Unboxing & Review: Armaggeddon Black Hornet MKA-3 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Every now and then, we will have difficulties in selecting the best peripherals for our PC setups. Be it for gaming or your everyday use, we would dream of getting the best (so long as our budget allows). Problem is, not all the products are tested and tried so people tend to shy away from them. The Armaggeddon Black Hornet MKA-3 is one such product, priced at about RM459 in the local market, it will surely make most people jump backwards. However, thanks to the good people of Leapfrog Distribution SDN BHD for providing the Black Hornet MKA-3 for this review, we will attempt to lift the clouds of doubt in choosing this particular product.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Armaggeddon branding, you could go to Armaggeddon.net to get a peek of what Armaggeddon is all about ;) .

Here are features and specs of the Black Hornet MKA-3 from the official website:

Features

• High quality Cherry MX Black and Brown switches and long life up to 50 million operations
• 87 mechanical switches built-in with backlight effects.
• 6 fully Macro-Abletm keys
• Adjustable keys effective time in 7 speed transmission from 1ms ~ 16ms
• Adjustable polling rate: 125Hz/250Hz/500Hz/1000Hz
• Multimedia keys with built-in program
• Adjustable keys respond time
• Adjustable backlighting effects on keyboard button
• Yellow lighting characteristic gaming keys for WASD and arrow keys
• Gaming mode option for deactivation of windows key
• Detachable USB cable design with cable management system
• 1.5 meters multiflex cord wrapped with ultra-durable cable jacket.
• Built-in onboard memory – 32KB
• Intensified thick 1.8m USB cable for better durability

Specifications:

• Keyboard interface: USB wired
• Total keys: 87
• Cable length: 1.8m

 The Unboxing

The MKA-3 is packed in an overall black box that is decorated with a shot of the keyboard itself beside a Desert Eagle 50AE hand-pistol (no it doesn't come with one and neither is it bullet proof in that extent), with a cut-out window for potential buyers to try out the directional keys. This particular model is a TenKeyLess keyboard (a shorter version of a keyboard which doesn't have the numeric keypad at the right side) with Cherry MX black mechanical switches. According to the Armaggeddon, there is also a model with Cherry MX brown mechanical switches. 

For those of you who are not familiar with mechanical keyboards, here is a solid read on the basics of  Mechanical Keyboards courtesy of noobandroid of LowYat.net forums.

The back of the box details the features and specs of the MKA-3  in a myriad of languages in case English is not your strong point.

Moving to the side of the box gives us the content description as well as the system requirements of the MKA-3. The silver hue text on top of this mentions that the MKA-3 is a fast and precise keyboard thats designed for First Person Shooter games, though I think it's also suitable for other genres as well cause otherwise it'll be harder to justify the pricetag of RM459.00.

Taking the MKA-3 out from the box, its encased in a plastic shell all over much like any other keyboards. The second picture shows all that is contained in the box where you'll find teh keyboard, wrist-rest, a USB cable, 8 black keycaps, replacement rubber feets a driver CD and an instruction manual. A good bundle if you ask me, especially the included wrist-rest that feels very comfortable to use, but I think a key-remover should be included in the bundle for easy replacement of keycaps.

The Black Hornet MKA-3 feels very solid and heavy. For a TenKeyLess keyboard encased in hard plastic,  in no way it would flex and warp. The matte-black textured surface of the keyboard is fingerprint proof, definitely a good feature in my books but I'm not fancying the grey keycaps on the ASDW and Cursor keys though. There is the inclusion of black keycaps, those who have the same opinion myself will no doubt be replacing the keys right before using it; swapping them should be a walk in the park but I do wish they would've included a key remover.

Turning to the underside of the MKA-3, Armaggeddon have provided cable routing channels for the USB connection cable in which users can place through the centre or either side of the keyboard. The rubber feets are quite soft and prevents the keyboard from sliding around well enough and if you look back at the included accessories, replacements for the capsule-shaped are provided. 

One would be able to elevate the keyboard by flipping the feet up on the top left and right feet for a more comfortable position. I felt that Armaggeddon should have the feet flip sideways and thicker build, as the MKA-3 is a rather heavy keyboard, to prevent it from slamming onto the desk when pushed away from the user. The wrist-rest is kind of light but the build is robust and it's not going anywhere when in use.

The MKA-3 has a very small footprint of about half of my Logitech G510, a boon to those lacking desk space. You could also see that the LED backlit is many a times brighter than the my G510, this could be adjusted to 10 intensities as well as a pulse/breathing effect mode is available as well, though it is limited to a single colour combination of blue and yellow.

Here is a shot of both keyboards in the dark. Although the illumination on the MKA-3 looks sweet, one thing to note is that not all of the characters are lit. This is particularly true to the symbols that share the same key with the numeric keys and the controls on the function keys. The greyish print on these keycaps does little to help the situation.

EDIT- I have people asking me "What kind of stabilizers are used in the MKA-3?" For those of you who wish to know, it's a Costar type as depicted below. Thanks to fellow forumer "Ireferno" for pointing this out.

Functions & Software

As with most mechanical keyboards, combining the function key with another will change specific settings or perform tasks. Here are the list of functions that are used this way:

• Fn+F1/F2 = Adjusts response time
• Fn+F3/F4 = Adjusts polling rate
• Fn+F5 to F12 = Media controls
• Fn+Scroll Lock = Adjusts lighting effects
• Fn+Print screen = Gaming mode

Switching to Gaming mode on the MKA-3 will disable the Windows Key but you also have the option to switch the cursor keys with the ASDW by pressing Fn+Windows key in gaming mode. Probably this is so that the programmable macros is easier to reach as it is right at the top of them. However, I find myself comfortable while the traditional ASDW.

The software is included in the package in the form of a mini-CD, though you could always download it off from Armaggeddon's website. Installation is a standard affair and I can't foresee why would anyone have a problem with the installation.

Launching the driver software takes you to the main control where you'd be able to switch between profiles, create, load, save and edit profiles. There is also the reset button on the same screen that would reset the MKA-3 to stock. One neat feature of the profile editor is that it allows the keyboard to switch to the related profiles when launching the game/software. This is a good approach, especially when there are no physical profile switchers and/or indicator on the keyboard itself.

The macro manager allows you to program your combos that needed multiple key-press into a single key-press. This would later be assigned to one of the 6 macro-able keys right above the arrow-keys in the Macro settings tab. With the MKA-3's built in memory, one would be able to bring these settings to whichever PC without having to install the driver software every time.

The Advanced setting tab allows us to adjust the polling rate, turn the windows key on/off, set the key response time and adjust the light intensity.

Testing & Conclusion

The MKA-3 is pleasant to use while gaming, Mass Effect 3 and Battlefield 3 feels nicer with the keys being very responsive. No problems whatsoever with other titles as well.

The wrist-rest bundled with the MKA-3 is heaven sent, very comfortable to use with it's leathery feel cushion (much better than the normal plastic ones that comes with most keyboards in the market). It is not designed to be attached to the MKA-3 so you could position it anywhere you want and probably use it with other keyboards should you feel the need to. 

I learned the hard way that I am not suited for black mechanical keyboard while I was typing. I tend to miss keystrokes and my words will be left incomplete when typing on the MKA-3. I called in a good friend of mine to test it out and sure enough his feedback was different to mine where he found that the MKA-3 is very comfortable to use and even found that his typing speed improved with some keys being a little too sensitive (though he jumped when I told him the retail price). Probably the brown-switch version will be more suitable for me instead ;) So if you are ever in the market for a mechanical keyboard, just make sure that the switches are suitable for you. Though we both miss having the numpad at the side, some will be glad to be rid of it.

So in the end, I could say that the Black Hornet MKA-3 is a balanced mechanical keyboard small sized yet packed with nifty features. Not everyone will agree with me of course, especially when its' priced at RM459,  right where the other top brands are currently at.

Pros:

• Full mechanical keys (Black)
• Profile editor/creator is well thought of
• Solid construction
• Comfortable wrist-rest is provided

Cons:

• Priced on the high side
• Absence of physical profile switcher

Unboxing & Review: Armaggeddon Taranis Kai-13 Gaming Keyboard

** To all who are reading this, please note that there this is an update to the original review that was done in January 2013 posted in LowYat.Net forums**

Armaggeddon is a new brand that has been in the local market for about a year now. If you have seen any of their products, you’d notice that their products are flashy and is catered mostly towards gamers. This line of products focuses on making affordable gaming peripherals and other PC components without the heavy price tags compared to other brands in the market.

This article will feature the Armaggeddon Taranis Kai-13 illuminated Gaming Keyboard provided by the good people at Leapfrog Distribution. We’ll just call it the Kai-13 for short shall we? From the official website, Armaggeddon highlighted a few of the Kai-13’s features as follows:

• Driverless On-Board Macro Programming – The KAI-13 has 9 fully Macro-Able keys that can be programmed on-board without having to use the software. The software however serves to enhance macro-programming by including the option of a time delay.
• Durability – The silent switches on the KAI-13 have a keystroke life of up to 100,000,000 times. The intensified thick cable also ensures that this keyboard will last a long time.
• Gaming mode – This keyboard comes with the option to deactivate the windows key which makes certain that nothing can interrupt you while you play. As with most other Armaggeddon keyboards, all the gaming cluster keys (WASD and arrow keys) come with anti-ghosting capability and they are highlighted in silver so that it is easier to see.
• Adjustable backlighting – The keys on the KAI-13 come with a light glow effect to ensure better visibility in the dark.

This looks very promising considering the price point the Kai-13 is at RM189. This is cheaper than most illuminated gaming keyboard that I have seen so far.

The Unboxing

At first glance, the Kai-13 comes in a bluish box about its’ size with a windowed view of the actual product. The rest of it is an image of the keyboard along with the logo and some badges highlighting the key features of the Kai-13. At the top right corner, Armaggeddon promises a 2 years limited warranty, a nice addition being the newcomer for gaming peripherals.

The back of the box follows the theme from the front and has more descriptions of the keyboard features and specifications as well as another illustration of the Kai-13 with labels of the function keys.

The side of the box has a brief description of what’s inside and the system requirements to use the Kai-13.

The other side features the Armaggeddon branding and slogan.

The 2 ends will have the Armaggeddon emblem on a yellow background.

Opening the box, we can see that the Kai-13 is encased in a plastic shell, turns out that the window is only a cut-out haha. But IMHO, this provides better protection to the Kai-13 from both damage and dust as well.

This is all that comes in the box, warranty card is missing though but I was informed that users could enjoy the warranty once they have registered their product in the Armaggeddon website.

The user’s manual is a simple folded page with some instructions on how to use the macro keys and more illustrations of the Kai-13, very straightforward and easy to understand. Notice that there are no Driver CD provided as the Kai-13 boasts hardware programmable gaming functions; however, one could head over to the official website to download the driver.

First impression is that the Kai-13 looks simple and the build quality is quite good, its' sturdy with little flex to it compared to cheaper options in the market. As you might have seen from the pictures, 3 of the macro keys are placed under the space bar for easy access, which is convenient but it also makes the keyboard wider than normal. Placement of the macro record, game, light and  media keys are at the top left and right, which is ideal but they could have added a play/pause button as well.

The braided USB cable have a tight braided weave to it and is quite flexible though the cable is a tad bit short to my liking, some of us will have their systems situated under the desk and plugging the Kai-13 to the back may become challenging. There is no mention of the USB connector being gold plated but it does seem like it in this case. Armaggeddon emblem on the USB connector looks great and provides a nice touch to the aesthetics, would serve as an identifier as well when you’re looking at the back of the PC next time.

Placing it on the table with the Logitech G510, you’d notice that the Kai-13 is somewhat similar in size, probably due to the larger keys and the built-in wrist-rest. There are some silver colored keycaps on the WASD and directional keys, some may like this feature and some will not, but I guess we can’t please everyone.

Flipping the Kai-13 over, I first thought that the grooves are cable management tracks. Upon closer inspection, I think the grooves serve as a means to increase the structural strength.

There are instructions adhered to the back of the Kai-13 on how to use the Game, Light & Macro buttons, a nice afterthought in my opinion so that even if the instruction leaflet is lost you don’t have to rake your brains trying to figure out how to work the macro function. Four soft rubber feet on the corners ensures that the Kai-13 stays in place, and it’s in matching blue color with the base, nicely done. Also there are 2 raisers to position the keyboard in a tilt for better comfort when in use. Still, the Kai-13 would not budge while having only 2 rubber feets in contact with the table.

Plugging in the Kai-13 reveals the blue striking back light that is quite bright and visible in the lit room. This is adjustable, with 3 brightness settings instead of 5 as stated at the back of the Kai-13, by pressing the light switch on the top left and may be turned off should you wish to. I do wish that the macro keys and media keys are illuminated as well as I do game and watch movies in the dark quite often, hence I think that is an important feature that is missing.

The macro key will blink in red when pressed in combination with the macro keys which indicates that the Kai-13 is ready to record the macros. The game indicator will also light up red when the game key is pressed, which in turn indicates that the windows key is disabled, a helpful feature when gaming. The other 3 blue lights at the top are the Numlock, Capslock and Scrollock indicators.

From a distance, you could see that the LED illumination provides a soft under glow to the Kai-13. This is achieved by letting the light through the plastic cover which looks great.

Optional Driver

As I have mentioned before, the Kai-13 is a driver-less keyboard that records every macros via an on-board memory. This means that you could program your macros at home and still be able to use the same macros when you bring over the Kai-13 to a LAN party at another location. Additional drivers are available on-line via Armaggeddon.net to unlock the additional features. Downloading and installing the driver is a straightforward process that shouldn't take more than a few minutes.

There is nothing to do on the Home Base tab with more product highlights. Let’s move on.

At the Advanced Setting tab, there are 5 profile tabs where you could place different macros on each of the profiles for the different games you play. While this is a good plus to the feature of the Kai-13, it does lack some form of notification as you can’t change the name of the profile and the keyboard itself do not have any means to tell you what profile is currently active without the driver software open.

At the bottom, you have the option to select the polling rate from 125Hz, 500Hz and 1000Hz respectively. Should you wish to wipe the profile, the reset button is available in case you wish to wipe all profiles from the Kai-13.

On the Macro Setting tab, they provide pull-down menus for each macro keys on the Kai-13. For each macro key you’ll have the option to Assign a Macro (Duh), add Media control keys, an Internet explorer command, mouse command, a standard key press, application short-cut and disable it should you do not wish to use the macro key.

The macro key recording feature is well thought of where you could record key press sequences and delays. The interface is also easy to understand albeit the missing instructions which is welcoming for both seasoned and new users alike. Just make sure that the apply button is pressed before you exit.

Usage experience

I have mixed opinions when actually using the Kai-13; while gaming, the Kai-13 performs well enough.  All keys are registered without much problems and the macro buttons below the space-bar is especially useful. The keys are a bit softer than the G510 that I’m used to but they do provide sufficient tactile feedback for a membrane switch keyboard. But recording macros on the fly will need some practice as the MR key is not illuminated like the rest of the keyboard.

Typing on the Kai-13 proved to be a challenge for me for a number of reasons. I found myself pressing the wrong keys due to the larger sized keycaps and the silver coloured WASD keys will draw my attention to them more than the others. The smooth keycaps are also a culprit when speed typing, believe me, the slippery surface doesn't help at all, more often than not I'll have to backtrack and correct my typos.

In both gaming and typing, the keys are very quiet, quieter than most generic membrane keyboard; this includes the space bar so you won’t wake up those who are sleeping nearby. Good to know since most gamers I know are night owls so to speak.

Conclusion

Overall, the Taranis Kai-13 illuminated gaming keyboard is a good product in its own class. Not many keyboards priced below RM200 is as packed with features such as the Taranis Kai-13 which is complete with macro recording and back lighting. While it is far from perfect for gamers, I can say that it would be a good choice for gamers on a budget, this would be a viable gift choice as well.

Pros:

• Affordable price
• 2 years warranty
• On-board macro
• Adjustable Backlight
• Quiet keys
• Additional functionality when used with driver

 Cons:

• MR, Game, Light and media keys are not illuminated
• No indicators for profiles when used with optional driver
• Keys are somewhat slippery than usual, a menace when typing