KnewKey Rocksete Keyboard

[VSG]

The KnewKey Rocksete aims to impress with both sight and sound alike, combining a typewriter-style keyboard with a JBL surround sound system. Featuring two separate batteries and two different lighting systems, the Rocksete is a fusion of two peripherals for those who are looking for a portable peripheral solution.

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[FreedomEclipse]

I might not agree with the looks but its a pretty good idea.

What would of really added more value is if they added more I/O ports to it so it could be used like a docking station too. There is just so much empty space on that thing and its just wasted.

 

[neatfeatguy]

I'm not sure how I feel about this keyboard. If I wanted to use a type writer I'd just pull out the old one my mom has.

I wonder if they're trying to appeal to those hippies that like the to be "hip" and use type writers again?

 

[VSG]

There's definitely some of that going, but I still admire the company for trying something more than yet-another-mechanical keyboard.

 

[Cheeseball]

@VSG

I know its mainly a review of the keyboard part, but could you take up-close pictures of the JBL speakers in there?

 

[VSG]

@VSG

I know its mainly a review of the keyboard part, but could you take up-close pictures of the JBL speakers in there?

Anything specific you are looking for? I have some on page 3, for example.

 

[Cheeseball]

Anything specific you are looking for? I have some on page 3, for example.

Would it be easy for you to remove the speakers themselves from their compartment? I'd like to look at the drivers themselves if possible.

DON'T BREAK IT if it's hard to remove! I don't want you to end up destroying a reviewer unit and be out $250+ lol

 

[VSG]

Would it be easy for you to remove the speakers themselves from their compartment? I'd like to look at the drivers themselves if possible.

DON'T BREAK IT if it's hard to remove! I don't want you to end up destroying a reviewer unit and be out $250+ lol

Yeah, sadly it is interlocking plastic at weird curved angles, so that is why I just took pics from the keyboard side of things

 

[Cheeseball]

Yeah, sadly it is interlocking plastic at weird curved angles, so that is why I just took pics from the keyboard side of things

No worries!

How are the speakers in general? Are they bassy enough for ambience play? (playing music at low volume in the background)

 

[VSG]

No worries!

How are the speakers in general? Are they bassy enough for ambience play? (playing music at low volume in the background)

The speakers are the saving grace of this product as of the time I wrote this review over a month ago. Since then the company has acknowledged my concerns with the Bluetooth connectivity and are testing a firmware update that they said is helping a lot in their internal tests. They are fairly bassy, but keep in mind that most of my audio gear is via headphones so it is a different experience. The sound stage here is what impressed me the most for what is ultimately an add-on to a portable Bluetooth keyboard.

 

[Vayra86]

The real question that remains, is why

- worse typing speed and ergonomics
- vastly more expensive
- bulky, uncanny, heavier than alternatives

Basically this is a product that prides itself in stacking as many cons you can find in a mechanical keyboard and then come out all arrogant saying 'Tssss, at least I look the part'. Add gay male voice for extra effect.

I'm not sure how I feel about this keyboard. If I wanted to use a type writer I'd just pull out the old one my mom has.

I wonder if they're trying to appeal to those hippies that like the to be "hip" and use type writers again?

The term you are looking for is Hipster and yes. Confirmed in every possible way. The only thing missing is a plastic-wood-look lining somewhere.

 

[Valantar]

Wow, this thing is so terribly designed I can hardly believe it. I mean, I guess some credit is earned by thinking outside of the box, but none of this makes sense as a design. It's like a mash-up of a typewriter, a 50s American car and an early airliner. Then put through a blender and squirted out in cheap plastic. Just look at those... propeller-jet engine-whatever thingies on the... forehead. They look like a dirt cheap kids' toy and serve no purpose whatsoever. And let's not forget the utter lack of consistency - why is the outside of the tablet support curved while the inside has sharp corners? The overall style is a complete jumble. I guess all the design elements are taken from not too distant time periods from each other, but they still don't actually match. Also, that separate laptop stand thingy looks so damn impractical. There's 0% chance of that staying put if this is used as a non-permanent dock, so you'd need to reach behind the gigantic forehead on this thing to adjust its position every time you slightly bump it with your laptop. My money is on it tipping over if you're anything less than careful when placing your laptop on it. Which sounds like great fun. And then there's the power plugs and USB socket...on the side? Why? Do people want cheap, ugly cables prominently placed on their desks?

It feels like the people behind this thing didn't think it through whatsoever.

 

[gamefoo21]

The nobs are just so cheap looking they completely ruin the look.

The key caps are an absolute deal breaker though. Good typewriters actually had dished keys, or at least my grandmothers did.

Chiclet keys are crap to type on in my opinion.

As an idea it's definitely got promise, but it's in desperate need of improvement. That price suggests a premium experience.

Metal nobs
Good key caps
USB-C
Actual Bluetooth antenna

But it'll sell to Hipsters with too much money to use with their iCrap. LoL

 

[Valantar]

The nobs are just so cheap looking they completely ruin the look.

The key caps are an absolute deal breaker though. Good typewriters actually had dished keys, or at least my grandmothers did.

Chiclet keys are crap to type on in my opinion.

As an idea it's definitely got promise, but it's in desperate need of improvement. That price suggests a premium experience.

Metal nobs
Good key caps
USB-C
Actual Bluetooth antenna

But it'll sell to Hipsters with too much money to use with their iCrap. LoL

Good list, but it needs some more points:

Metal chassis (or at least better molds and surface finish)
Fold-out metal laptop support to ditch the terrible standalone thing
I/O moved to the back
More consistent design language

There's probably more to add, but with these 8 done they'd be a decent part of the way to an actually good acceptable product.

 

[Cheeseball]

The speakers are the saving grace of this product as of the time I wrote this review over a month ago. Since then the company has acknowledged my concerns with the Bluetooth connectivity and are testing a firmware update that they said is helping a lot in their internal tests. They are fairly bassy, but keep in mind that most of my audio gear is via headphones so it is a different experience. The sound stage here is what impressed me the most for what is ultimately an add-on to a portable Bluetooth keyboard.

I found out the speakers are the 5W ones with 4D bass radiators (passive) and the amplifier is the TAS5825M, so the equivalent of the ones in a JBL Flip 3.

 

[gamefoo21]

Good list, but it needs some more points:

Metal chassis (or at least better molds and surface finish)
Fold-out metal laptop support to ditch the terrible standalone thing
I/O moved to the back
More consistent design language

There's probably more to add, but with these 8 done they'd be a decent part of the way to an actually good acceptable product.

Agreed, metal braces at the minimum, too much plastic and it just feels cheap. I don't think this is supposed to be super mobile so the extra weight shouldn't be an issue.