Optical Switches Are So Smooth: Epomaker SK61 Review
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- čas přidán 18. 06. 2024
- Alright, I'm a bit rusty when it comes to filming videos, it seems. And the new home doesn't make it much easier. Hope you guys like this review. I know we've been getting a lot of requests for an optical keyboard, and here it is!
Check out the keyboard here: geni.us/P0iDHBr (Amazon)
Check out Epomaker as well, they make really cool products: epomaker.com/products/epomake...
Recommended switch puller: geni.us/J5PDWHW (Amazon)
Thank you to Epomaker for sending us a sample to review.
0:00 Intro clips
0:12 Introduction to the product - new home
1:14 Unboxing
3:01 Build quality - case
3:53 Keycaps
4:54 Color options
5:26 J misalignment :(
6:16 Secondary functions
6:55 Keycap thickness
7:19 RGB lighting effects
8:31 Optical switch options and hot-swappable
9:41 Stabilizers
10:03 Sound and ideas to improve the keyboard
10:50 USB-C port
11:12 Sound test - Gateron optical black switches
12:00 Sound test - mods and stabilizers
12:12 Conclusion and recommendations
13:37 NKRO and 100% antighosting and other features
14:31 Why I don't recommend optical switches
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![Don’t get the Gateron Optical Yellows! Get these instead! [GK61]](/img/n.gif)
DO NOT spray lube optical switches while they are in the board. It can ruin the pcb if you dont take the switches out first.
Switch and Click I knew that you would know that, but I wanted to put this here for others to see :)
Oh yeah, while we're here I'd just like to state that you also SHOULD NOT clean this keyboard in the washing machine..... *rolling eyes* lol
@@scottm5581 Betty did it. I saw it in a thumbnail :p
Yeah ya know i did it and i was nervous but after some drying it was just fine
but with sk61 i can pull out switches???
Thanks Betty for doing is video and providing so much info in the info box; these optical switches are fascinating; hot swappable and affordable too.
I am glad you made the move the new place and I hope you settle in quickly.
Really nice vid, congrats on the new home, optical gateron yellows really are my go to for smoothness!
Thanks for this review, Betty. Answered many questions I have. This settles it. will stick to regular MX type mechanical switches.
Loved the in-depth review!
Can't believe I just received my sk61 and you upload a video about this keyborad :D
I love the retro look of the caps 🤤
Glad I'm not the only one
Ordered mine today cus of this reason
Congratulations on your new home and setup!
Congratulations on your new home and setup :)
This reviews are so good 👍
I was having some issues with my rgb and could not for the life of me remember how to change it, this helped sm!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, we appreciate this video !
Keep on goin !
God you have changed over the years, I have only just started watching you recently and you sound a lot more enthusiastic now
Best simple and complete video I've seen in ages
Glad it helped
So happy you’re making moves with your life & channel, you’re growing fast, 5k to 7k subs in like two weeks, its exponential I am sure :)
Switch and Click 🙌🏻✊🏻
This channel is growing and improving almost ever single video. I'll be watching and sharing. Keep at it!
@@SwitchandClickOfficial you're so welcome. I've recommended your channel to a newcomer to the keyboard world. You drop straight knowledge, and you don't seem to be writing the scripts for these with your point of view. It is just a delight to watch and listen to.
You have a very relaxing voice. Cool looking keyboard. That space bar though.
Like it in general. The "mid-high" case and the caps are cool.
I bet you'll use this keeb for swap and test switches.
Thanks to one of Betty's recent reviews of the NiZ Atom, we just bought their Micro 84 keyboard this past week and we absolutely love it! This is truly one of the absolute BEST keyboards I've ever worked on - ranking right up there with our HHKB Pro 2. Just amazing! Thank you, Betty, for your incredible reviews!
I was looking at amazon for a keyboard to buy with gateron yellows and decided to check your channel to see if you by chance reviewed it and I was so glad that you did! I will be buying with your affiliate link.
Welcome aboard!
I'm really wondering how gateron's optical switches be like in a premium board. Optical switches inherently are smoother than comparable mechanical switches since you don't need the friction of the contact leaf, so I think these could be great with some lube and possibly film. They sound horrendous in this board but it might just be the hollowness of the build rather than the switches that are at fault for that.
Great stuff ☺️
Dubbed the Gateron KS-15. These have 200millions lifetime! It’s not a Hall effect switches but they act like one. Less risk of damage from spray lubing by separate the plate mount and PCB without desoldering or remove the switches. Very nice switches just like the good old Fujitsu Leaf Springs
Just ordered it its going to be here tomorrow im hyped af
Thankyou so much for liking my comment❤️
Nice review btw, keep it up.
Thanks man
This channel is underated
Hey thanks! And hope you have an awesome weekend
thats... its the.... idk how to respond.
@Riricoyote Playz Im asian and I dont know how thats offensive
@Riricoyote Playz what does that have to do with anything...
@Riricoyote Playz bro underated is a compliment and why are you talking trash legit nobody is talking trash to you back
very good review! Would you recommend ducky one 2 mini keyboard or the shadow/snowfox 60% keyboard? I initially wanted this keyboard for the hot swappable and optical switches for gaming but not being able to swap to mechanical if I didn't want the optical switches the no secondary legends and the fact that the keycaps are not really for gaming just makes this more of a typing keyboard to me. P.s. I am still planning for the price and features of this keyboard to buy it for typing but have you modded it at all with lube or inserting a foam of some sort? I would love to hear the typing test after modding if so.
Really good review! I have a question though! Keychron K8 now supports Gateron Optical Switches on top of their Keychron Optical Switch. I wonder if the K8 Gateron Optical are interchangeable/swapped with other optical switches brands such as LK Optical or Keychron Optical sets.
Wow! Your channel grows really quick, but hopefully one day this will become your job!
@@SwitchandClickOfficial Well then I hope you just have a great time here! The community here is great! :D
@@marcusblomberg2126 what did she say
I really like the idea of uniform keycaps for customizing alpha layouts, but I haven't had the chance to try a set yet. Do you find them hard to adjust to?
Don't worry for the rustling sounds of the mic, coupled with your voice it makes for a nice ASMR! :)
honestly opticals i feel are for ppl getting into mechanical keyboards for the price of the switches, how fast they are , the durability and how simplistic it is also how cheap the keyboards usually are 🤠
Good Review!
Thanks!
Except for the key caps, it looks exactly like the Dierya DK61 I got about a week ago (I got mine with Optical Reds). Like yours, the echo/noise and stab rattle was pretty horrible out of the box, but filling the voids with shelf liner foam and lubing/clipping/band-aiding the stabs took it from unusable (for me) to 100% fine, especially for the money. Some day I might fool around with lubing the switches themselves, but I think they’re 100% fine as-is.
Great review, BTW. :)
I’m lubing my gateron red switches rn yay
Is it possible to do a case swap on this keyboard, have had this keyboard for ages and looking to swap things up.
Is there a mode to make alt, menu, control, and ? with no need to consistently press fn? Shortcut or something? Tomorrow is 11.11, and want to buy SK61 or SK64 and I don't know which yet. Really enjoying your videos. Will be more than happy if you will respond.
can you compare it to sk64? just bought a new one and waiting for the delivery.. thank you so much! new fan here 🙏🙏🙏
I just ordered this board. So excited for it!
how has it been i’m getting mines on the 7th
@@zekeeeboyyeee2134 Its a great board. Worth the money!
should i get this or the mk 61(i will lube switches and the stabs)
sk61 the sound is so nice
have been great seeing this channel just as i'm starting to look into the mech keyboards.
and this optical switch review was nice to see just as i saw the keychrons having optical switches (LK like u mentioned) as options (seems cheaper on amazon where i am ??). curious bout that too!
anw keep this up!
i am getting this keyboard later this week and i hope i dont regret it :)
hope you got it yet, how is it? I'm getting it too soon enough and want to know
@@icicletheweavile3056 i have had it for six months would reccomend
@@icicletheweavile3056 its was a hard desicion idk it looked to simple of a keyboard i ended up getting the anne pro 2
11:12 BRO THIS IS SO GOOD
FYI, you can make hybrid switches with the optical bottoms. I made optical Holy Pandas with optical brown bottoms.
Will milky yellows work with this?
If you guys get this keyboard, be careful while taking out the space bar. I had this keybaord and I pulled out the space bar without force and the stabiliser just snapped so be carefully guys!
lol I did this a few weeks back and just saw this, had to buy new stabilisers
I'm actually all for the GSA because I type colemak and it's hard to find keycaps as good as these that work well with colemak.
I like using the "Control" key caps for windows too
I got one today and immediately sending it back. Keycaps are louder than my Asio Retro with blue switches. They are too small and it is very easy to accidentally press the wrong key. Mine had red optical switches and yellow and silver must be even worse.
i recently found out that there is a panda version of this board on amazon... it is very cute
Same i am seing what im Gonna buy
@ruben_XD sh3eeeeesh
I bought it because of the green theme the panda looks ugly doe 😹 ima try to get a new cap
Link?
@@maxogboazgaming4362 same I’m so excited
hey there! i was wondering that since you are not able to swap the switches with mechanical switches, is it possible to keep everything from the sk61 except swap out the PCB with a different one as well as a plate and put new switches? thanks! great videos, i started watching yours to get into customizing my own keyboard :)
You can look at the GK61
I have a Tezarre TK61 with the same optical switches and it sounds a lot different than this one. It could be the keycaps or the fact that the Tezarre actually comes with some foam in it stock. The switches are the same as far as I know (I have the Gateron optical blacks), though, not sure if this older option came with the prelubed switches like mine did or not. I'm leaning towards some mods, including making some Frankenstein switches so I have additional optical choices, because even now, 3 years later, there are no other optical varieties out there... :(
Would be cool to see you, Hipyo, and some others maybe take up a challenge on creating the best FranenSwitch for a cheap optical board? (the Tezarre sells anywhere from $17-$45 depending on the sales, so...yeah, not a selfish reason, I'm not just trying to get a tutorial from you and others, nope, not at all....)
I just got the SK64 from Amazon and it sounds much better. I wonder why... It came with gateron browns. I got another one with reds. I'll see which one I like best and return the other one.
If I want to swap out all the switches, can I screw out the top place and push all the switches out from the back without using the switch puller ?
Hey Switch and Click, I'm thinking of buying this keyboard but I dont know what switches I should get for it?
Hi. I have a question. I just found some ajazz Banana switches on amazon. Do these also fit the sk61 or do they not?
Can you review the EPOMAKER AKKO 3068 9009 Retro, it is a 65% with vintage style keycaps. it is about 99$ and sounds surprisingly thocky for the price. It would be appreciated if you could review it! thank you nice video as always
does the PCB on this KB allow replacing the backspace for 2 keys like in the GH60 Satan?
I know you made this review a little while ago but do you think Oem Profile keycaps would be good for this keyboard?
Yeah, but the case itself is sorta high already
Dangit, I've been using those ring shaped switch pullers to take switches out of my TKL keyboards. My fingers hurt, man.
I'm new to the whole custom board scene. I feel like there's so much info and too many options. I've narrowed the switch I want down to the kailh creams. Is there a go to 65% or tkl that can use hotswap with kailh style 5 prong switches? It looks like most people are using 60% boards but they are just too small for my needs. Found this video by searching hotswap keyboard
I did watch your video on best hot swappable keyboards, but it looks like the kaihl switches won't work on most of them
@@SwitchandClickOfficial I watched your vid on the k6 and saw your k8 vid recommended. Pre-ordered the k8, and some cream switches. Thank you for the help. Dropping you a sub. Love your content and appreciate the help.
From optical to normal switches, there are many difference in terms of durability and quality? Is good product to this day or u think there's something better in this price range? Can u link that in that case? I'm from italy, and keychron Q1 isn't available rn and on amazon i saw just k1,k2.
Love ❤️ your vidoes
Great review! You must get a lot of these, but: would you advice it over a ducky one 2 mini? This is namely the choice I have to make. I only use it for writing (long sessions, think PhD student) and I wonder whether the uniform keys are going to cause me any trouble... Besides that it comes down to gateron brown (SK61) versus cherry brown (ducky). WHich one would you advice to a newbee to the game like me?
Cheers!
Nah, I dig the Ducky One 2 Mini way more. Overall better sound and feel
@@SwitchandClickOfficial thanks!
Great video🔥Between red and brown switches which one is good for gaming??
Red
is there a list with all optical switches that fit into this keyboard?
Do you know if the pcb would fit in a wooden case gh60?
What’s better for lubing stabs , krytox205g0 OR dielectric grease?
On these compact keyboards without DEL or even function keys, are you able to use them to enter the bios and make selections if you reboot a computer?
Yer you use whatever you have Del binded to in the FN sub layer
Yes, press FN + 2 = F2, and that gets into most bios.
Wow it worked thanks
What worked?
i love your videos
Can you change the polling rate using the software?
Can I lube optical switches with krytox ?
As someone who uses this keyboard daily i can say that it is great and affordable
Hi, I know you made this video a while ago, but would you recommend the Sk61S or the Anne Pro 2. Thank you!!
AP2
@@SwitchandClickOfficial I have a AP2 with lubed Gat Browns and I'm considering getting an SK61 because 1. I want to try reds and I heard the optical linears are smoother cause of the lack of metal contact and 2. I want to have a hot swappable board. Would you advise against this? I'm aiming to achieve a nice 'thocky' board. Thanks!
tysm!!
great, now I can't unsee the misaligned 'J'
hurts the eyes
this keyboard sounds WAYYYY BETTER in person
I have optical reds, lubed with krytox and springswapped to 60g And its like butter!
Comparable to high end linears
Switch and Click same haha its too light for me. Thats why i changed the springs
@@davidbermudez4617 should i get optical reds, yellows or silvers?
@@wutttt7661 it depends if youre a heavy typist. for me yellows are good
Oooooo Cool keyboard
Are optical mechanical keyboard durable than traditional mechanical keyboard?
100% true please guys do not use a plastic keycap puller already scratched 3 of my Keycaps and the keycap puller is about to break. Please buy a wire keycap puller they are literally 3-5$ and can last forever if u are careful :)
Nice one
Thanks!
Which is better epomaker sk61 or dierya dk dk61 pro ?
I'm glad I watched this video. I think it is a little bit too loud for me. Thanks.
Hey is this good like ducky miya pro (or similar)
Can i put Cherry MX Speed Silver in This keyboard?
Is there a Silent Optical switch available to swap into optical keyboards? like a silent silver optical? The optical keyboards I have tried so far are too noisy like the razer huntsman TE, so noisy I had to stop using them.
yeah there is the silent switches
Is the sk61 abs or this one better?
I got a gk61 gateron optical yellow and keykaps were not in place right like the keykaps werent straight
I have a question, is the optical yellow switches good? I need a quite keyboard btw
yes i own one, if you are not looking to lube them i would at least put a foam layer like she had mentioned, but as always i would at least do a couple mods to help the rattle. but for a $70 keyboard its one of the best for what you get.
Love this Channel, gg
Gg
Gg
my sk61 keeps using the question makrk as a arrow can u please help
Hello, i'm a bit confuse, I really don't get the difference between the Epomaker SK61 and the Epomaker Gk61x ... Both are made for optical switches am i right ? Or is the Gk61x made for mx switches ? Sorry for these dumb question, I'm pretty new here and I really don't know what pcb I should take :(
Gk with Epomaker is mechanical
@@SwitchandClickOfficial Thanks a lot :))
please help me ive been looking for help for so long, For my sk61 i have it where the switches have the pins and i dont really like that I choose the option where theres no pins. Can you help me please?
It’s an optical switch and uses infrared signals so there are no pins. To replace the switches you need to buy other optical switches online man.
My keyboard is stuck in a weird mode. Everytime I press Q.W.E.R the light change and I can no longer type on it
I have about 60 dollars to spend on a keyboard and I was wondering if I should by this keyboard or the womier k66.
Alright, thanks so much and I'm thinking of going for gateron reds with the womier!
guys help I recently bought this keyboard but it doesn't sound like hers... it sounds like a mechanical one. How to fix this???
I believe it only accepts the Gateron optical switches. The LKs are a different design.
Gonna get this for christmas!!!! Im so excited my first mechancial keyboard cause rn I got scammed by razer and got there razer ornata v2
How did that happen?
@@SwitchandClickOfficial So for my bday my parents got me it because it was on sale and I was so happy because I thought it was my first mechabica keyboard but it turns out it was "mecha membrane" so Its a fake mechanical and it sucks you cant press to keys at once when im playing video games for example I cant sprint while crouching. I told my parents I want a different one but they got mad. So im stuck with this keuboard razer scammed me. Now I just want this keyboard u reviewed :(
@@SwitchandClickOfficial Also I cant move while jumping so its kinda sad I really hope I can get the epomaker for christmas
Same man!
@@keyboardenthusiast5579 What do you mean by "I cant sprint while crouching" the razer ornata v2 as I can see offers anti-ghosting up to 6 keys meaning you can CTRL+W+SHIFT+SPACE and it should all register, if they don't I think your keyboard might be broken. en.key-test.ru/ you can test your keyboards anti-ghosting here.