Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
If you take a look you will also see some other creative products in the photo like the Katana which is also currently being offered on Massdrop at a crazy price.
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/creative-sound-blasterx-katana
Also the creative H7 Headset and Seige Mouse are also part of my current setup.
Cheers.
Creative Labs Sound BlasterX Vanguard K08 Keyboard
01 / 12
Creative Labs Sound BlasterX Vanguard K08 Keyboard
bookmark_border
Where's the price?
To negotiate the best possible price for our customers, we agree to hide prices prior to logging in.
1.1K requests
Product Description
Designed with equal respect to ergonomics, precision, and looks, the Creative Labs Sound BlasterX Vanguard K08 keyboard is a devastating combo for any competitive gamer. It’s made with responsive, custom-made OMRON mechanical switches that are considerably faster than those found on standard keyboards Read More
search
close
Sort by: Top Conversations
keyboard_arrow_down6a73
33
May 23, 2017
Sound Blaster soundcards and headsets made sense. But Sound Blaster mice and keyboards??
Urano_Metria
658
Oct 1, 2018
Why was this keyboard posted in the wrong community on Massdrop? This belongs in Mech Keys. I only subscribe to Mech Keys and Audiophile on Massdrop, and I probably never would have even seen this had Linus not mentioned it on his last video.
TelFiRE
605
May 23, 2017
"designed with equal respect to ergonomics, precision, and looks"
Uhhh. The ergonomics literally couldn't be worse. This is a full size keyboard (terrible for your upper back over long periods) with a completely standard layout (fine, but not ergonomic). "Precision"? What does that even mean for a keyboard? And looks....ugggggghhh
Uhhh. The ergonomics literally couldn't be worse. This is a full size keyboard (terrible for your upper back over long periods) with a completely standard layout (fine, but not ergonomic). "Precision"? What does that even mean for a keyboard? And looks....ugggggghhh
TelFiRE
605
May 31, 2017
Fingers move naturally vertically, not horizontally.
I use a standard keyboard layout. There's nothing wrong with it for most people. But ask someone with serious finger/hand/wrist issues whether there's any point to ergonomic keyboards. (Spoiler: there is.)
I use a standard keyboard layout. There's nothing wrong with it for most people. But ask someone with serious finger/hand/wrist issues whether there's any point to ergonomic keyboards. (Spoiler: there is.)
TelFiRE
605
May 31, 2017
Just because a guy on the Internet says something isn't true doesn't mean it's not.
Most keyboards marketed as "ergonomic" are horseshit. That doesn't change the facts. If you think the typewriter layout just happened randomly upon the most efficient layout without even trying, you're on hard drugs. The typewriter layout was designed to be easily machined, not to be the best typing experience, and is as dated as things in the tech world come.
Ergodox and other split layout keyboards have undeniable advantages that don't come packaged with any disadvantages except a tiny learning curve. There's no room for argument.
Most keyboards marketed as "ergonomic" are horseshit. That doesn't change the facts. If you think the typewriter layout just happened randomly upon the most efficient layout without even trying, you're on hard drugs. The typewriter layout was designed to be easily machined, not to be the best typing experience, and is as dated as things in the tech world come.
Ergodox and other split layout keyboards have undeniable advantages that don't come packaged with any disadvantages except a tiny learning curve. There's no room for argument.
Tex-Arozzi
5852
Arozzi
Dec 5, 2017
If you take a look you will also see some other creative products in the photo like the Katana which is also currently being offered on Massdrop at a crazy price.
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/creative-sound-blasterx-katana
Also the creative H7 Headset and Seige Mouse are also part of my current setup.
Cheers.
rootduck
207
Jun 25, 2018
Tex-Arozziin the link to the katana you posted there is literally a picture of the office from the photos you posted here. I'm guessing you have a vested interest in Creative.
I have a few creative products and I feel like they are "meh" at best. My external Creative Soundblaster K3+ is trash. Ive tried a few of creative's headphone amps and USB headphones for gaming and all of them are trash as well. Specifically each product presented with a 120Hz ground loop on a bare laptop, PS4 and iphone under multiple powersources.
Im not saying anything about this keyboard specifically but when I see Creative in 2018 I run the other way.
As for the keyboard, the proprietary switches and clunky software for programming keys makes this board much harder to customize than other offerings on massdrop. The RGB options dwarf in comparisson to those offered on Vortex or Ducky boards. Finally its Creative which is a soundcard company. So in general this keyboard is a bit like a "Google Toaster". While Google (arguably) a great search engine it's greatness does not translate to unrelated products.
I have a few creative products and I feel like they are "meh" at best. My external Creative Soundblaster K3+ is trash. Ive tried a few of creative's headphone amps and USB headphones for gaming and all of them are trash as well. Specifically each product presented with a 120Hz ground loop on a bare laptop, PS4 and iphone under multiple powersources.
Im not saying anything about this keyboard specifically but when I see Creative in 2018 I run the other way.
As for the keyboard, the proprietary switches and clunky software for programming keys makes this board much harder to customize than other offerings on massdrop. The RGB options dwarf in comparisson to those offered on Vortex or Ducky boards. Finally its Creative which is a soundcard company. So in general this keyboard is a bit like a "Google Toaster". While Google (arguably) a great search engine it's greatness does not translate to unrelated products.
OleDaneBoy
77
Dec 2, 2017
Keyboard from Sound Blaster.... no thanks. Non-MX compatible switches... no thanks. Tacky design and cheap build quality... no thanks.
For the price of this thing even at $70 you can get a much better quality keyboard, at $180 you deserve this keyboard if you spend that much on it.
For the price of this thing even at $70 you can get a much better quality keyboard, at $180 you deserve this keyboard if you spend that much on it.
Geoff.Lucas
44
Jun 27, 2018
OleDaneBoyI agree with most of your points, but I do have one and build quality, on mine anyway, is very good. I haven't messed with advanced features much, but subjectively typing feel is very good as well (compared against cherry browns).
DigitalRonyn
558
Creative Labs
Jan 25, 2017
Hey there everyone, his is Ryan from the Sound BlasterX team.
I just wanted to let you all know I'm here to answer any questions you may have regarding the Siege or Vanguard. I also wanted to give a bit of background on the "why" we've decided to venture into the brutally competitive gaming peripheral segment.
The Sound Blaster brand has been around PC Gaming since the well...since the beginning of PC gaming really. And all through that time we've innovated and striven to bring new technology to gamers and the gaming desktop to make the experience as exciting and cinematic as possible.
We've been watching the absolute magnificent resurgence of the PC gaming segment and seen the opportunity in the peripherals segment to do something different that would compliment our product lines and provide a full gaming accessory and peripheral lineup.
When the press has been asking about "Why would a sound manufacturer get into MIce and Keyboards?" My response has been "Why would a mouse and keyboard manufacturer get into audio products?"
If you're passionate about gaming and passionate about making good products...it's a pretty logical extension as long as you have the engineering talent to jump in feet first.
Our expertise for 30 years has been centered around audio, but we have a core of very talented product designers who are themselves gamers and when the opportunity to make peripherals was brought to the table they grabbed on to it and started the process with making products that are ones that we ourselves want to use on our desktops.
Coming to market with a "me-to" factory solution was not an option. By that I mean the multitude of peripheral clones out there that are simply marketing exercises for brands to slap their name on a factory default model and call it a "gaming" product by adding some LEDs or catching lighting.
The Siege and Vanguard are purpose built and intentionally designed to bring another flavor to the peripheral market. We KNOW how keyboards and mice are some of the most scrutinized peripherals on the market by the demanding gamer because they are essentially the primary interface point for a gamer to the game. So we wanted to make products that would bring a unique combination of tech and features to the market..not something to follow existing paradigms but something that a gamer who might have liked something "similar" to the Siege or Vanguard would find a PERFECT fit with them.
And once again we've decided to jump in the deep end...just like with our Katana we've come to Massdrop to launch our latest products to some of the most scrutinizing and demanding customers out there (at a great price of course!). We know this category is "new" to us in many peoples minds (we actually made mice and keyboards 13 years ago when I started at Creative), but are confident people who jump in now are going to really dig what these products are bringing to the table.
We hope you enjoy!
Ryan & The Sound BlasterX Team
I just wanted to let you all know I'm here to answer any questions you may have regarding the Siege or Vanguard. I also wanted to give a bit of background on the "why" we've decided to venture into the brutally competitive gaming peripheral segment.
The Sound Blaster brand has been around PC Gaming since the well...since the beginning of PC gaming really. And all through that time we've innovated and striven to bring new technology to gamers and the gaming desktop to make the experience as exciting and cinematic as possible.
We've been watching the absolute magnificent resurgence of the PC gaming segment and seen the opportunity in the peripherals segment to do something different that would compliment our product lines and provide a full gaming accessory and peripheral lineup.
When the press has been asking about "Why would a sound manufacturer get into MIce and Keyboards?" My response has been "Why would a mouse and keyboard manufacturer get into audio products?"
If you're passionate about gaming and passionate about making good products...it's a pretty logical extension as long as you have the engineering talent to jump in feet first.
Our expertise for 30 years has been centered around audio, but we have a core of very talented product designers who are themselves gamers and when the opportunity to make peripherals was brought to the table they grabbed on to it and started the process with making products that are ones that we ourselves want to use on our desktops.
Coming to market with a "me-to" factory solution was not an option. By that I mean the multitude of peripheral clones out there that are simply marketing exercises for brands to slap their name on a factory default model and call it a "gaming" product by adding some LEDs or catching lighting.
The Siege and Vanguard are purpose built and intentionally designed to bring another flavor to the peripheral market. We KNOW how keyboards and mice are some of the most scrutinized peripherals on the market by the demanding gamer because they are essentially the primary interface point for a gamer to the game. So we wanted to make products that would bring a unique combination of tech and features to the market..not something to follow existing paradigms but something that a gamer who might have liked something "similar" to the Siege or Vanguard would find a PERFECT fit with them.
And once again we've decided to jump in the deep end...just like with our Katana we've come to Massdrop to launch our latest products to some of the most scrutinizing and demanding customers out there (at a great price of course!). We know this category is "new" to us in many peoples minds (we actually made mice and keyboards 13 years ago when I started at Creative), but are confident people who jump in now are going to really dig what these products are bringing to the table.
We hope you enjoy!
Ryan & The Sound BlasterX Team
DigitalRonyn
558
Creative Labs
Jan 26, 2017
Love this feedback. Definitely taken and will keep in mind for future revisions.
When we were speccing out the Vanguard one of our key goals was to have all the "extras" on the keyboard while maintaining a minimalist approach.
You can find a keyboard with Media Keys but not a volume wheel.or a volume wheel but no USB passthrough, or USB passthrough but no macro keys, etc...we wanted all of them. Our ID team did a great job putting it all into the Vanguard chassis IMO.
They told us MANY times "You know it would be easier if..." and we said "Yeah, but if it was easier it'd be like every other "gaming" keyboard on the market." So we definitely made it harder on them, but I think it's paid off in the end.
When we were speccing out the Vanguard one of our key goals was to have all the "extras" on the keyboard while maintaining a minimalist approach.
You can find a keyboard with Media Keys but not a volume wheel.or a volume wheel but no USB passthrough, or USB passthrough but no macro keys, etc...we wanted all of them. Our ID team did a great job putting it all into the Vanguard chassis IMO.
They told us MANY times "You know it would be easier if..." and we said "Yeah, but if it was easier it'd be like every other "gaming" keyboard on the market." So we definitely made it harder on them, but I think it's paid off in the end.
DigitalRonyn
558
Creative Labs
Jan 26, 2017
Hey RampageZ! Thanks for the comment here.
I love your comment on the overall design of the Vanguard...you hit the nail on the head. We wanted something that would look great on a gamers desktop..or your office desktop as well.
Here's answers to the questions you posed above.
1. Yep, you can customize lighting per key. And you can customize the color on the X logo. The media keys are in white (non-customizable).
2. The Vanguard retains the last set of instructions you gave it for lighting. But if you want to program, etc you'll need the software loaded up.
3. Custom profiles are being added all the time and we're opening this up for users to add their own (and download, etc).
I love your comment on the overall design of the Vanguard...you hit the nail on the head. We wanted something that would look great on a gamers desktop..or your office desktop as well.
Here's answers to the questions you posed above.
1. Yep, you can customize lighting per key. And you can customize the color on the X logo. The media keys are in white (non-customizable).
2. The Vanguard retains the last set of instructions you gave it for lighting. But if you want to program, etc you'll need the software loaded up.
3. Custom profiles are being added all the time and we're opening this up for users to add their own (and download, etc).
ferretallica
919
May 11, 2018
A Creative Sound Blaster keyboard? Wow, this will go great with my Seagate Barracuda sound card and Topre Realforce gaming monitor.
ShazMan
163
Feb 3, 2019
Times are hard for Creative. Using the Sound Blaster name to sell gaming keyboards must be a new low for them. Gone are the days of sound cards, X-fi and Audigy. Granted most of them where still geared towards gamers but a product that has the word "Sound" but has nothing to do with Audio just sounds weird to me, pardon the pun.
MKiro
52
Jul 17, 2019
Man, but it would be nice for it to have a sound card. Though that would drive up the prices even more- the only integrated sound card keyboard I know is the Mars Pro, and that's like 300$.
TLemelin
165
Jul 17, 2019
MKiroThat would be interesting, but a very niche product. I wouldn't want my speakers plugged into my keyboard, but I could see someone who does digital audio editing making use of that.
SaskAudioGuy
438
Mar 15, 2019
Community focused eh?
How little they remember the absolute nightmare that was when Vista came out. The drivers were bugged, and in the release notes, they blamed Vista for being too efficient the drivers couldn't keep up. Let alone the feature strip from the X-Fis because they didn't want to enable features. Hacked drivers, made by the community gave the X-Fi an extended life, then there were the feature gutted X-Fi's that weren't really X-Fi's.
I still have my pci based X-Fi, the remote, the 5 1/4" front panel, with it's evil key'd ribbon cable, so you couldn't just replace it with a better cable. It's actually my second, my first was a better card, as it wasn't a near fail, as it lived without a glued on heatsink.
I'm rambling because I had used SoundBlaster's from an ISA SB16, my favourite was my Awe 64 Gold(that was a beastly card), to that X-Fi redux. I still use sound cards, some cheap, some not so cheap, I'm running a modified Strix Raid Dlx currently in my desktop.
I'm rambling aren't I, but if this thing needs 'Creative' software, I'd be worried about support going forward.
Edit: After reading the reviews, looks like it's the same old Creative, decent hardware, lousy software. Went to Creative's support page, firmware is 2 years old, but at least the 'control' software has been recently updated last month, with mentions about performance improvements and bug fixes.
Link: https://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?prodID=22925&prodName=Sound+BlasterX+Vanguard+K08
TLDR: Sounds like a solid product for a great price, the software side isn't great, but it is very tempting for the price. The big dampener is that unless you reside in the US, no warranty for you.
Edit2: The Switches are extremely similar to the Romer-G Linear switches that Logitech uses. The total stroke has only been extended from 3.2mm to 3.5mm and the plastic colours are different.
(Edited)
SneakeLlama
19
Jun 3, 2019
See, none of that matters. The keyboard is great and the software works. Everything elsenis just senseless drama.
SaskAudioGuy
438
Jun 3, 2019
SneakeLlamaSolid enough hardware with typical Creative software support.
I just shared my opinion, as you are and drama makes things interesting.
Drakolich
7
Oct 3, 2018
https://us.creative.com/p/peripherals/sound-blasterx-vanguard-k08 $139.99
And here $179.99.
Nice... how do I call it when some big name makes a product, raises its price, then lowers it as a "discount"? Am I missing anything? Are we paying for the discount by it being hosted on massdrop or what?
Misaeloaiza
2
Oct 6, 2018
So your point of discussion is that the full price shown here (which you are not paying) is higher that the one on the link (which you’re also not paying)?
Dafriz
4
Oct 31, 2018
Drakolichthe keyboard is a few years old, when it first came out there weren't many rgb keyboards (fully adressable) out and most of them were 200+
creative came out at 180 and over the past few years it has gone down in value due to costs coming down, competition from other vendors that are in the 100-150 range, and demand...
used to work retail and people always got confused how a digital camera from a year ago had a higher original price than the newer model and I told them... there isn't much they can improve on these models in this price range so what changes is not as much and due to only one part changing in the device makes it cheaper to mass produce and saves money on R&D.. thus this camera is 20 dollars less than the older model
Showing 65 of 220
Recent Activity
Related Products
Drop Refurbished
Like-new products you can trustDrop Rewards
Get $5 for every 500 points you earn! Learn more
Drop Keyboard Club
Become a member and expand your keycap collectionCollaborate With Us
For Brands & DesignersFollow Drop