Well I fell down the custom keyboard world.

Ordered an Evo80 with Oat/PP for the main keyboard but grabbed the FR4 plate and a set of HMX Azures along with it to have both stock options + a set of Akko Creamy Blues to try out.

Wanted something that sounds good out of the box but gives me the option to mod if I feel like it and this should fit the bill nicely.
 
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My Keychron Q6 Max (fully assembled UK-ISO version that came out this month) review should be going live this week,w ill link to it once it's up. It's the thockiest keyboard I have ever used/heard and that is right out of the box. WOuld not mind building a custom Keychron one too at some point to see if it gets any more thockier than already is.​
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Recently finished building my custom keyboard now already eyeing up other bits and bobs... :rolleyes:

This thread doesn't help lol
 
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mrk said:
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I think I have three of the top tier boards currently out, the Keychron Q6 Max is both amazing and annoying in that you cannot get nice colour themed OSA profile caps so stuck with these white caps that are good but just look rubbish against the darker tone of everything else. You only get this cap theme if you buy the metal keyboard too, the plastic one comes with darker caps which is annoying, and finding OSA profile with UK ISO layout is impossible. I don't want third party caps as I like this key shape and profile, more comfortable than the usual sharp angled caps found on most other keyboards.

Sigh!

The other two are Wooting two HE and [model to be announced in coming days!]. All three use QMK/VIA which I like a lot, the Wooting feels the cheapest even though it's not lol, 950g and hollow sounding typing is very annoying I have found, meanwhile the 2.1KG of the Q6 Max is immense and feels/sounds amazing, the 1.6KG of the [model to be announced in coming days!] isn't far off with linear inductive switches and feel and better colour theme.
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You could try looking for just SA profile keycaps, I got a lovely set off AliEx which work really well on my keychron and seem very similar to OSA.
 
The Evo80 has arrived and it sounds and feels insane, people weren't lying about it being possibly the best prebuilt on the market right now.

I don't even know why I bought the HMX Azures and the FR4 plate as I feel zero need to touch this thing (or maybe the stock clack config is even better so at least I have the option). Keygeek Oats on the polypropylene plate are just pure marble. The stabilisers don't rattle and it all just feels super-solid. Even the spacebar is heaven:P

The presentation and build quality are both top-notch. Full aluminium, very easy to disassemble, ball-catch, butterfly leaf-spring mount, lots of foam (that's customisable of course:P), magnetic connectors etc. The list goes on.

I might look for some themed keycaps and heavier tactile switches at some point but I don't want to mess up how it sounds as even typing this was more fun than it had any right to so I don't think I'll be doing much customisation on this on one:P Well, I might switch out the plate to see how it feels on FR4 with Oats.
 
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Amatsubu said:
The Evo80 has arrived and it sounds and feels insane, people weren't lying about it being possibly the best prebuilt on the market right now.

I don't even know why I bought the HMX Azures and the FR4 plate as I feel zero need to touch this thing (or maybe the stock clack config is even better so at least I have the option). Keygeek Oats on the polypropylene plate are just pure marble. The stabilisers don't rattle and it all just feels super-solid. Even the spacebar is heaven:P

The presentation and build quality are both top-notch. Full aluminium, very easy to disassemble, ball-catch, butterfly leaf-spring mount, lots of foam (that's customisable of course:P), magnetic connectors etc. The list goes on.

I might look for some themed keycaps and heavier tactile switches at some point but I don't want to mess up how it sounds as even typing this was more fun than it had any right to so I don't think I'll be doing much customisation on this on one:P Well, I might switch out the plate to see how it feels on FR4 with Oats.
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Which colour did you get? I'm thinking of getting one myself.
 
jwilliamson47 said:
Which colour did you get? I'm thinking of getting one myself.
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I was hesitating between Ink and Nimbus but went with the latter in the end. It looks really clean with the anodised silver case and the white/mint/gray keycaps. I think it's also the only colourway with neutral black lettering. Beautiful keyboard.

I also liked the look of Spark but wasn't sure about the orange.

My favs are Nimbus, Ink and Spark but you'll be happy whichever colour you choose. It's an amazing piece of kit.

I'd suggest getting a set of Azures/Oats and an FR4/PP plate depending on the configuration you go with so that you have both stock configs if you feel like switching, the plates and switches are pretty cheap.
 
Has anyone else given up on mechanical completely? A few years ago I switched to the Cherry Stream TKL (scissor switch, low profile) it feels so much more fluid to type on than any mechanical I've had.

It was also nice to escape the endless cycle of seeing what other keycaps/switches/etc I could try/buy
 
mrk said:
My Keychron Q6 Max (fully assembled UK-ISO version that came out this month) review should be going live this week,w ill link to it once it's up. It's the thockiest keyboard I have ever used/heard and that is right out of the box. WOuld not mind building a custom Keychron one too at some point to see if it gets any more thockier than already is.​
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91udXxV.png
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Ooh I do like that, looks like a K10 Pro but with a knob (?)
I like the KOA profile caps, but am stuck with an Ali set with the 2/@ and " caps in the wrong place :(
 
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Bit of an update since that post was made! the Q6 Max is all metal vs the K10's plastic housing? It's way heavier and premium sounding/feeling.

i also now have the Keychron Hacker Mint keycaps (UK ISO layout so correct "/@ etc) which look cooler and ore fitting than the white ones that come with it, they are Cherry profile not OSA though but I don't mind this. PBT doubleshot still:

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I also received NZXT's new magnetic switch keyboard, the Function Elite MiniTKL, it's rather cool and has all the features of a Wooting in a cooler and more premium feeling package, though though without the browser based app and instead local install NZXT Cam software.:

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It's rather satisfying I tell you this!

That NZXT is metal on the top ha;half with the plastic/rubberised base so still feels great for its size.
 
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Had a 2nd hand GMMK 3 HE for a few days before returning it. I actually quite liked the feel of the board, even though it's plastic rather than metal and only had the standard red fox switches.
However the thing just kept stopping/sleeping for no reason, even mid-use, and the Glorious Core 2.1 software is unbelievably bad for not remembering changes or updating them to the keyboard! Would have been good if Via or QMK worked with the HE boards but sadly not yet.
Fully understand that a new board might not come with some of those issues (although Google says otherwise!).

When it was working the Hall Effect stuff felt nicer than my Monsgeek M1W HE.

Back to my trusty Keychron Q1 for now.
 
Neo75 Cu arrived a few days ago and finally found some time these last two evenings to finish it all off!

Really enjoying the typing feel so far, this is my first gasket mount board so I can finally understand the appeal. I've been such a fan of gummy o-ring that I almost ignored gaskets because of that - but it's been lovely to type on.

Build was nice and easy, running Gat Oil Kings (lubed with krytox 205g0) although I was 6 switches short (because I'm a baboon) so currently have 6 Gat black inks (lubed and filmed) for the F row! I'm using the stabs that it came with, clip ins, but after some tweaking with a bit of lube and dielectric grease they really feel/sound as good as some of the higher end screw ins I've used. I'll see if that stays consistent, if not I'll likely replace with some of the newer Durock clip/plate mount stabs.

When I ordered the board I ordered both a hotswap PCB and solder PCB, with solder being my usual preference. Figured I'd try the hotswap for a bit as it supported 7u space, stepped caps and split backspace as standard which was great to see!

First time in years using a board over 65/60% so I'm still undecided on what to run in the right hand side column, page up/down is standard but right now 'print screen' is mega useful to have accessible for once rather than Fn + P!

Overall build:

Neo75 Cu in purple with brass weight/accents
PP Plate
Hotswap PCB
Gat Oil King switches
OTC 9009 keycaps


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t2na said:
Neo75 Cu arrived a few days ago and finally found some time these last two evenings to finish it all off!

Really enjoying the typing feel so far, this is my first gasket mount board so I can finally understand the appeal. I've been such a fan of gummy o-ring that I almost ignored gaskets because of that - but it's been lovely to type on.

Build was nice and easy, running Gat Oil Kings (lubed with krytox 205g0) although I was 6 switches short (because I'm a baboon) so currently have 6 Gat black inks (lubed and filmed) for the F row! I'm using the stabs that it came with, clip ins, but after some tweaking with a bit of lube and dielectric grease they really feel/sound as good as some of the higher end screw ins I've used. I'll see if that stays consistent, if not I'll likely replace with some of the newer Durock clip/plate mount stabs.

When I ordered the board I ordered both a hotswap PCB and solder PCB, with solder being my usual preference. Figured I'd try the hotswap for a bit as it supported 7u space, stepped caps and split backspace as standard which was great to see!

First time in years using a board over 65/60% so I'm still undecided on what to run in the right hand side column, page up/down is standard but right now 'print screen' is mega useful to have accessible for once rather than Fn + P!

Overall build:

Neo75 Cu in purple with brass weight/accents
PP Plate
Hotswap PCB
Gat Oil King switches
OTC 9009 keycaps


lQKJMMj.jpeg
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Nice! I am awaiting mine from the vendor which should hopefully be any day now.... Have some Aqua Kings and KKB Pandora Keycaps in waiting!
 
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