Creality K2 Plus Multi-Color 3D Printer IN-DEPTH REVIEW: A True Challenger to the BambuLab X1 Carbon

[@theelectronicsguy391]

This is the single best review without unnecessary comments or criticism just honest review which actually helps me to decide if I should buy it or not

[@JamStph]

Always is, the folks that run this channel along with the hostess are quite awesome! Gives me hope for the newer generation of people that will run this place one day.

[@notchipotle]

she often mentions the smallest bug/disadvantage that might drive some people crazy

[@tabooretka]

@@notchipotle That is where my worry is. If you don't mention any flaws your review would be considered not trsustworthy. If you list genuine flaws, like inability of the printer to reach 60C chamber temperature that would not fly well with the one who sponsors the influencer. So they list something absolutely minor like "you need to recalibrate the printer after software update" .

[@Badger_S197]

Gold standard of 3d printer tests. Thank you for the amazing work Aurora!

[@JustinNewton1117]

the single best review channel.

[@bretf5371]

Finally, I can quit holding my breath waiting for this review!! Thanks for the review!!!

[@jared1321]

Golden age of consumer printing! Can’t wait to see your prusa core 1 review

[@tangsir34]

What multi color printer do you recommend creality or Bambu or Anycubic?? Regardless of the price

[@rsilvers129]

Bambu.

[@babamatt3o670]

@@tangsir34Prusa, no waste compared

[@jared1321]

@@tangsir34 regardless of price would certainly be the Prusa XL but that’s quite a price. 5 tool heads eliminates waste and allows for true multimaterial printing. There are trade offs for everything when you look at more consumer priced printers. Bambu is reliable and simple, but can waste a lot of filament. Prusa mmu3 is more complex to set up and is reliant on your understanding of the machine to make it as reliable but it wastes significantly less filament and is also faster for color changes. Other color systems are newer and less proven so far like Anycubic ACE, Creality CFS(although this video looks promising) and Flashforge’s new system.

[@juanmanuelgarciaortega2591]

@@jared1321 el problema es que con lo que cuesta esa Prusa XL con cuatro cabezales te compras dos bambu x1 con AMS

[@petewill1]

This is the best printer review I have seen. Very informative and easy to understand. This is also the first time I have felt compelled to leave a review for a video such as this. Great job. Thanks

[@BloodyIron]

OHHHH A K2 Plus review from Aurora Tech! YESS!! Get the popcorn :)) (I have watched some other 3d printing vids from this channel and found them quite high quality, and I'm coincidentally probably getting a K2 Plus + CFS real soon!)

[@fouroakfarm]

Seems like an impressive showing. Still having trouble believing that Creality has finally grown up and has a reliable product. Ill be waiting 6-12 months and checking back. Thanks for the review!

[@larry527az3]

Totally agree, I'm keeping a close eye out on this one as I think it's nearly the perfect printer on paper. Time will tell...

[@vanrensburgarchitecturebim1641]

Same for me, as with the Qidi Plus4, the first month of glowing praise was followed by the reality of glaring flaws. KZbin reviews are a minefield of paid-for and poorly researched/tested reviews.

[@Feibie]

​@@vanrensburgarchitecturebim1641is Nathan Builds Robots and Auroratech pretty sure aren't sponsored or paid off by the manufacturers. NBR actually very critical of manufacturers and I got a feeling he's somewhat soft black listed by Bambulab for example

[@EvilSewnit]

Knowing creality there will be a new version by then

[@81GTUN4]

my Qidi 4 has been so very impressive.

[@schrodingerscat1863]

This is a really excellent review, information dense, no pointless chit chat, with lots of examples and a really solid test strategy. I watched a few reviews of this printer and yours is by far the best.

[@shervin2]

This is the video we've waited for!

[@ruggerovecchio]

Your thorough and honest reviews represent a remarkable contribution to the community and potentially a great chance to improve 3d printers quality, if the producers will be keen to listen. Thank you!

[@timothyjones7907]

Getting a recommendation from aurora is literally the most authentic way to prove your product.

[@alessandrob3684]

Your Reviews are always spot on, the best. Straight to the point, objective , honest and technical. Thank you!!! Keep up the great work!!!

[@RussH33]

Love your channel Aurora! Keep up the good work.

[@sfco1299]

Excellent video, I've watched 6 K2 reviews now but this one has allowed me to buy with confidence, knowing that the printer is on par with the X1, and a million miles removed from my 2018 Ender 3. Thank you!

[@3DandTeePrinting]

The 3D Printing Review Queen is speaking. I am listening intently.

[@jonathanballoch]

This is an incredible review but I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU TO REVIEW THE PRUSA CORE ONE

[@leonardojoy]

me too

[@KJMcLaws]

​@@jeremyjpegan there is always something better around the corner. If you always wait you'll never get anything. If the current offering satisfies your needs I suggest to pull the trigger. I have an X1C and I really want the K2 plus simply to have a larger format printer with similar features. However I've already spent my money and have to wait a while before I can justify spending more. Supposedly the P1S is very competitive to the X1C if you were looking to get into something now and save some money for a future investment.

[@JustinLCooper]

Creality strikes back. Also the 350x350x350 build volume is a major plus. Excellent review.

[@testjeaapiel9707]

it took them 3 years and a second try to get here. but only because Bambu was ahead. without bambu creality never would gone up in quality.

[@scarfa21]

@@testjeaapiel9707 ohh god another bambu sheep give it a break

[@riba2233]

@@scarfa21 he is right though

[@kwedl]

@@testjeaapiel9707 And without other printers before them Bambu wouldn't even exist. Stop acting like Bambu invented 3D printing or as if they are the only good printers out there. Why is no other company allowed to improve things or release a corexy?

[@testjeaapiel9707]

@@kwedl who cares they are both chinees.... im merely stating economic facts, indeed plenty of other 3d producing companys arround who are EXPENSIVE, bambu is the only succesfull competitor of creality in their price range and they stepped it up a notch. it forces everyone else to do the same or no more customers! Purely cuz the scale of the bambu investors alone this was possible. anny idea how much a plastic injection molding machine cost a piece?

[@rooktallon3141]

Thank you so much for this review. Every other tech reviewer loves to put in unnecessary music without showing us how loud the printer is. You put in music but keep the sound in. As a blind person who relies on sound, this really helps. Thank you for your honest feedback without hyping the printer too much either. I personally will never buy a Bambulab printer as I can't use one because it isn't compatible with Octoprint. If I was going to buy a printer, it'd probably be this one or the Prusa Core a.

[@758Redwhulf]

I have this printer and to be honest, it super quiet! So is the cfs... I dunno what everyone is talking about. Its quieter then our p1s from bambu

[@AdrianMorrisson]

Probably the best review of seen of anything on KZbin. No Fluff, Just Facts

[@matthewtaylor3301]

I wanted a review on this, and yours was the first channel I searched. Thanks!

[@kennethturner7942]

I Truly appreciate your honest reviews of these machines. Thank you for this video.

[@JasonWolfram]

You guys are always the best in your review and detailed test, I have been looking forward to this one as I am very interested in this machine. thank you! I have been watching this channel f9or a few years and its always great.

[@gman9543]

Another great review Aurora! Looks like Bambu has finally gotten Creality to up their game. I'll be interested in seeing some reviews from shops running these 24/7 after a month or so to see how they hold up.

[@rainerdlugosch8622]

I have ordered it for my daughter who studies architecture. For architecture you need a XL Printer with professional claims. I hope it is a good investment what saves her time for constructing models of various buildings. I think for architects and students of architucture this Creality K2 plus could be a good affordable option. In youtube videos they present always only how the 3 D printers can produce toys. A nice hobby for too much money for my opinion, But for architecture a good 3 D printer is a must have today. Print examples for this special use would be helpful for these potential important customers. Marketing departments are sleeping.

[@madengineer9072]

I appreciate the informative and no nonsense approach to this review. Thanks!

Thank you for going into more detail about the flow calibration start-up procedure. That has been keeping me on the fence, I just might make a purchase now that i see this can be used as a reliable tool to just simply work. I still want to see what Bamboo will come up with but if its too 'prosumer', they're going to loose out to Creality with me. I have a 340mm printer now and the X1C is just too small for my needs. K2 Plus came on scene first and might be what wins me over. Ball is in your court now, Bamboo. Lets see what youve got.

[@Hungnguyen-ic2fn]

Been waiting for your review for a long time. I have the k2 plus, it really took my time from my x1c. An excellent printer from Creality.😄

[@lehoanghiep9936]

Có thực sự ngon hơn được x1c ko bạn, đang cân nhắc để order.

[@SirTodd]

this channel and your reviews are the only ones I can't wait to see and guide my judgement 100%. thank you for the spectacular reviews and very valuable information 🙏 now, I can't wait to see the Prusa CoreOne vs K2 Plus vs Bambu X1 Carbon! I already know the Prusa lacks the print volume, but I'm more concerned about performance and quality anyway.

[@iminabrons]

Compared to the 3 other similarly titled videos I watched prior to this one, this was the only one that I didn't click away from after watching just a few minutes. The reason why? This comparison appeared right from the get go to be a serious indepth attempt rather than time wasting chitchat BS. Thank you Aurora Tech for not wasting my time.

[@Zsub1]

Laughed out loud at the "Agree to whatever it says screen" :D

[@aspectratio703]

me too!

[@WreckDiver99]

same...

[@Jemsbsg]

The best review so far, congrats.

[@philipershler420]

Thank you for a very complete review and an objective assessment of the system speed and accuracy. While not everything is perfect, it seems for many of the issues you found and described, there is at least some hope that many of these issues can be resolved going forward. This is the best description and review of the K2 Plus with the CFS that I have seen on the internet. I can hardly wait for mine to be delivered, hopefully early in December. 🤞

[@thepotter2006]

was def waiting for this one with bated breath. much appreciated review

[@ricom7091]

Best channel ever for 3d printing reviews.

[@DanielHarcha]

Fantastic videos, really appreciate your methodical approach to testing. Thanks for making this content!!

[@t3chMzls]

Gracias por el unboxing y la review. Ahora estoy más seguro en comprarla.

[@martinlightheart693]

Great review! Good choice of music, nothing loud and annoying. I just subscribed.

[@elijahf111]

I'd love to see the normal sized version of this priced closer to the p1s or k1c, seems like it will be an absolute win.

[@Ronoaldo]

As usual, your reviews are superb 🎉. Thank you so much for such in-depth review ❤

[@FranklyWry]

Your usual excellent analysis is much appreciated.

[@Liberty4Ever]

Great review as always. You test a wide range of performance that matter to those buying a 3D printer, in real world tests. Best of all, you have a standard test suite that allows us to compare performance between 3D printers.

[@JingleStic]

Take a Sub. Amazing review. Straight to the point. Great comparisons. My K2 came in yesterday. Broke foot from shipping. Its a monster.

[@MrHeHim]

The secondary motions created by loose tolerances or "slop" in the machines build plate i think are what are giving you the "ringing" at the top of tall prints. It can be anything from the linear bearings not having any lateral tension on them to stop from moving around to the leveling knob springs being too loose. With any slop or give in the bed the motions will be exaggerated the taller the print.

[@TheGamersRace]

It really should have like a 3rd lead screw in the rear shouldnt it?

[@rrb79]

Enough of the simp comments to litter the comment section. We know this is a really good review channel, that’s why we are here. Don’t need the bazillion “this is the best 3D printer review channel bla bla bla”😂

[@ricom7091]

Damn dude. Triggered much?

[@saschabonez6205]

The only good video currently available on the printer. Glad to have found the channel definitely very good content.

[@NunoPereira]

This is a beast machine, a top printer. Aurora you need a Oscar for this review.

[@Acronis7878]

straight to the point. This the way reviews should be done.

[@Brinslade]

Excellent review! So detailed and clear. Thank you.

[@runesvensson1244]

Reliability and ease of maintenance is important to me. Don't know if I should get a Creality K2 or a Bambu.

[@ingGS]

The subtle humor was a nice touch to on otherwise excellent and complete video.

[@larry527az3]

Excellent review Aurora, this is a printer I'm very seriously considering. Thank you!

[@bryancampbell4604]

Thank you for this amazing review, as always. This looks like it will be a great competitor to Bambu. Even though it is basically a copy. Keep up the great work you two!

[@TheGamersRace]

Its literally like 40% bigger, has an actively heated chamber, easily serviceable cfs, hotter nozzle for printing pps and ppa, an ethernet port and full local control, and its slightly faster. I'd call this an upgrade more than a copy.

[@3DPRINTINGWITHLEE]

Another outstanding presentation I sure do appreciate it. I had one on order at 40% but for isolated issues I’ve had lately I have had to cancel my order unfortunately hopefully one day I will have one and thanks for the great review.

[@Viperwon]

The best review chan out there

[@gabrielgold1126]

it's been almost 2 months since you posted the video. how has the printer been so far. did you face any issues with the it? I've seen many people on reddit complaining about issues with their units. would appreciate and love to hear from you your experience.

[@Guardian_Arias]

Fantastic video, although i wish you had delved deeper into what klipper things could be done on this machine. Like is it actually open or is it just marketing. Can you edit the config files. Can you crate or edit macros. Perhaps show if things like obico or moonraker can be installed or uninstall as one desires.

[@AuroraTech]

There is an option to select root access, which means you can technically do whatever you want on the Linux system.

[@billb921]

Thanks for an excellent review as always !

[@DominicMuir]

What a fantastic review - thank you!

[@rescuemethod]

Great review as usual but a few points, it would be great to always speak to these points, as they have a huge effect on the user experience: 1) NOZZLE: quick change nozzle? how easy or hard to change the nozzle and how expensive/cheap are they? how easy hard to clear a clogged nozzle? 2) AIR QUALITY: can we keep the printer enclosed and vent the air so no particulate matter ends up in our lungs? how easy to attach an exhaust hose/fan to the back or side, if there's a port? or do I have to drill into the frame? and does that hold on securely or not? with some filaments, its best to print in an open frame printer, but I don't want to breath the particulate matter....nobody talks about this, but having a printer with a port, ready to attach the exhaust hose would be super great. Thanks Aurora!

[@Usuallyships12]

Please suggest whether I should buy the X1C or the K2 Plus. ( I want to ensure high quality printing)

[@Walt1119]

Great review as always! This machine is very impressive, my k1 Max works well also. Thanks so much for sharing w us!!

[@higginsjoshua]

Please do a Qidi Plus 4 vs Creality K2 Plus head to head comparison! No one else has done one yet!

[@AuroraTech]

Maybe when the QiDi multiple filament box comes out.

[@supadeluxe]

Great to see comparison with other printers. I just got a K1C partly based on your video. Guess I'll have to save up for a K2 now!

[@fooshards]

I would be interested in seeing the surface quality when slowing the printer down. Running fast is cool, but if the machine is capable of turning an 8/10 into a 9/10 by adding an hour or two, that is really valuable.

[@JakobDam]

Very nice and thorough review - and the detail with closed loop stepper motors really earns Creality a big star in my book. This has taken WAY too long to implement in consumer grade 3D printers. Although I just bought my second P1S, the K2 Plus seems to be a very solid machine, and a good indicator where we're headed in the consumer 3D printing world. I learned a few things about the K2 Plus that I wasn't previously aware of.

[@psx1986]

Cant wait! Mine arrives next week!

[@RaulGerardoHuertasPaiva]

First worthy review of this printer. And it's actually a real competitor. Even better than the Prusa Core One!

[@Extrusor_3D]

Looks like it's a great printer. I'm waiting for the non-plus version, this one is simply too big for me. Thanks for another detailed and objective review.

[@3DPM-1386]

Also, Aurora, check the right lead screw top holder, it seems to be bent as shown in 19:50

[@diegovd7215]

Absolutely! I was wondering who else noticed. Aurora you might want to check this. Thanks for the great review.

[@Chickie1019]

Thank you for this review. I was thinking about getting a bigger 3D printer but I wouldn't risk my Bambulab X1C for those cons of Creality.

[@yaaluus]

Thanks for using my model to do the test.

[@awilliams1701]

I feel like my prusa mk4 + MMU3 is more compact than the default setup. I use a sunlu s4 filadryer to hold the filament. I skip the buffer completely. The boden tube goes near the dryer. You don't want it going in because if the dryer itself becomes the buffer, you will get a mass of sphagetti inside. I had one tube accidentally attach. It took me 2-3 hours to fix the spool. lol Hell I could probably put the mk4 on top of the dryer especially since I have 2 of them. (kick starter bonus deal!)

[@davedempsey5282]

Wow Creality finally gets it together and delivers.

[@justinchamberlin4195]

Although it took Creality two years, they did manage to finally catch up to the level of tech of their main competitor. And perhaps unlike the Ender 3 Pro and Ender 3 V2 vs the Prusa Mk3/Mk3S before it, the K2 Plus seems to actually be on par with (if not slightly better than) the printer it's copying...particularly in terms of size. Yes, the 220-250 mm beds certainly allow us to print a wide variety of things, but 300-350 mm beds unlock a lot of possibilities without having to make certain sacrifices or spend additional time/effort on designing for fabricability as well as printability. For however long it takes Bambu Lab to release the X1 Carbon Max, P1P Plus, or whatever, this is a solid selling advantage for Creality that isn't based around price. All that being said: I still don't like single-extruder printers with the Bambu-style multiple filament system...while the process of tuning filament purges almost sounds fun, the extreme waste and the extra time spent on swapping and purging filaments is just not good. This is why hope continues to spring eternal for me when it comes to a revolution in toolchanger and IDEX printers, and why I bought a Vivedino Marathon instead of any of a dozen great non-IDEX printers currently on the market. I still think that there will be more attention paid to reducing wasted material and time for multicolor prints, and unless the Prusa MMU approach (or something else entirely) gains more traction there should be a market for IDEX/toolchanger printers in the future. Likewise, I'm really excited to see what Michael from Teaching Tech can accomplish with his project to convert a Sovol SV08 into a six-toolhead printer, because I think a lot more people would want to have a Prusa XL-like experience without having to sell a kidney to do so. Please also count me amongst the legion of people interested in your review of the Prusa Core One. Is it even just a little derivative of the X1 Carbon? Maybe. Is it what Prusa should have released instead of the rushed Mk4? Absolutely. Should they have stuck with their naming tradition and called it the i4 Mk1? Probably only if it were released instead of the Mk4. Still, the intro video for the Core One made it seem like they have taken a different tack with their "Bambu-killer" than what Creality has done with the K2 Plus. Creality did what Creality does, taking the strengths of their competitor and simply copying and improving upon it (ease of assembly/mods/etc. and size with the Ender 3s vs the Mk3, speed and size with the K2 Plus vs the X1C). Prusa is doing what Prusa does and puts the user experience front and center...and the idea that a Core One could actually be made from an i3 with an upgrade kit is simply nuts. Great review as always!

[@JustinNewton1117]

only issue i have with the K2 is you cannot sit the cfs to the side with the combo version. you need a longer cord to reach. kind of a bad deal when already spending 1500

[@kernelpanic-x64]

11:33 Is it just me or do the numbers really look that terrible with the ghosting around it? But it's on both devices. Could printing slower reduce that?

[@CL-gq3no]

Slowing it down would definitely help with that. Considering how fast these printers are going and that those numbers on a flat surface are basically a torture test for "ringing", it's not bad at all. Slowing it down a bit would probably eliminate it completely and still be way faster than any bed slingers out there.

[@john_beardon]

Great review as always but it would have been nice to know what version of Klipper is in use and whether it has either the Fluidd or Mainsail interface as well as the rather basic Creality offering. I will be honest and say with my experience of Creality printers, the K2 almost seems too good to be true and I worry whether reviewers are getting inventory that has undergone very strict QC processes that will not be maintained on general release. Time will tell but I will not be dropping any cash on one for at least 6 months.

[@AuroraTech]

There is an option to select root access, which means you can technically do whatever you want on the Linux system.

[@Zalazane]

Hi, good review, when will the Sovol SV06 Ace review come out for us with a limited budget? Thank you.

[@riba2233]

just get the A1

[@AuroraTech]

It was scheduled for December, but I'm considering moving it up and doing it sooner.

[@Zalazane]

@@AuroraTech Thank you for the response! Sounds great.

[@WreckDiver99]

One of the better reviews I've seen. Nice job. I've almost pulled the trigger on the K2 Plus 5 or 6 times. It's a chunk of money, but darn that bed size is sweet and I really need something that big for many of my shop designs. My other thing is I believe Creality only sent like 20 of these units out for reviews...and knowing from other past experiences, many things show up once these are fully available. As for your cons...I don't think any of them are massive concerns, nuisances for sure. Thank you for doing such a good job, and including the Bambu Labs as comparisons, though how good is the Bambu Labs for tall items such as the garbage can?

[@burnsyd17]

It seems very nice from your as usual comprehensive first look. That said, I'm not left regretting the X1C Combo i bought last week via Bambu Black Friday sale.

[@DrZylvon]

very nice review and impressed by this machine! thanks ! ...just a thought, I think we're reaching a point where your protocol could perhaps evolve ?Many printers have levelled around the X1C kind of quality and speed. Now we should have a look at the finer details & new differentiatores. Some ideas : VFA testing, air filtration system efficiency, heat temperature control consistency / heat evenness (IR camera), etc...

[@RoofusKit]

I really appreciate your videos as there's not many, if any, other channels that do such a consistent side by side comparison with machines. I want to point out though that a lattice box is not a good warp test for ABS. Solid walls would do a better job testing for warping and bed adhesion as they are more likely to pull as each layer cools and shrinks.

[@atienne_navarre]

Seems nice but seeing as it is Creality, I'm going to wait and see what Bambu comes out with next spring.

[@jordangarside]

It would be awesome to have some dimensional accuracy tests (cube and cylinder measured with calipers). Bambu has dimensional accuracy issues with round/cylindrical prints (always ~0.2mm undersized compared to cubes of the same size so you can't fix with calibration).

[@KennethScharf]

If you use multiple filaments, can you store the flow calibrations for each filament so it doesn't have to be redone each time? Why so much poop on the wipe tower? I thought the tower was printed to ONLY when changing colors. As the bency print only changed colors 3 times it should not have been going to the tower so much, it actually went to the tower in the middle of printing each color, not just at the color change points.

[@kitmarshall4084]

thanks for the review, really thinking about getting this machine to replace my old and venerable Prusa MK2s

[@nheather]

Fantastic video, the K2 looks excellent, though not sure I need a printer that big, but it is great to see some competition for Bamboo Labs.

[@awood12345]

If I hadn't have already bought a Bambu then I would have bought this based on your review. The larger area would be beneficial to me and it seems that caught up with Bambu's technology.

[@rsilvers129]

Getting there but she had an extensive list of cons that was mostly stuff Bambu had perfected 2 years ago.

[@ofmtech7453]

It would be nice to see the high details prints in a more mat PLA, that would let the details pop more and the inconsistencies too

[@TheNerdArmory]

13:13 The X1C didn't have any of the filament rolling as it as pulling it into the machine so the colors didn't have banding. The K2 does because it's not able to keep it from rolling as it's being pulled.

[@cjdebeer4581]

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing your experience

[@to-mi1949]

Thank you for making those videos! They are really helpful! Wondering if you could include a test for fine/micro details? For example test how well they are doing with something like skin or leather texture of variying depths and sizes. As someone who prints miniatures, this would give me an idea of how well the printers are with small details.

[@philipershler420]

BTW Additional CFS units are now on sale at the Creality Store for about $280.00.

[@hereforyou7322]

which is a better choice between bambu a1 and Ender 5s1 pro , also is there any better one which could handle materials like ABS in the same price point... love ur videos btw

[@RaymondCHowes]

Dare I say? Your voice has matured from your earlier videos. Always like listening to your reviews. Now the tough part! Which one do I want to choose from? Bambu labs or Creality?

[@everlastingmedia]

The time inconsistencies are likely due to flushing / filament changes etc. X1C has this issue, as well as most other printers I've seen. It would be great if printers had a calibration to generate a time estimate for priming, flushing and filament changes.

[@TheLiddokun]

The purple retraction test box was insanely better then the x1c. Can you share the full settings for the print? Retraction length, speed, hop, etc. Did you check the x1c settings?

[@AuroraTech]

I just used their standard profile without any tweaking (as I did with all the other machines I’ve tested)

[@kipbeegle8260]

Another fantastic review! You answered many of my questions and concerns. I cant believe Creality finaly put out a machine that is, so far, so hardware reliable. The fact you didnt point out any hardware issues moves this to the top of my next printer list. Software shortcoming are always to be expected for the launch so I am not worried about those. I also heard that when you open the K2 up creality has stopped hot glueing everything in sight. Can you confirm that? I hated that on my now ancient Ender 5 plus when doing upgrades. I am waiting to see if Flashforge releases a large format printer first and see how that stacks up with the K2 and the X1 carbon. But that is for after the holidays.

[@seansersmylie]

Great review as always!