Evoworks Evo75 vs. Dry Studio ATM98: The Battle Between ‘Thock’ and Stealth

The New Standard for Prebuilt Enthusiast Boards

For years, the entry barrier to the ‘high-end’ mechanical keyboard hobby was steep. You either bought a generic gaming board from a big-box retailer that sounded like a hollow plastic box, or you spent weeks sourcing a CNC-milled case, lubing switches by hand, and praying your solder joints held. That divide has evaporated. We have entered an era where prebuilt keyboards are arriving with acoustic tuning and build materials that would have been unthinkable five years ago.

Two recent arrivals, the Evoworks Evo75 and the Dry Studio ATM98, represent the two extreme poles of this modern enthusiast movement. While they share a commitment to premium materials and hot-swappable versatility, they target entirely different sensory experiences. One is designed to be an acoustic powerhouse, delivering the deep, resonant ‘thock’ that hobbyists crave. The other is a masterclass in stealth, providing a typing experience that is nearly silent without sacrificing the tactile satisfaction of a mechanical press.

Evoworks Evo75: Chasing the Perfect ‘Thock’

The Evo75 is a 75-percent layout board, meaning it strips away the number pad to save desk space while retaining the function row and a few dedicated navigation keys. In the enthusiast community, ‘thock’ describes a low-pitched, meaty sound—the opposite of the high-pitched ‘clack’ associated with cheaper boards. The Evo75 doesn’t just achieve this; it optimizes for it.

The secret to the Evo75’s sound lies in its material stack. It utilizes Keygeek Neo Rye linear switches paired with a polypropylene (PP) plate. While aluminum plates are common for their rigidity, PP is softer and more flexible, which absorbs higher frequencies and allows the deeper tones of the switch to dominate. When combined with the internal gasket mount and leaf springs, the result is a typing experience that feels bouncy and sounds like a controlled sequence of deep thuds.

The Aesthetics of the ‘Nebula’ Finish

While the board is available in various colors like sage green and purple, the ‘Nebula’ black variant stands out for its sophistication. Rather than a flat matte black, the spray-coated finish contains microscopic flecks of color that shimmer under direct light. This attention to detail extends to the chassis, where a polished weight is embedded into the base, adding necessary heft to prevent the keyboard from sliding during intense typing sessions.

Practical Trade-offs

No board is without compromise. In the pursuit of a compact form factor, the Evo75 lacks a dedicated storage slot for its 2.4GHz USB dongle. If you plan to move the keyboard between machines, you’ll need to find a separate place to keep the receiver. Additionally, the physical three-position toggle switch for connectivity feels slightly ‘floaty’ compared to the rock-solid feel of the rest of the chassis.

Dry Studio ATM98: High Visibility, Zero Noise

If the Evo75 is a bass guitar, the Dry Studio ATM98 is a muted piano. It employs an 1800-layout (or 98%), which keeps the number pad but squishes the keys closer together to maintain a smaller footprint than a traditional 104-key board. This makes it the ideal choice for data-heavy workflows where a numpad is non-negotiable, but desk real estate is still a priority.

The ATM98’s primary claim to fame is the Bsun Light Sakura linear switches. These are engineered for silence. Unlike many ‘silent’ switches that can feel mushy or like you’re typing on rubber bands, the Sakura switches maintain a crisp return. They produce a soft, velvety sound—comparable to raindrops on glass—that is virtually undetectable to a microphone during a Zoom call or a Twitch stream.

A Bold Design Statement

While the acoustics are stealthy, the visuals are not. The ATM98 features a translucent top case that allows RGB lighting to bleed through in a diffused glow. The centerpiece, however, is the massive rotary dial. Positioned above the number pad, this dial is both a functional tool for volume and playback control and a visual spectacle. Even with the RGB turned off, the scale of the dial makes the ATM98 an unmistakable piece of hardware on any desk.

Technical Breakdown: Gasket Mounts and Hot-Swapping

To understand why these keyboards feel superior to standard office peripherals, one must look at the gasket mount system. In a traditional keyboard, the plate is screwed directly into the case, creating a rigid, harsh impact. A gasket mount suspends the plate-and-PCB assembly using rubber or foam strips. This creates a ‘cushion’ effect, reducing the vibration felt in the fingertips and cleaning up the acoustic profile by eliminating the metallic ‘ping’ often found in cheaper aluminum boards.

Both the Evo75 and ATM98 are hot-swappable. This means the switches are pushed into sockets rather than soldered to the board. For the user, this removes the risk of destroying a keyboard if a single key fails. More importantly, it allows for endless customization. If you love the Evo75’s build but want a tactile ‘bump’ instead of a smooth linear feel, you can simply pull out the Neo Rye switches and plug in your preferred tactile switch without needing a soldering iron.

What This Means for the Consumer

The emergence of boards like the Evo75 and ATM98 signals a shift in the market. We are seeing the ‘democratization’ of keyboard luxury. You no longer need to be part of a niche community or join a limited-time Group Buy (GB) to get a keyboard with a high-quality sound profile and premium materials.

For the remote worker, the Evo75 offers a tactile and auditory reward for the grind of daily typing. Its sound profile turns a mundane task into a sensory experience. For the corporate professional or content creator, the ATM98 solves the age-old conflict between wanting a mechanical feel and needing to maintain a professional, quiet environment. The ability to have ‘stealth’ acoustics combined with a high-end build means you no longer have to settle for a membrane keyboard just to avoid annoying your coworkers.

A Note on Compatibility

One critical detail for macOS users: the Evo75 includes alternate Mac modifier keycaps in the box, ensuring the layout matches the Apple ecosystem. The ATM98, however, does not provide these specific keycaps, which may be a minor inconvenience for those who rely on visual cues for their Command and Option keys.

Comparative Analysis: Which One Wins?

Choosing between these two isn’t about quality—since both are exceptional—but about intent. If your priority is the ‘feel’ of the hobby—the deep sounds, the compact aesthetic, and the indulgence of a thocky board—the Evo75 is the clear winner, especially given its lower price point.

However, if you require a number pad for productivity and your environment demands silence, the ATM98 is an investment in professionalism. The premium price reflects the larger size and the specialized nature of the silent switches, which are generally more expensive to produce than standard linears.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a ‘thocky’ keyboard?

A thocky keyboard is one that produces a deep, low-pitched sound upon keypress. This is typically achieved using linear switches, a flexible plate material like polypropylene or POM, and internal dampening foams that remove high-frequency vibrations.

What does ‘Hot-Swappable’ actually mean?

Hot-swappable means the keyboard’s PCB has sockets that allow you to plug in and remove switches without soldering. This allows users to change the feel and sound of their keyboard simply by swapping the switches.

Is a 75% layout better than a 98% layout?

It depends on your needs. A 75% layout is better for gaming and general typing as it saves desk space and keeps the mouse closer. A 98% (1800) layout is superior for accounting, data entry, or any work requiring a numeric keypad.

Are silent switches as good as regular mechanical switches?

Modern silent switches, like the Bsun Light Sakuras in the ATM98, are designed to mimic the feel of a standard mechanical switch while using internal rubber dampeners to kill the noise. While they can feel slightly ‘softer’ at the bottom of the press, they provide the same durability and longevity as standard switches.

Do these keyboards work with both Windows and Mac?

Yes, both the Evo75 and ATM98 feature tri-mode connectivity and are compatible with both operating systems. However, the Evo75 is more ‘Mac-friendly’ out of the box due to the inclusion of Mac-specific keycaps.

Final Verdict on Build and Value

The Evoworks Evo75 and Dry Studio ATM98 prove that the ‘perfect’ keyboard is subjective. One offers a symphony of deep tones, the other a sanctuary of silence. Both avoid the common pitfalls of budget boards—such as rattling stabilizers or hollow sounding cases—and instead provide a level of polish usually reserved for boutique custom builds. Whether you are looking to make a statement with a giant RGB dial or subtly enhance your workspace with a nebula-flecked chassis, both boards deliver a level of craftsmanship that justifies their place on any enthusiast’s desk.

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