Build thoughts HERE: Build 2 Think 6.5 V2 Deep Ocean POM Plate from Green Door Geeks Queen Linears from Moyu Studio Lubed and Filmed by Zion Studios PH KEEP This is another one from Graystudio. One of the things that I have been able to establish after a year in the hobby is that I really like the design of graystudio. I will likely be joining most of their group buys. Yes, another 65 percent. I have tried a lot of layouts before and I have discovered that I really don’t like TKLs since they are too wide and the aspect ratio feels a bit too chonky for me. 65% to me is the best mix of functionality and size. The RGB is not as good as the one on Space but I really like the implementation of the badge and I actually ended up buying a bit more than I needed (I already said we are not going down the artisan rabbit hole). I paired this one with DSA Vilebloom by pure coincidence and it sounded and looked great so I kept it. DSA Vilebloom is a banger of a set though it will need some getting used to. It feels a bit too rough to the touch as well. The plate here is a custom POM plate from Green Door Geeks. The switches here are my favorite linears currently. The Queen Linears from Moyu Studios have a three stage spring and it feels like magic when typing on it. This one made me curious about switch springs. They have these three stage springs and they feel really nice to type on. Overall I really like how this board sounded though there is a bit of rattle on the spacebar that I can’t remove :( . This build ended up being a bit stiff and loud but sometimes you just want to hear every keystroke you make and this is what I use when I’m in that mood.
Build 3 Savage 65 Alu Top, PC Bottom Infinikey Amalfi (DON’T BUY) Lavenders Lubed and Filmed POM Plate form PMX.GG LET GO I actually own both the polycarbonate and the aluminum version of the Savage65 and being the weird person that I am, I combined the alu top and the pc bottom so I could have underglow. It’s not the best looking but I found it quite unique! I think this board is fine but I found the design to be a bit too simple and that is the reason why I am letting it go. I like designs that are a bit more unique and adventurous. This one feels a bit simple for a board with a name such as Savage. Probably better to name it, ahhmmmm Safe65? hihi It's also the reason why I didn’t join the Mode65 GB. This one was built with a POM plate, lavenders and infinikey amalfi, which is a bad keyset in terms of alignment. The sound test is not that good. Sounded a bit lifeless and too muted. I would rebuild it if I had the time but I am planning to sell it so I decided not to.
Build 4 Abasic Keyboard Pearl NK Silk Blacks FR4 Plate EPBT Gray Japanese KEEP Next among the boards that I plan to keep is the Abasic keyboard from mechkey.store. I have reviewed this keyboard in the channel so you can check that out for a more detailed take. This is an alice style keyboard which I prefer a little over 65 percent since I find the layout more comfortable to type on. On top of that, I really like how the RGB looks especially with the acrylic wrist rest. This is probably the best RGB I have seen on a board. A lot of people on the hobby despise RGB but I honestly don’t get it. I mean, come on, this one sparks joy :) In terms of pricing, this board is around mid range, 200-300 depending on the kit that you get. I also own the KBDFans Maja which is worth almost twice as much as the Abasic but I prefer the Abasic over it. It only goes to show you that not just because something is more expensive, you will like it better. Everyone has their own preference. I paired this one with novelkeys silk blacks and EPBT Gray Japanese. I love how this board sounds and feels so I will keep it. Seeing this one on my table at night with all that RGB is enough to remove the stress of a long days’ work. I do have the Switch Couture Alice coming in so it will have competition. INFINIKEY BAD I hope I get the time to make a video on this one but I don’t recommend buying Infinikey sets since the quality of the ones I’ve bought has been consistently bad. The alignment of the legends are REALLY BAD.
Build 5 Rama Kara Iced Durock POM Linears Lubed and Filmed by Zion Studios PH EPBT Kon Momo With Silicone Dampener LET GO I do have two Rama karas, the Moon and the Iced. I have already sold the Iced as of writing. I think it’s an okay board but it is way overpriced. I just don’t think it’s worth it. It looks good I have to admit but I just can’t justify an injection mold keyboard at this price point. You also don’t get a carrying case when all the other “entry edition” boards gave you a carrying case. All you get are colorful boxes. What am I supposed to do with that????? If you like how it looks I can say that it can be worth it but I have better looking boards than this one so I will be selling it. The typing feel is actually good but it sounds really hollow with all that space inside the board. You would need to buy the dampener for it to sound decent but that puts the price above 200 dollars which is a lot of money for a board like this. I would rather use that money on an Ikki68. This build has EPBT Kon Momo and Durock Pom Glacier Pandas.
Build 6 Ergodox EZ KAT Alpha PE Foam beneath PCB Gateron Black Inks Lubed and Filmed by Zion Studios PH LET GO I hope I can make a video on this since this is one of the most expensive prebuilts I have bought. The ortholinear layout is a beast of its own. Having your keys vertically aligned will throw you off and for someone who uses a laptop for work, this layout is not workable for me. I will need to switch back and forth between conventional and ortholinear and that will take a lot of time to get proficient with. I think Arisu/Alice layouts give you a lot in terms of ergonomics without demanding too much, so I will stick to it. On top of that, you can really feel that this board has not aged well. The build quality is not that good for a board at this price point. It sounds hollow so I put the PE foam inside (I broke the warranty because of opening it.). The cables are a mess on the table and the right hand one is the active one so you can’t use the left for gaming without turning on the right one first. I honestly don’t think it's worth the price so I will let this one go.
Build 7 KBDFans Maja GMK Hennessey FR4 Plate OA Switches Lubed and Filmed by Zion Studios PH HOLD FOR NOW Hennessey is hard to spell. I like the KBDFans Maja but I just feel that it is an average board on all fronts. The design is okay but the RGB through the PC case is not that good. It’s a bit stiff, especially if you use the brass plate. I also don’t like brass plates in general so I swapped in an Fr4 plate and it made it sound better but I think I could still work on it a bit more. I am also not a fan of keyboards that are way too heavy. I like my boards around the 1.5 kilo range. Anything heavier and it is difficult to move around since I switch boards. It also affects the typing feel. With lighter boards, the deskmat may absorb some of the force of your keystrokes but a heavy board just weighs too much that it feels a bit more stiff. Some like that. I don’t. I will keep this one until I find a better Alice/Arisu.
Never forget: you only have one health. There is no reason to ruin it. Take your time, create when you are creative and only do it as long as you enjoy doing it. Take your breaks and switch things up as much as you like. Take care!
Much LOVE bro Arvin !!! remeber it is not always a race to the top, things will surely fall into place when the time is right and I think this is a nice direction that you are headed. for all we know this might give you the opportunity to put out your most creative work. TBH a lot of the channels that try to put out multiple content in a single month tend to be bland and un-inspired. 😉
This video is the reason I subscribed after finding you. RU-vid spurs creativity when it allows creators to make what they want to make, not what they need to. I'm going to binge watch the rest of your videos now, thank you.
Take all the time you need Sir! Much love and appreciation for all of your videos that I've watched so far. Just so you know. you gave me the courage to try the hobby via the budget build series.
I bet everyone have been saying this. But would like to insinuate that your videos are bomb and I wish I could do what you do! Please don't overdo things and keep doing what makes you feel comfortable. Will always support your channel! Peace out 🤙🏻
Hope you're doing well. I have had mental health issues too. It sucks, we all need to step back and reflect and take a breather once in a while. Good luck with future videos!
Me too, I got into the hobby not because of the sound but the aesthetics. Good sound to me is just a bonus. I feel like I know what I want from the hobby now and will be taking a break to enjoy what I've accumulated over the past months. To me there's no use if I just go from keyboard to keyboard every month or so. I'll still be watching your videos no matter the frequency of your future uploads. I hope that your mental health gets better soon. :)
Thanks man! It's getting better! Same here. I used to buy quite a lot of stuff but now that I know what I want, it's easy to say no to things I know I don't like.
I've been thinking about this kind of thing a lot as well. I'm not burn out by any means and I'm still really early on my keyboard RU-vid journey but I've resolved, like you, to only make videos that personally interest me even if it doesn't lead to massive success. I hope you're doing well and I'm excited to see the content you produce from here on out 😁
It's a balancing act and I think I went overboard. Getting videos with crazy numbers feel good but deadlines and making videos on stuff that no loger excite you will wear you down. I am more aware of that now so I hope I do better at managing it! Thanks man!
Great vid. Space65 got me into the hobby but unfortunately I am not willing to pay aftermarket. Hopes to r3 coming out. I did buy an abasic and hope covid doesn’t delay it any further.
Is worth changing the plate of KBDFans Maja? Was planning on getting FR4 plate for it. BTW I really enjoy your reviews! Mental health is always a priority 💯
Space65 is my favorite! :) for the next boards I am honestly not sure! It will likely be a keycap video for the meantime! I have a lot that I need to unbox.
I'm very new to the whole keyboard thing but I'm interested to venture out this hobby. I would like to buy/build a 75% wireless keyboard but I dont know where to start and where to get parts. i have a budget of $100, and i'm from the ph. It would be amazing if anyone can recommend a good keyboard that fits what I'm looking for
