when scaled up. But high end "endgame" level keyboards will continue to be spendy, and unless CNC machining becomes radically cheaper, the price will never simply be "scarcity-driven."
As a relative newcomer to the hobby, I feel like I'm coming in at a perfect time. The focus from the more established studios is all about entry keyboards for folks like me. The emphasis seems to be all about finding ways to bring high-end innovations to lower cost boards. I'm hoping that by devoting effort right now to building up the entry-level market, we'll soon see a shift again toward more exciting innovations coming in at the higher end. In the meantime, I'm stoked.
I hope they do that! Once the "normal" keyboards have all the features, and they truly need to innovate for the "higher ends." I hope that's when we can start to see more crazy ideas
Exactly, which is why I'm going to be patient.... after I get the qk75 lol. But honestly, basic looking board without the fancy chamfers and more complex machining has it's own appeal because of the minimalistic look. And any innovation in the future will most likely be aesthetic and perhaps offered as bundles with keycaps etc as more companies join the keyboard scene.
Feel better! You're totally right though - the entry level is crazy good and you get essentially all the premium features for under $200 from multiple options now. Although some premium boards are worth their price, the majority now just really don't justify the 'premium' at all.
I don't necessarily think its about "premium" in terms of feature or quality at this stage of the market, it's more about economics. So you have bigger brands with a large distribution base going into that sub 200 space. Now due to supply/demand they can produce in higher masses therefor lowering the price to the end-consumer. I think that's why we see a lot of sub 200 USD Boards nowadays which are on that level and smaller brands with smaller supply charging 400-500+ USD for their boards - which aren't necessarily better in a lot of cases, but they are more unique because harder to get. The enthusiast which is deep into this kind of hobby will always chase for those "hard to get" boards no matter the cost ;)
@@TinoBurkhalter I agree, but when the quality of these $200 USD boards is better than the low volume $400-500 boards - it makes the more expensive boards redundant. I think this is mostly a good thing, as it means there are fewer boards 'premium' boards being developed without offering some unique, novel, or interesting design elements.
@@siegekeebs totally agreed, in that terms its probably a good thing. Because the "premium boards" have to invest in offering something unique.... beeing it certain materials used, very unique design or whatever which sets them apart.
truth is the sub $200 bracket has been the hottest category this year out of everything and what you said about diminishing returns was spot on, of course the 1% that go after those boards will always shout to the moon about the sound pitch and feel being some next tier experience but hell if i spent $600-$1000 on a board myself i'd grasp at straws to justify the purchase to lol
I got into the keyboard hobby around early 2019, and watching it grow into what it is now has been quite the journey. As you mentioned so many features that were sought after back then are standard now, the biggest example I can think of is gasket mounted keyboards. I used to be terrible with the "shut up and take my money" mentality and spent a lot more than I would've like for some boards. My spending for the hobby has significantly slowed down and despite the big price tags on some of the boards I have, my modded Keychron Q1 is actually my daily driver LOL.
Hope you feel better soon Scott! Appreciate you sharing your thoughts on the state of the hobby! It’s funny even with a few $300 boards, I keep going back to my bakaneko for feel and sound. It’s all preference!
Definitely about the preference! And I think we turned a page now... it's really hard to differentiate a sub $200 to something like a $400 one. Case in point especially the QK75... I was just floored by its quality
Hi guys! Some of you might experience a bit of sluggishness with the Owlab Neon's somewhat inconsistent prelube job, to a point where it might get even sticky when bottoming out. What I did was I grabbed a clean dry brush and clean up the lube in the stem hole and around the stem pole area. I ended up cleaning like 90% of the switches with my batch. Now they're perfectly fine and enjoyable to use! Just putting this out for someone that might need this :D
Great analysis and conclusion! You're totally right. Thank you for having this video and the QK75 ready for us to compare. Hope you get better soon and thank you for all your amazing work!
It simply astounding what a year of innovation can do in the custom keyboard space. One of the first 65s I bought into GB costed me over 500 and by the time it finally reached me Q1 2022. I felt it was already obsolete. It sounded and feel just ok no matter how many times I rebuilt it. Meanwhile I got the QK65 and one build left the other board in the dust. Although I likely won’t sell the other board since I will have to give it away for someone to take it, it has made me realize that budget boards can stand toe to toe with more expensive boards 300+. Unless the board is offering something truly unique or the design language speaks to me, it harder to justify higher end boards since they’re priced higher due to scarcity. Ex: I justified getting Matrix Corsa bc of its looks, the OLED screen and its interesting mounting / catch-ball enclosure system. Who knows when something like that will disseminate to other design studios. But will see what 2023 brings
What a stud, churning out videos while sick. Take care of yourself, and please don't burn out! It's so sad when people have a passion, share their passion on social media, and then it becomes a chore. One of my favorite aspects of your channel is that I can feel your enthusiasm. I hope you keep the spark alive. It's not easily feigned.
Man, that intro felt like a thousand voices finally getting heard. I do agree that boards that soar high above the $1000 range should be exclusive to one off's or creations that challenges the creativity of keyboard designers. They can have complete freedom over what they create, while the sub $300 boards can conform to the minimalist approach to turn profit. Anything in between those prices is fair game.
This is pretty much my feeling on keyboards in general. I shop for low prices and am really happy with the Logitech pro x keyboard I bought for $80 which I put in some plate and case foam, tape modded, and put in some Gaterons milky yellows switch (mostly to save my hands from lubing). It sounds really nice. Eventually I will lube the stock switches just to try out because they did feel pretty ok non-lubed. Only thing missing is flex and a standard bottom row. I did do a group buy on the JRIS65 but that experience sucked and I have no idea what it will feel like until I receive and build it.
It's just great seeing more manufacturers come up with such great "entry-level" boards. Boards with features like these would have cost $1000 back then. Now you can easily get top-tier sound and feel on most sub-200 dollar boards. Next up that I like to see is that we have more in-stock boards vs group buy. Also, Get well soon Scott! I can see that even takes time to read most of the comments here and respond. Get your rest!
Thank you for the concern! I just need to push through for the next few weeks, and go back to my regular schedule haha. But you are right about the boards and pricing! The times are changing!
The clack monster build is amazing, always refreshing and makes the boards more enjoyable when you can switch between the typical soft foam build and a stiffer clean clack build.
relatively new to this hobby. but after doing research and exposing myself to a ton of builds, i found myself developing the same idea. i'll never understand spending more money for something that does the same thing.
I bought a hotswappable board that is on sale for around 19$ then I replaced the switches with Akko CS switches, tuned the stabs, tape modded it and put some case foam. Now it sounds good. I just wish that it has 5 pin sockets and not outemu sockets, but then I remembered it's a budget keyboard.
Still new to the hobby and I have a 20 dollar hotswappable board. I just tape modded it, put some eva foam, fine tuned the stabs and replaced the pretty meh outemu switches with Akko CS Silver and now it feel and sounds amazing. The only cons with my board is it only supports 3 small pin switches and it is not wireless.
Thank you for another great video. I actually pre-ordered the Zoom 65EE R2 and I am hoping to receive it before end of the year but I am not counting on it since who knows how long it may take. I am also going to pre-order the QK75, based on your video, when ordering window opens. These sub $200 boards all look very impressive for what they offer. Take care and hope you feel better soon.
Perfect timing for your video. I have a Ducky one 2 Horizon (full size) and an Varmilo TKL. I am considering another TKL but one that a little higher end. However, what stands out to me is the reality of diminishing returns. This Zoom TKL keyboard may very well hit the ideal sweet spot for me, considering price&quality. There's a ceiling that I don't see myself not going above, and this keyboard is under that.
I’m glad that it stands up without foam. The Zoom65 wasn’t as good as all the RUclips praise led people to believe. I’m tempted to pick this one up, even though I have some traditionally endgame keebs
First off, I'm so sorry you're under the weather, and I hope you're able to take the time to rest and recover! Second, thank you so much for speaking truth about where we are in this industry. As a mechanical watch fan, this resonated as well. The hype of higher end pieces really can distract from the amazing quality of the more accessible stuff. And if anything, the accessible pieces will push the bar higher on the luxury end, which is what they need to do to maintain their value proposition.
Thank you Marco! I appreciate the sentiment man. I think the longer you get into a hobby, you realize what you want/like and have to justify the cost/benefit more. The best I could think of as an analogy was the watches, because... many times, more expensive does not equal better! Might be rare, may be a good investment, but not necessarily better at what it was designed to do :)
I've always noticed diminishing returns past 200 dollars. Unless its a special keyboard like a Bluetooth keyboard, or low profile, then 200 dollars is enough. Especially when you have companies like Epomaker and Keychron racing to the bottom.
This intro shifted my entire perspective and led me to buy this keyboard. Literally no joke. Hoping I don’t really buy more after this HA but I’m stoked to have an actual enthusiast board instead of trying to mad crap boards to this level. Appreciate you Scott!
@@Keybored this with a knob would have been a no-brainer for me but yeah... (I would have preferred a 75 per cent though but I would like all 84 keys including the knob xD)
Feel better soon! Great video. It'll be interesting to see how the bespoke keyboard market changes now that the standard daily drivers are reaching a point where GBs are pointless.
Hi Scott, I hope you're feeling better. I know it was tough, but thank you for powering through to deliver a great review. The Zoom TKL seems to be tackling what I'd love to see out of a board, especially with having Bluetooth. By chance, did you have enough time to test the wireless connection? If so, was it stable and did you notice any lag while typing? I'm not a gamer but I am a developer, so I spend a good portion of my life in front of a keyboard, and I love having a desk clear of cables. Thanks!
It is greatly appreciated that you made us this video even when you’re sick. I think we would all understand if you needed to take some time to get better.
I don't know if I can do it, but I'm going to try waiting a year and see what further innovative creations come along. But currently offerings like the qk75 look really tempting, and you can't go wrong with it if you're just looking for a nice typing experience on a quality board.
This is an amazing video dude! Thanks for taking the time even though you were sick (get well soon!) One question though: If I decide to put the battery, can I still do foam modding and tape mods? sorry might be a silly question but I never ever built my own keyboard and would like to start with this one :)
i agree sooooooo much. i bought the 200$ ROTR knob keyboard, waited almost 2 years for the gb and when i got it... it wobbles. the main reason behind it was the cool maglev knob that you could control the force by the magnetic weights. the 200$ knob was not flat, so you could see it wobble. and the guys discord was flooded with people wanting to trade their knobs in, and he said we are not accepting returns. i have a wobbly paperweight. what a fun and useful hobby. i cant believe someone can just sell such a defective product like this. and no im not selling it. im looking forward to the zoom tlk, but idk. i like the swiss cheese kb, even if im wasting my money on a gag.
Get well soon! Thanks for awesome quality content as always! Still on the fence for this board. I'm not much of a fan for TKL. Especially when Meletrix has future plans for a 75% (I think). QK75 is also right around the corner. Might chose the latter over this. So great board tho! That red+gold PVD looks like ironman!
This thing has everything I want, being able to change up the sound, full aluminum, flexy, nice underglow, tkl. As much as I love my endgame (I spent so much on this keyboard I don't want to change it anymore) Keychron Q1. I'm feeling a bit weird Awesome video Scott King. Hope you get better soon!
Whenever I am in a streamers chat I ask as a newcomer " what makes this board $500 or 600?" and I can never get a straight answer. Price is just inflated by boards that are released in raffles or fcfs to create a hype instead of a solid product that could easily be brought down to under $300. Those boards are also far from perfect and have QC issues as well, I am glad you are speaking up when others stay quiet in order to please their vendor friends. As a watch geek I loved the reference, I have a $13 casio that i wear instead of other higher priced automatics because I enjoy it and it does the same job if not better.
:) That was the best analogy I could think of... Most people won't know that a $100K+ Tourbillon watch can't tell the time any more accurate than a $15 Casio quartz... but obviously, people don't buy tourbillons for that... I think it's similar to keyboards now. After a certain point, there are stand out keyboards and watches that you get everything you need... I feel for keyboards, that is the $200 mark. For watches, I'm not sure... lol
actually ordered the sugarplum variant this morning when i woke up, i feel the exact same way. i have stuff ranging from 60$ tray mounts, mode 65, heavy 6, private sale alice, praxis im, etc. sometimes even the cheapest boards do so much more for me than some of the boards people are trying to charge 400 or more for
get well soon Scott. we'll patiently wait for the next video even if it takes longer to make than usual, just focus on getting that well deserved rest.
Your videos are a great source inspiration for anyone getting into this keyboard building addiction! I have personally been using mechanical keyboards for a long time, but got into custom made ones recently and couldn't be happier. I have a question, in many of the seemingly good and premium 65% boards like Zoom 65, NK 65, QK 65, Tofu 65% etc., you(like other reviewers on the internet) mentioned them as being entry level/budget options, so I am assuming there are professional / advanced counterparts/competitors for those options. I have been trying to find a premium 65% board, but didn't have any luck finding much information online. I am curious, if I have high budget like $500 for the board (Case + Plate + PCB), then what are some really good premium options for 65% in your opinion? Thanks in advance! @keybored
Anti-Flex cut gang here... taping up those flex cuts might make a huge difference. Another QK75 build with just the flex cuts taped sounded so much better. I like flex as much as other folks but for me it's about removing that harsh bottom out with lighter switches and losing a lot of the sound of the board to flex cuts ...
First of all: get well soon! I hope it not bad u will recover soon (: and a bonus for me personally i like your slower style it make me enjoy the content more. idk. but thanks for the effort even tho u sick!
I wish that keyboard companies would have a non-flex cut pcb option, non-flex cut plates would be good too. To some people like me, flex cuts just do not feel great. Additionally, more and more people are noticing that flex cuts can make a board sound pretty thin, especially when built without foam.
this is the stage of keyboard hobby i am waiting for. I’ve never been interested in the expensive due to scarcity product. I’ve always look for good innovation and good fundamentals but the most important of all is the availability.
Great video! Really tempting board, but I think I'll just buy the QK75 for now, because I prefer 75% over TKL. Hope you feel better soon Scott! Get some rest man
Thank you for your hard work, and especially while being sick to have this and the QK75 ready for us to compare (for us consumer whores). Also having multiple setup sound tests s really nice. Hope ya feel better soon.
Man this and the qk75 makes me really wish I held on and didn't buy my keychron q1 during the summer ahhhh Thanks for all this content Scott, take care of yourself!
My man, it's thanks to you that I had my first ever purchase of a below $200 board! It's the JRIS65 and it's expected to be delivered in February. Glad to see the hobby becoming more approachable to those that may not have the financial capabilities for a more expensive keyboard. One question though, apart from the exclusivity, would you say the bump in quality for the price, of a Keycult or similar compared to these cheaper options, are apparent or more subtle? Love the video, hope you're doing well.
I think as you go up in the pricing, one thing I did consistently see was the finish and manufacturing quality. The milling work is typically immaculate on higher end boards, and the ano / electrophoresis is also on par. Then you also have boards that push the manufacturing boundaries with very complicated designs. If you like owning something that is closer to art than function, hey, that is perfectly fine. But those keyboards don't offer too much more in terms of sound, feel and performance. What I wanted to show was that the gap in those basic areas are starting to get smaller and smaller between the "high end" and "entry." I'm not talking about those one off "masterpieces." They are thousands for a reason and for their rarity. I'm talking about these new "higher ends" that are expensive, and you scratch your head wondering why...
I'm only at the first minute but yes. Having joined this hobby this year and seeing where it started to where it is now. 150-250 should be the gold area for now (could get cheaper in the future) for a custom keyboard and many "beginner" keyboards that people say these are great but aren't endgame...imo they are endgame for someone if it has everything they need and want and is solid. Also personal opinion...theres only so many ways people can design boards that a lot of them end up so similar that the ones charging thousands feels really weird.
Definitely. I mean, there really are boards plated in gold... and ones with some crazy unique features (solenoids and buzzers) where it makes sense that they charge more... but some are just basic and demand a lot... those days are now over
I think I felt that way when I got my QK65. To be honest something like the QK65 would be a solid starting board. It was pretty much what I though would be a 2/65. However, once I started to look at end game keyboards like matrix boards, greystudio, and even mode stuff. The "endgame" boards are more refined. One thing that threw me off from the zoom65 and the stuff after the qk65 was the "goofy" design. Nothing against it personally, but I felt like it looked somewhat "goofy" when compared to some more refined angles and engravings of other boards. If they could get some serious design behind these boards I would say the sub 200 dollar boards would be a no brainier. I have both a QK65 and a ZoomTKL. They are good boards and a huge value, but they can't compare to my other boards. They just don''t have the typing feel, and refined looks and sound range other higher end boards have. Of course its subjective, but whenever I chose to buy more keyboards these days I want things that will look nice in display and also give me something different in the typing feel and sound. I think once you start looking at things like the Vertex Arc60 you really start to blur the line between endgame and entry level boards. You can actually get different typing feels and sounds. Summary: I think these boards are a great start to a terrible addiction, because nothing that I said truly maters. Its just a square with letters at the end of they day lol.
I agree that entry level boards are getting to be very good but I do think there is a market for 'premium' boards. If you look at it like sneakers, sure you can get cheaper shoes with the same material and feel, but the limited availability and design is what marks the price up. Sometimes aesthetics is enough to justify over everything else. Not trying to argue or anything! Love your videos!
You make a good point but honestly, the aesthetics are there now too. You might see some boards like the Promise that comes with that wedding ring design which is cool but it’s marked up crazy for just that one little aspect. In that example, the uniqueness of it drives the price but on the whole, these prices of the boards are scarcity driven, and it’s diminishing returns on quality cars prices as the prices rise on keyboards nowadays. If you’re into collecting them, I completely get it. That’s how it is in the sneaker world. But if you just want good boards, there’s little reason to go for the “premium” boards unless you find something very unique to that board that you just really really want.
@@justjami9619 totally agree with you! Whenever friends see or hear my boards and ask for recommendations, the list I give them are all these new budget boards that are coming out because they are so damn good. I always contemplate picking each one up because of how good a deal they are and how they are worth it.
2:39 It might not be steel, but alu weight and It's only 0.350kg / 0.77lbs. Alexotos proved that the weight is unnecessary and sounds much better without it. 2:23 That price is without shipping cost, it becomes $240 USD after shipping from a local vendor that sells meletrix keebs (OCE). If you decide to add the CF plate, then it becomes a total of $272 USD... You still need to buy switches, stabs and keycaps. It's going to cost you more than $350 USD by the time you get to type on the keyboard. A budget mechanical keyboard would be something like Keychron Q1 v2 for $152 USD or $170 USD for fully assembled (keycaps+switches).
The point in the intro i got when i got my QK65, its my endgame board but im waiting for tkl version which will probably be my endgame if they will go all out
Can’t wait to get this board. I’m going to change out the poron pcb foam for traditional pe foam as I feel that way I can better achieve my desired sound. That plus a little tape modding and I think this board will be perfect for me :)
actualy sounds pretty good without the foams tbh, a little bit on the thinner side (probably due to the flex cuts) but for a keyboard at this price, it is better than most "endgame" boards of last year now! (I still wish they made less flex cuts, so it could sound fuller)
I'm still debating on the necessity of flex PCBs and plates -- if the goal is ultimately to allow for switches to travel further when pressed... there's never going to be a board that offers uniform flex for every key to the extent that you could get having the same amount of movement in the key itself. Why not just make switches that offer more travel than the stock 4mm, potentially with an additional tactile event where the "bottom out" would have been and an increased spring rate near the end of the travel?
If you're a touch typist and type 80+ wpm, you will not like longer travel. 4mm is just too much for me and my fingers catch the edge of adjacent keys on the up stroke as I'm trying to go up and over. With a shallower key, I can type a lot faster and with less errors. 3mm is ideal in my experience. 4mm is just tiring to work with 8 hours a day.
I come from the world of fine wine and that "inflection point" you referenced is indeed something that happens in that realm, as well - especially with Napa wines. As Napa valley cult wine prices continue to skyrocket due to scarcity/exclusivity that doesn't necessarily mean the quality follows suit. Indeed, more and more wine producers for the "masses" are making better and better wines, thus negating the need to spend exorbitantly for a bottle of "quality" wine. As you mention, the same is true for mechanical keyboards.
So true here as well... I sometimes grab a bottle that's like $40 and sometimes think... this seems nicer than something that was $100+... I always thought it's because I don't know what I'm doing with wine lol
How would you compare it to the tiger80? I think the zoom definitely has more features at a lower price like BT, plate options, and more foam included, but how about typing feel? Both have similar flex cuts with a 1.2mm pcb, but the gasket implementation is different. To me, the gaskets on the zoom look similar to the long gaskets on the QK65 which made it feel very stiff compared to the shorter gaskets on the QK.
Bro, you just killed me with the comparison of collecting watches. I didnt understand why people spend so much on them and now I feel like a clown T-T You are right. Its hard to accept but it's true. Good video and kudos for the hot take!
Thanks for watching! I just figured it's very relatable... you can collect watches, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But you don't do it to get a "better watch." It doesn't tell time any better... but it does have more rare materials, tighter tolerances, etc. and for some that is worth it, for some, it's not. I think keyboards are going down that direction as well
Great video! And I agree, there is always a diminishing return with all things as the price increases, and with entry level keyboard kits, $200 is a pretty accurate stop. For endgame stuff though, I think the limit would be somewhere $500-600 for the kit.
Seriously MK is kind of consumable and a hobby. Like model kits, I cannot hardly think of good resale value. I always need a reason to justify my purchase.
Noticed you sounded a bit... off when I started watching the video. Get well soon! Otherwise, I loved the video. The review was pretty nice but I also enjoyed the "rant". Also getting rather close to 100k, can't wait!
would you mind to recommend me the best stock linear swtch? give you top 3 please. i prefer spring weight 62gr to 65gr and minimum wooble. would like to use for my monokei x tomo
You've put to words what I've been afraid to say for some time now. It's only a matter of time before the endgame experience under $300 becomes standard and even the highest end boards struggle to set themselves apart in terms of quality. The premium on high end customs might exclusively become scarcity-driven.
Yup this right here. Or it'll be based on some random finishing options
When I first joined the hobby, I used to ask around why a certain keyboard is more expensive than others. People usually mentioned factors such as case material, mounting type, weights etc, but none of those are no longer premium features as they come with most customs nowadays. When I got my Mr Suit and compared it with my entry level board, the only difference I noticed was marbly sound. So I sold it.
I think prices will trend down, and this will put some pressure on the smaller brands to offer cheaper entry level boards, but I don't think true high end boards will move much in terms of price. I'm typing this on a Frog TKL. Fantastic board and the kit comes in around $375 shipped, so about $100-$150 more than the zoom tkl depending on configuration. Most of the price difference is accounted for by extra machining to create a curved side profile and overall more refined look. Most buyers won't see this as worth $100, but its a drop in the bucket to someone invested in the collection side of the hobby or to whom aesthetics are worth the premium. Taken a step further, nothing for $200 will ever come close to matching my Andromeda in terms of quality and aesthetics. Sure, $900 is a ridiculous price tag for a keyboard, but the board is ridiculous and brings a level of quality and craftsmanship I frankly didn't realize was possible with aluminum. So yea, entry, budget, and mid level keyboards should trend down in price as the popular features become cheaper to implement when scaled up. But high end "endgame" level keyboards will continue to be spendy, and unless CNC machining becomes radically cheaper, the price will never simply be "scarcity-driven."
they are allready doing this, never see any of thise models they recomend on amazon
@J M I believe you because that's how the world works these days. Gain massive profit for something small.
As a relative newcomer to the hobby, I feel like I'm coming in at a perfect time. The focus from the more established studios is all about entry keyboards for folks like me. The emphasis seems to be all about finding ways to bring high-end innovations to lower cost boards. I'm hoping that by devoting effort right now to building up the entry-level market, we'll soon see a shift again toward more exciting innovations coming in at the higher end. In the meantime, I'm stoked.
I hope they do that! Once the "normal" keyboards have all the features, and they truly need to innovate for the "higher ends." I hope that's when we can start to see more crazy ideas
Exactly, which is why I'm going to be patient.... after I get the qk75 lol. But honestly, basic looking board without the fancy chamfers and more complex machining has it's own appeal because of the minimalistic look. And any innovation in the future will most likely be aesthetic and perhaps offered as bundles with keycaps etc as more companies join the keyboard scene.
Feel better! You're totally right though - the entry level is crazy good and you get essentially all the premium features for under $200 from multiple options now. Although some premium boards are worth their price, the majority now just really don't justify the 'premium' at all.
Sometimes it's very confusing to me when I receive a $400 board, and I'm like... why is this $400
@@Keybored like the sense75 😪
I don't necessarily think its about "premium" in terms of feature or quality at this stage of the market, it's more about economics.
So you have bigger brands with a large distribution base going into that sub 200 space. Now due to supply/demand they can produce in higher masses therefor lowering the price to the end-consumer.
I think that's why we see a lot of sub 200 USD Boards nowadays which are on that level and smaller brands with smaller supply charging 400-500+ USD for their boards - which aren't necessarily better in a lot of cases, but they are more unique because harder to get.
The enthusiast which is deep into this kind of hobby will always chase for those "hard to get" boards no matter the cost ;)
@@TinoBurkhalter I agree, but when the quality of these $200 USD boards is better than the low volume $400-500 boards - it makes the more expensive boards redundant. I think this is mostly a good thing, as it means there are fewer boards 'premium' boards being developed without offering some unique, novel, or interesting design elements.
@@siegekeebs totally agreed, in that terms its probably a good thing. Because the "premium boards" have to invest in offering something unique.... beeing it certain materials used, very unique design or whatever which sets them apart.
truth is the sub $200 bracket has been the hottest category this year out of everything and what you said about diminishing returns was spot on, of course the 1% that go after those boards will always shout to the moon about the sound pitch and feel being some next tier experience but hell if i spent $600-$1000 on a board myself i'd grasp at straws to justify the purchase to lol
I got into the keyboard hobby around early 2019, and watching it grow into what it is now has been quite the journey. As you mentioned so many features that were sought after back then are standard now, the biggest example I can think of is gasket mounted keyboards. I used to be terrible with the "shut up and take my money" mentality and spent a lot more than I would've like for some boards. My spending for the hobby has significantly slowed down and despite the big price tags on some of the boards I have, my modded Keychron Q1 is actually my daily driver LOL.
Hope you feel better soon Scott! Appreciate you sharing your thoughts on the state of the hobby! It’s funny even with a few $300 boards, I keep going back to my bakaneko for feel and sound. It’s all preference!
Definitely about the preference! And I think we turned a page now... it's really hard to differentiate a sub $200 to something like a $400 one. Case in point especially the QK75... I was just floored by its quality
Hi guys! Some of you might experience a bit of sluggishness with the Owlab Neon's somewhat inconsistent prelube job, to a point where it might get even sticky when bottoming out. What I did was I grabbed a clean dry brush and clean up the lube in the stem hole and around the stem pole area. I ended up cleaning like 90% of the switches with my batch. Now they're perfectly fine and enjoyable to use! Just putting this out for someone that might need this :D
Thanks for the suggestion! I ended up relubing the whole batch. They are def on the higher pitched side tho, but some like that so a good option
Great analysis and conclusion! You're totally right. Thank you for having this video and the QK75 ready for us to compare. Hope you get better soon and thank you for all your amazing work!
Both are so great, that it made me think this way... especially that QK... it's like wow... how?
@@Keybored amazing value indeed! 😱
sheeesh keybored you sick and tired, get well soon man
Truth be told.
I am indeed both haha. I got laryngitis and lost my voice
@@Keybored feel better bb
@@Keybored Take a break my man. You’ve been pumping out content like mad lately. Get better and then come back stronger.
This man sick and tired of over spending
It simply astounding what a year of innovation can do in the custom keyboard space. One of the first 65s I bought into GB costed me over 500 and by the time it finally reached me Q1 2022. I felt it was already obsolete. It sounded and feel just ok no matter how many times I rebuilt it. Meanwhile I got the QK65 and one build left the other board in the dust. Although I likely won’t sell the other board since I will have to give it away for someone to take it, it has made me realize that budget boards can stand toe to toe with more expensive boards 300+. Unless the board is offering something truly unique or the design language speaks to me, it harder to justify higher end boards since they’re priced higher due to scarcity.
Ex: I justified getting Matrix Corsa bc of its looks, the OLED screen and its interesting mounting / catch-ball enclosure system. Who knows when something like that will disseminate to other design studios. But will see what 2023 brings
What a stud, churning out videos while sick. Take care of yourself, and please don't burn out! It's so sad when people have a passion, share their passion on social media, and then it becomes a chore. One of my favorite aspects of your channel is that I can feel your enthusiasm. I hope you keep the spark alive. It's not easily feigned.
Man, that intro felt like a thousand voices finally getting heard. I do agree that boards that soar high above the $1000 range should be exclusive to one off's or creations that challenges the creativity of keyboard designers. They can have complete freedom over what they create, while the sub $300 boards can conform to the minimalist approach to turn profit. Anything in between those prices is fair game.
This is pretty much my feeling on keyboards in general. I shop for low prices and am really happy with the Logitech pro x keyboard I bought for $80 which I put in some plate and case foam, tape modded, and put in some Gaterons milky yellows switch (mostly to save my hands from lubing). It sounds really nice. Eventually I will lube the stock switches just to try out because they did feel pretty ok non-lubed. Only thing missing is flex and a standard bottom row. I did do a group buy on the JRIS65 but that experience sucked and I have no idea what it will feel like until I receive and build it.
The Jris65 is a good board, and I hope that once you receive it, you'll enjoy it! It might change your mind :)
It is pretty hard to choose between QK75 and Zoom TKL, I really like both 😅 ! Thanks for the video and hope you will get better soon ;) !
It's just great seeing more manufacturers come up with such great "entry-level" boards. Boards with features like these would have cost $1000 back then. Now you can easily get top-tier sound and feel on most sub-200 dollar boards. Next up that I like to see is that we have more in-stock boards vs group buy.
Also, Get well soon Scott! I can see that even takes time to read most of the comments here and respond. Get your rest!
Thank you for the concern! I just need to push through for the next few weeks, and go back to my regular schedule haha. But you are right about the boards and pricing! The times are changing!
The clack monster build is amazing, always refreshing and makes the boards more enjoyable when you can switch between the typical soft foam build and a stiffer clean clack build.
The Qk and Zoom are killing it
Get well soon Scott rest up. Perfect content thnx!
relatively new to this hobby. but after doing research and exposing myself to a ton of builds, i found myself developing the same idea. i'll never understand spending more money for something that does the same thing.
I bought a hotswappable board that is on sale for around 19$ then I replaced the switches with Akko CS switches, tuned the stabs, tape modded it and put some case foam. Now it sounds good. I just wish that it has 5 pin sockets and not outemu sockets, but then I remembered it's a budget keyboard.
Still new to the hobby and I have a 20 dollar hotswappable board. I just tape modded it, put some eva foam, fine tuned the stabs and replaced the pretty meh outemu switches with Akko CS Silver and now it feel and sounds amazing.
The only cons with my board is it only supports 3 small pin switches and it is not wireless.
Thank you for another great video. I actually pre-ordered the Zoom 65EE R2 and I am hoping to receive it before end of the year but I am not counting on it since who knows how long it may take. I am also going to pre-order the QK75, based on your video, when ordering window opens. These sub $200 boards all look very impressive for what they offer. Take care and hope you feel better soon.
The QK75 is truly an impressive one... the features, the quality and design at the price point is just amazing
Perfect timing for your video. I have a Ducky one 2 Horizon (full size) and an Varmilo TKL. I am considering another TKL but one that a little higher end. However, what stands out to me is the reality of diminishing returns. This Zoom TKL keyboard may very well hit the ideal sweet spot for me, considering price&quality. There's a ceiling that I don't see myself not going above, and this keyboard is under that.
I appreciate you being real with us. I hope your doing well Scott.
Cheers
Anytime!
I’m glad that it stands up without foam. The Zoom65 wasn’t as good as all the RUclips praise led people to believe.
I’m tempted to pick this one up, even though I have some traditionally endgame keebs
First off, I'm so sorry you're under the weather, and I hope you're able to take the time to rest and recover!
Second, thank you so much for speaking truth about where we are in this industry. As a mechanical watch fan, this resonated as well. The hype of higher end pieces really can distract from the amazing quality of the more accessible stuff. And if anything, the accessible pieces will push the bar higher on the luxury end, which is what they need to do to maintain their value proposition.
Did he mention this? I was wondering why did he sound so under the weather🙏
@@clarencelsz Yes, somewhere briefly towards the end of the video.
Thank you Marco! I appreciate the sentiment man. I think the longer you get into a hobby, you realize what you want/like and have to justify the cost/benefit more. The best I could think of as an analogy was the watches, because... many times, more expensive does not equal better! Might be rare, may be a good investment, but not necessarily better at what it was designed to do :)
I've always noticed diminishing returns past 200 dollars. Unless its a special keyboard like a Bluetooth keyboard, or low profile, then 200 dollars is enough. Especially when you have companies like Epomaker and Keychron racing to the bottom.
Even the higher end stuff is starting to come down to $200... QK series boards are a prime example
This intro shifted my entire perspective and led me to buy this keyboard. Literally no joke. Hoping I don’t really buy more after this HA but I’m stoked to have an actual enthusiast board instead of trying to mad crap boards to this level. Appreciate you Scott!
Hey Keybored! Hope you get well soon! Just a question, is there a knob option for this keyboard?
Unfortunately there is not
@@zyklin6874 ah, that's a bummer
Unfortunately, no knobs for the Zoom TKL. I wonder if QK will launch one with their TKL
@@Keybored this with a knob would have been a no-brainer for me but yeah... (I would have preferred a 75 per cent though but I would like all 84 keys including the knob xD)
Can we take a moment to appreciate that he is sick and still gets an awesome review out. Thank you so much for the always amazing content.
Feel better soon! Great video. It'll be interesting to see how the bespoke keyboard market changes now that the standard daily drivers are reaching a point where GBs are pointless.
Hi Scott, I hope you're feeling better. I know it was tough, but thank you for powering through to deliver a great review. The Zoom TKL seems to be tackling what I'd love to see out of a board, especially with having Bluetooth. By chance, did you have enough time to test the wireless connection? If so, was it stable and did you notice any lag while typing? I'm not a gamer but I am a developer, so I spend a good portion of my life in front of a keyboard, and I love having a desk clear of cables. Thanks!
It is greatly appreciated that you made us this video even when you’re sick. I think we would all understand if you needed to take some time to get better.
Thank you for the concern! I'll try hustling a bit more, so close to hitting 100K! But you're right... I need some rest lol
I don't know if I can do it, but I'm going to try waiting a year and see what further innovative creations come along.
But currently offerings like the qk75 look really tempting, and you can't go wrong with it if you're just looking for a nice typing experience on a quality board.
Anyone noticed custom kits has been trying to lower their prices ($200
I hope you feel good soon, I love your reviews, and I'm 100% getting this board!
A nice clacky build! What switches did you use for the modifiers on the clack build???
This is an amazing video dude! Thanks for taking the time even though you were sick (get well soon!) One question though: If I decide to put the battery, can I still do foam modding and tape mods? sorry might be a silly question but I never ever built my own keyboard and would like to start with this one :)
i agree sooooooo much. i bought the 200$ ROTR knob keyboard, waited almost 2 years for the gb and when i got it... it wobbles. the main reason behind it was the cool maglev knob that you could control the force by the magnetic weights. the 200$ knob was not flat, so you could see it wobble. and the guys discord was flooded with people wanting to trade their knobs in, and he said we are not accepting returns. i have a wobbly paperweight. what a fun and useful hobby. i cant believe someone can just sell such a defective product like this. and no im not selling it. im looking forward to the zoom tlk, but idk. i like the swiss cheese kb, even if im wasting my money on a gag.
I am blown away how nice the case sounds without any of the foam.
7:50 is funny because the zoom75 will have an LED screen option as well LOL. And it will likely be budget.
Hey Scott, can you do a zoom TKL vs tiger 80 Lite comparison?
Get well soon! Thanks for awesome quality content as always!
Still on the fence for this board. I'm not much of a fan for TKL. Especially when Meletrix has future plans for a 75% (I think). QK75 is also right around the corner. Might chose the latter over this. So great board tho! That red+gold PVD looks like ironman!
This thing has everything I want, being able to change up the sound, full aluminum, flexy, nice underglow, tkl.
As much as I love my endgame (I spent so much on this keyboard I don't want to change it anymore) Keychron Q1. I'm feeling a bit weird
Awesome video Scott King. Hope you get better soon!
Very kind of you to have the people's best interest in mind. I also hope you feel better! 💯
Thank you so much for the concern! I just wanted to let people know that times are changing :)
Whenever I am in a streamers chat I ask as a newcomer " what makes this board $500 or 600?" and I can never get a straight answer. Price is just inflated by boards that are released in raffles or fcfs to create a hype instead of a solid product that could easily be brought down to under $300. Those boards are also far from perfect and have QC issues as well, I am glad you are speaking up when others stay quiet in order to please their vendor friends. As a watch geek I loved the reference, I have a $13 casio that i wear instead of other higher priced automatics because I enjoy it and it does the same job if not better.
:) That was the best analogy I could think of... Most people won't know that a $100K+ Tourbillon watch can't tell the time any more accurate than a $15 Casio quartz... but obviously, people don't buy tourbillons for that... I think it's similar to keyboards now. After a certain point, there are stand out keyboards and watches that you get everything you need... I feel for keyboards, that is the $200 mark. For watches, I'm not sure... lol
actually ordered the sugarplum variant this morning when i woke up, i feel the exact same way. i have stuff ranging from 60$ tray mounts, mode 65, heavy 6, private sale alice, praxis im, etc. sometimes even the cheapest boards do so much more for me than some of the boards people are trying to charge 400 or more for
get well soon Scott. we'll patiently wait for the next video even if it takes longer to make than usual, just focus on getting that well deserved rest.
Yo! which would you prefer for the similar price point, zoom tkl or any of the qk series?
Do you recommend this or the tiger 80/lite??
Your videos are a great source inspiration for anyone getting into this keyboard building addiction! I have personally been using mechanical keyboards for a long time, but got into custom made ones recently and couldn't be happier. I have a question, in many of the seemingly good and premium 65% boards like Zoom 65, NK 65, QK 65, Tofu 65% etc., you(like other reviewers on the internet) mentioned them as being entry level/budget options, so I am assuming there are professional / advanced counterparts/competitors for those options. I have been trying to find a premium 65% board, but didn't have any luck finding much information online. I am curious, if I have high budget like $500 for the board (Case + Plate + PCB), then what are some really good premium options for 65% in your opinion? Thanks in advance! @keybored
Anti-Flex cut gang here... taping up those flex cuts might make a huge difference. Another QK75 build with just the flex cuts taped sounded so much better. I like flex as much as other folks but for me it's about removing that harsh bottom out with lighter switches and losing a lot of the sound of the board to flex cuts ...
Someone actually recommended that I use the special tape I used before to try it... I shall
First of all: get well soon! I hope it not bad u will recover soon (: and a bonus for me personally i like your slower style it make me enjoy the content more. idk. but thanks for the effort even tho u sick!
I wish that keyboard companies would have a non-flex cut pcb option, non-flex cut plates would be good too. To some people like me, flex cuts just do not feel great. Additionally, more and more people are noticing that flex cuts can make a board sound pretty thin, especially when built without foam.
Thanks for this and the QK75 vid. Get lots of rest Scott!
Get well soon! Don't push too hard. I'm sure you will get 100k subscribers soon.
I hope so! Almost there!
this is the stage of keyboard hobby i am waiting for. I’ve never been interested in the expensive due to scarcity product. I’ve always look for good innovation and good fundamentals but the most important of all is the availability.
Great video! Really tempting board, but I think I'll just buy the QK75 for now, because I prefer 75% over TKL. Hope you feel better soon Scott! Get some rest man
Thank you! I agree, my heart goes slightly more towards the QK75 also
Thank you for your hard work, and especially while being sick to have this and the QK75 ready for us to compare (for us consumer whores). Also having multiple setup sound tests s really nice. Hope ya feel better soon.
Thank you so much! I hope it helps to show what these sub $200 boards can do now!
Strongly resonate with what you said! Thanks for the great content as always.
Absolutely!
Man this and the qk75 makes me really wish I held on and didn't buy my keychron q1 during the summer ahhhh
Thanks for all this content Scott, take care of yourself!
The QK75 was especially impressive to me
I got a q1 v2 and its great but it took a lot of work/mods. I'm happy to sell it for cheap and buy the QK75 as an upgrade and probably endgame.. g
@@xSabinx1 yea I also have a v2 in white, might do the same thing
Wow the "clack" build sounds so good!!! thanks for the review and hope you feel better soon
Thank you so much! I hope so too!
My man, it's thanks to you that I had my first ever purchase of a below $200 board! It's the JRIS65 and it's expected to be delivered in February. Glad to see the hobby becoming more approachable to those that may not have the financial capabilities for a more expensive keyboard.
One question though, apart from the exclusivity, would you say the bump in quality for the price, of a Keycult or similar compared to these cheaper options, are apparent or more subtle?
Love the video, hope you're doing well.
I think as you go up in the pricing, one thing I did consistently see was the finish and manufacturing quality. The milling work is typically immaculate on higher end boards, and the ano / electrophoresis is also on par. Then you also have boards that push the manufacturing boundaries with very complicated designs. If you like owning something that is closer to art than function, hey, that is perfectly fine. But those keyboards don't offer too much more in terms of sound, feel and performance. What I wanted to show was that the gap in those basic areas are starting to get smaller and smaller between the "high end" and "entry." I'm not talking about those one off "masterpieces." They are thousands for a reason and for their rarity. I'm talking about these new "higher ends" that are expensive, and you scratch your head wondering why...
Love the take Scott. Great video as usual. Hope you feel better my friend!
Thanks my man! Yeah... been pushing too hard haha... need some rest
I'm only at the first minute but yes. Having joined this hobby this year and seeing where it started to where it is now. 150-250 should be the gold area for now (could get cheaper in the future) for a custom keyboard and many "beginner" keyboards that people say these are great but aren't endgame...imo they are endgame for someone if it has everything they need and want and is solid.
Also personal opinion...theres only so many ways people can design boards that a lot of them end up so similar that the ones charging thousands feels really weird.
Definitely. I mean, there really are boards plated in gold... and ones with some crazy unique features (solenoids and buzzers) where it makes sense that they charge more... but some are just basic and demand a lot... those days are now over
I think I felt that way when I got my QK65. To be honest something like the QK65 would be a solid starting board. It was pretty much what I though would be a 2/65. However, once I started to look at end game keyboards like matrix boards, greystudio, and even mode stuff. The "endgame" boards are more refined. One thing that threw me off from the zoom65 and the stuff after the qk65 was the "goofy" design. Nothing against it personally, but I felt like it looked somewhat "goofy" when compared to some more refined angles and engravings of other boards. If they could get some serious design behind these boards I would say the sub 200 dollar boards would be a no brainier. I have both a QK65 and a ZoomTKL. They are good boards and a huge value, but they can't compare to my other boards. They just don''t have the typing feel, and refined looks and sound range other higher end boards have. Of course its subjective, but whenever I chose to buy more keyboards these days I want things that will look nice in display and also give me something different in the typing feel and sound. I think once you start looking at things like the Vertex Arc60 you really start to blur the line between endgame and entry level boards. You can actually get different typing feels and sounds. Summary: I think these boards are a great start to a terrible addiction, because nothing that I said truly maters. Its just a square with letters at the end of they day lol.
What are the biggest differences between these lower priced, entry level kits? Comparing the Zoom TKL vs the Freebird TKL, specifically here.
The keycap market is wild. I just started buying some and spent as much in keycaps and artisans as I did in multiple keyboards
Thanks for your dedication to review this, get well soon scott :)
I'm more interested in your wrist rest.. Good review btw. Just brought one using your link!
I agree that entry level boards are getting to be very good but I do think there is a market for 'premium' boards. If you look at it like sneakers, sure you can get cheaper shoes with the same material and feel, but the limited availability and design is what marks the price up. Sometimes aesthetics is enough to justify over everything else.
Not trying to argue or anything! Love your videos!
You make a good point but honestly, the aesthetics are there now too. You might see some boards like the Promise that comes with that wedding ring design which is cool but it’s marked up crazy for just that one little aspect. In that example, the uniqueness of it drives the price but on the whole, these prices of the boards are scarcity driven, and it’s diminishing returns on quality cars prices as the prices rise on keyboards nowadays. If you’re into collecting them, I completely get it. That’s how it is in the sneaker world. But if you just want good boards, there’s little reason to go for the “premium” boards unless you find something very unique to that board that you just really really want.
@@justjami9619 totally agree with you! Whenever friends see or hear my boards and ask for recommendations, the list I give them are all these new budget boards that are coming out because they are so damn good. I always contemplate picking each one up because of how good a deal they are and how they are worth it.
Those keycaps were just perfect for the board
Hey keybored, between this keyboard and the tiger 80, which one would you recommend?
Can you please make a video of your entire keyboard collection lol. Maybe price points, your favorites, etc
Which has more flex and a softer typing feel and what keyboard would you recommend coming from a tofu?
2:39 It might not be steel, but alu weight and It's only 0.350kg / 0.77lbs. Alexotos proved that the weight is unnecessary and sounds much better without it.
2:23 That price is without shipping cost, it becomes $240 USD after shipping from a local vendor that sells meletrix keebs (OCE). If you decide to add the CF plate, then it becomes a total of $272 USD... You still need to buy switches, stabs and keycaps. It's going to cost you more than $350 USD by the time you get to type on the keyboard.
A budget mechanical keyboard would be something like Keychron Q1 v2 for $152 USD or $170 USD for fully assembled (keycaps+switches).
The point in the intro i got when i got my QK65, its my endgame board but im waiting for tkl version which will probably be my endgame if they will go all out
The QK TKL will go so hard when it finally comes out...
@@KDZen i hope so, the ytold it will come out in spring so im not buying any kits till that point
QK TKL in Q1! If they make any more advancements from the QK75... high end boards in trouble
Can’t wait to get this board. I’m going to change out the poron pcb foam for traditional pe foam as I feel that way I can better achieve my desired sound. That plus a little tape modding and I think this board will be perfect for me :)
actualy sounds pretty good without the foams tbh, a little bit on the thinner side (probably due to the flex cuts) but for a keyboard at this price, it is better than most "endgame" boards of last year now! (I still wish they made less flex cuts, so it could sound fuller)
On point!
Get well soon Scott!
Thank you so much! I hope so too!
Watching this after just building my Space65 R3 lmao, living the dream.
Hey, if that makes you happy, you do you man! No right or wrong here in this hobby honestly
I 100% agree. These companies like QK and Mellatrix just need to work on stock and availability.
Yeah, that is one area that they can improve lol
I'm still debating on the necessity of flex PCBs and plates -- if the goal is ultimately to allow for switches to travel further when pressed... there's never going to be a board that offers uniform flex for every key to the extent that you could get having the same amount of movement in the key itself.
Why not just make switches that offer more travel than the stock 4mm, potentially with an additional tactile event where the "bottom out" would have been and an increased spring rate near the end of the travel?
If you're a touch typist and type 80+ wpm, you will not like longer travel. 4mm is just too much for me and my fingers catch the edge of adjacent keys on the up stroke as I'm trying to go up and over. With a shallower key, I can type a lot faster and with less errors. 3mm is ideal in my experience. 4mm is just tiring to work with 8 hours a day.
My big gripe with "premium boards" is that they often lack the things you get on cheaper boards like wireless.
Such a refreshing take. No need to go broke for a hobby
:) nope! Going broke is no fun
I come from the world of fine wine and that "inflection point" you referenced is indeed something that happens in that realm, as well - especially with Napa wines. As Napa valley cult wine prices continue to skyrocket due to scarcity/exclusivity that doesn't necessarily mean the quality follows suit. Indeed, more and more wine producers for the "masses" are making better and better wines, thus negating the need to spend exorbitantly for a bottle of "quality" wine. As you mention, the same is true for mechanical keyboards.
So true here as well... I sometimes grab a bottle that's like $40 and sometimes think... this seems nicer than something that was $100+... I always thought it's because I don't know what I'm doing with wine lol
wanna see your opinion on the zoo65 very unique looking board and a VERY close competior to the qk65 and jris
Hi Scott, are you going to review Graystudio Aero75?
Unfortunately no :( I reached out to graystudio for collabs before but I don't think they're willing
I see :( it’s a shame, their loss I guess. Anyway, great content man! been loving these frequent uploads
i was planning on getting the zoom tkl in cool gray for a build, but then it soldout, will it go back on sale ever?
How would you compare this to the tiger80? I'm stuck between the two
Narration is getting a lot better!
"Don't sped more than 200$" proceeds to put in 350$+
Loved the video but I feel baited!
looking for an actual sub 200 that sounds quiet and creamy
you do not include keycaps and switches lol. the board itself is under 200.
does this board not come with keycaps? i ordered one for the holiday season and im wondering if ill have to purchase caps and switches separately
How would you compare it to the tiger80? I think the zoom definitely has more features at a lower price like BT, plate options, and more foam included, but how about typing feel? Both have similar flex cuts with a 1.2mm pcb, but the gasket implementation is different. To me, the gaskets on the zoom look similar to the long gaskets on the QK65 which made it feel very stiff compared to the shorter gaskets on the QK.
The Tiger 80 has better feel than the Zoom TKL. The Zoom TKL is a better "total package" overall.
@@Keybored That's all I need to hear to justify not selling my purple tiger80 for the purple zoom lmao
Bro, you just killed me with the comparison of collecting watches. I didnt understand why people spend so much on them and now I feel like a clown T-T You are right. Its hard to accept but it's true. Good video and kudos for the hot take!
Thanks for watching! I just figured it's very relatable... you can collect watches, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But you don't do it to get a "better watch." It doesn't tell time any better... but it does have more rare materials, tighter tolerances, etc. and for some that is worth it, for some, it's not. I think keyboards are going down that direction as well
Great video! And I agree, there is always a diminishing return with all things as the price increases, and with entry level keyboard kits, $200 is a pretty accurate stop. For endgame stuff though, I think the limit would be somewhere $500-600 for the kit.
I think the big challenge with the "end-game" stuff is that it's so rare that people grab it and then blow up the pricing...
Bruh did not just call that a new mounting style 😭😭😭 bro they took that off the promise87
Oh really? I didn't see the promise haha. They look like veggie straw chips
Seriously MK is kind of consumable and a hobby. Like model kits, I cannot hardly think of good resale value. I always need a reason to justify my purchase.
i had trouble putting on the spacebar with the godspeed GMK
Noticed you sounded a bit... off when I started watching the video. Get well soon!
Otherwise, I loved the video. The review was pretty nice but I also enjoyed the "rant".
Also getting rather close to 100k, can't wait!
would you mind to recommend me the best stock linear swtch? give you top 3 please. i prefer spring weight 62gr to 65gr and minimum wooble. would like to use for my monokei x tomo