EPOMAKER x LEOBOG Hi75 Aluminum Alloy Wired Mechanical
EPOMAKER x LEOBOG Hi75 Aluminum Alloy Wired Mechanical Keyboard Barebones Kit, Programmable Gasket-mounted Gaming Keyboard Kit, Hot Swappable, with Mode-Switching Knob, NKRO for Win/Mac (White)
From the brand
EK21 Wireless Numpad
| Weight: | 1.3 kg |
| Dimensions: | 33 x 14 x 4.5 cm; 1.3 Kilograms |
| Brand: | EPOMAKER |
| Colour: | White |
| Batteries Included: | No |
| Manufacture: | EPOMAKER |
| Dimensions: | 33 x 14 x 4.5 cm; 1.3 Kilograms |
What I like about this keyboard is it’s finely built frame and how it feel in general the software u can get with it is easy to setup too, and very comfortable to use what every switches you may have and keycaps, response time is extremely quick and without no delay, would recommend!
Since it was my first build I didn’t want to have to decide every single little detail. The padding and foam included in this makes the sound delicious, I literally wish I had more things to type so I can hear the thocky/clacky noise. The aluminum is heavy. Definitely recommend!
Like how we can just put any switches and keycaps in and it sounds amazing, nice foam. doesn’t feel smooth but feels nice. no issues we have noticed, amazing packaging. didn’t have to wait too long for it to arrive either. Like how you can switch out the knob and put in a different one that will fit the aesthetic
The build quality is excellent! Much heavier than I was expecting! The only flaw on the finish of my unit is a small chip of paint under the astronaut magnetic badge. As I have no plans on removing the badge this didn’t bug me personally. The only downside of the build quality is the screws. I almost stripped mine by using a bit that was ever so slightly the wrong size. If you don’t have a precision screwdriver kit with the exact size bit don’t bother disassembling it, you will just ruin the screws.
I currently have mine stock with JWICK JWK Taro Puree tactile switches and PBT keycaps and it sounds amazing! Its a very rich and thoccy sound signature. I chose these switches as they had the deepest sound profile out of the 9 switches I tested out. It’s a heavier 67gf tactile with a large rounded bump if you are interested in checking them out. I also tried the Akko Creamy Blue Pros and the Leobog Greywood V3’s in this board and they also sounded great, though not quite as creamy as the Taro Puree’s. You can also buy a replacement button for the knob which saves this board aesthetically in my opinion.
Overall, this is an amazing board whose only cons are no open-source software support, no wireless, and the ugly red button on the dial. I consider all these issues minor inconveniences. The final product easily outweighs the cons.
Das EPOMAKER x LEOBOG Hi75 Barebone-Kit erzeugt in mir einen Zwiespalt, weil ich leider den Keyboard-Enthusiasten vom Modding-Enthusiasten trennen mu.
Das Barebone ist vollstndig aus Aluminium, beeindruckend schwer, aber nicht so massiv wie z.B. die MonsGeek M1. Der Ersteindruck ist gut und sehr hochwertig. Ich bestckte das Barebone mit Akko Cream Black Pro V3 und PBT-Tastenkappen im XDA-Profil mit ANSI-US-Layout. (Wichtig: Wer ein deutsches Layout bentigt, mu Kappen fr ANSI-DE besorgen, Blankotasten o..)
PP-Platte, PCB usw. sind gasket-mounted, also im Gehuse an Silikonschienen aufgehngt, damit gut vom Metall entkoppelt und flexibel. Ich hr(t)e keinen Metallhall (Ping) und sehe daher auch keinen Grund fr einen Force-Break-Mod. Mir ist die PP-Platte allerdings ein wenig zuuu weich und flexibel (bouncy), und sie knnte auch etwas planer sein, denn ich finde sie doch ziemlich uneben, was man beim Einsetzen der Schalter und spter auch am fertigen Profil sehen kann. Nicht wild, aber … es ginge nun mal besser.
Die Tastatur klingt ab Werk groartig. Sie liefert mit den Akko Blacks fr unter 100 Euro ein Fest fr die Ohren, als ob das Bllebad bei Ikea aus Marmormurmeln bestnde und gerade durch das Zimmer rollen wrde. Sowas erlebt man selten bei einer Werkstastatur; ein Genu. Aber so richtig leise ist das dann auch nicht, mu ich einrumen, was nicht nur an den Schaltern liegen kann, weil dieselben Schalter auf meiner MonsGeek M1 deutlich leiser sind. Die EPOMAKER x LEOBOG Hi75 mit Non-Silent-Switches ist also nicht in jedem Fall die erste Wahl fr Bro und Partner mit Ruhebedrfnis. Dennoch: Schreibgefhl und Klang sind mit der Hi75 absolut berzeugend und ein Erlebnis fr Vielschreiber.
Aaaaaber (und das ist ein dickes Aber): Das Barebone ist bestens ausgestattet und gut gedmmt. Da kann man nicht meckern und es auch so anpassen, wie man es mchte, falls … ja, falls man es denn auseinanderbauen kann. Um es kurz zu sagen: Es gelang mir nicht. Muskelkraft, Fummelei, Spezialwerkzeug, YouTube-Tutorien, Tanz um das Lagerfeuer bei Vollmond – keine Chance, ich bekam diesen Multifunktionsknopf oben rechts nicht ab. Es gibt eine Grenze an Kraft, ab der Technik dann gerne mal kaputtgeht, weshalb ich nicht alles ausschpfte, aber im Vergleich zur MonsGeek M1 ist es einfach lcherlich, wie schwer der Knopf bei der Hi75 zu lsen ist – oder eben gar nicht. Somit konnte ich weder selbst detailliert in meine Hi75 hineinschauen noch irgendwas modden. Das war frustrierend. Vielleicht habe ich einfach nur Pech und ein Modell mit dem Montagsknopf, aber das Ding ist nicht vom Gehuse zu lsen. Das kostet die Hi75 nun leider 1 Stern.
Fazit: Das EPOMAKER x LEOBOG Hi75 Barebone-Kit ist ein beeindruckendes Produkt und fllt fr mich preislich die Lcke zwischen der Sharkoon Skiller SGK50 S3 und der MonsGeek M1, also bekannten Einstiegs- und Standardbarebones fr Custom Keyboards. Die Hi75 kann angeblich gemoddet werden, aber das war mir leider nicht mglich. Man kann sie allerdings problemlos ungemoddet mit Schaltern und Kappen bestcken und sich an einer hochwertigen Tastatur mit Vollalugehuse und exzellentem Klang erfreuen, sofern man mit dem ANSI-Layout leben kann. Insgesamt ist die Hi75 fr mich ein gutes und empfehlenswertes Produkt mit einem sehr garstigen Multifunktionsknopf.
Keyboard sounds amazing with whatever switches (I used akko v3 silver pro). Only thing that I absolutely HATE is the bright red knob color that isn’t changable AT ALL (You can’t even turn it off in the program). It ruins the rgb on the keyboard and is always on and flashing.
Unrelated but may be useful:
I wanted to get rid of it so I bought a white knob off aliexpress, they sent me the wrong clear one. I put it in my keyboard and now it got brighter and the light inside the knob is actually a purple light. It was so bright it was shining in my eye whenever I do stuff. So in order to fix it I covered the lights inside with white electrical tape, which dampened the brightness, but didn’t get rid of the purple color. You could probably break open the keyboard and get rid of the lights, but I aint about to do that.
I have received this Epomaker Hi75 barebones keyboard to review on behalf of Amazon. It arrived promptly and well packaged.
I have never had a barebones keyboard before, so I was excited to try this out. The thing that I noticed straight away, was how heavy this keyboard is. I have some high-end keyboards in my time, but none that were as heavy as this. This isn’t a downside for me, just I was surprised. The quality of the build is very good, but as an avid gamer, I do miss the number pad. It only took 20 minutes for me to have this all set up, and again I love the versatility of this board. Very pleased
I was very surprised at how heavy this keyboard case was out of the box. That being said, it was very durable and made my first custom keyboard experience very easy. Two things I wished were included with this frame would be a keycap/switch puller and legs on the back to adjust the angle. Otherwise, for a first-time custom keyboard, this was a great pick up.
Still experimenting and messing around moving keys about and hinges but it’s a good task and sitting with my son teaching him how to do it is a good bonding and potentially valuable learning experience. End product was good before we started again.
This keeb came with a lot of included dampening layers, which makes for an easy keyboard building experience out of the box.
Great feel, heavy, and looks amazing! Did a tape mod without problem as well.
The only thing to note, is the knob: it is removable, but you gotta use a lot of force to wiggle it out of there (which you have to do if you want to access PCB). Be careful with using metal tools, as it can easily chip the paint.
5-stars, especially for the price!
This keyboard did not disappoint. threw some lubes switches in and straight out of the box it sounds amazing.
One thing to note on the grey model, it is a MUCH lighter grey than what is pictured. I was hoping for a dark grey like in the picture. that’s my only fault with this purchase, I won’t knock off a star for it because other than a slight misrepresentation of the color I’m in love with this keyboard.
THIS IS FANTASTIC. MAGNIFICENT!
It is so silky and smooth to type on, and by FAR the best experience I’ve had so far with any MECHs. It sounds sooooo gooood! I paired it with Gateron silent browns and ha, I am honestly blown away. I am not a big spender and will cover my MechK history down below. By no means am I an enthusiast, but this is starting to make me feel like I am headed in that direction. It is satisfying enough to taper my cravings for going to the next step.
One thing to consider with these 75% (also some 96%)keyboards is the smaller size of the right side [Alt FN Cntrl Shift] keys. A good chunk of KEYCAP sets do not include those sizes, like Razer and HyperX pudding for example. Def look into that and make sure you account for it. I do not like using the wrong caps just to fill the space. I had to mix a Razer cap set with another brand, but in the end the result is actually better than using all of the same color. I just happened to already have a cap set with those sizes, luckily. Had that not been the case, I likely would’ve bought a TKL to save money on caps.
Yes, there is bend (depression) if you press the keys down really hard due to the soft insulating materials, but that has no actual effect (at least for me) when typing or gaming with it. I am not a heavy handed person and while this was initially a concern (especially when reading some of the early reviews and seeing the photos), it became very apparent that this was by no means a deal breaker. You have to really press on it to notice it. Honestly, it might be a common trait for such keyboards among this price bracket, but I can’t say for sure. I was looking at another barebones keyboard from a certain well known manufacturer, but realized that this might be a smarter (and cheaper!) purchase after reading some of the reviews for that maker. (you might know who that is if you take a STAB at it).
This was a BIG step up in terms if quality compared to what I am used to…. I love using this keyboard SO MUCH.
Keyboard was in MAC (?) mode out of the box. You have to hit FN + W to switch it to windows mode. Otherwise, alt keys will trigger windows start bar and certain, if not all windows functions (like CNTRL ALT DELETE) will not work.
The knob feels very nice and clicky, it has good feel and feedback. The red button on the knob is slightly wobbly, but functions and feels pretty good.
If you install the software, the knob goes from controlling RGB and brightness, to automatically functioning as a volume knob. (button click mutes sound)
I originally purchased a cheapo (because of price) chinese mech keyboard with generic blue switches. That keyboard was very clicky, but also quite pingy (metallic ring when pressing keys). Fair enogh, tho. It was 20 something doll hairs and by a generic brand I found on ebay. Literally the cheapest I could find to get introduced into the mech keyboard world.
Second time around I went with a razer Blackwidow TKL (orange switches, brown for other brands). It was OK, but still a little loud due to its lack of insulation. It quickly began to double or triple type certain keys. Lame!
I then bought a DROP ENTR with the yellow linear (slightly heavier reds) switches. It was pretty good and I wanted to try out a linear switch. The reds I’ve tried before were too sensitive, so the yellows made up for that somewhat. PRETTY OK overall.
Next up was the RK96 (my first hot swappable board) with their in-house (generic*) browns. Better insulation and sound compared to the Razer BW TKL with equivalent switches. It was good enough but didn’t quite feel very good. I did not want to try other switches with it because I was not extremely fond of it. I liked it, but still felt there was room for improvement and sort of started wishing for a metal frame + insulation. The drop ENTR has a metal frame and I really loved the weight and feel of that keyboard.
Lastly, I found this and its pretty darn dang great overall. Would be better if it didn’t bend like it does, but it still doesn’t seem to affect anything.
I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone.
For the price, this keyboard sounds absolutely amazing and feels very premium. I’ve built and modded a few other keyboards, and this one sounds the BEST by far. I feel absolutely no need to even open this one up to do any tape mods or anything. No case ping or any excess noise.
I paired this keyboard with AKKO V3 Cream Yello Pro switches, and it sounds like an absolute dream.
Mechanical Keyboard Barebones kit from EPOMAKER. This Barebones kit the EPOMAKER x LEOBOG Hi75 which is an aluminium keyboard base with a GASKET design. The kit isn’t supplied with switches or keycaps so these will need to be purchased separately.
The keyboard has a nice weight to it and the build quality is excellent. I do find it a bit strange that some basic switches and keys aren’t provided however the target market for this device is serious gamers so it does offer the flexibility to add your favourite keys and switches. The instructions aren’t too bad and the product is presented well. It connects to your PC/Mac via USB C and has a toggle switch to go between Gaming and Office functions.
Aesthetically it looks great and the performance is superb too. It is quite expensive though and you can get similar prebuilt keyboards for less than what you’d pay for this + the keys and switches so I’d advise you shop around before committing. Overall 4 out of 5 stars from me.
Ich hatte mir unter KIT etwas anderes vorgestellt.
Es werden keine Switches und Keykaps mitgeliefert, es gibt also nur eine nackte Barebone Tastatur.
Die Barebone Tastatur ist aber sehr hochwertig verarbeitet und auch sehr schwer.
Der Drehencoder an der Ecke fhlt sich gut an und lsst sich auch drcken.
Zum Testen habe ich Switches von einer anderen Tastatur eingesetzt.
MX Cherry Switches passen ohne Probleme.
Insgesamt eine schne, stabile, schwere und hochwertige Barebone Tastatur.
Some people may think the Hi75 being “only” wired is a bad thing. While I like having a wireless keyboard for use with my tablet, I VASTLY prefer wired for my computers. Lithium-ion batteries don’t just stop working eventually, the way older types of batteries did, but they can swell (aka go “spicy pillow”) and become a fire hazard that can literally burn down your home if you’re unlucky. In a perfect world, the keyboards would at least have an easily swapped out battery, but no, you need to disassemble the entire keyboard. So, given the longevity of a mechanical keyboard, wired just makes more sense.
I actually own two of these LeoBog Hi75 barebones keyboards now, one in soft purple and in one light green, and I can’t get over how great they are for the money. I’ll eventually buy more in other colors down the road, to coordinate with my other keycap sets.
I downloaded the software from the WhatGeek website, but haven’t tinkered with it yet. Casual users won’t need to touch their keyboard settings, but it’s there if you need it.
I would say the only cons to this keyboard are (1) it will require more care vs. one with an anodized finish to avoid chipping the paint, (2) the odd choice of a red shine-through plastic top on the media knob, regardless of the color of the keyboard you choose, and (3) you need to use extra care when inserting switches, due to all the foam, and the flex cuts in the gasket mounted PC plate. Some people would cite lack of VIA compatibility as an issue, but I find it awkward to use, so I don’t care.
With both keyboards, I had a few switches not working at first, because I managed to bend switch pins despite my care. Not a dealbreaker, though, as I was able to straighten the pins with tweezers and reinsert them properly. So, DO go to a keyboard tester website to make sure all the keys work once everything is assembled, and then assume it’s a bent pin before you panic about getting a “bad” keyboard.
IMPORTANT: Both keyboards were NOT in windows mode when I bought them. I had to tinker to get it to swap. Fn + W puts you in Windows mode, and the bottom LED indicator will turn on, but if the Win key is STILL not working, press Fn + Left Win key.
As for the red media knob, thankfully, you can buy compatible replacements for that center plastic part (opaque white, opaque black, clear, or transparent pale pink), but be prepared for a wait, since they ship from China. Just Google for “Hi75 Knob”.
This is a heavy weight base consisting of 2 parts of an outer shell that are screwed together. Inside this is a multi-layered keyboard base. It has an outer plastic shield that helps disperse the LED lighting for more of a glow effect. Under this is foam, sturdy plastic, protective acetate, circuit board and finally another layer of foam with a base of plastic stuck to it. It is all sandwhiched together quite neatly.
You will need to provide your own switches and keycaps or, if like me, strip down an older mechanical keyboard. My current keycaps were not from an illuminated board, so the letters don’t light up, but the colour effects are still good.
The board takes keys easily and ion no time I had the board assembled. In use it is a little quitter than my old board, but depending on what you are stripping down, my depend on noise levels. The keys are spaced just a shade closer than my old board, so it initially felt a little cramped, but you get used to it.
The lighting effects are controlled by a rotating and clickable switch on the top right and the function key with other keys have some inbuilt customisation / switching options. For more functionality and customisation you will need to install the software (separate download).
The build quality of the base is very good, but making it heavy is a little bit of trickery in making you thing that it is better than it is. I think the current price of 76 is not great value for money and when you have to factor in the purchase of switches and keycaps, you could easily blow over 100 on this keyboard (more if you buy good quality switches and caps). For the same price you can get equally good, ready-made boards with just as much customisation and a number pad.
If you really want to build your own, it is a good base, but I would suggest you shop around and price up your switches and caps before committing to it.
Ce clavier est tout simplement excellent. En le recevant, je ne m’attendais pas ce qu’il soit aussi lourd, soit un gage de haute qualit. Je me suis empress de dmonter les touches de mon ancien clavier pour les remonter sur celui-ci, opration dlicat qui se fait sans aucun problme, vient ensuite le test.
Tout y est bien pens comme le bouton du volume en haut gauche ou la sensation agrable lorsque l’on frappe les touches, ou son poids qui le rend ultra stable sur mon bureau, bref, que du bonheur utiliser.
Je le recommande +++
Epomaker x Leobog Hi75 barebones keyboard.
This was on sale for 75.99 when I got it. I spent 40 buying switches and keyboard caps to fit into the keyboard, as this is a barebones keyboard, you only get two switches and no keycaps with it.
It’s a solid piece of engineering, made from CNC’d aluminium, it has quite a considerable weight to it, which I think is a good thing, as it won’t slide around on your desk and does not feel flimsy in the least.
The switches and keycaps were easy enough to install, then insert the coiled USB C cable and plug it in. Can hardly believe how bright the lighting is on the keyboard, but again, I think that that is a good thing, you can always turn it down if you want to.
The manual supplied is very small. You need to access the Epomaker website to find the driver and software you need to get the best from it.
It’s great.
This barebones keyboard is solid and heavy, I’ve always bought keyboards with everything included already, so this is a learning lesson for me, included is a card with all the keycap locations on.
Out of the box the first thing I noticed was how heavy it was, the paint job looks good and has a textured feel, has four round rubber feet, two large and two small, there is no angle adjustment.
The round dial at the top right is were you can control the many lighting modes, brightness and can also be used as volume control using the mode button in the centre of the dial, you can also control the brightness with the FN and arrows keys.
Good quality coiled USB C cable included, some metal looking stickers, the one with the three holes goes over the number, win lock indicator lights.
I done a bit of research and purchased some switches, they were EPOMAKER KTT Baby Series Mechanical Switches white, two packs, they pressed in quite easily, if one ever stopped working it would be easy to take out, I mention this because some keyboards I’ve had in the past were Hot Swappable but were really hard to take out the switch, this one is easy, playing games and typing the presses feel great with what I read the sound is an Iconic Creamy Sound what ever that means.
I had some white pudding keycaps hanging around and put them on, really lets the lights shine through, probably a little too bright.
If you like a heavy keyboard that wont move around, good feel and sound with your choice of switches this could be for you.
This is a barebones kit so some keyboard switches (cherry mx style) and some keycaps (cherry mx style) are needed. There is a card in the box illustrating where all the keycaps should be placed. No disassembly of the keyboard base is required.
The build quality of the unit is really quite good. It’s a metal base so has a bit of weight to it. The paint finish has a slight texture to it and is really nice. To finish the “build” three small metal badges are include which can be placed where you want. These are really nice and provide a professional finish. A coiled USB cable is included which is a really nice addition as these can be costly.
The design of rotary dial for me was a bit cheap looking. Its works fine and has two modes. One controls the backlighting and the other is volume control. The included manual I found to be a bit confusing to read and was a bit on the small side. The keyboard can be configured for PC/MAC/Android using key combinations and allows the keyboard to work as expected on each respective system. If you happen to miss it in the manual the “mode” button is the centre of the rotary dial.
I tested the keyboard using some switches and keycaps I had and “soundwise” its very good. I think “marbly” is the term to describe it or hitting two mid-sized stones together. If you have never used a mechanical keyboard before are want to see what the fuss is about you won’t be disappointed. The switches are easy to insert into the board.
The LED backlight has numerous modes and settings and these are easy to changed either using the dial of keyboard shortcuts. There is additional soft available from etc manufacturer that further allows you to customise how the keyboard operates such as programming macros etc.
Overall a good base unit that provides quite a lot in terms of functionality and features.