There are few things more satisfying as a veteran gamer than getting your setup looking just right. It’s usually a fine balance as you need to make sure the setup looks eye-catching and showcases your special interests, but you also need to have a setup that is sturdy, functional, and adaptable when the need arises.
Secretlab MAGNUS Vertical Monitor Stand Review
Built with the quality I’ve come to expect from Secretlab, the new vertical monitor stand is in a class of its own.
If you haven’t predicted where I’m going with this by now, let me get to the point. If you want to tick all boxes without needing to shop around,Secretlabis always the way to go, offering precision design, expert craftsmanship, and stellar-looking gear that can be customized to your taste.
Something that has once again been exhibited with the release of theGenshin Impact-themed TITAN Evo chairs and the matching Liyue Edition Magpad.Liyue was a place that I frequented for many hours when my Genshin gacha addiction was at an all-time high, and looking at this set, all those fond memories rushed back to me.
So, naturally, I needed to get my hands on one of these chairs and the slick-looking Magpad to see for myself if this set was worthy of representing Liyue in all its glory. So, here is our review of the Genshin Secretlab collection.
TITAN Evo Assembly
I won’t go into extensive detail about the overall build of the TITAN Evo, as we have done so before, and the facts remain the same from one build to the next, regardless of theme or aesthetic.
But, in an ‘answers on a postcard’ style, allow me to say that this chair, released over five years ago at this point, is still leaps and bounds ahead of the pack in terms of comfort, ease of assembly, and eye-candy.
Having owned a TITAN Evo for about four years at this point, I can report that these things are as durable as they come, and even with five cats in my home, my standard TITAN Evo still looks like it’s in mint condition. Something that cannot be said of other chairs I have owned in the past, as my kitties had those torn to shreds.
But, more relevant to the assembly process, due to the four-year gap, I had forgotten just how smooth the assembly of these chairs was. You brace yourself for an hour-long ordeal with millions of screws and plenty of moments of frustration, and then before you know it, your chair is ready to go.
The instructions are simple; it can be easily built on your own without assistance. The TITAN Evo accessories,like the Recliner, transfer over with minimal fuss, and if you’re as capable as I, which is to say, not very. You’ll have this chair assembled in well under an hour, which is great if you ask me.
While the Ningguang TITAN Evo was a breeze to put together, it was when all that was left to do was replace the Magpad that I ran into the most trouble.
Firstly, due to the fact that I use a Magnus Riser attachment for my desk, there was little option other than to clear the entire desk of its contents, and unplug all monitors and accessories to free the Magpad pinched below the C-Clamps.
A minor issue, all things considered, and a mild irritation at most. However, when I removed all things from my desk, I ran into a second snag, as the hex attachment of the screwdriver provided to build the TITAN Evo didn’t fit the hex screw for the Riser Clamps. Leaving me no way to release the Magpad and leaving me at loss.
This eventually led to a rather irritable version of myself slamming cupboards and drawers until I happened upon a set of Allen Keys in my home that happened to do the trick. But, had I not acquired those, I would have been forced to gather tools for assembly, which, for a luxury set of items that Secretlab provides, at least in my eyes, is a real oversight.
After dealing with this, the Magpad rolled out and clicked onto the desk, fitting like a glove and immediately offering a welcome pop of color to my previously white desk, which certainly calmed me down.
However, as I did with my Magnus desk assembly, I had to wrestle with the metal slider attachments to attach the borders to either side of the desk, as they don’t slide into place with as much ease as they perhaps should.
I don’t often have a bad word to say about Secretlab products in any capacity, but there is definitely a lot that could be done to optimize the replacement Magpads.
The Ningguang TITAN Evo
Assembly aside, let’s talk about the Genshin collection, and more specifically, about the Ningguang-themed TITAN Evo. While the Xiao-themed chair is also a looker, I have to admit that, at least in my humble opinion, this is the pick of the bunch.
Starting with the color palette, this chair is a perfect representation of Liyue’s Tianquan titan of industry, sharing her blend of earthy browns, creamy whites, and rich gold hues to offer a burst of color to your setup that looks as opulent and put-together as the character it’s based on.
Then, as for the embroidery and stitching, the chair has some top-notch detail that showcases the symbol representing Geo power, flowers of the region, clouds to represent the mountainous verticality of Liyue, and of course, the phoenix emblem that dominates the back of the chair’s overall design.
Every inch of this chair feels like it’s dripping in elegance and opulence, as if the bank of Liyue was broken to craft a chair worthy of serving as Ningguang’s throne when looking down from the Jade Chamber.
The only mild criticism is that there isn’t a nod to Mora, which is such a huge part of what Liyue stands for, as it is the epicenter of contracts and business. But, even still, it’s a gorgeous design and one that any Genshin fan should be keen to add to their setup.
The Liyue Edition Magpad
I may have had some hang-ups about actually attaching the Magpad and replacing my existing one. But, when everything was set back up as I like it and I cast eyes on the finished look for the first time, it all felt worth it, as this Magpad is drop-dead gorgeous.
Showcasing a gorgeous scene depicting Liyue in all its shimmering glory, this Magpad captures the elegance, the beauty, and the Asian-inspired design of this city.
But what makes this even better is that this scene showcases the Lantern Rite, which is not only a beautiful Liyue custom mirroring the Chinese New Year, but is also one of the standout events of the year among the Genshin Community.
Combine this with the Japanese ukiyo-e art style, Skybracer soaring through the sky, and the light of a thousand lanterns illuminating your setup, and you have a Magpad that rivals any other on the Secretlab roster.
Also, it would be criminal not to mention the accompanying cable management bundle with gorgeous golden magnetic cable holders and modules that allow for slick, seamless, and subtle cable arrangement to ensure everything is in its proper place.
Then lastly, let’s discuss pricing, as this is usually the biggest hurdle to overcome when deciding whether to buy a Secretlab product or not.
I am always quick to recommend that anyone with the funds to make it happen should see a product like this as an investment, as they are better and more durable than just about anything on the market. So you get out what you put in.
However, I understand that this is a big decision for most. So, allow me to lay out what you’ll need to pay to make this Genshin collection yours based on current US prices on-site:
Closing Comments
10/10 - “Despite minor hangups with the Magpad replacement process, this has been another top-tier experience assembling and reviewing a Secretlab product. As expected, the design and quality of the products here are second to none. But, focusing on the Genshin-inspired aspects of these products, they do the source material proud, representing the region of Liyue and the featured characters wonderfully. The set looks gorgeous when combined into a complete setup, and the attention to detail ensures that any Genshin fan willing to splash the cash on this set will get their money’s worth and then some. It’s another collab triumph for Secretlab, and we are very excited to see what they come up with next.”
Secretlab Otto Adjustable Legrest Review: The Ergonomic Upgrade I’ve Wanted For Years
Experience the difference of a legrest designed for how you really sit, work, and play.
