Turtle Beach Impact 500 TKL Keyboard Review

PerformanceS

Setting up the Impact 500 is a very simple task, it’s plug and play ready, so just hook up the USB cable and you’re good to go! There’s no crazy software, no complicated macro recording features, nothing. This is a pretty simple keyboard overall, albeit one that appears to be done very well.

Since features are not exactly abundant, there’s not really a lot to say about the keyboard in general, but from a performance perspective, it’s every bit as good as I had hoped. The switches are Cherry MX Blue, so they’re every bit the same Cherry MX Blue switches you find in a lot of keyboards. What’s different is the type of key caps, how the keys around mounted, how the chassis responds and I must admit, it handles very well indeed. The bulky weight of the keyboard means you don’t feel the key bounce throughout the keyboard, so it feels very quick and snappy. The keys are set quite low and the travel distance is as short as possible, without the key-caps bottoming out on the chassis, so you don’t get too much extra noise from that.

The downside, however, is MX Blue switches are inherently noisy in their own right, they have an audible and tactile “click” when pressed most of the way down. Even with O-ring mods installed, you’re not going to be able to avoid this, so if you’re planning on using this keyboard in a room where someone is also trying to watch TV, be warned, as they may want to smack you around the head with the keyboard every time you type an email.

Personally, I love the click noise and the way it feels. It’s like using an electric typewriter and it’s a very satisfying typing action. It’s also a fast keyboard, so competitive gamers are going to love the response on the keys, as it means you can fire off rapid keystrokes with confidence; calling all StarCraft II players!

The Windows lock and multimedia keys are a nice touch too, especially if you’re gaming; no more triggering the desktop or having to tab out your game to skip through your music collection.