As a QA myself, this is what dealing with developers (and I this case, wizards) is like. Way too much trust in their code.

Thanks, I think I'll give the Compact a shot. It's not that much more than a Tartarus and it has way more buttons.

Hmmm, seems a bit pricier and doesn't include any palm rest or customizable tenting. Not totally ruling it out or anything, just doesn't immediately seem like what I want.

Honestly, if you have the little pins or something similar to set them on, I'd just do all sides at once and be done with it. Set it bottom side down on the pins and then it doesn't matter if there are tiny little defects.

I have the Air75 from Nuphy and it is my current office board. It's a very nice keyboard. I guess the new model uses QMK now, which is even nicer, so easy recommendation from me. I haven't used their newer switches, but I have the tactiles from the old model and they feel quite nice.

Okay, all good info. I will eventually want to run more electric, but I'll hire someone for that. I'll have to check on the framing and see if permits are required, the actual process seems easy enough.

It is a good finish, though, at least if you want something that is incredibly easy to use, nearly impossible to mess up, and that offers decent protection. However, you'll never get a shiny look from it and if you specifically want a film finish, this ain't it. You can find some cheaper alternatives, though not all are made equal.

In terms of FR, the HD560s are quite good, but I feel like they compress the dynamics a bit. Probably wouldn't be the only pair I use (but I'd always check on multiple anyway), but they are hard to beat in terms of price vs performance. The Beyers can be good for treble analysis in particular, but I have a big head and they are just not comfortable for me. Still, those would be my two picks.

Bummer, PC38x is one of my favorite headphones period. Except for a driver going bad and having to buy a whole new pair because Drop doesn't sell parts... People can hate on "gaming" things all they want, but sometimes it's just more convenient to have the mic attached and if the headphone also sounds great, why fight it?

I have the 75 at work. I kinda think I prefer the low travel distance of low profile switches and the Nuphys sound really good. If only I could get that feel in my QK75, hmmmmmmmm.

I wonder if this means they'll continue pretending that their Drop exclusives are "limited time" and they can't stock replacement parts as a result. Or what it will mean for their Epos headphones since they are now owned by a direct competitor.

You are partially right. IEM stands for in-eat monitor and that name comes from the fact that it is like having a monitor (like a stage wedge) in your ear. That is all that means. It doesn't have to be used on stage, it doesn't have to hook up yo ang particular transmitter/receiver, it's just an audio playback device that fits inside your ear canal. It is no longer restricted to musicians, it refers to a huge array of consumer devices, too. Nearly all of them have a standard 3.5 mm plug on the end, though you can probably find some cables with larger balanced plugs.

Headphones are worn on your head, so they have a headband and sit on or around your ears. Ear buds (and probably earphones, though I don't see that term much anymore) are like regular Airpods that go in your ear, but they don't get shoved down into your ear canal and they don't create any sort of seal.

The only difference in tech is that smaller devices require smaller drivers (the "speaker"), so they may or may not use the same kind of drivers. But all of them serve the basic function of moving air to create sound waves.