Performance

The Tesoro GRAM Spectrum TKL supports N-key rollover USB out of the box, which tested successfully using Aqua's test. In case you notice the keyboard only displaying 6KRO, use Fn + Del to toggle NKRO mode on. Switch Hitter also confirmed no chatter with these keys.

When first powered on, the keyboard lights up in a rainbow wave mode from left to right as seen above. The colors are quite striking, especially on this white color option for the keyboard, and the LEDs are fairly bright on top of a smooth transition that makes good use of the 16.8 M color palette available here.


In a separate test via one of the preset multi-color options, I tested for light bleed, and it was definitely present at the common edges because of the floating keycaps, but not to where it is distracting. I then manually set all the keys to white using the software driver to test for color fidelity since RGB LEDs have a hard time depicting white, and compared to most such RGB keyboards, it was a white with a relatively strong pink hue.

Here are some more of the lighting effects demonstrated to give you a better idea of what to expect. Overall, the dynamic effects work well, and the keyboard looks quite nice when backlit.


There is not much to do when it comes to onboard controls with the GRAM Spectrum TKL, with the software driver taking precedence for both functionality and aesthetics alike. The manual does a good job of going through the options available, which includes a walkthrough of the pre-programmed functions in the Fn row and elsewhere. You can activate the five onboard profiles, aside from the default PC mode which can be set up in the driver as seen on the previous page. There is also a game mode which does exactly what you think and disables the Win key to prevent accidental interruption when gaming. You can also toggle Fn + End to enable/disable the entire keyboard for, say, using a controller or other peripheral to avoid accidental keystrokes of any kind. Interestingly, there is also an on-the-fly macro recording option built into the keyboard, and it works well in a pinch for when you can't use the driver and edit the macro.


Tesoro has provided the force diagrams for the Agile Red and Agile Blue switches, along with some comparisons to competing switches. However, this conveniently omits the Cherry MX Speed (Silver) switch and other such switches that have come out since the original Gram Spectrum launched, which have similar features as the Agile Red option, but take it further and have an even higher actuation point at just 1.2 mm. You would be hard pressed to notice the difference, but I am happy to give it back to marketing when they want to make this a selling point and conveniently ignore what is out there.


As always, the sound of a keyboard is based on more than just the switch type. So when comparing sound clips, consider the keyboard as a whole. In this case, I have provided above an example sound clip of me typing on the Tesoro Gram Spectrum TKL sample at ~95 WPM as it comes out of the box. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with linear switches. I did bottom out more often than not because of the relatively low actuation force and travel distance here. The thicker PBT keycaps definitely affect the sound signature compared to thin ABS keycaps on the same switch and keyboard case, and I think for the better, too.