This is the class80.
A fully retro themed keyboard taking after Atari game systems and SNES controllers.
Complete with a buzzer and solenoid, the class80 embodies everything about the keyboards of
the good old days, and the designs of familiar consoles.
But how does it compare to modern custom keyboard standards?
We’ve got a nice custom carrying case.
Pretty nice.
First off, we’ve got a FR4 half plate.
Next, are two polycarbonate plates.
Not sure why we have two.
Here is our hotswap PCB with some flex cuts and double S gasket tabs
And our foam pack, including a piece for the battery compartment, super thick plate foam,
PE foam, less thick plate foam, bottom PCB foam, and two case foam sheets.
Next, we’ve got a bag with gaskets, screws, a nice metal screwdriver and required bits,
bottom feet, an extra solenoid, and standoffs.
Finally, our board itself in this bottom compartment.
MM studio also sent out their custom keycaps designed to be used with the class80.
I was not provided any specs for these, besides that they are close to GMK colors L9 and U9,
if that means anything to anyone.
Class80 is a gasket or top mounted TKL.
we’ve got hotswap and solder pcbs with daughterboards.
There is additionally a bluetooth hotswap PCB available.
These can all swap to stepped caps, split left shift, ISO enter, and the option between
winkey and winkeyless 7U spacebar.
The soldered PCB can additionally have a 6.25U spacebar and bottom row.
QMK and VIA are supported.
We have 2 plate options, PC and FR4, and 4 color options, e-off-white, e-red, black,
and black polycarbonate.
The typing angle is 7 degrees.
Finally the wired class80 will run you $385, and the bluetooth class80 will run you $415.
In here are TX stabs lubed with 205g0 and BDZ.
plateless hotswap is supported for this board, so we’re going to try it out.
I’m hoping it’s going to at least be more interesting than the polycarbonate plate.
In here go graphite golds lubed with 205g0.
I’m going to add in this battery compartment foam, because my board is wired,
And install the gaskets.
As mentioned before, the indicators here are optional.
I don’t really like how they look, so we’re going to remove them.
Finally we can connect the daughterboard, solenoid and buzzer PCB,
Install the inner assembly And close the case.
On top goes the MM studio retro keycaps.
Plateless doesn’t really sound good in this board.
Let’s try the FR4 half plate and top mounting and see if it changes anything.
I really wish I was given an FR4 full plate, because I thought that the switches with the
FR4 plate under them were the best I could get the board to sound.
Let's try a different foam configuration as well as a bit of tape.
Because of its sheer size, this is going to be a board more oriented towards a deeper
sound profile.
Though this board does have an internal weight, it doesn’t really seem like it’s helping
the sound that much, and I think this is because of its untraditional design.
At least there isn’t any hollowness.
Hopefully in the future this weight can be changed to a more simple rectangle design,
as I think that would not only be cheaper and easier to produce but help the sound a
lot more than it does right now.
All in all this board just doesn’t have a very strong sound without foams or tape.
Top mount does help a bit, but still not all the way.
Double S gasket tabs make this board very bouncy.
There isn’t really much noticeable difference from the class65’s single S tabs though.
I like the inclusion of top mounting capability, or, technically, isolated top mount with the
rubber top gaskets included.
But because I put the gaskets on the case, it’s still kinda gasket mounted.
Obviously, with my bottom foams, the bounce is pretty much gone, but the flex is still
there.
Although since there isn’t a flex cut between the number and first alpha row, the flex isn’t
all that consistent.
Not a huge deal though.
Top mounting didn’t really affect flex, because it’s on a half plate.
I love the design of the class 80.
It’s also a pretty big step forward from the original class65, ignoring whatever happened
with that and its unwarranted version change.
On top, we’ve got nice and tastefully chunky bezels, a lot more modest and moderated than
the class65’s.
The top bezel also has what I assume is a pen rail.
It’s a nice top flair, and I think a good-looking use of the extra top space needed for the
solenoid.
The bottom edge also has a little taper, helping with both comfort and visual flair.
The side profile is still pretty boring though, and exactly the same as the class65.
We’ve got our top and bottom case separated by this seam running around the whole perimeter.
The back has our recessed centered USBC port.
The bottom is where the design gets the most interesting.
Here is a brass SNES controller style weight, complete with stylized class 80 cursive on
the logo portion.
This is definitely the focal point of the board, so I wish the cursive could be cleaned
up a bit because it doesn’t look all that high quality.
With how many boards are doing the cursive bottom weight now, my standard for it is super
high, and this unfortunately does not meet it.
However, the inspiration for the design and it’s overall quality are definitely there.
Like the class65, this board isn’t for everyone.
Yes, it’s super fun, and definitely one that’ll catch other’s eyes, but the sound
could definitely be better, without having to use the foam which shall not be named.
But if the retro aesthetic is something you’re craving, the class80 is the perfect board
for you.