Sponsored by Epomaker who did not review this video. ⬇Paid Affiliate links to help out the channel ⬇ Epomaker Th80 On Epomaker: geni.us/Epomakerth80website Epomaker Th80 and SE (amazon): geni.us/EpomakerTH80AMZ Epomaker Th80X (Amazon): geni.us/EpomakerTH80X
@@ozsa3156 for 80 bucks it's not as bad as he makes it sound. I mean he is normally talking about keyboards at 100 bucks plus so I dont get his rant in this video
@@XxCrazZyNo0oBxX he explains exactly why they're bad. Poor modibility, pro having north facing leds, cheap looking. There are much better boards to get that are cheaper. The entire "rant" culminates to: don't waste your money here
I bought one but eventually replaced it with the Cidoo v65. Still a great readily available budget board with good sound characteristics out of the box.
Honestly i recently bought the th80 pro with pre-lubed wisteria switches and stabs for 80€ and I'm impressed. The keyboard is great out of the box and it sounds really good, at least to me. Shame about the epomaker software but for the price i can't really complain.
@@Larimuss depends on the country you are in. Keychrons are more or less expensive in various countries, plus shipping is a pretty noticeable mark up on the base price. My th80 pro costed me around 80 € in total, instead.
Btw I own the th80 x and the knob does work as a volume knob. All you have to do is Fn + knob click and it switches to volume mode. Repeat the same key press to go back into settings mode :)
I bought the standard pro in a different color 18 months ago and changed out the switches for morandis and now I really like it quite a bit. It is really hard to take apart, though.
I picked up the TH80 Pro earlier last year as my first mechanical keyboard to jump into the hobby. I really liked the sound and feel of it stock, but have since modded it a bit as I've learned more. The Gateron yellow switches feel and sound great, and more so after manually lubing them. I've tape modded it and added some foam, and think it sounds better now. While the stabilizers are factory lubed, they could probably use some more. It's definitely a good entry board, though it is a bit of a pain to get inside for modding.
i am owner of th80pro. It is my first mechanical keyboard. Ive had it for 3 months now and im glad of this choice. Ive bought it with brown swtiches but after some time ive changed them to Akko v3 yellow cream and ive got white pudding keycaps from amazon.
I have the TH80 and like it after I switched out the keycaps. My biggest issue has been with the wireless consistently glitching out forcing me to keep it wired. It's fairly thocky, but I do want more.
Speaking of Epomaker, I recently bought the EK98 barebones on a whim. I havent been able to find any reviews on YT, reddit, or elsewhere so I'd love hear feedback from others. I personally thought it was good for the $30-$60USD you can get it for on sale, but it was an absolute PAIN to open up and mod, and it needed extra foam/polyfil and a stab change
Just want to say I enjoyed this video. Based on the recent criticism(s) you received, it feels to me as though you heeded those. I enjoyed this format of reviewing three keyboards side-by-side and your recommendation of the Gateron Yellows over the Flamingos. The modded SE sounds great, too!
I bought my th80 pro monet with flamingos for 65$ cad (48$ USD). Epomaker had a sale on their website. I'd say WELL worth it coming from a keychron v1.
I bought the pro version, but barebones, slapped some akko lavender v3 pros, cheap amazon keycaps (I dont care if the abs plastic starts to shine) and some quick mods. I have to say this keyboard is pretty nifty, for the price it is a great budget option if you dont want to wait for a sale for other brands such as keychron or gamakay. The one thing that pisses me off is the disassembly of the case, but other than that, its a pretty nice budget keyboard. I am currently experimenting with other switches and might even make a whole new keyboard, feel free to ama about this keyboard.
Bought th80 pro as an entry point into mechanical keyboard space since it was in stock and affordable. Unfortunately in Canada, many nicer custom keyboard options require you to pay for shipping and duties to import from the US on top of an already expensive base price. I figure mechanical keyboards are modular upgrade wise so you can always upgrade different pieces later. Software is quite bad though, but enough for me to make remap pgup/down to home/end. Thanks for the comprehensive comparison of different epomaker products!
00:02 🎮 Confusion with Epomaker TH80 keyboards: Three keyboards, same name, same price, different models, causing confusion for buyers. 00:31 📦 Reviewing all three Epomaker TH80 keyboards: A comprehensive test to determine the best choice among them. 01:12 💡 Pricing and models complexity: TH80, TH80 Pro, TH80 X, and TH80 SE have similar pricing but distinct features, creating confusion. 02:21 💰 Pricing disparity: Epomaker's website and Amazon offer different prices for the same keyboards, making it essential to compare before purchasing. 03:47 🛠 Modifiability of Epomaker TH80 series: Hot-swappable switches, keycaps, but plastic case and potential issues like missing screws. 04:44 🎹 Keycap and switch details: TH80 uses Daub PBT keycaps and Flamingo linear switches; suggested trying due to Amazon's return policy. 05:20 🔊 Sound and feel disappointment: Despite expectations, the TH80's sound and feel at $89 fall short of fantastic. 07:42 🌈 Gateron Pro Yellow switches: A recommended upgrade over Flamingos; offer improved feel and sound quality. 08:49 🔄 TH80 SE distinctiveness: It differs significantly from the others, offering a unique design, but lacks ISO option for European users. 11:08 🔧 Modifying the TH80 SE: Lack of screws and gasket performance issues prompt attempts at modifications, such as tape and kinetic sand, to improve sound and feel. 13:41 💡 Best choice among the three: TH80 SE stands out despite some drawbacks; other keyboards may offer better value, like the Kyron V1.
I wanted a good keyboard and this one is perfect but i wanted to know if it was better than a apex pro mini or apex 9 tkl in the input delay and how many key we can press at the same time with the Epomaker TH80 SE
I bought the TX80-X (flamingo switches) and I have to say, this is a big step up for me coming from Corsair K95 Platinum with speed switches. Also it was $95 cheaper than Corsair! It does sound incredible, well at least to me it does, I'm by no means an keyboard enthusiast, but I'm very impressed with it! Also the software is... how to say it lightly... confusing and not pleasant, would much prefer if it was VIA compatible. I will have to correct you on the knob, in my unit it does indeed work as volume knob and other things, maybe the unit sent to you was bogged or something? All in all though, I'm very happy with this keyboard, will probably look at modding this keyboard to perfection for me. Great video though bud! Keep it up
I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the TH80 Pro as my starter custom board because Amazon has the prebuild it on sale for $45. Honestly, for $45, this thing feels great (I thought light linears would be my jam, but I didn't realize they would be THAT much better for me than the Cherry MX Browns I was stuck with on my old gamer board). Opening it was actually way easier than I was expecting. I thought I wouldn't be opening it frequently because every review I saw had people struggling with it, but I read a comment saying to use an old gift card/credit card, and it worked like a charm. Currently, I have the PCB taped, and it sounds really poppy (tho a bit loud and hollow with a noticeable spring ping from some switches, but I'll see what I can do to fix that later). I'm super glad I figured that out too, because I can't wait to experiment a bunch with the modifications and see just how nice I can make this budget board ^^ This keyboard started with some minor frustrations, but has turned into an incredibly fun project that has made me think critically on what I want from a keyboard and how I can modify it to suit needs that I hadn't even realized I had before lol. Now, it's a smaller keyboard that feels better, sounds better, and has more functionality than any full-sized+ gamer keyboard I've ever used (I just wish the software was ever so marginally better lmao)
I have no idea why, but Epomaker stuff, even when compared to other budget options is always cheaper where I am in the world. Probably a shipping thing or something, but. Still probably better to save up an extra few tenners and just buy a keychron V1 as you said. The QC will be better, the modability is nicer, it comes with a ton more foam. At least the Epomakers switch line up is pretty great.
I'm typing this comment with a th80 SE I bought like a month and a half or so and I gotta say I'm quite surprised by the quality this thingy has for the price, (and it's purple so that's a point more for the SE >\\\
I’ve had the th80 pro for a year with the budgie switches (cream and blue tactile switches, fancy birb hard to spell) and i eventually changed the key caps but i honestly love it and with those switches it had good stock thock!!!
i've got a Medion K28, second hand for 5 euros, many years ago. It's still working and has all the button i like to have. Inculding volume control buttons on the top row. Never had problems with it, it's light, durable, easy to clean, and easy to use.
I bought the Epomaker SE with yellow pro switches a few months ago and I like it. I normally do research before buying stuff like keyboards but saw it and figured it's probably better than razer. I bought the SE because the knob looked good.
I wanted a good keyboard and this one is perfect but i wanted to know if it was better than a apex pro mini or apex 9 tkl in the input delay and how many key we can press at the same time with the Epomaker TH80 SE
I got the TH80-X a couple days ago from amazon, on sale for $45. First mechanical keyboard. I like it a lot! sound is ok? I cant tell since im not experienced but it really sounds good to me. Quality wise, perfect. I love the quality of the key caps, they feel premium.
I am currently writing from one and have several mechanical keyboards. The one I find to be the most comfortable is the ducky one 2 sf. The epomaker has a nice sound to it (yellows) but feels a bit stiffer, I think because of the keycaps, its overall size and shape. The ducky has silent reds, is super silent (no pun intended!), which I love, and just makes me type super fast, I almost forget it's there. Conclusion, I keep the ducky at desk for work with my main setup (a laptop and a 24'' screen) and the epomaker serves me when I want to got out of my desk, I have a 32" 4K monitor that is pointing to a more leisury kind of area where I consume content and for that nothing beats wireless.
watched this waiting on mine to arrive oddly enough, was honestly expecting it to be a bit harder to take apart albeit it still wasnt the easiest thing in the world, if you fill it with more foam it does get easier to take it back apart but the on/off switch on the bottom like to recess making it harder to turn on, which isnt a huge deal personally mostly because i have small screwdrivers laying around my desk and i got it like half off and wanted a board to test out switches that isnt my daily driver
Man, these previews always make me forget to watch the video ;-; I see the preview and forget to come back later rather than seeing the video and watching it then and there
The TH96 was my first entry into the "custom" mechanical keyboard space and I'll always be grateful for that, however, there are better options on the market that don't gate you behind the Epomaker proprietary software. No doubt these boards are solid for beginners, but as long as they're the floor, and not the ceiling, the hobby is in a great place. I bought the TH80 though shortly after, and still have it. I put some hand lubed Drop Holy Panda X switches in it and love the sound and feel of it. I will also say, another major gripe about these boards is how they're constructed. I don't trust clips. One wrong move and you break it and that's basically the end of your board. It really discourages modding. Not saying you can't mod, but if you're not nailing it in the first go, you're going to keep putting stress on the case. I wish they would just make a version with screws that was more reliable.
I bought the TH80 SE a few month ago (with budgerigar switches) and it sounded amazing stock. I say "sounded" because I've tape modded it since then (for more thock) and soon after that I changed the switches out for Kailh speed silvers (because gamer) and it still sounds great although not as thocky anymore. I just ordered the Akko "Waves" keycaps now that they're finally back in stock and currently trying to decide between Gateron KS-3 Pro milky yellows or the 2.0 reds so who knows what this board will sound like in a couple weeks. I love this board.
I wanted a good keyboard and this one is perfect but i wanted to know if it was better than a apex pro mini or apex 9 tkl in the input delay and how many key we can press at the same time with the Epomaker TH80 SE
This video had me on the edge of my seat because I bought the SE yesterday and I'm really enjoying it. I'm glad my purchase was Hipyo approved...sort of.
@@castlevina8425 K552 isn't hot swappable, uses Outemu switches, and a lot of people just really really dislike the design (I'm fine with it though). It also has like pretty much zero thock, has highly questionable factory lubing, and overall just isn't very modifiable. Metal constructions also inherently change the sound profile and can make a keyboard sound more "shallow".
I hate screwless boards so much. My yz75 is warped on the bottom because of the stupid no screw design. Also the yz75 (which is honestly just rebranded epomaker board) has stabilizing risers inside that ruin modability by turning tape mods from a 30 second tape up to a 3 hour precision job.
The video length is fine. Watch a UA-cam short if you can't spend 15 minutes of your life learning about 4 keyboards that you could potentially spend $80-90 of your money on...
Got a TH80 Pro for the girlfriend. Put some switches on it she likes and some keycaps she liked. She loves it and it works perfectly. Sometimes these options are better to benefit someone who won't see any use in a $400 custom keyboard.
I have the HHKB Lite 2 and have loved using this keyboard for 20 years. My version is the one sold in Japan not the US version. It has a similar look but very solid. Sorry for the bad part $350.00 USD ouch.... But not bad for a 20 year life ( so far). Yes it has screws and replacement keys. No lights!
I have the TH80-X and love it. I can see why people wouldnt like the font or the profile, but for me I was looking for Alien-style vibe and it matched perfect. Likewise for being a able to adjust sound with the knob and having gifs ans such. It does however suck that they don't have screws on it, nor that the switch options when buying are limited to old versions of Gaterons. The software is okay-ish, I agree.
I have an epo board but I just got a bare bones one and I put in some lubed Akko switches and foamed and taped it. Im really happy with how the board came out tbh I got great value for money and it sounds great.
I was pretty impressed with my pro, I got the gateron yellows though, which is actually the only reason why I bought it, as I couldn’t find any other prebuilts that come stock with them
I have almost exactly same preference with Hipyo and I have spend a long time finding someone with the similar aesthetic so that I can buy after he/she try. Thank you for what you do.
just a heads up, those are not gateron pro yellows, the V1 pros have a non-frosted south-facing LED diffuser and the V2s have a frosted LED diffuser. It looks like those yellows dont have either.
I quite liked the typeface on the X, and the screen thing. At least you can switch between Win and Mac there - on the SE it looks like that function is on the bottom of the keyboard. And if it can be used for volume (which other posters say it can) then it's more attractive.
I would prefer the black TH one, even stock, than a keychron V series. It sounds way better and it carries cherry/OEM keycaps in a nice color. Keychron has quickly gained popularity because of one splendid, functional and simple website where the novice user cannot be confused by colors, switches and keycaps variety. But this does not mean all boards may appeal to anyone or be superior than other similar budget keyboards. North facing leds mean one useful feature not a drawback; one set of compatible shine through keycaps can offer extra relief and readability in low light environment.
i got the th80 pro barebones and honestly i really like it! i am disappointed with the disassembly of the keyboard (i dont even want to attempt) but i did get keycaps from the same brand and put lavender linears and a few cherry mx reds since i didnt have enough lavenders. i do want to mod it when i get over my fear of opening this keyboard without ruining it
5 місяців тому
I use a epomaker th66 as my daily and its yet another very different version then what you reviewed. it has a thicc black foam liner in the base of the case, full rgb, no silicone gasket instead has foam strips, the software for remapping hotkeys is not compatible, there's no 2.4ghz module. overall i like the thing but the gdmf delete key is FN+page down. the stock switches (linear red) are terrible and 2 of them went bad after about 1 year of use. swapped them out with some cheap otaku low profile black switches and now its nearly silent but for a low thocc. the plastic trim is super easy to remove just start at the front then sides and the back hinges out and up dont try and unclip the back. its so easy to clean this keyboard which is a huge plus.
algorithm made me watch your video but one thing I noticed about your cat...let it chew cardboard like that whenever it can. it's the way your cat is cleaning its teeth. If you take that away, the impact on its teeth can be pretty bad. My cat years ago used to do it and on his vet checkups, the vet would remark about how clean his teeth were, but we never figured out why. There were always boxes somewhere and he'd do exactly what your cat is doing. His teeth rapidly declined soon after cardboard boxes were no longer available.
Heads up, I'm returning TH80 due to chatter and it causing random pc issues (audio output switching randomly, mouse not working, keys not working etc). Also I'm having to pay their postage. Save yourself the hassle and just get a Keychron or a Kludge.
I got this one in the monet colorway with gateron pro yellow switches, its great!! The thock is great out of the box, the spacebar is just a little rattly, but im sure it can be fixed
i thought about getting an epomaker keyboard. kinda glad i didn't. i got the womier g75. as well as a kzzi k75. i prefer the womier to the kzzi. but they are a bit different, partially the aesthetics. i also have cherry sand keycaps from novelkeys. fit the womier very well. better than the stock keycaps.
3:26 - Whatever you do, make sure that you NEVER put that dongle back in the recessed area it came in. In fact, if you ever get rid of this keyboard, make sure you follow tradition and do NOT include the dongle with it!
For over 40 years I've been using keyboards at home and work etc, but RGB and dedicated keyboard software have never been important issues, nor the way they sound. The best I've used have been big, heavy mechanical things from decades ago, often connected to dumb terminals. They had a proper mechanical feel, a metalic sounding keypress and would last forever. Considering their prices, these 3 all sound cheap and nasty. But then I hate hearing the clicking of keyboards unless I'm the one doing the typing. 😂
I’ve had a epomaker th80 pro with gateron milky yellow switches and I really like the keyboard personally I would recommend also on one Amazon page it’s 50% off rn
The epomaker was the second one I bought. And it will probably be the first one I get rid of. The sound profile is pretty bad compared to a Keychron. Mine has the tape mod, a sound dampening foam and I'm using gateron red that I lubed on it but it still does not sound great. The one Ibought after is the keychron v1. It sounds A LOT better. And in canada, some keychrons are available on amazon
I really liked the se before I got a Q1 Max. Put some morandi's, gliging semi transparent white caps and killmat and it sounds and looks awesome. Just need a white knob to match the keycaps
got the TH80 Pro with the Gateron Pro Yellows for a little over 50€ on discount and honestly, for that price, I don't think I could buy anything much better where I live without having to pay above 110€
My brother has the th80 pro, and the switches he uses (not sure what specific one they are but they're blue) make his sound so much better than the one you had with flamingos, which is funny because the flamingo switches sound *incredible* in my ep84 plus.
Honestly for that price just get a Keychron V1. Monsgeek M1 or Drop Sense 75 are also good options, but you do need to buy keycaps and switches for them :P That's what I got, and nothing can beat at least IMHO, the M1... this thing is built like a freaking tank!
counter argument.... no screws make it easier to mod. j pull it apart. over time the case weakens a bit and its easier to open the board. j be careful first few times.
I got the jazz ak816 pro which is super similar, just upgraded a bit. Awesome keyboard. With some good switches, it is so satisfying to type on. It's my do-all keyboard. South facing LEDs look objectively worse.
The final modified sound test was really thocky. And I wouId listen to a longer typing test. Sounds a bit soothing. I like to watch your videos and how you mod keebs. About a year ago, I wanted to buy the PRO, but I am glad that I bought a completely different keyboard instead.😊
This is hilarious! I actually have the tan / yellow / red volume knob version of this TH80 and it's by far my favorite to type on, the feel of the flamingos, the sound and especially those keycaps! However, I do wish I could get a set of keycaps that felt just like these that were more transparent for RGB's sake. I've had this keyboard for just over a year and my typing absolutely sucks, and I believe it's because the flamingos actuate way before they reach the bottom of the stroke - and I really hate that. Any suggestions? I seem to like thocky linears that require a bit more pressure to actuate. Do those even exist!? I've modded several keyboards now and know a little about what you're talking about and appreciate your videos very much! It's a fun hobby to get into.
I'd love to see a round up video for budget (and I mean cheap $50-100) keyboard 1800 for those who need a keyboard. I watch you "help" build 3 of your friends boards and 2 out of 3 wanted a board with a numpad. Preferably with some switch diversity clack, thock, and tactile. Thanks for helping me get into the hobby. I'm hunting for a budget 1800, tactile, quite, and EPIC gamer mode (addressable RGB), would love a knob or a roller. Would love to find a prebuilt so I can experiment with it. Would like to know everything is working before I do anything to it. So I can be sure I messed it up instead of parts coming DOA. Anyways prolly to much info.
Instead of using Kinetic sand to dampen the bottom of the th80 case why not just pour some Flex Seal into the bottom of the case? About an 1/8" thick layer of it in the bottom of the case should dampen it pretty well. It would probably be permanent though, removing the flex seal would be hard to do unless you applied a release agent to the case. You should give it a try and let us know what you think. 🙂 Thanks for the video.
I definitely had my eye on one of these for a while, seemed like one of the best options for something hotswap and with ISO support, but I wasn't really a fan of either the Theory or Monet styles that the ISO version came in (oh how I wish the SE's purple look came in ISO)
11:16 I still don't understand why we still don't have both side led options... There is some space for it. It doesn't even make it much more expensive
I have the keyboard on the right, I love it! It's my first mechanical keyboard edit: I did have to bandaid-mod the space bar edit edit: I have the gateron browns and it's not pingy at all
Oddly very little of what I look for in a keyboard was brought up. Maybe not so odd, I'm nearly 60 and not a gamer. The switches you mentioned were so two-years-ago, that was amusing. I have a keyboard with 32 year old switches.
I wanted a good keyboard and this one is perfect but i wanted to know if it was better than a apex pro mini or apex 9 tkl in the input delay and how many key we can press at the same time with the Epomaker TH80 SE
I literally just(like 30 minutes ago) bought the TH80 kit and then watched this video, was very scared for a moment but still excited to build my first board! Thanks for the video!
Saying foreshadowing every two seconds doesn't justify saying everything twice. Super annoying. Edit: I should have started this video at 4mins in. What a lot of padding. Edit2: This review is a time sponge and terrible.
so im pretty new to the whole keyboard thing. the th80 pro was not my first, but the way i got it was risking it through their $50 mystery box. since then ive gotten better keycaps for it & i really like how it looks & sounds now; although i know i can make it sound even better & plan to. mine came with the pro yellows so that was pretty good but ill probably get different switches here soon (im thinking ktt haluhalos to match my keycaps). i still need to do a bit of modding & i think the stab wire for my spacebar is just slightly bent so need to fix that. but overall im liking it especially for the price i paid lol
I bought it for Christmas and I sound tested it and to me it sounded great for stock. "This is my first ever mechanical keyboard" and it sounds amazing to me Edit. I bought the th80 75% pro with the flamingo switches
I just got the epomaker shadow x wt flamingo switches for $43. I’m that one guy who has always had blue switches. These are my first linear. What a strange feeling.
Sponsored by Epomaker who did not review this video.
⬇Paid Affiliate links to help out the channel ⬇
Epomaker Th80 On Epomaker: geni.us/Epomakerth80website
Epomaker Th80 and SE (amazon): geni.us/EpomakerTH80AMZ
Epomaker Th80X (Amazon): geni.us/EpomakerTH80X
They work😲
Also is the stock version better than a Keychron v1?
@@CharlieGair gotta watch the vid and decide for yourself 🤠
@@HipyoTech I’m new to keyboards idk
we need more nola content
The TH80 X the knob does control volume. It is a bit confusing but you have to press the knob to switch between screen menus and volume.
That comment really ruined the credibility of this video for me
@@ozsa3156 for 80 bucks it's not as bad as he makes it sound. I mean he is normally talking about keyboards at 100 bucks plus so I dont get his rant in this video
@@XxCrazZyNo0oBxX he explains exactly why they're bad. Poor modibility, pro having north facing leds, cheap looking. There are much better boards to get that are cheaper. The entire "rant" culminates to: don't waste your money here
Me!!!! Wtf is a thock????🤔🤔🤔🤔
@@XxCrazZyNo0oBxX Wasn't much of a rant. Just stating the facts that there are other options that offers more for the same money.
I bought one but eventually replaced it with the Cidoo v65. Still a great readily available budget board with good sound characteristics out of the box.
Honestly i recently bought the th80 pro with pre-lubed wisteria switches and stabs for 80€ and I'm impressed. The keyboard is great out of the box and it sounds really good, at least to me. Shame about the epomaker software but for the price i can't really complain.
where did u buy?
@@melo2280 Amazon
It's the same price as the cheap keychron. I'm wondering if it's better
@@Larimuss depends on the country you are in. Keychrons are more or less expensive in various countries, plus shipping is a pretty noticeable mark up on the base price.
My th80 pro costed me around 80 € in total, instead.
Btw I own the th80 x and the knob does work as a volume knob. All you have to do is Fn + knob click and it switches to volume mode. Repeat the same key press to go back into settings mode :)
I bought the standard pro in a different color 18 months ago and changed out the switches for morandis and now I really like it quite a bit. It is really hard to take apart, though.
I picked up the TH80 Pro earlier last year as my first mechanical keyboard to jump into the hobby. I really liked the sound and feel of it stock, but have since modded it a bit as I've learned more. The Gateron yellow switches feel and sound great, and more so after manually lubing them. I've tape modded it and added some foam, and think it sounds better now. While the stabilizers are factory lubed, they could probably use some more. It's definitely a good entry board, though it is a bit of a pain to get inside for modding.
"I'd consider good 2 years ago" is a strange sentence for a keyboard, since they don't evolve that much
i am owner of th80pro. It is my first mechanical keyboard. Ive had it for 3 months now and im glad of this choice. Ive bought it with brown swtiches but after some time ive changed them to Akko v3 yellow cream and ive got white pudding keycaps from amazon.
Hipyo please do more content about full-size or 96% keyboards 😭 also keep giving us knob content, volume knob should be a necessity on every keyboard
Knob content is mad
@@noobWithAnAk47bro 🤣
I have the TH80 and like it after I switched out the keycaps. My biggest issue has been with the wireless consistently glitching out forcing me to keep it wired. It's fairly thocky, but I do want more.
Speaking of Epomaker, I recently bought the EK98 barebones on a whim. I havent been able to find any reviews on YT, reddit, or elsewhere so I'd love hear feedback from others. I personally thought it was good for the $30-$60USD you can get it for on sale, but it was an absolute PAIN to open up and mod, and it needed extra foam/polyfil and a stab change
Just want to say I enjoyed this video. Based on the recent criticism(s) you received, it feels to me as though you heeded those. I enjoyed this format of reviewing three keyboards side-by-side and your recommendation of the Gateron Yellows over the Flamingos. The modded SE sounds great, too!
I bought my th80 pro monet with flamingos for 65$ cad (48$ USD). Epomaker had a sale on their website. I'd say WELL worth it coming from a keychron v1.
I bought the pro version, but barebones, slapped some akko lavender v3 pros, cheap amazon keycaps (I dont care if the abs plastic starts to shine) and some quick mods. I have to say this keyboard is pretty nifty, for the price it is a great budget option if you dont want to wait for a sale for other brands such as keychron or gamakay. The one thing that pisses me off is the disassembly of the case, but other than that, its a pretty nice budget keyboard. I am currently experimenting with other switches and might even make a whole new keyboard, feel free to ama about this keyboard.
Bought th80 pro as an entry point into mechanical keyboard space since it was in stock and affordable. Unfortunately in Canada, many nicer custom keyboard options require you to pay for shipping and duties to import from the US on top of an already expensive base price. I figure mechanical keyboards are modular upgrade wise so you can always upgrade different pieces later. Software is quite bad though, but enough for me to make remap pgup/down to home/end. Thanks for the comprehensive comparison of different epomaker products!
Yes I should also have mentioned I live in Canada, so this was a good option for the price.
I live in Canada and order shit from all over the world
00:02 🎮 Confusion with Epomaker TH80 keyboards: Three keyboards, same name, same price, different models, causing confusion for buyers.
00:31 📦 Reviewing all three Epomaker TH80 keyboards: A comprehensive test to determine the best choice among them.
01:12 💡 Pricing and models complexity: TH80, TH80 Pro, TH80 X, and TH80 SE have similar pricing but distinct features, creating confusion.
02:21 💰 Pricing disparity: Epomaker's website and Amazon offer different prices for the same keyboards, making it essential to compare before purchasing.
03:47 🛠 Modifiability of Epomaker TH80 series: Hot-swappable switches, keycaps, but plastic case and potential issues like missing screws.
04:44 🎹 Keycap and switch details: TH80 uses Daub PBT keycaps and Flamingo linear switches; suggested trying due to Amazon's return policy.
05:20 🔊 Sound and feel disappointment: Despite expectations, the TH80's sound and feel at $89 fall short of fantastic.
07:42 🌈 Gateron Pro Yellow switches: A recommended upgrade over Flamingos; offer improved feel and sound quality.
08:49 🔄 TH80 SE distinctiveness: It differs significantly from the others, offering a unique design, but lacks ISO option for European users.
11:08 🔧 Modifying the TH80 SE: Lack of screws and gasket performance issues prompt attempts at modifications, such as tape and kinetic sand, to improve sound and feel.
13:41 💡 Best choice among the three: TH80 SE stands out despite some drawbacks; other keyboards may offer better value, like the Kyron V1.
I bought the TH80 SE with Budgerigar Switches and it is THOCCCC as hell, i love it
I wanted a good keyboard and this one is perfect but i wanted to know if it was better than a apex pro mini or apex 9 tkl in the input delay and how many key we can press at the same time with the Epomaker TH80 SE
@@splitzer_yt2357 basically the steelseries keyboard are shit and this is just all marketing stuff
Because they are in stock...
Yeah actually a really important factor
I bought the TX80-X (flamingo switches) and I have to say, this is a big step up for me coming from Corsair K95 Platinum with speed switches. Also it was $95 cheaper than Corsair!
It does sound incredible, well at least to me it does, I'm by no means an keyboard enthusiast, but I'm very impressed with it!
Also the software is... how to say it lightly... confusing and not pleasant, would much prefer if it was VIA compatible.
I will have to correct you on the knob, in my unit it does indeed work as volume knob and other things, maybe the unit sent to you was bogged or something?
All in all though, I'm very happy with this keyboard, will probably look at modding this keyboard to perfection for me.
Great video though bud! Keep it up
I don't think he bothered reading the manual to know how to switch between using the software to volume lol
@@hobgobble I think he was joking but never too sure 👀
I got an Ep75, did a few simple mods and kept the stock switches and the keyboard is my best one yet. Epomaker keyboards just sound so damn good.
I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the TH80 Pro as my starter custom board because Amazon has the prebuild it on sale for $45. Honestly, for $45, this thing feels great (I thought light linears would be my jam, but I didn't realize they would be THAT much better for me than the Cherry MX Browns I was stuck with on my old gamer board). Opening it was actually way easier than I was expecting. I thought I wouldn't be opening it frequently because every review I saw had people struggling with it, but I read a comment saying to use an old gift card/credit card, and it worked like a charm. Currently, I have the PCB taped, and it sounds really poppy (tho a bit loud and hollow with a noticeable spring ping from some switches, but I'll see what I can do to fix that later). I'm super glad I figured that out too, because I can't wait to experiment a bunch with the modifications and see just how nice I can make this budget board ^^
This keyboard started with some minor frustrations, but has turned into an incredibly fun project that has made me think critically on what I want from a keyboard and how I can modify it to suit needs that I hadn't even realized I had before lol. Now, it's a smaller keyboard that feels better, sounds better, and has more functionality than any full-sized+ gamer keyboard I've ever used (I just wish the software was ever so marginally better lmao)
I have no idea why, but Epomaker stuff, even when compared to other budget options is always cheaper where I am in the world. Probably a shipping thing or something, but. Still probably better to save up an extra few tenners and just buy a keychron V1 as you said. The QC will be better, the modability is nicer, it comes with a ton more foam.
At least the Epomakers switch line up is pretty great.
I'm typing this comment with a th80 SE I bought like a month and a half or so and I gotta say I'm quite surprised by the quality this thingy has for the price, (and it's purple so that's a point more for the SE >\\\
I’ve had the th80 pro for a year with the budgie switches (cream and blue tactile switches, fancy birb hard to spell) and i eventually changed the key caps but i honestly love it and with those switches it had good stock thock!!!
i've got a Medion K28, second hand for 5 euros, many years ago.
It's still working and has all the button i like to have. Inculding volume control buttons on the top row.
Never had problems with it, it's light, durable, easy to clean, and easy to use.
I bought the Epomaker SE with yellow pro switches a few months ago and I like it. I normally do research before buying stuff like keyboards but saw it and figured it's probably better than razer. I bought the SE because the knob looked good.
I wanted a good keyboard and this one is perfect but i wanted to know if it was better than a apex pro mini or apex 9 tkl in the input delay and how many key we can press at the same time with the Epomaker TH80 SE
I got the TH80-X a couple days ago from amazon, on sale for $45. First mechanical keyboard. I like it a lot! sound is ok? I cant tell since im not experienced but it really sounds good to me. Quality wise, perfect. I love the quality of the key caps, they feel premium.
I am currently writing from one and have several mechanical keyboards. The one I find to be the most comfortable is the ducky one 2 sf. The epomaker has a nice sound to it (yellows) but feels a bit stiffer, I think because of the keycaps, its overall size and shape. The ducky has silent reds, is super silent (no pun intended!), which I love, and just makes me type super fast, I almost forget it's there. Conclusion, I keep the ducky at desk for work with my main setup (a laptop and a 24'' screen) and the epomaker serves me when I want to got out of my desk, I have a 32" 4K monitor that is pointing to a more leisury kind of area where I consume content and for that nothing beats wireless.
watched this waiting on mine to arrive oddly enough, was honestly expecting it to be a bit harder to take apart albeit it still wasnt the easiest thing in the world, if you fill it with more foam it does get easier to take it back apart but the on/off switch on the bottom like to recess making it harder to turn on, which isnt a huge deal personally mostly because i have small screwdrivers laying around my desk and i got it like half off and wanted a board to test out switches that isnt my daily driver
Man, these previews always make me forget to watch the video ;-; I see the preview and forget to come back later rather than seeing the video and watching it then and there
You can hit the notify me button and it pings you when live!
@@HipyoTech I didn't even notice that - Thanks! Also thanks for reminding me about this video hahaha
I love my TH80 pro I’ve swapped out the switch’s and keycaps did a few mods to it and been running like that for about a year with no regrets!!!
The TH96 was my first entry into the "custom" mechanical keyboard space and I'll always be grateful for that, however, there are better options on the market that don't gate you behind the Epomaker proprietary software. No doubt these boards are solid for beginners, but as long as they're the floor, and not the ceiling, the hobby is in a great place.
I bought the TH80 though shortly after, and still have it. I put some hand lubed Drop Holy Panda X switches in it and love the sound and feel of it.
I will also say, another major gripe about these boards is how they're constructed. I don't trust clips. One wrong move and you break it and that's basically the end of your board. It really discourages modding. Not saying you can't mod, but if you're not nailing it in the first go, you're going to keep putting stress on the case. I wish they would just make a version with screws that was more reliable.
I bought the TH80 SE a few month ago (with budgerigar switches) and it sounded amazing stock. I say "sounded" because I've tape modded it since then (for more thock) and soon after that I changed the switches out for Kailh speed silvers (because gamer) and it still sounds great although not as thocky anymore. I just ordered the Akko "Waves" keycaps now that they're finally back in stock and currently trying to decide between Gateron KS-3 Pro milky yellows or the 2.0 reds so who knows what this board will sound like in a couple weeks. I love this board.
Please let me know how the board sounds if u buy the milky yellows
I wanted a good keyboard and this one is perfect but i wanted to know if it was better than a apex pro mini or apex 9 tkl in the input delay and how many key we can press at the same time with the Epomaker TH80 SE
This video had me on the edge of my seat because I bought the SE yesterday and I'm really enjoying it. I'm glad my purchase was Hipyo approved...sort of.
@@castlevina8425 K552 isn't hot swappable, uses Outemu switches, and a lot of people just really really dislike the design (I'm fine with it though). It also has like pretty much zero thock, has highly questionable factory lubing, and overall just isn't very modifiable. Metal constructions also inherently change the sound profile and can make a keyboard sound more "shallow".
I hate screwless boards so much. My yz75 is warped on the bottom because of the stupid no screw design. Also the yz75 (which is honestly just rebranded epomaker board) has stabilizing risers inside that ruin modability by turning tape mods from a 30 second tape up to a 3 hour precision job.
bro can u get to the point
Ur late
Right? He just kept on saying "I'll talk about it later" for the first half of the video
He'll talk about it LATER ! Ok ?
So is it good or not
The video length is fine. Watch a UA-cam short if you can't spend 15 minutes of your life learning about 4 keyboards that you could potentially spend $80-90 of your money on...
Got a TH80 Pro for the girlfriend. Put some switches on it she likes and some keycaps she liked. She loves it and it works perfectly. Sometimes these options are better to benefit someone who won't see any use in a $400 custom keyboard.
Actually, the Th80-X can control volume, you have to press Fn+knob and it changes to multimedia mode (volume control basically!) :D
I have the HHKB Lite 2 and have loved using this keyboard for 20 years. My version is the one sold in Japan not the US version. It has a similar look but very solid. Sorry for the bad part $350.00 USD ouch.... But not bad for a 20 year life ( so far). Yes it has screws and replacement keys. No lights!
Keyboard snobbery is crazy
The high end ones aren't worth it but a really good well priced keyboard does make a difference modded or not
The TH80 Pro is a decent prebuilt board and I feel like the price is what's attractive to the consumer so yeah
I have the TH80-X and love it. I can see why people wouldnt like the font or the profile, but for me I was looking for Alien-style vibe and it matched perfect. Likewise for being a able to adjust sound with the knob and having gifs ans such.
It does however suck that they don't have screws on it, nor that the switch options when buying are limited to old versions of Gaterons. The software is okay-ish, I agree.
Bought the Pro (Budgerigar switch) last year, at a 20% off. Still loving it.
As a proud owner of the th80 se, i am proud to say i only got it because it matched the black and purple theme of my setup
I have an epo board but I just got a bare bones one and I put in some lubed Akko switches and foamed and taped it. Im really happy with how the board came out tbh I got great value for money and it sounds great.
Wow the after sound on the SE is amazeballs.
As someone who mostly types in the dark and prefers low profile keycaps over cherry, i see this north facing as an absolute win.
I was pretty impressed with my pro, I got the gateron yellows though, which is actually the only reason why I bought it, as I couldn’t find any other prebuilts that come stock with them
I have almost exactly same preference with Hipyo and I have spend a long time finding someone with the similar aesthetic so that I can buy after he/she try. Thank you for what you do.
Thank you for making this video! My hubby is about to start his journey into building his own board using your videos o7
That is awesome!
I got a barebones version and the screws are underneath the feet. The stabs are really unbalanced. Switches definitely matter!
I've used a Model M buckling spring keyboard ever since my IBM PS/2 model 50 and I've never wanted another keyboard ever.
just a heads up, those are not gateron pro yellows, the V1 pros have a non-frosted south-facing LED diffuser and the V2s have a frosted LED diffuser. It looks like those yellows dont have either.
in fact I'm pretty sure the only difference between the V1s and V2s are that LED diffuser but I could be wrong there.
I quite liked the typeface on the X, and the screen thing. At least you can switch between Win and Mac there - on the SE it looks like that function is on the bottom of the keyboard. And if it can be used for volume (which other posters say it can) then it's more attractive.
I would prefer the black TH one, even stock, than a keychron V series. It sounds way better and it carries cherry/OEM keycaps in a nice color. Keychron has quickly gained popularity because of one splendid, functional and simple website where the novice user cannot be confused by colors, switches and keycaps variety. But this does not mean all boards may appeal to anyone or be superior than other similar budget keyboards. North facing leds mean one useful feature not a drawback; one set of compatible shine through keycaps can offer extra relief and readability in low light environment.
I've had this keyboard for about 2 years now and it's pretty solid. Nothing more to say about it really, its just fine.
I don't know anything about keyboards, but that purple one is pretty. I do prefer more quieter keys.
i got the th80 pro barebones and honestly i really like it! i am disappointed with the disassembly of the keyboard (i dont even want to attempt) but i did get keycaps from the same brand and put lavender linears and a few cherry mx reds since i didnt have enough lavenders. i do want to mod it when i get over my fear of opening this keyboard without ruining it
I use a epomaker th66 as my daily and its yet another very different version then what you reviewed. it has a thicc black foam liner in the base of the case, full rgb, no silicone gasket instead has foam strips, the software for remapping hotkeys is not compatible, there's no 2.4ghz module. overall i like the thing but the gdmf delete key is FN+page down. the stock switches (linear red) are terrible and 2 of them went bad after about 1 year of use. swapped them out with some cheap otaku low profile black switches and now its nearly silent but for a low thocc.
the plastic trim is super easy to remove just start at the front then sides and the back hinges out and up dont try and unclip the back. its so easy to clean this keyboard which is a huge plus.
algorithm made me watch your video but one thing I noticed about your cat...let it chew cardboard like that whenever it can. it's the way your cat is cleaning its teeth. If you take that away, the impact on its teeth can be pretty bad. My cat years ago used to do it and on his vet checkups, the vet would remark about how clean his teeth were, but we never figured out why. There were always boxes somewhere and he'd do exactly what your cat is doing. His teeth rapidly declined soon after cardboard boxes were no longer available.
Heads up, I'm returning TH80 due to chatter and it causing random pc issues (audio output switching randomly, mouse not working, keys not working etc).
Also I'm having to pay their postage. Save yourself the hassle and just get a Keychron or a Kludge.
I got this one in the monet colorway with gateron pro yellow switches, its great!! The thock is great out of the box, the spacebar is just a little rattly, but im sure it can be fixed
i thought about getting an epomaker keyboard. kinda glad i didn't. i got the womier g75. as well as a kzzi k75. i prefer the womier to the kzzi. but they are a bit different, partially the aesthetics. i also have cherry sand keycaps from novelkeys. fit the womier very well. better than the stock keycaps.
3:26 - Whatever you do, make sure that you NEVER put that dongle back in the recessed area it came in. In fact, if you ever get rid of this keyboard, make sure you follow tradition and do NOT include the dongle with it!
For over 40 years I've been using keyboards at home and work etc, but RGB and dedicated keyboard software have never been important issues, nor the way they sound. The best I've used have been big, heavy mechanical things from decades ago, often connected to dumb terminals. They had a proper mechanical feel, a metalic sounding keypress and would last forever. Considering their prices, these 3 all sound cheap and nasty. But then I hate hearing the clicking of keyboards unless I'm the one doing the typing. 😂
I’ve had a epomaker th80 pro with gateron milky yellow switches and I really like the keyboard personally I would recommend also on one Amazon page it’s 50% off rn
The epomaker was the second one I bought. And it will probably be the first one I get rid of. The sound profile is pretty bad compared to a Keychron. Mine has the tape mod, a sound dampening foam and I'm using gateron red that I lubed on it but it still does not sound great. The one Ibought after is the keychron v1. It sounds A LOT better. And in canada, some keychrons are available on amazon
I think the screws might be under the rubber feet. You should definitely check underneath them.
I really liked the se before I got a Q1 Max. Put some morandi's, gliging semi transparent white caps and killmat and it sounds and looks awesome. Just need a white knob to match the keycaps
got the TH80 Pro with the Gateron Pro Yellows for a little over 50€ on discount and honestly, for that price, I don't think I could buy anything much better where I live without having to pay above 110€
the SE with the pro yellow switch is $44 on amazon right now, quite a steal
I ordered the Pro literally an hour before this video was posted, all to build my cousin her first keyboard.
Wish I had a time machine.
Just got the asus azoth and it's amazing the perfect bridge between custom and prebuilt. With an upgrade path if wanted
My brother has the th80 pro, and the switches he uses (not sure what specific one they are but they're blue) make his sound so much better than the one you had with flamingos, which is funny because the flamingo switches sound *incredible* in my ep84 plus.
Honestly for that price just get a Keychron V1.
Monsgeek M1 or Drop Sense 75 are also good options, but you do need to buy keycaps and switches for them :P
That's what I got, and nothing can beat at least IMHO, the M1... this thing is built like a freaking tank!
counter argument.... no screws make it easier to mod. j pull it apart. over time the case weakens a bit and its easier to open the board. j be careful first few times.
I got the jazz ak816 pro which is super similar, just upgraded a bit. Awesome keyboard. With some good switches, it is so satisfying to type on. It's my do-all keyboard.
South facing LEDs look objectively worse.
Amazon currently has the TH80 SE for $45 on a limited time sale (Gateron Pro Yellow switch model).. Just picked one up.
The final modified sound test was really thocky. And I wouId listen to a longer typing test. Sounds a bit soothing. I like to watch your videos and how you mod keebs. About a year ago, I wanted to buy the PRO, but I am glad that I bought a completely different keyboard instead.😊
This is hilarious! I actually have the tan / yellow / red volume knob version of this TH80 and it's by far my favorite to type on, the feel of the flamingos, the sound and especially those keycaps! However, I do wish I could get a set of keycaps that felt just like these that were more transparent for RGB's sake. I've had this keyboard for just over a year and my typing absolutely sucks, and I believe it's because the flamingos actuate way before they reach the bottom of the stroke - and I really hate that. Any suggestions? I seem to like thocky linears that require a bit more pressure to actuate. Do those even exist!?
I've modded several keyboards now and know a little about what you're talking about and appreciate your videos very much! It's a fun hobby to get into.
Maybe try changing the switches with Akko Cream Black to get that thocky linear sound?
I have TH80 Pro with MT3 Fairlane key caps and love it. Gateron yellow pros.
I'd love to see a round up video for budget (and I mean cheap $50-100) keyboard 1800 for those who need a keyboard. I watch you "help" build 3 of your friends boards and 2 out of 3 wanted a board with a numpad. Preferably with some switch diversity clack, thock, and tactile. Thanks for helping me get into the hobby. I'm hunting for a budget 1800, tactile, quite, and EPIC gamer mode (addressable RGB), would love a knob or a roller. Would love to find a prebuilt so I can experiment with it. Would like to know everything is working before I do anything to it. So I can be sure I messed it up instead of parts coming DOA. Anyways prolly to much info.
Instead of using Kinetic sand to dampen the bottom of the th80 case why not just pour some Flex Seal into the bottom of the case? About an 1/8" thick layer of it in the bottom of the case should dampen it pretty well. It would probably be permanent though, removing the flex seal would be hard to do unless you applied a release agent to the case. You should give it a try and let us know what you think. 🙂 Thanks for the video.
Totally could - I have used flex seal in a lot of that type of case and it works great - just hesitant to use around a battery
This is my first time watching a keyboard review...and I never knew people gave 2 shits about the sound of their keyboards....what a time we live in.
“howdy hey, i’m here to save the day”
“i’ll be putting all 3 keyboards on a test, to see which is the best”
bro cooked 🗣️🗣️🔥🔥
I definitely had my eye on one of these for a while, seemed like one of the best options for something hotswap and with ISO support, but I wasn't really a fan of either the Theory or Monet styles that the ISO version came in (oh how I wish the SE's purple look came in ISO)
0:14 welcome to the cubing world of Moyu 😂😂😂😂😂
As a cuber this is mad true
11:16 I still don't understand why we still don't have both side led options... There is some space for it. It doesn't even make it much more expensive
I have the keyboard on the right, I love it! It's my first mechanical keyboard
edit: I did have to bandaid-mod the space bar
edit edit: I have the gateron browns and it's not pingy at all
Oddly very little of what I look for in a keyboard was brought up. Maybe not so odd, I'm nearly 60 and not a gamer. The switches you mentioned were so two-years-ago, that was amusing. I have a keyboard with 32 year old switches.
I love the th80 se its my first “custom” keyboard and ive been loving it
I wanted a good keyboard and this one is perfect but i wanted to know if it was better than a apex pro mini or apex 9 tkl in the input delay and how many key we can press at the same time with the Epomaker TH80 SE
I literally just(like 30 minutes ago) bought the TH80 kit and then watched this video, was very scared for a moment but still excited to build my first board! Thanks for the video!
1982 called, the Commodore 64 wants thier keyboard back.
Saying foreshadowing every two seconds doesn't justify saying everything twice. Super annoying.
Edit: I should have started this video at 4mins in. What a lot of padding.
Edit2: This review is a time sponge and terrible.
so im pretty new to the whole keyboard thing. the th80 pro was not my first, but the way i got it was risking it through their $50 mystery box. since then ive gotten better keycaps for it & i really like how it looks & sounds now; although i know i can make it sound even better & plan to. mine came with the pro yellows so that was pretty good but ill probably get different switches here soon (im thinking ktt haluhalos to match my keycaps). i still need to do a bit of modding & i think the stab wire for my spacebar is just slightly bent so need to fix that. but overall im liking it especially for the price i paid lol
I bought it for Christmas and I sound tested it and to me it sounded great for stock. "This is my first ever mechanical keyboard" and it sounds amazing to me
Edit. I bought the th80 75% pro with the flamingo switches
I have the th80 pro with yellow milky pro switches and some foam and tape mods and it sounds so nice!!
Where is the num pad?
It's a keyboard with less keys than a conventional one to make it smaller.
You have to flip it over to use the number pad.
It's for gaming
I don't want a number pad
@@christheghostwriter I guess you only want letters. Why you no like numbers?
I just got the epomaker shadow x wt flamingo switches for $43. I’m that one guy who has always had blue switches. These are my first linear. What a strange feeling.