the brightest keyboard on the market

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In parallel with the Vulcan II Mini already passed through our hands, Roccat has lifted the veil on the Vulcan II Max. This full-size keyboard once again emphasizes RGB and incorporates the new features of the second generation.

Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

The keyboard gamer Roccat Vulcan II Max is at the top of the manufacturer’s range with an introductory price of 230 euros. This new model retains the particular design of the keys and switches, typical of the Vulcan range.

Compared to the Mini II, here we find a full-size keyboard, which once again emphasizes RGB lighting with the arrival of a flexible and translucent wrist rest. This new model does not seem to do a ton in terms of functionality, but is nevertheless positioned as a very complete keyboard.

RGB lighting before being a keyboard?

The chassis that serves as the basis for the Vulcan II Max retains the same design codes as the Mini version. This one is constructed mostly of plastic and has a brushed metal plate on its top. Discreet shiny inserts adorn the perimeter of the keyboard to give it a little more cachet.

Roccat Vulcan II Max
Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

The relative thinness of the chassis does not prevent the keyboard from being very rigid while giving off an appreciable impression of solidity. The construction is, as always with Roccat, very neat. Vulcan range obliges, the general design of the keyboard is above all embellished by the very special keys that accompany it.

Roccat Vulcan II Max
Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

Indeed, the translucent switches are installed on top of the metal plate and are surmounted by traditional flat keys. This results in a very effective diffusion of RGB lighting, but also the need to get used to the typing experience provided by the keyboard, but we will come back to this a little later.

Roccat Vulcan II Max
Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

the layout The Vulcan II Max’s full frame allows it to accommodate a few extra buttons for media and volume control. We thus benefit from 3 control keys, associated with a volume adjustment wheel. Really practical to use, this wheel is however not customizable and can only be used to manage the sound of the computer.

Roccat Vulcan II Max
Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

The Vulcan II Max is therefore delivered with an amazing wrist rest since it is designed with flexible and translucent materials. The objective is obviously to diffuse dynamic RGB lighting, thanks to LEDs installed at the level of the attachments of the appendix. The visual effect is successful and the comfort is there. However, we remain skeptical about the lifespan of this plastic.

Roccat Vulcan II Max
Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

The keyboard connection is ensured by an imposing braided cable of about 1.8 m. More surprising: the Vulcan II Max needs two USB ports to work. Unlike other references in this case, the second port seems necessary to power the lighting system since no USB port pastrough is present on the keyboard.

Under the frame, there are the usual non-slip pads accompanied by retractable feet allowing adjustment of the inclination of the keyboard.

Double LED for double functionality

The functionality of the Vulcan II Max is still dictated by the Roccat Swarm driver software. The interface remains austere, but the features are there. All keys except dedicated media buttons can be reassigned. Many functions are available to customize the keyboard according to needs and uses.

Roccat Vulcan II Max

RGB lighting can also be finely customized. Different settings are offered, but the user retains the possibility of modifying the lighting of the keys in detail. Note in passing that, as on Mini, some keys are equipped with double LED lighting, for secondary functions, which is also customizable via a dedicated menu.

Settings can be saved in profiles that the user will associate with their games and applications. The keyboard also includes a memory to store up to 4 profiles, and thus do without Roccat Swarm (to free up some RAM for example).

Roccat Vulcan II Max

We mentioned the dual LED functionality during our test of the Vulcan II Mini and this is also present on the Max model. As a reminder, some function keys have a second LED dedicated to illuminating the inscriptions of this function. Concretely, this makes it possible to highlight the state of a function or its activation when using the latter.

Roccat Vulcan II Max

Roccat has gone a bit further here with additional functions accessible through the F1 to F12 keys. It is, for example, possible to interact with certain software or even to quickly mute your microphone. Even more interesting: the 3 keys to the left of the multimedia controls display the CPU, GPU and memory load of the computer by changing from green to red. Well seen !

Convincing performance

We were seduced by the linear switches that fitted our copy of the Mini. Here, we find again the Titan II optomechanical switches, but in a “Brown” tactile version. The latter offer an identical stroke of 3.6 mm with an activation point a little further, since positioned at 1.8 mm.

Roccat Vulcan II Max
Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

In addition to this greater activation distance, these are therefore tactile switches which impose greater resistance at the activation point. As often, it’s a matter of taste, but these switches are, in our opinion, less suitable for competitive video game use.

On the other hand, the editors will find their account and will benefit here from a very pleasant keyboard, although a little noisy and despite the fact that it is not clicky. However, and despite these specificities, it will be an effective playmate and obviously remains available with linear switches (red).

Roccat Vulcan II Max
Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

The adaptation time for the good apprehension of the keys is once again in the game. The keys are relatively spaced and the edges of the latter rather prominent. During the first hours of use, there is therefore a tendency to touch the neighboring keys and sometimes to activate them involuntarily. This remark is nevertheless a little less true on this model equipped with tactile switches than on the Mini II and its linear switches.

SOUND TEST

Price and availability of the Roccat Vulcan II Max keyboard

The Roccat Vulcan II Max keyboard is offered at the recommended price of 230 euros.

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