[Recommend] Good Mechanical Keyboard

[ragnarok95]

I saw the AL75 V2 too. Didn't get it. Sadly the Rainy 75 is OOS in most places. Was looking at Furycube F75 but no support for via is a letdown for me. Heard their software CMI. I guess i will stay with my Keychron Q2 for a while more. I just remove the plate foam and tape mod back this Q2.

Hard to find a 65/75% that has knob with via support and reasonably priced. MKC65 fit my bill but..... haiz.

 

[alexion2k]

I saw the AL75 V2 too. Didn't get it. Sadly the Rainy 75 is OOS in most places. Was looking at Furycube F75 but no support for via is a letdown for me. Heard their software CMI. I guess i will stay with my Keychron Q2 for a while more. I just remove the plate foam and tape mod back this Q2.

Hard to find a 65/75% that has knob with via support and reasonably priced. MKC65 fit my bill but..... haiz.

Will recommend to get SKN青鸟75

SKN is a sister brand of Keychron, they are only selling in china now but they improved alot in term of sound profile, typing experience compared to Keychron. It's VIA supported. Released not long ago. Somehow its slightly cheaper compared to Keychron but better. I heard good things from the chinese reviewers as well.

https://www.taobao.com/list/item/777743705142.htm?spm=a21wu.12321156.recommend-tpp.1.535b18fediHsk0

 

[ragnarok95]

OMG thanks man! Let me go take a look!

 

[Phen8210]

The one with an 8000mAH costs 780.44 RMB ~SGD145 after shipping. There is no Taobao Plus, so there is no local return. If anything happens, you need to ship back overseas.

Do note that the HE version is probably a Q1 HE, also with an 8000mAH battery. It costs about the same (~795RMB after shipping). Also seems like its using the same switch as Q1 HE.

Better to grab the HE version. Good HE keyboard hard to find.

https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-q1-he-qmk-wireless-custom-keyboard
https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=826866767089

Same thing. The HE implementation seem pretty good on Q1 HE.

 

[hyperfuse]

This one just came in today. Currently i'm out trying different board, switches and keycaps profile.

Kit: AL75V2 75% aluminium keyboard
Switch: MMD Princess 38g Linear switches
Keypcaps: ASA profile keycaps.

Keyboard Kit
I say not bad for an alu keyboard Kit. However, will not recommend anyone to this board. Reason being it just a basic alu board, no new initiative to the design and it is pricer than the usual recommendations. Will rather recommend Leobog Hi75 or Rainy75 for first timer.

Switches
I really like the Mahjong sound (damn shiok) coming out from the MMD princess switch but personally feel the 38g switches are too light for me. Made alot of typing error on MonkeyType but typing on light switches can be super fast if you are precise in typing and soft typing kinda guy (not me). Just ordered KTT風信子 53g switches to replace ( trying out the hype switches in taobao).

Keycaps
As for ASA profile keycaps are really high imo. My palm keep touching the bottom row keycaps of the keyboard and it did affect me my typing as the 36g switches are so sensitive and use almost no force to type. Hence a slight accidental touch from my rested palm triggered the ctrl or arrow keys at the bottom quite frequently. Went ahead to replace all the bottom row switches first with 63g holy panda switches i have left from my previous built and it really help. Guess it will take some time to get used to high keycaps.

hmmm compare this with my earlier post.



Your this sound really similar to my keychron q3, or maybe due to your microphone use perhaps. Its abit thin sounding if u compare to the hi75 though.

my hi75 right now is fitted with mmd princess v2 linear at 45grams if i not wrong, along with MOA White on Black keycaps. sound similar to the youtube video i posted.

 

[alexion2k]

hmmm compare this with my earlier post.



Your this sound really similar to my keychron q3, or maybe due to your microphone use perhaps. Its abit thin sounding if u compare to the hi75 though.

my hi75 right now is fitted with mmd princess v2 linear at 45grams if i not wrong, along with MOA White on Black keycaps. sound similar to the youtube video i posted.

yes, but usually most alu boards are toward the more concentrated pinging sound, that's why it make Hi75 unique. Rather being like the usual concentrated sound, Hi75 is more deep and diffused. Sound more like a mahjong sound than others.

I do have one other built more closer but still, not close enough to sound like Hi 75.

 

[Phen8210]

yes, but usually most alu boards are toward the more concentrated pinging sound, that's why it make Hi75 unique. Rather being like the usual concentrated sound, Hi75 is more deep and diffused. Sound more like a mahjong sound than others.

I do have one built more closer but still, not close enough to Hi 75.

The Mahjong sound is actually much brighter, although I get what you mean.

From what I see in the KB community, there seem to be many promising good HE keyboards and switches in production. Right now, there are a lot of HE keyboards in these indie brands, too, but a lot look really unrefined (rubbish HE implementation).

I will probably get the SKN75 HE if it is really as good as the Q1 HE. My concern is that the Q1 HE sounds rattly and scratchy, but that's probably due to the magnet in the switch. I wonder if that's the case with the SKN 75 HE. For very sensitive keyboard audiophiles, the sound is probably hard to accept. The good thing is that there are a lot of HE switches around and also in production.

Given the many HE boards and switches being produced and trending, HE will likely be the focus for many manufacturers and will become mainstream in 2025. Are you guys in this keyboard hobby planning to transition to HE?

 

[ragnarok95]

Got HE no HE doesn't concern me. I will happily spend my money on something i like than chasing this and that.

 

[alexion2k]

yeah same. For me, i will not get HE switches actually. HE is really if u are avid gamer and want to be precise when playing fps games. I think will lead to good gaming experience but other than that, normal use i dont see any good w HE. Magnet got risk losing its strength overtime.

 

[hyperfuse]

A good gamer don't need HE to be good in the game.

Just get a pro playing on a normal keyboard vs a casual on a HE keyboard. Pro will always win hehe. HE or not don't matter as the difference in real world usage is too miniscule. Our human finger reaction on a normal keyboard is already very fast, don't need HE to be better.

 

[Phen8210]

To be fair, the aggressive marketing toward gamers often creates a very narrow perception of HE switches. It instills a mindset and lack of awareness of their broader benefits.

Contactless operation alone in HE addresses many inherent issues in mechanical switches that rely on physical contact, such as wear and tear and susceptibility to dirt and debris, which can lead to further problems.

For me, the most significant advantage of HE switches is that they eliminate those problems and still allow you to customize actuation and reset points.

This alone provides a lot of flexibility for people who want to customize their keyboard to their preferences since it allows users to fine-tune their switches without physically changing them. Once you find a switch you like in terms of sound and feel, you can adjust it to your liking, whereas with mechanical switches, you would have to change the entire switch if you didn't like other aspects like the actuation point.

The downside of magnets is that when they are exposed to extreme environmental conditions, like 80-100C+, their strength will degrade, or things such as magnetic interference. In a typical environment, all these are not encountered, so it is nothing to be worried about.

Ultimately, it can be weight, appearance, sound profile, or switches. It's not like any of these customizations do a lot, and things like 'sound' aren't even a measurable benefit for a keyboard, which is worse than having minuscule but measurable performance. The fact is that people in this hobby do it, and they dont need to be a pro-typist, or pro-gamer. It is all for personal enjoyment and pleasure, so why even bring such a sentiment into this discussion?

 

[alexion2k]

Another on, another day.
This is for a friend birthday gift . He likes to manjong alot, so building a mahjong theme keyboard.

Keyboard Kit: MONKA 魔咖6102 98%/102 Keys Full CNC Aluminium Keyboard
Switches: Monka's Blue Star 45g Linear Switches
Keycaps: FBB Mahjong PBT keycaps

This one is really really heavy keyboard kit, prolly 7-9kg. Can one shot people on the head.

 

[Phen8210]

Another on, another day.
This is for a friend birthday gift . He likes to manjong alot, so building a mahjong theme keyboard.

Keyboard Kit: MONKA 魔咖6102 98%/102 Keys Full CNC Aluminium Keyboard
Switches: Monka's Blue Star 45g Linear Switches
Keycaps: FBB Mahjong PBT keycaps

This one is really really heavy keyboard kit, prolly 7-9kg. Can one shot people on the head.

merry christmas

 

[evildoer]

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...-pro-and-made84-pro-rapid-trigger-he-keyboard

i made an pre order for Made84pro over carousel.. said this will arrived in October...

this hobby is such a rabbit hole .. it's going to be my 5th keyboard.
and i am going to get a 2nd hand rainy75 later today .. and i am thinking of getting crush80 too

 

[W3isheng]

Hi, any recommendation for 75? I saw this 等高线2.0 keycap on douyin and it seem nice with the water droplet effect. I’m currently using a varmilo 108 that been in use for 2-3 years and don’t really find any fault with it. Just wanna get a smaller keyboard to go along it.

Is the iqunix 75 ok? Not too sure why the high price though.

 

[Phen8210]

Hi, any recommendation for 75? I saw this 等高线2.0 keycap on douyin and it seem nice with the water droplet effect. I’m currently using a varmilo 108 that been in use for 2-3 years and don’t really find any fault with it. Just wanna get a smaller keyboard to go along it.

Is the iqunix 75 ok? Not too sure why the high price though.

I suggest you do thorough research. Someone in my group wanted to buy an Iquinix, and apparently, someone else who already owns one discovered a widespread issue.

It's the same thing as shown.


I'm not saying this applies to all models, but as consumers, we shouldn't just hand over our money for a flawed product. Buying a keyboard is no longer just about sound and feel because many indie companies don’t prioritize QA/QC like they used to.

They’re exploiting the fact that their audience consists of keyboard collectors who likely aren’t using the keyboard long enough to discover issues, or if they do, they can easily switch to another keyboard and avoid making a fuss. It’s hard to judge if a product is good or bad because you need feedback from someone who uses the same keyboard every day and doesn’t switch between multiple ones frequently. Only then can you get a proper end-user opinion.

Also, please don’t spend too much on mech keyboards. It's 2024, moving to 2025, and the current keyboard market has been FLOODED with many companies simply ordering customizable OEM products and reselling them. Ultimately, they’re all doing the same thing, so there’s no reason to pay more for the same product elsewhere. I personally know someone who started a mech kb business in the past and so this is the best advice i can give.

For me, the ceiling for mechanical keyboards is now around $100 MAX, and I will not pay for more unless there’s some spectacular function feature that is not present on any other keyboards.

 

[alexion2k]

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...-pro-and-made84-pro-rapid-trigger-he-keyboard

i made an pre order for Made84pro over carousel.. said this will arrived in October...

this hobby is such a rabbit hole .. it's going to be my 5th keyboard.
and i am going to get a 2nd hand rainy75 later today .. and i am thinking of getting crush80 too

You need to ask youself. Do you really need that many. haha. Although i did buy quite a number, but now i already gave 4-5 out my buddies or their waifu. only left myself 2 boards. Bought mostly to try out all different kind of board keycaps and switches but ultimately i know i dont need that many. Im not youtubers or anything like that.

 

[evildoer]

You need to ask youself. Do you really need that many. haha. Although i did buy quite a number, but now i already gave 4-5 out my buddies or their waifu. only left myself 2 boards. Bought mostly to try out all different kind of board keycaps and switches but ultimately i know i dont need that many. Im not youtubers or anything like that.

i know i probably gonna stop after getting Made84

 

[W3isheng]

I suggest you do thorough research. Someone in my group wanted to buy an Iquinix, and apparently, someone else who already owns one discovered a widespread issue.

It's the same thing as shown.


I'm not saying this applies to all models, but as consumers, we shouldn't just hand over our money for a flawed product. Buying a keyboard is no longer just about sound and feel because many indie companies don’t prioritize QA/QC like they used to.

They’re exploiting the fact that their audience consists of keyboard collectors who likely aren’t using the keyboard long enough to discover issues, or if they do, they can easily switch to another keyboard and avoid making a fuss. It’s hard to judge if a product is good or bad because you need feedback from someone who uses the same keyboard every day and doesn’t switch between multiple ones frequently. Only then can you get a proper end-user opinion.

Also, please don’t spend too much on mech keyboards. It's 2024, moving to 2025, and the current keyboard market has been FLOODED with many companies simply ordering customizable OEM products and reselling them. Ultimately, they’re all doing the same thing, so there’s no reason to pay more for the same product elsewhere. I personally know someone who started a mech kb business in the past and so this is the best advice i can give.

For me, the ceiling for mechanical keyboards is now around $100 MAX, and I will not pay for more unless there’s some spectacular function feature that is not present on any other keyboards.

Thanks bro, any model that you has used and think it’s ok? Ya the whole taobao is like flooded with different brands.

 

[alexion2k]

Hi, any recommendation for 75? I saw this 等高线2.0 keycap on douyin and it seem nice with the water droplet effect. I’m currently using a varmilo 108 that been in use for 2-3 years and don’t really find any fault with it. Just wanna get a smaller keyboard to go along it.

Is the iqunix 75 ok? Not too sure why the high price though

the word iqunix = ex
this is how they brand themselves even though they China brand.
but u can say they have a slightly more unqiue 75% design compared to the rest. Most 75% are just playing w colour scheme, see which colour you like.

75% alot out there, maybe u want to set some requirements 1st like alu/plastic, w/wo knob, w/wo LCD screen etc. easier to find the keyboard u want this way.

Thanks bro, any model that you has used and think it’s ok? Ya the whole taobao is like flooded with different brands.

i accidentally saw @Phen8210 bought MONKA A75 in the taobao thread. hehe