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87% would recommend to a friend 
Creative Labs Sound BlasterX Vanguard K08 Keyboard
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Creative Labs Sound BlasterX Vanguard K08 Keyboard
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Product Description
Designed with equal respect to ergonomics, precision, and looks, the Creative Labs Sound BlasterX Vanguard K08 keyboard is a devastating combo for any competitive gamer. It’s made with responsive, custom-made OMRON mechanical switches that are considerably faster than those found on standard keyboards Read More
Customer Reviews
4.3
(57 reviews)
5star(34)
4star(14)
3star(4)
2star(3)
1star(2)
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keyboard_arrow_downdanceclubninja
31
Mar 2, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
Okay... I'm gonna make this brief. The packaging was, as it always is, great (thanks MASSDROP). The keyboard switches feel PHENOMENAL, the lighting is responsive and fun to play with (not to mention high quality AF), the volume rocker is one of my favorite features, and the USB pass through is perfect. If I could give a 6/5, I would. Thanks Creative Labs for hooking this one up. Also, for those complaining about not being able to find the software... see my review of another reviewer's complaint. Googling 'Sound Blaster K08 software' and clicking the FIRST LINK takes you right to the software page. Not sure how people have made it this far in life without having the most basic of googling skills lol...
Aquam8te
2
Dec 6, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
I love this keyboard. I don't really know what else to say, the switches are great, backlighting is amazing, despite being a bit strong to my taste, which is an easily fixed issue.
The only "issue" ,if you could callit that, would be the placement of the macro keys, which I find troubling at first, but I guess I will get used to it.
Dracounguis
4
Nov 2, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
Just set mine up, everything is working fine. Updated firmware and then the Sound Blaster Connect app to control the lights, macros and etc. It's a heavy keyboard compared to the cheap ones I've used before. Now I gotta figure out how to use all these extra buttons! Only issue is the "detachable wrist rest" doesn't actually attach. If I lift the keyboard the rest just stays where it is. The tabs don't reach the recesses to actually connect. Not a major thing, but annoying if I need to shift the keyboard around for placement or my cat wanting to sit on the desk. ;-)
eunu
158
Jul 11, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
A surprising treat, solid and beautifully thin. I would never have thought this was a first entry into the keyboard market.
I bought this for my father to replace a blue-switched Razer Black Widow in his home office, and when this arrived I was loath to give it up. I prefer longer travel in keystrokes, but he bottoms out when he types so this could up his speed while being quieter, his only request. The volume control spins smoothly, and though I wished the media keys had a more satisfyingly mechanical feel, they depressed evenly.
Keycaps are velvety and give an impression of quality, which is good since swapping them out requires someone making caps compatible with these stems, which do an excellent job of ensuring the addressable RGB lighting is bright and even. Creative appears to have sacrificed high relief keycap sculpting in favor of larger surface area, which may benefit gamers and alienate touch typists.
The USB port is more accessible than most by facing roughly 10 o'clock rather than straight out the back. Well-suited for thumb drives and wired mice for the left-handed.
Creative got a lot right with this keyboard. I hope they continue, as I would look forward to a v2 TKL that keeps the volume control knob and swaps in mechanical media keys--perhaps trimmed to just play/pause and mute to lower BOM and crowding while keeping it easy to operate by touch--and uses detachable USB-C/Thunderbolt (yes, BOM skyrockets) to allow for two or more powered ports with slimmer cabling.
I bought this for my father to replace a blue-switched Razer Black Widow in his home office, and when this arrived I was loath to give it up. I prefer longer travel in keystrokes, but he bottoms out when he types so this could up his speed while being quieter, his only request. The volume control spins smoothly, and though I wished the media keys had a more satisfyingly mechanical feel, they depressed evenly.
Keycaps are velvety and give an impression of quality, which is good since swapping them out requires someone making caps compatible with these stems, which do an excellent job of ensuring the addressable RGB lighting is bright and even. Creative appears to have sacrificed high relief keycap sculpting in favor of larger surface area, which may benefit gamers and alienate touch typists.
The USB port is more accessible than most by facing roughly 10 o'clock rather than straight out the back. Well-suited for thumb drives and wired mice for the left-handed.
Creative got a lot right with this keyboard. I hope they continue, as I would look forward to a v2 TKL that keeps the volume control knob and swaps in mechanical media keys--perhaps trimmed to just play/pause and mute to lower BOM and crowding while keeping it easy to operate by touch--and uses detachable USB-C/Thunderbolt (yes, BOM skyrockets) to allow for two or more powered ports with slimmer cabling.
Dafriz
4
Oct 31, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
ummmm... at moment my keyboard does not work
trying to figure out the issue or possibly a driver.. not sure why its not working but my computer seems to be reading it as a usb hub and not a keyboard
not sure if i can update my review but will once i get this figured out.. but pretty disappointed that it isn't plug n play considering the keyboard is like 2 years old
this was going to replace the g15 keyboard I have had forever but... idk really annoyed so far;
EDITED: so apparently this keyboard does not like the usb 3.0 ports on this motherboard;
gave it 3 stars for now due to the goofiness of that, but will update... so far I don't see the issue with typing on this keyboard... might be because of the g15 but will say the palm rest is probably a must to to use for most people. (the g15 i used has a pseudo palm rest built in. I will say the build quality of this keyboard feels crazy... weight, heftyness, the thickness of the cables... feels top notch.
LJFrench
77
Oct 31, 2018
DafrizMine, too. Looks like we're victims of Massdrop being a dumping ground again.
danceclubninja
31
Mar 2, 2019
DafrizThe motherboard->USB problem is likely your board and not the keyboard. I know it sucks to hear, but 99% of the time it's not the fault of the device being plugged in. Anywho - hope you like it!
LJFrench
77
Oct 31, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
Just got the keyboard. Box tape was already cut open. Only half lights up. No response from keys. Installed driver. Software sees it but can't alter the lights. Unit seems defective, possibly tampered with before shipping.
LJFrench
77
Dec 10, 2018
I noticed you did not update with any more info, just like the last time I had problems. Massdrop is USELESS for customer service. Last time you never shipped my Xmas present to my friend, gave me the runaround, gave me a hard time about cancelling at NEW YEARS, STILL UNSHIPPED. And the people who hung on didn't get their products until the end of JANUARY. on an XMAS SHIP product. F OFF.
(Edited)
danceclubninja
31
Mar 2, 2019
LJFrenchWait... so the keyboard got a 1/5 star rating? You got a faulty one; shit happens lol. Send it back, get the new one and see if it's worth it! Companies can't make 100% faultless products, especially on their first attempt at a new line.
TheMoroney
3
Jun 3, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
Love the key switches (Omeron manufactured similar to the Roamer G). Absolutely hate the keycaps, as a touch typist, having a smooth keycap that my fingers can easily slide off of is not good for accuracy.
fenickalan
3
Jul 16, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
A great keyboard
This is quite a keyboard for the price. Everything is as described and in function. Good tactile feedback to the keys. The lights are a little brighter than expected, but is easy to get along with. Would buy another for my work computer if available. I could nit pick but this keyboard does what I want it to do and has no objectionable drawbacks. This is not a flimsy or plastic feeling keyboard. It is quite heavy and appears well thought out.
VortexSpitFire
0
Jun 16, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
SOLID BOARD
Really like the software. Come out with some switch options if your gonna change the game.
(Edited)
aidu
1
Mar 8, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
The packaging and delivery was great. I really like the keyboard. The switches feel very good, also the volume rocker is very nice. I've been using the USB pass through and it has done a really good job. The only thing that doesn't feel so good are the macro keys (or their software). I wish the software could let me bind more shortcuts to them and make the binding easier.
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