This board is a stunner, no question about it. The Control Panel 01 really breaks away from the usual rectangular design we’re all used to. It’s got a beautiful shape, an eye-catching side profile, and subtle accents that make it visually interesting from almost every angle without feeling cluttered. It even has a fun LED light that suits the boards style and acts as a wireless indicatior. But what truly makes this unit stand out for me is the finish. The red on mine? It’s a baked lacquer, and it gives the board a shine and depth I’ve never seen before. Paired with some anodized parts, this thing just pops!

Now, I didn’t know much about lacquer finishes before taking a look at this unit, so I did a little research to see how it stacks up against the usual anodized coatings we’re all familiar with. Here’s what I found:

• Anodization is more durable and resistant to environmental wear.
• Lacquer, on the other hand, offers a stunning aesthetic but is less durable and may need more upkeep, making it better for decorative or low-impact items.

Since this keyboard isn’t exactly getting tossed around, I’m not worried about it chipping or wearing down. But yeah, in this case, beauty does come with a bit of a trade-off.

Now, while the red lacquer on the exterior is flawless, the inside is a different story. We had a lively debate on stream about this—some people just didn’t care since it’s internal, while others felt that at this price point, they expected every inch to be pristine. It’s an interesting conversation, and I want to bring in some context.

First, let’s talk MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity). For those unfamiliar, MOQ refers to the smallest quantity a manufacturer is willing to produce while keeping it profitable. Typically, manufacturers offer better pricing based on larger order volumes. This is because you are promising them more work and overall revenue, and they can pass on a discount at those higher levels. To understand this for keyboards, most higher end boards these days are much lower than some of the big international releases. We are talking between 30 – 300 on the high end, which bigger brands can reach 5,000-10,000 + units. 

With all this in mind, it’s easy to see why sacrifices are made on low MOQ items like the Control Panel 01 to keep costs in check. If not the prices can rack up and it would just be a failed project. Corners are typically cut in areas that don’t affect the final user experience or that no one will see, and sometimes corners aren’t cut and you can see that reflected in a final project. This is just one piece of the puzzle, though. There’s also the machining complexity and the sheer number of parts that need finishing. This board has a lot going on design-wise, which naturally drives the price up because it’s eating up more CNC machine time per unit. It’s the reason you see cheaper boards opting for flat pieces and more straightforward designs—less complexity means lower costs.

To be clear, I’m not saying this board needs to have its internals lacquered, but I get why some people would want that attention to detail, especially for a board at this price. Personally, it doesn’t bother me, but I think this is one of those subjective calls. My job is to give you the facts, so hopefully, this helps you make a more informed decision.