Tag Archives: accesories

Tech Reviews

Upgrade Your Setup with theKiiBoom Moonshadow V2

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Disclaimer

KiiBoom sent me the Moonshadow V2 for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. Make sure you also check out my review for the Kiiboom Breeze 75 if you’re in the market for a very pretty keyboard.

What’s in the box?

  • Moonshadow V2
  • USB-C to USB-A Braided Cable
  • Key/Switch Puller
  • 2 Extra Switches
  • Mac Keys
  • User Guide
  • Extra Plate

Features

The KiiBoom Moonshadow V2 is a stylish 75% mechanical keyboard that is ready to upgrade your aesthetic. It well designed aluminum body gives it its durable construction and its weight will keep it from sliding across your table. The keyboard comes in black, pink, and silver. All schemes look great, but I chose the black because I liked the mascot on the escape and enter keys.

The keyboard features 81 keys and a knob that can easily be swapped so it always matches your aesthetic. There is also a nice and subtle backlight preprogrammed with a good amount of profiles to accent any aesthetic. You can also turn it off if you really want to. As far as performance goes, you can’t go wrong with the Moonshadow V2. All 81 keys can be easily remapped or programed through QMK and VIA to maximize any workflow, and the low latency with both wired and wireless connections is nothing to scoff at. Coupled with its powerful 4000mAh battery, and you have a solid workhorse.

Sound Test

Review

The Moonshadow V2 is a premium feeling keyboard at a reasonable price. This keyboard is ready to upgrade both the aesthetic and performance of any setup. The color layout in all three options are so good, choosing one will be the hardest choice. I got mine in black and am very impressed with how vibrant the colors are and how well the mascot is printed on the keys. The manufacturing is very clean and sturdy, and the keyboard has a good amount of heft to it. It feels like it will last me enough to make it a bargain.

The keyboard performed extremely well. There was no noticeable ghosting or latency, and everything mostly worked as intended. I did have to swap out one of the switches early on in my testing because it stopped working, but the swap was very easy to make. That said, the Moonshadow V2 has one of the most satisfying experience I’ve had in a mechanical keyboard. It has one the most satisfying and creamiest sounds, and the keys feel amazing under your fingers. It may not be the most ergonomic layout, but it doesn’t matter because it feels so good to type with.

If you’re looking for a mechanical keyboard, the Moonshadow V2 is the perfect place to start. It comes in good colors, the performance is solid, and the typing experience is perfect. I may have gotten unlucky with the defect, but the rest of the experience more than made up for it. I recommend you pick one up today!

You can pick up the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2 in all three colors on the official KiiBoom website!

Board Games and TCGs

Wasted my Money on the GameStop Premium Deck Box

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I was at Gamestop the other day and decided to treat myself with a new deck box for my Grand Archive deck. The one I was using at the time was ratty and falling apart. I chose to pick up the GameStop Premium Trading Card Deck Box, but this thing was anything but premium.

What I liked

The deck box has a slick black vinyl texture with red stitching along its edges that gives the box its alluring elegant feel. There are strong magnets on the flap for secure storage, and two plastic dividers to keep your cards organized. The inside also has this sleek black for the matching aesthetic. It’s a nice looking box, but those looks fade fast.

Review

The plastic covering the bottom of the deckbox came undone on the second day, exposing my cards to the box’s cheap interior cardboard. I should have taken this moment to get my money back, but I wanted to see what would happen. The red stitching that runs along the edges started to come undone shortly after. After my third locals, I started to notice the inside fold of the flap starting to tear away. I am very careful with my trading card and accessories and was surprised at how rough the box looked after only a few uses. It would have been better if I bought cheap plastic ones instead.

I wasn’t expecting a high quality product that would last me forever, but I did expect it to at least make it through the year. I might have gotten a defective unit, but if Gamestop is truly attempting to make their transition to an LGS, they need to do better. If you only have 20 bucks to spend on a deck box, you can do better.

Tech Reviews

The Epomaker P75 is a Fantastic Mechanical Keyboard!

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Epomaker sent me their most popular keyboard, the P75 with the Wisteria Linear switches, for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. You can find the P75 and Epomaker’s other stylish keyboards on their official website.

What’s in the Box?

The P75 comes beautifully packed. Inside you’ll find:

  • The Epomaker P75 Keyboard
  • Braided USB-A to USB-C chord
  • The space bar, arrow keys, and escape button in white (for those who want that all-white aesthetic
  • Wireless dongle
  • 3 replacement switches
  • Key puller tool
  • Allen wrench

Features

The P75 is a 75% keyboard with wired, wireless, and Bluetooth support. It allows connectivity to several devices from laptops, phones, and even popular gaming consoles. Its south-facing 8-color RGB makes it easy to see the 16 preprogrammed profiles. Coupled with the easily swappable keys and keycaps, the P75 is a perfect fit for any setup. The P75’s 4000mAh gives users a solid wireless session, and the volume dial is a nice touch.

Most importantly, the keyboard comes in three switches for a completely customizable experience. The available switches:

  • Zebra Switch: Linear, 5-pin, Travel: 1.8/3.8mm, Force: 40/45gf   
  • Wisteria Linear Switch: Linear, 5-pin, Travel: 2.0/3.6mm, Force: 45/62gf    
  • Wisteria Tactile Switch: Tactile, 5-pin, Travel: 2.0/3.1mm, Force: 46/62gf

Sound Test

https://churapereviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/epomakersoundcheck.mp3

Review

The Epomaker P75 is a fantastic mechanical keyboard. I love the sleek design of its aluminum finish and the simple yet beautiful color scheme. The Wisteria Tactile Switches emit a beautiful creamy click that I find incredibly satisfying. Be mindful. It is a little loud, and the sound might annoy the people around you.

While the keyboard is easy to setup, I recommend keeping the manual. The keyboard comes preprogrammed with various useful commands for controlling RBG, media, check the battery, and open certain programs. The commands are easy to memorize, especially if you only care about the ones you use most often.

I used to only ever use wired connections, but I am converted. I like the lack of clutter and how easy it is to switch between devices. I have the devices connected to my gaming pc and work laptop, and switching between them is as easy as flipping the switch. The switch is easy to reach and responsive without it being too easily flipped.

I used the keyboard for both work and gaming and was impressed by the battery life. With the RGB turned up, I get a solid eight hours of steady heavy use. I can get a longer session with the RGB turned off, but it looks so pretty that, I didn’t want to test it.

The keys feel very good to the touch, and make typing a delight. Gaming with the P75 is a solid experience. The keys are responsive enough for any style of gaming, and they are soft enough that they don’t require hard presses. I am glad this keyboard doesn’t destroy my hands after an intense gaming session.

I get pretty bad repetitive stress disorder, and the wrong keyboard destroys my hands. I typically use a special keyboard to avoid a painful flair-up, so there was some anxiety when I switched to the P75. While it is by no means a true replacement for my original ergonomic setup, I am having trouble finding a reason to switch back. There is still some faint pain that comes after prolonged use, but it isn’t anything unbearable. I’ve had keyboards that leave my hands useless, but P75 is comfortable. That doesn’t mean I won’t try to get one of their split options for comparison, but I think this will remain my daily driver until my hands say otherwise.

The Epomaker P75 is a fantastic mechanical keyboard for anyone looking. Its size, color scheme, and wireless capabilities make it the perfect candidate for any minimalistic setup. If you’re looking for a quality yet budget mechanical keyboard, I can’t recommend this enough.

You can pick up your Epomaker P75 for $99.99 on the official website.

Tech Reviews

The Fifine AM8 is the Best Budget Streaming Mic on the Market

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I was sent the Fifine AM8 Streaming microphone for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you’re looking for a fantastic gaming headset, check out my review for the Fifine H9s. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What’s in the Box

The Fifine AM8 comes in simple, but well put together packaging. In the box, you get:

  • Instruction manual
  • AM8 Microphone
  • Table Stand
  • 6.5 ft (2m) USB-C to USB-A chord

Sound out of the box

https://churapereviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/am8-natural.mp3

Sound Quality

I am pleased by the sound quality. Out of the box and without any processing, you can get a solid sound from this cool looking device. I am very impressed with how good at is at filtering background noise. There will be some bleed, but it is far better than other mics at a similar price point. With some 3rd party filtering and a better acoustic, I’m sure you can manage a better sound. It isn’t going to be studio mic quality, but good enough if you’re on a budget or are just starting out in the space. I do recommend you pick up a mic arm for the best results.

Build

The AM8 is a well-manufactured device. This mic looks fancy out of the box, with a very nice machine finish. The foam that covers the mic not only looks nice, but it is of a nice material. The RGB lighting is soft, and it looks nice. The touch controls for both the RGB settings and mute are very responsive and easy to use. The same goes for the volume controls. The nobs have a smooth glide, and being able to control the volume for the mic and headphones is a very cool feature. Most importantly, the AM8 is built sturdy. I’ve already dropped the device a few times, and haven’t noticed any damage or loss of function. I am very clumsy, so dropping the AM8 shouldn’t be an issue, even if you only use the stand it comes with.

Review

I love the AM8 streaming mic, and have made it my default setup. The sound is great for the price point, and it makes a decent DAC. You aren’t getting a professional audiophile sound stage through this setup, but it is a lot better than the onboard sound you’d get otherwise. The mic looks cool on my desk, and I love that I can turn off the RGB when I don’t need it. Most importantly, I like how easy it is to mute with a touch of a button.

When it comes to mics and headsets, you are usually paying that gaming marketing premium. You’re paying for that gamer aesthetic, buzzwords, and RGB. This isn’t the case with Fifine products. With the two products I’ve got to try out, I am impressed with how much of their promises they can deliver at the price point they exist in. If you’re looking for your start in streaming, podcasting, or content creation, grab yourself a Fifine AM8 streaming microphone. The AM8 also has an XLR port for those who need it. I didn’t get to test this feature, but it is nice to have for those who need it.

If you’re looking for a quality budget streaming mic, you can’t go wrong with the Fifine AM8. You can pick up your Fifiine AM8 Streaming microphone in Black, Pink, or White for $64.99 ($46.74 as of writing this) on Amazon using my affiliate links.

gaming news

Enhance Your Gaming Experience with Nacon Revolution 5 Pro

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We are officially in the holiday season, which means it’s about time to buy some presents. If you are looking for a gift for the gamer in your life, or simply want to take your competitive play to the next level, you might want to look at the NACON PlayStation Revolution 5 Pro. This premium officially licensed controller supports play on PS5, PS4, and PC through both wired and wireless connections, boasting up to 10 hours of uninterrupted gameplay. Its unique design and features make it the perfect accessory for any serious gamer.

The Revolution 5 Pro controller has insane customization options. The kits come with three sets of interchangeable weights, three different-sized joysticks, two interchangeable d-pad options, and an external microphone jack. Audio is also Bluetooth-compatible. Every button on this controller can be easily remapped through the easy-to-use companion app, allowing players to save up to four profiles per platform. You can also adjust the trigger sensitivity for maximum control. This much customization ensures you get a controller that always fits your playstyle.

Constructed from durable materials, designed to optimize ergonomics for long and sweaty sessions, and with Magnetic Call effect technology to reduce the chance of stick drift, the Revolution 5 Pro was built to last.

You can pick up the controller in black or white for $199.99, which is about how much you would expect from this type of controller. Both colors are available at the official NACON store, but it seems only the black one is available at Best Buy.

gaming news, Tech Reviews, video game reviews

The ZyberVR Multipurpose 3-in-1 sticks for the Meta Quest 2 are a neat accessory you might want

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ZyberVR sent me their Multipurpose 3-in-1 sticks for the Meta Quest to review and made me an affiliate. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the product.

The multipurpose sticks are accessories for the Quest 2 motion controllers that provide users with added immersion while gaming. They are usable in three modes: Dual handle, golf handle, and long handle. The dual handle is designed for games with swords, like Beat Saber. The long handle connects the two handles in the middle and is perfect for games like Kayak VR. The golf handle is self-explanatory.

The kit comes with two color-coded handles, two clearly labeled motion controller clips, two thick wrist straps, two clear plastic halo casings, and a tube to connect or extend the handles. The accessories are built from good quality plastic, the foam is comfortable, and there is no way the controllers are slipping off during play. The instructions are in Mandarin, but the pictures are easy to follow. Instantiation and switching between the accessories is fast and simple.

What I appreciated most about this product are the added protective accessories that come with it. The kits come with thick and sturdy wrist straps to replace the ones included with the Quest 2. The straps are easy to install and aren’t coming off. The kit also includes clear silicon casings for the motion control halo. These are easy to install and don’t interfere with tracking. They aren’t going to keep your controllers from breaking after a large impact, but they will keep them from scratching and scuffing from the lighter ones.

The only game I own to test the stick on is Beat Saber, and it worked perfectly. They provided a more immersive experience, a comfortable grip, and slip protection from my overly sweaty hands. Playing with the sticks felt more accurate, and I saw an improvement in my performance. One issue I had was that anything that involved the buttons or triggers became awkward. This might be something you can get used to, but I never did. This accessory is best when you don’t need comfortable access to any of the buttons.

If you spend a lot of time in VR and need the extra emersion, this is a fantastic accessory. Unlike the ZyberVR Prescription Lenses, the Multipurpose 3-in-1 sticks aren’t something you need for your setup, but it is something you will appreciate having once you use them. The kit goes for $34.99 on the Zyber store and is currently $8 off. If you buy anything from the ZyberVR store, don’t forget to use my discount code CHURAPE at checkout for an extra 15% off.

gaming news, Tech Reviews

ZyberVR makes the prescription lenses you didn’t know you needed

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ZyberVR reached out and asked me to review a few of their products for my blog. ZyberVR makes third-party accessories for VR headsets. I was fortunate to be sent three of their products, and will review them honestly. If you end up buying anything off of the Zyber VR site, make sure you use my code: CHURAPE for 15% off your order. You can also use my affiliate links. If you like these reviews, like, comment, subscribe, and share them with your friends.

The first item I’ll be covering is the blue light protection prescription lens attachment they have for the Meta Quest 2, PSVR, and Pico 4. I don’t wear glasses, so I’ll be reviewing the blue light protection without a prescription for the Meta Quest 2.

The lenses are well made. The frames are of solid construction, and the lenses look good. They come with a nice protective carrying case but a cheap cleaning cloth. The cloth will clean the lenses, but if you wear glasses, you have nicer ones.

The attachment comes in two pieces, the frame that connects to the headset, and a magnetic frame that holds the lenses. The magnets are strong enough to keep the lenses secure to the headset, but they make changing and removing them easy. This is a great feature for times you need to share your headset with someone who doesn’t have the same prescription. Installation is a simple process, and they stay on securely without issues.

My biggest issue with VR is my sensitivity to blue light. I can only manage short sessions in VR before I have to stop due to strain. While I did manage longer sessions with the lenses on, I am not quite convinced they were necessary. It could be that my eyes are too sensitive to be effective, so your mileage may vary. If you wear glasses, you need to buy yourself a pair. ZyberVR offers a wide range of prescriptions for a reasonable price.

Prescription lenses with blue light protection are available for the Quest 2, PSVR, and Pico 4 for $55. Blue light protection lenses without the protection are available for the Quest 2, PSVR, and Pico 4 for $35. They are currently on sale for $10. Don’t forget to use my discount code CHURAPE at checkout to save 15%.

gaming news

The RIG PRO Series Headsets are out now!

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The RIG 600 PRO Series headsets have been released just in time for some early holiday shopping or for those of you looking for an upgrade. These headsets come with a USB-C wireless adapter that promises a low-latency 2.4 GHz connection for an amazing 3D sound stage. And with an up to 18-hour battery life, it is the perfect accessory for those long gaming sessions. But you won’t be limited to the adapter. The headsets also support your favorite Bluetooth devices like your PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and Mobile devices for up to 24 hours of battery life. The headsets also come with an attached chat-optimized mic for your multiplayer games, and it folds discretely into the earcup with a cool flip-to-mute feature when you don’t need it.

The RIG PRO Series headsets come in two flavors: the 600 PRO HS and the 600 PRO HX with exclusive Urban and Artic camos available only at Walmart. Both come with a USB-C charging cable and support Dolby Atmos®. The difference between the headsets is that the HS was designed for the PlayStation, while the HX was officially licensed by Xbox. Both headsets MSRP at $99.99 and might be a solid option if you are looking for a new headset.

600 PRO HS

Amazon

PRO 600 HX

Best Buy

Exclusive Walmart Camos

Arctic (600 PRO HS)

URBAN (600 PRO HX)