When it comes to a gaming mouse, it’s all about finding the right fit for your hands. I’ve been using a lot of simple, smaller mice lately that are minimalistic in design. That’s why I was a bit skeptical about trying out the new Kone XP from ROCCAT.

The Kone XP is the latest mouse in the brand’s popular Kone lineup. It features 15 programmable buttons and the company’s AIMO intelligent RGB lighting system. You can find the Kone XP on ROCCAT’s website in white or black for $89.99 or on Amazon for the same price.

I’ve been using the Kone XP for both work and gaming for almost two weeks now. It has definitely been a big adjustment over smaller, wireless mice that I’ve mainly been using. But I have been pleasantly surprised for the most part. Let’s get into it.

Shape and design

READ MORE: Review: Alienware 720M wireless gaming mouse

As I said earlier, the Kone XP is a bit on the larger side for a gaming mouse. It weighs in at 104 grams and is a bit larger than the popular Logitech G502.

But the Kone XP is not too big at all. In fact, the shape of the Kone XP actually fits my hand very well. It sits rather low for the most part with a rounded palm that fills my hand nicely when I grip it with my palm.

The top of the body has a clear, matte finish that is surprisingly grippy considering how soft it feels. The rest of the body feels very ergonomic on both my thumb and pinky sides, with a smooth, black plastic that feels just as soft as the top.

And you can’t help but notice just how many buttons there are on this mouse. Overall, there are 15 separate buttons on the Kone XP that can perform up to 29 different functions.

In addition to 14 dedicated, customizable buttons, there is a button on the bottom of the thumb rest that acts as a modifier. By holding this in, you can activate a second function for each of the 14 other buttons.

All of the buttons are completely customizable in the ROCCAT Swarm app so you can choose the layout you like.

I did notice that the placement of some of the buttons makes it hard to press them and the modifier at the same time.

It’s nearly impossible for me to press the four thumb buttons and the thumb modifier at the same time. There are still tons of other button options on the mouse, but this just caught my attention.

Tons of customizable buttons

The performance of the Kone XP is up to par with what we’ve come to expect from ROCCAT peripherals. It features ROCCAT”s signature Titan Switch Optical for mice rated for up to 100 million clicks. Each click feels exactly like the last with that satisfying mechanical feel.

The majority of the buttons on the mouse feel exceptional, as well. You can click the mouse wheel left or right as buttons and even that feels nice and tight.

These are buttons that Logitech G502 users will be familiar with, but they feel much more secure on the Kone XP.

I would like for the thumb buttons to feel a little stiffer, however. They all work perfectly fine, and I haven’t noticed any trouble with inputs in any games. But, that said, they just feel a little floaty inside of their casing.

It’s not a problem now, but I could see these specific buttons wearing out with heavy use over time.

How does the Kone XP perform?

Of course, this is a wired gaming mouse, which may be a turn-off for some gamers. But I have to mention the extremely lightweight cord on the Kone XP.

Some wired mice have heavy, stiff cords that tend to get caught up and tangled when gaming. That’s not an issue at all with the Kone XP. The cord on this gaming mouse is extremely lightweight and flexible, and I barely even notice it’s there.

On top of that, the mouse features heat-treated PTFE glides on the bottom for extra smooth tracking. I have a three-year-old mouse pad that is in desperate need of replacing, and the Kone XP still glides across it like butter.

I’ve been playing a little Fortnite over the last couple of weeks now that there’s a no-building game mode. And even though I’m still a terrible shot, the Kone XP tracks accurately and smoothly without any sort of hiccups whatsoever.

And how could we forget RGB? Some gaming mice will have little RGB lights on the mouse wheel or a logo that lights up. But ROCCAT wasn’t settling for the bare minimum with the Kone XP.

The mouse features 22 individual LEDs incorporated with the company’s AIMO intelligent lighting system. If enabled, AIMO reacts to whatever you are doing on your computer at the time and changes the lighting accordingly.

Different sides of the mouse will change lights based on button presses or mouse clicks. AIMO is really designed to tie a bunch of ROCCAT products together, but the lighting effects on the mouse are still pretty cool by themselves.

Should you buy the ROCCAT Kone XP?

This one is a tough decision. On one hand, nearly every aspect of the mouse is high in quality and performance. If you play a lot of MMOs, then you will love having the extra buttons to bind your abilities.

On the other hand, it’s a bit on the expensive side for a wired gaming mouse. At $89.99 the Kone XP sits on the higher end of comparable gaming mice. The fan-favorite Logitech G502 offers similar functionality, though it has much less RGB, and it’s a much more modest price of $39.99.

Even the legendary Razer Naga wired version is $10 cheaper than the Kone XP. But none of these mice have the RGB capabilities that the Kone XP has.

For fans of RGB on their peripherals, the Kone XP is going to be nearly unbeatable. It offers stellar performance and customizable lighting that is unmatched.

If you’re in the market for a gaming mouse and you want something that’s stylish and built with quality, then check out the Kone XP on ROCCAT’s website or on Amazon for $89.99.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Review: Cooler Master CK721 – a gorgeous, satisfying gaming keyboard
• The SteelSeries Aerox 3 is an ultra-lightweight wireless gaming mouse
• Review: SteelSeries Rival 5 – a multifunctional mouse full of surprises
• The Vissles LP85 wireless mechanical keyboard is a small but mighty wonder

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more. A sample unit was provided for the purpose of this review.

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Gaming headsets in the sub-$100 market are a dime a dozen. There are many options available so deciding on which one is right for you can be difficult. Today, we’ll be looking at the Roccat Elo 7.1 Air gaming headset.

Roccat has been a name in gaming hardware since 2006, and back in 2019, the company was acquired by an even bigger name in gaming – Turtle Beach. Now, Roccat acts as more of the PC line of gaming accessories for the company, and the Roccat Elo 7.1 Air wireless headset fits nicely in that niche.

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks putting this headset through the paces on PC. Also, while it seems this offering is more geared towards PC (more on that later), it also works on consoles like the PlayStation 4 thanks to the USB dongle.

Comfort and features

I am what some might call “a picky bitch” when it comes to headphones. I genuinely find most of them to be somewhere between passable and vice-grip-around-the-skull. The Elo 7.1 Air headset is genuinely one of the most comfortable headsets I’ve ever worn. This is thanks to the lighter, less-condensed earpads and the star of the show, the suspension band up top. It really helps remove some of the pressure you might normally experience around your ears and down towards your jaw.

Those earpads come with a caveat, however, as the unit doesn’t do a great job of canceling external sounds. If you live in a quiet household, you’ll be fine, but if there is a lot of noise going on around you, you’ll definitely notice.

Features on the headset are pretty minimal. You have a power button, a mic mute button, and volume rollers for the headset and mic. The two rollers are exactly the same, so expect some confusion early on. Also, the volume rollers are in an awkward place and feel higher up on the headset than they should be.

Roccat says the battery life is 24 hours, and from testing, that is pretty accurate. Keeping on the RGB lighting lowers that a bit, but you should still be able to hit 15 hours with them on.

Finally, the mic is detachable which is a nice touch and the sound is clear. It picks up some background noise, but it is within an acceptable level.

How does the headset sound?

Features are great and definitely help round out a gaming headset, but at the end of the day, the sound is arguably the most important feature of them all. Overall, Roccat’s offering here is pretty standard for the $100 headset market, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Lows are low and bassy and highs are nice and crisp. As it is with many gaming headsets, things can get a bit muddled when a lot is going on, but for gaming, it never felt like an issue. For music, I have a hard time recommending them as other options do a better job of replicating the sound.

Using the Swarm app (which we’ll discuss in a minutes), you can also activate 7.1 virtual surround sound and it’s a nice touch that adds just a little bit something extra to your gaming sessions. It’s not out of this world, but solid nonetheless.

Wonky app, wonky connection issues

A staple of PC headsets in this day in age is an accompanying app that lets you set things like RGB lighting and sound levels. This offering from Roccat is no different, using the Swarm app to help you manage your settings. The problem? It’s wonky. Battery displays are weird if not flat out wrong and sometimes the settings don’t seem to stick.

The only reason you really need this is to add 7.1 virtual surround to your headset. (Also note: this feature is not available when using the headset on PlayStation)

Also, something happens with audio stabilization when listening to music, where some loud parts of songs will quiet slightly, making the musical experience less than ideal. I have not had this issue with any other headsets and even after messing with settings both with the headset and the PC the issue is still there. Thankfully, I never had this issue while gaming.

The app does feature the Superhuman Hearing mode made popular by Turtle Beach. Essentially, this mode messes with the EQ to lower some volumes while bringing things like gunshots and footsteps to the forefront. It’s honestly the best part about the Swarm app and great for first-person shooters.

One interesting feature of the Swarm app allows you to change your voice and while it is a bit gimmicky, I’m certain some people will enjoy it.

As a final note, the USB dongle does seem to struggle at times. Personally, I found that upon turning on the headset it would sometimes just not connect and would require me to unplug things, turn other things off, and offer human sacrifices in order for it to work. Other times it worked perfectly and it’s quite possible it is a “me” problem and your mileage may vary.

So, should you buy the Roccat Elo 7.1 Air gaming headset?

At the end of the day, the Elo 7.1 Air from Roccat is another competitive option in the ~$100 gaming headphone market. The headset is not going to blow you away, but the sound and comfort are solid nonetheless. Superhuman mode is a great feature for first-person shooters, but the rest of the app needs some work.

If you have a hard time finding comfortable headsets, this is definitely one of the better options I have reviewed over the years and definitely deserves high-marks, if only the overall sound profile and functions could match that.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Review: Strauss & Wagner ANCBT501 noise-canceling wireless headphones
• Review: Dragon Touch MAX10 Plus – a solid, affordable 10″ tablet
• Review: EPOS I Sennheiser GSP 602 Gaming Headset
• Review: Sennheiser GSP 370 wireless gaming headset

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more. A sample unit was provided for the purpose of this review.

The post Review: Roccat Elo 7.1 Air gaming headset – a solid entry in the $100 headset market appeared first on KnowTechie.

Yes, Turtle Beach. Did you miss it when they bought Roccat last year? It’s understandable, the world has been hectic since then, but they did. Now they’re teaming up to bring gaming goodness to your ears. All three headsets use precision-tuned 50mm drivers for powerful sound, and some Turtle Beach tech, including TruSpeak microphones and ProSpecs, which makes the headsets more comfortable for those of you that wear glasses.

Elo X Stereo ($49.99)

The entry-level headset is wired with a 3.5mm jack, which brings cross-platform compatibility to your consoles, computers, and even your mobile devices if they still have a headphone jack. It also comes with a splitter for PC use, as most computers don’t have a combo mic/headphones jack.

Elo 7.1 USB ($69.99)

The USB version brings 7.1 channel surround sound, Variable Mic Monitoring to minimize the effects of your shouting on your teammate’s poor ears, and RGB lighting that syncs to other Roccat devices that use the AIMO system.

Elo 7.1 Air ($99.99)

The Air cuts the wires, with the same 7.1 channel surround sound now fed to the headset via a wireless dongle. You also get Turtle Beach Superhuman Hearing, which tweaks the sound response to let you hear things like reloads or footsteps more clearly, giving you an edge over the opposition.

You can pre-order all three from Roccat right now, with a ship date of October 4. You’ll be able to grab them from major retailers on that date as well.

What do you think? Interested in any of these new headsets from Roccat? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Bose is back with another set of earbuds that are intended to help you sleep
• Review: Sennheiser GSP 370 wireless gaming headset
• Horizon Zero Dawn is the first game that made me want to go scavenging for supplies
• The new No Man’s Sky update adds more planet types, volcanoes, and more

The post Roccat just released its first headsets since Turtle Beach bought them out appeared first on KnowTechie.

Roccat has built a reputation for well-designed, sturdy gamer-centric peripherals since their founding in 2007 by eSports pioneer, René Korte (he co-founded mTw, one of the most successful Counter Strike teams of their era). Today, we are going to have a look at a new type of keyboard from the company, the Horde AIMO. Other than the lower MSRP ($89.99) in comparison to other Roccat keyboards, this new keyboard has a new type of key that Roccat calls ‘membranical,’ which blends the characteristics of mechanical key-switches and membrane ones. It also has a multi-purpose wheel, which I found most handy.

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The ‘membranical’ keys have a stem that moves up and down just like mechanical key-switches, but instead of triggering a metal switch, they trigger a membrane connection. Roccat says that the midway travel actuation point provides the ‘most precise and responsive keystroke ever.’ While that’s a bit of hyperbole, the switches do feel nice to type on, are fairly silent and have a decent amount of feedback to your fingers. They’re also not tiring for long gaming sessions, so it’s a win-win, right? With the keys also being in a recessed island layout, they’re supposed to resist dust/crumbs/etc, which they do – I just wonder how easy it is to clean when they do inevitably clog.

I do prefer mechanical keys for their tactile feedback, which is usually missing on membrane-type keys and leave you feeling ‘mushy’ while you type. I didn’t feel that with these hybrid keys, and the overall typing experience is very good. The key spacing is good and easy to acclimatize to while switching from your prior keyboard, and the additional half-height macro keys are useful while easy to avoid/use-as-needed without looking down. This is a nice touch, most keyboards macro keys are the same height as the main caps and it’s very easy to accidentally hit them while typing or gaming.

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The AIMO lighting system isn’t per-key, opting for per-zone and intelligent lighting modes on the Horde. The lighting effects and colors were good, with one proviso – they’re not very bright. With the low brightness and the island-layout, there really isn’t much of a glow going on. That might be attractive to some, certainly, I liked it but when the RGB is hard to see in a lit room it loses its utility.

Now we get to the star of the show for me, that Tuning Wheel in the upper right-hand corner. This wheel usually provides volume control, but clicking the button right next to it ties into the Windows Dial functionality. Then, the wheel turns into a context-aware input device, which is very handy for creative programs such as Photoshop. The rest of the buttons next to it can control multimedia, illumination, and brightness, and has a tactile feedback when turned (20 steps makes the full 360°). The wheel functions can also be customized through Roccat’s Swarm software, which provides control of all of their peripherals. The only minor issue with the wheel is that it isn’t clickable. Sure the key next to it works well, but it’s slightly cumbersome.

There’s also 512kB onboard memory to save profiles, a 1000Hz polling rate, and anti-ghosting technology which are all staples of the gaming market. The wrist-rest is removable, and I found it pretty comfortable considering it’s hard plastic with no padding. It kept my wrists at a nice angle for the gentle slope of the keys.

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Roccat’s Swarm software is needed to unlock the customizability of this keyboard, just like the software packages from their competition such as Corsair. It’s also the way to update firmware and drivers for the keyboard, and all of Roccat’s other equipment. On the tabs added when the Horde AIMO is connected to the PC, you can set a multitude of options, from key repeat rate when you hold one down, to adding a keystroke sound into Windows if you want to annoy your flatmates.

Another tab controls the AIMO RGB, and the last tab controls Macro functionality. This last tab has drag-and-drop for easy management and a truly staggering level of customization. Your imagination really is the limit as to the complicated combinations you can add, and will further enhance the Tuning Wheel if you’re using creative tools, or simplifying actions in your favorite games.

All things considered, the Roccat Horde AIMO is a stylish, well-designed keyboard that won’t break the bank at $89.99. Sure, it’s missing the Cherry MX key switches of its more expensive cousins, but it’s also not carrying their price tag. The hybrid keys are a pleasure to type on, and they held up well under extended sessions of Destiny 2. If you’re in the market for a new keyboard it’s definitely worth considering, and you can use the extra cash to get one of Roccat’s superb mice to complete your setup.

You can snag a Horde AIMO right now off of Amazon for $89.99. A sample unit was provided for the purpose of this review.

For more gaming news and reviews, check out:

• Review: Far Cry 5 – Streamlined yet Reserved
• Review: Dark Souls Remastered – Getting gud once again
• A random Steam game was secretly using gamers’ computers to mine crypto

The post Review: Roccat Horde AIMO Membranical RGB gaming keyboard appeared first on KnowTechie.

Wireless PC peripherals have built up a bit of an image problem. Especially in gaming, where the slightest delay could cost you points, your life, or the game, latency is key. Roccat’s approach to winning back the gaming community is the Leadr, an advanced rechargeable wireless mouse that they say gives the same performance wired or wireless.

The Leadr packs a lot into its frame. There’s a 20-hour rechargeable battery that either recharges while the mouse is hanging on the wireless receiver/dock or while the USB cord is plugged in. Handily, the same cord is used to connect the receiver in wireless mode or plugged into the mouse in wired mode. The socket on the mouse for wired mode has a locking button so it won’t come unplugged during frantic flicks. The dock also has a four-LED display to show charge remaining, or if the mouse is charging.

The Leadr has 14 fully-programmable mouse buttons, plus a “2D Titan Wheel” and the X-Celerator analog thumb paddle which is bound to Scroll Up/Down by default. There’s also a fin switch on the top that’s bound to Lean Left/Right by default. The bottom button on the thumb-rest area is interesting, it triggers Roccat’s ‘Easy Shift’ which is a modifier so you can have two commands bound to every button and choose which one triggers by using the dedicated button, just like using the CTRL key on your keyboard for shortcuts.

READ MORE: Review: Alienware 720M wireless gaming mouse

Roccat’s Owl-Eye optical sensor is a modified PixArt 3360 that the two companies developed together. Dubbed the “PixArt 3361” it’s claimed that it offers true 1:1 accuracy. I’ve got a mouse with the 3360 in it (Nixeus Revel) and testing the two together I couldn’t detect any major differences. That a wireless mouse would perform as well as a wired one with the current best mouse sensor is nothing short of amazing to me. The DPI range of the Owl-Eye sensor is 100-12,000 although most people won’t go that high, pro gamers, for example, tend to stay between 400-3,000 DPI.

It’s a looker too, with the glowing Roccat logo that can be customized in the Swarm application. When I first saw the mouse at release I thought the extra buttons on the side edges would be easy to accidentally press. Having used the mouse for a few weeks now I can report that fear didn’t realize itself. The side buttons are just spaced wide enough that even my ham-fisted fingers don’t hit them unless I want to.

I’m really enjoying all the extra buttons, especially the X-Celerator analog paddle, I suffer from tendonitis so using the scroll wheel for long periods makes my hands ache. Being able to press on the paddle to scroll is a godsend and my favorite feature of the Leadr.

There’s no discernable reaction lag when clicking in either wireless or wired modes and the mouse wheel is smooth and is silent (something that plagues a lot of mice). It is fairly heavy, due to the battery so keep that in mind if you prefer a lightweight mouse. I really like it, I find I add all the weights if my mouse is customizable as it helps steady my arm, and the balance of weight in the Leadr is good also, with a balancing point that fits my hybrid claw perfectly.

Your mileage may vary due to your hand size and grip style, I could see palm users maybe accidentally hitting the side buttons on the top more, although they do need a fair bit of pressure to activate. Presumably, this extra force was designed in to guard against accidental activations.

Software on the Leadr

The Leadr shines right out of the box, but that’s only part of the story. Loading up the Roccat Swarm software lets you customize every aspect of the mouse to your liking. Don’t like the default button config? Change it with a few clicks. I liked the DPI buttons as preset, but I found I don’t change it between settings that much so I swapped binds so the fin switch on the top of the mouse became DPI changes. I’m used to that area on most mice having that functionality, and now it feels more at home to me. You can add audio feedback cues for some functions, adjust lift-off height, and all of the usual mouse-related settings here.

Roccat’s well-designed macro editor is also here, so you can really add a huge amount of functionality. This, and the customizable Easy Shift commands makes this gaming-centric mouse also useful for productivity tasks, and my Excel game is getting strong as a result.

Lighting is also controlled here, with various effects and the inclusion of lighting to show battery status. This is a nice touch, although it’s just as easy to glance at the dock to see how much battery is left.

The Roccat Leadr has really impressed me over the time of testing, so much so that all my wired mice are now stored away in a drawer. The only drawback I’ve found is forgetting to hang it up on the dock to charge, but then I remember that I can plug in the wire to continue using and all is right with the world again. The Leadr might be pricey at $139.99 but it’s worth it. It’s not just the best wireless mouse I’ve used – it’s the best mouse I’ve used, full stop.

You can pick up a Roccat Leadr directly from their website, or from Amazon.

A sample unit was provided for the purpose of this review.

For more reviews, make sure to check out:

• Review: MegaModz Xbox One custom controller
• Review: Nyko Power Pak for the Nintendo Switch
• Review: Neurogum – Nootropic Focus Gum

The post Review: Roccat Leadr wireless gaming mouse appeared first on KnowTechie.

G.Skill

Pass the Crystal? G.Skill teased some new DDR4 modules including this stylish Trident Z RGB Royal memory. There was only a single stick on display, and it had chromed heat spreaders with a mirror finish and a crystalized RGB light diffuser that looked breathtaking. We don’t know anything about the IC used in the DIMMS, but knowing G.Skill it will come in a range of high-performing speeds when available.

Noctua

Image: Noctua

More crystal here from Noctua, who was probably the only company in Computex this year to eschew RGB lighting. Their new innovative Sterrox liquid-crystal polymer was on display in a few models like this 140mm fan. Sterrox enables the distance between the fan tips and the frame to be drastically shorter than normal manufacturing methods. The usual gap is reduced to only 0.5mm so the increased tensile strength and dimensional stability of the new material stops that gap from closing even at high speeds.

In Win

Image: In WinInWin went artistic, with their beautiful Z tower. They’re known for their aluminum cases, and this piece of modern art encasing PC hardware is no exception.

They also went full RGB with their upcoming 307 cases. This has an addressable RGB front panel that can be used to display moving patterns.

Zalman

Zalman’s had a bit of a rough time in recent years, but the company is trying to innovate and get back into the market. With products like this 3D holographic fan which is straight out of Blade Runner, they just might make it. I know I’d love to use these in a custom PC build.

Lian Li

Image: Lian Li

Well, someone did it. You can now get RGB accessories to bling out your PSU cables, courtesy of a partnership with Lian Li and overclocking god DER8AUER. The Strimer accessory will sync with your motherboard so all your lighting is in harmony.

Roccat

It’s no secret that I love mechanical keyboards, so to see not only new models from Roccat, but a whole newly designed key switch, was a fantastic treat. The Vulcan switches have a transparent housing that shows off its mechanism in combination with ultra-light keycaps. Roccat specifically wanted to design these to showcase what for many, is the main selling point of mechanical keyboards – the switch itself. They’ll be coming in 3 different keyboards later this year, and are available on Roccat’s site for pre-order currently.

Image: Roccat

Thermaltake at Computex 2018

Image: Thermaltake

Still in the concept stages, this hydraulically-powered standing desk is amazing. Bedecked in RGB, and with a promise of Alexa-enabled lighting changes, this is the ultimate in gamer desks. Look out for more information on this later this year as it moves past concept.

We’ll be bringing more interesting things from Computex in this multi-part series.

How do you feel about all the RGB? Let us know in the comments.

In other Computex 2018 news: A look at what Asus is showing this year at Computex 2018, A look at what Gigabyte is showing at Computex 2018, and A look at what MSI is showing at Computex 2018.

The post Some of the “best of the rest” from Computex 2018 appeared first on KnowTechie.

Roccat has been one of my favorite peripheral companies this year due to their unique designs and functionality. Recently, the German company released the Khan Aimo, Roccat’s latest RGB headset. Paired with Roccat’s ecosystem of products, referred to as the Swarm, your office will be sprinkled in a light show of RBG disco colors.

Roccat’s Khan Aimo promises high definition audio that will blow your normal headphones out of the water. It should be noted that a 24-bit/96KHz audio source is required to reach the maximum potential of the headset. The left ear cup has a mic-arm that clicks down into place and clicks up to mute the mic, a great feature for when you’re trying to inhale some chips between rounds. The microphone doesn’t offer the best quality, but it is better than no mic at all. If you have played online with your buddies, you know how crucial microphone communication is and the headset does the job, but could definitely be better.

The left ear cup also has a thick, braided wire attached that is around 4 meters long. The Khan Aimo is powered by USB, which could be a problem for some users. Personally, I prefer a 3.5mm based product so I can listen with my mobile device as well, but it really depends on your planned use.

Image: KnowTechie

The right ear cup holds the volume rocker, and admittedly, it can be a bit difficult to locate. With the rocker being next to the 7.1/2.0 sound switch, it can be confusing when you’re thumbing your way up the controls. It is easy to accidentally hit the switches instead of the rocker, which can be immediately distracting, especially when gaming. In the middle of a match of Fortnite, I went to lower my audio and instead I hit the sound switch. It was noticeable enough for me to take my hands off my controller, causing me to die a glorious death midmatch. It eventually became easier, but I feel that it’s an unnecessary design flaw that should have been picked up during testing and design.

Image: KnowTechie

The ear cup’s memory foam material felt comfortable and light on my head, never feeling like it was slowly crushing my skull. It was especially nice that the Khan Aimo didn’t press against my glasses. I have often found in other headsets that the ear cup would press against my glasses and create a headache, but this was not an issue with these.

At the $120 price point, Roccat is rivaling other headset companies like SteelSeries and Logitech for a midrange, quality headset. It is not a stretch to say that you would be hardpressed to find similar quality in this price range. As a fan of Roccat, the Khan Aimo did not disappoint. Sure, there were some flaws, but for $120, I can certainly deal with the issues.

A review sample was provided to KnowTechie for this review.

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ROCCAT has been a company I have been interested in since I saw their products in person at PAX East 2016. I asked to see their keyboards as I heard a lot of great things about the German company. I was blown away by how sturdy they are built and how well they responded. I was just as impressed by their mice. I fell in love with the Nyth, but they didn’t have enough stock to buy it. Now, two years later, ROCCAT has finally provided me with a sample unit to review, and I am still impressed.

I have used MMO and shooter-centric mice before, but I haven’t had any experience with a “modular” mouse. The Nyth is a great mouse, to begin with, but the cherry on top is the customizable features. You can swap out the right side for a slim or fatter grip, while the left has 12 swap-able macro buttons. You can choose between different sizes, widths, and options. Don’t need all 12 buttons? You can insert the buttons for six wider buttons, or any combination your heart desires. There is a full case of buttons for you to select from that snap right into the body. The Nyth is built of matte plastic, clicky macro buttons, and braided USB 2.0 cable. The look and feel of the Nyth is a combination of beastly and slick.

Image: Amanda Zelauskas / KnowTechie

Surprisingly, the mouse fits better in my hands with the wider grip. I have small hands, so I expected the slimmer hold to be more comfortable. The wider grip allowed my pinky and ring finger to sit comfortably on the mouse for better control and handling. I noticed it immediately when I hopped into a few games of Battalion: 1944, my aim was quicker. After a few tests, I saw that it was because the tips of my fingers weren’t creating a drag on my mouse pad. After I figured this out, I promptly wrapped up my Corsair mouse and decided the Nyth was my new primary mouse.

The macro keys are a bit of a hassle to change, but with a bit of shaking they come loose. There is a latch at the bottom of the mouse that holds the keys in place, but getting a grip to prevent the latch from sliding back into the locked position is annoying. However, once you figure out the right configuration for you, then there won’t be a need to mess with them again. Worried about accidentally pressing buttons? Don’t. The Nyth’s macro buttons are bulky that you won’t bump or push one or multiple by mistake. Accidental button presses are something I ran into with my Razer Naga, but ROCCAT has avoided this well.

Image: Amanda Zelauskas / KnowTechie

You can program the buttons with ROCCAT’s Swarm software, and program the mice’s LEDs. There is a band under the left side, and the ROCCAT Nyth logo on top with programmable RGB lighting. The left band isn’t noticeable, but it looks cool nonetheless. Swarm allows you to set the mouse’s DPI all the way to 12,000 along with five individual DPI stages for on-the-go switching, and a polling rate up to 1,000 Hz. You can set the Nyth to whatever settings you prefer. Swarm also offers heatmap signatures and other fun features.

Needless to say, I was blown away by what ROCCAT had to offer with the Nyth. The Nyth is an older mouse, but even after all these years and technological advances, ROCCAT has prepared to make a name for themselves. As they continue to launch new products along with updating the previous ones, the German company is showing that they are dedicated to creating an ecosystem all gamers can enjoy. If they keep producing products like this, then my set up will be consumed of all ROCCAT products. I mean, for $80, you are getting a multi-functional gaming mouse that is customizable and modular. What else can you ask?

A sample unit was provided to KnowTechie for the purpose of this review.

The post Review: ROCCAT Nyth gaming mouse appeared first on KnowTechie.

The last time we saw a digital-surround sound headset from ROCCAT was in 2014, the Kave XTD 5.1. The Kave has two speakers per earcup, but they weren’t enough to hit an authentic 5.1 surround sound. Instead, they opted to either mix down internal audio via multichannel input, or re-process the multi-channel sound. The Khan Aimo is an example of internally re-processed multi-channel sound.

ROCCAT brags about their internal sound chip and says that it is “capable of easily outperforming onboard audio solutions provided on most gaming motherboards” on their website. That’s an exciting thing to say as there are other companies like Logitech and Astro that have dedicated years to onboard audio chips. Hopefully, they can hold up to that claim.

The Khan AIMO has high-quality 50mm drivers with Hi-Res capabilities, volume and surround sound controls on the side of the right earcup, attached full-vocal spectrum foldable microphone, and a comfortable headband. Featured in the Khan AIMO is an integrated ROCCAT sound card that produces clear sound up to 24-bit at 96KHz, smashing most onboard audio motherboard available on the market. The dedicated sound card paired with a high-end driver unit offers 7.1 surround sound so you can locate your enemies faster. The Khan AIMO can also work as a dedicated stereo headset as well.

High-quality items like stainless-steel sliders ensure that your headset can withstand a beating, and won’t break after a tumble or two. Even though it is built German tough, the Khan AIMO weighs only 275 grams. Memory foam earcups and comfortable headband padding coupled makes an incredibly satisfying headset that you will forget is on your head. ROCCAT has dedicated most of this product to comfort.

The Khan AIMO has Swarm capabilities, so it is entirely functional with each piece of the AIMO ecosystem. Swarm is ROCCAT’s driver system to set up synchronized and stylish lighting effects thanks to AIMO’s RGB capabilities. In Swarm, you can choose between different equalizer settings for your own custom gaming audio preferences. If you have the entire AIMO ecosystem, you can pair all of your devices to flash or stay lit thanks to their RGB capabilities altogether.

ROCCAT Khan AIMO RGB headset will be available soon at most major retailers at a price of $119.99.

The post ROCCAT announces new Khan AIMO RGB gaming headset appeared first on KnowTechie.

When it comes to Black Friday deals, companies will usually only feature a few of their products, however, when it comes to ROCCAT, they’re discounting their entire catalog. From Wednesday, November 22, through Monday, November 27, shoppers can use a special code for a 22% discount on all ROCCAT products available on Amazon. Just use coupon code 22ROCCATBFCM at checkout and you’re good to go.

Some products will be available via Amazon’s deal page once the promotion begins on Wednesday, which means more savings for you.

You can also browse ROCCAT’s Amazon page to get an idea of what will be available. Here are some of my personal favorites:

• ROCCAT Nyth Optical MMO Gaming Mouse – $92 ($71 with code)
• ROCCAT Suora Frameless Mechanical Keyboard – $139 ($109 with code)
• ROCCAT TAITO Endurance Gaming Mouse Pad – $10 ($8 with code)

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. Click here for more.

The post ROCCAT is knocking off 22% on all of its products for Black Friday appeared first on KnowTechie.

The mouse is the first to debut AIMO, a new RGBA lighting system built and designed by ROCCAT developers. Removing the need for pesky configurations and set-up, the AIMO comes right out of the box with state of the art illumination scenes. As well, the mouse has Roccat state of the art 4D Titan Wheel, OMRON, which is certified up to 50 million clicks. Finally, AIMO comes with updated Swarm software. A beast of a mouse that just shows how powerful Rocatt and German engineering can be.

The Kone AIMO is now available worldwide and is selling for $79.99. It can be found on the company’s website or Amazon. To learn more, click on the link below.

> Kone AIMO

The post Roccat announces its much anticipated Kone AIMO mouse appeared first on KnowTechie.

Natively, the PlayStation 4 offers support for a keyboard and mouse. This doesn’t mean every game you play supports these inputs, but online MMO games such as Final Fantasy XIV Online and The Elder Scrolls Online absolutely do and improve the console experience tenfold.

While I don’t prefer to game on a keyboard and mouse, Roccat’s Sova allows me to pause and drop my controller when I need to rearrange my UI or talk to my party while running dungeons. This is a godsend, considering how painfully slow using the virtual keyboard on the PS4 controller is, and I’ve found almost all of the PS4 keyboard controller accessories to be lacking and clumsy to use. Roccat’s Sova does a terrific job of simply making the PS4 feel more like the “master race” equivalent.

Image: Amazon

The Sova offers a weighty but solid feeling lapboard that includes a membrane-based keyboard (there’s also a membrane with switches option available) with a generous mousing surface on the side that also includes a small clip that allows you to pin back the mouse cord in order to keep your mouse moving and save you from having to fight with wires. If I had to guess, I’d say the keyboard used in the Sova is likely just the Isku in a new housing. The back has a gripping rail where you can also add other things to the keyboard, such as Roccat’s phone or tablet holders, but they aren’t included and, frankly, cost way too much for a piece of plastic (especially since the Sova costs $150.)

This isn’t the first 3D printed accessory that Roccat’s offered to compliment their hardware, but it would be cool to see them release the source files so that people who have that technology available could make their own instead of ordering it. The link included in the Sova’s documentation is wrong, but a quick search of the Roccat website led me to the right spot. Someone should probably consider redirecting their page from the manual (https://www.roccat.org/3D) to here: https://www.roccat.org/en-US/Labs/3D/.

Speaking of modular things, the Sova allows you to easily remove the panels for cleaning or replacement. The mousing surface, the palm rest area, and the lap cushions underneath all quickly and conveniently pop right off yet they’re secured well enough that you never have to worry about them coming off while using the product and that’s simply fantastic. There are also two USB ports on the Sova itself, allowing you to power your mouse and charge your phone directly from the Sova – or maybe use a microphone if you really wanted to – which is handy since you’re likely not going to be sitting near your PC or console if you’re using this lapboard.

While the Sova is a nice piece of tech, it really only fits a certain niche of users. The normal gamer probably won’t actively seek out the Sova, but for those who are looking for a lapboard solution, Roccat’s Sova is absolutely the best one I’ve ever used. My only complaints are that they keyboard doesn’t lift out of the plastic, which means cleaning the actual keyboard is harder than it should be – and certainly more difficult than cleaning the rest of the Sova’s surface, and that the price is just a little too high for such a niche product.

The post Review: Roccat Sova – Seated bliss appeared first on KnowTechie.

The first thing that I noticed when I pulled out the headphones was the size, they were not too bulky, but not too small, they were a perfect size for me personally. When I put the headphones on my head, I tested them out on Battlefield 1, which I’m sorry to say, but they were not the best headphones I have used when online gaming, often my team could not hear me very clearly through the microphone.

Image: ROCCAT

Speaking of mics, the headset comes with two wired cords, one is catered for a gaming format and offers an easily adjustable microphone that you can adjust to your liking, while the I like the option it means nothing to me given the volume of sound it projects through the microphone itself.

> Read More: Review: Turtle Beach Stealth 700 PS4 headset

Additionally, the wired headset can be used for multiple different electronics, a gaming PC or laptop, PlayStation 4, Xbox One I also tried it on my Nintendo Switch in handheld mode and I had no issues when using it. Aside from the gaming consoles, the headphones work great on my MacBook as well as my iPhone. When factoring in all these platforms I had and testing them all, I will say that this headset has performed better when I was watching videos or listening to music. When comparing my BEATS and the ROCCAT CROSS, I noticed a difference in terms of sound projecting from my music, it sounded a lot crisper on the CROSS than on my BEATS.

When factoring in all these platforms I had and testing them all, I will say that this headset has performed better when I was watching videos or listening to music. When comparing my BEATS and the ROCCAT CROSS, I noticed a difference in terms of sound projecting from my music, it sounded a lot crisper on the CROSS than on my BEATS.

Image: ROCCAT

Unfortunately, I cannot say I would recommend this as a gaming headset, for a few reasons. For one thing the headset visually feels like it was cheaply made, which is disappointing because the product’s current retail price is not justifiable, especially when you factor in the fact that I have tried other headsets that were $20 less and they projected a better quality in terms of sound as well as comfort and the feeling on my head.

All in all, is this a bad headset? Absolutely not, while it is not the best headset I have used, I would recommend this to someone who wants a good in terms of a sound quality headset. However, as a gaming headset, I recommend something different. Maybe if this headset was priced at $29.99 or even a $24.99 headset, I think I could recommend this to a wider audience, however, despite having used other headsets in the past, I do recommend this headset for someone who is starting off as a novice online gamer as the sound will be a good test, but as someone who has tried multiple different headsets, sadly this one did not strike my fancy. To learn more, click here.

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The ROCCAT CROSS was provided for review by ROCCAT

The post Review: ROCCAT CROSS – A mediocre multi-platform headset appeared first on KnowTechie.