How recently did you purchase your Keychron keyboards ? Sounds like the QC issues have really hit home within this last year.
Well I fell down the custom keyboard world.
- Thread starter davetherave2
- Start date
Got 2 keyboards in this week, Wobkey Crush 80 and Syntech Chronos 68. The Chronos feels like the typing experience of original Wooting HE, not a fan as it's too hollow?
The Crush 80 however feels and sounds better than my Q6 HE! I am seriously impressed and am hoping they one day do a full size version with UK-ISO layout. This 80% weighs MORE than the Q6 HE!
Here's how easy it is to swap out the layers and customise it further:
The Crush 80 however feels and sounds better than my Q6 HE! I am seriously impressed and am hoping they one day do a full size version with UK-ISO layout. This 80% weighs MORE than the Q6 HE!
Here's how easy it is to swap out the layers and customise it further:
Tried it for a few days but the 'stock' angle of it is too steep for me and was causing back of my hands to start burning after a while of using it, shame as the sound and feel was really good.
I just picked up a Keychron C3 Pro 8K with Brown switches....wow. I can't believe it's this good for the price. The sound and feel is amazing compared to my Filco Majestouch board (admittedly very old now). Things have really moved on. Presumably the more expensive Keychron boards are even better than this...!?
It was also advertised as ANSI which I thought I could live with, but turns out it arrived and is ISO UK so even better. I bought it to use at work but I want to replace the Filco now as well at home. Is it mad to buy another? Maybe I should build or go for a higher end model but from a value perspective this is great. I was prepared to spend this much (sub £45) on a lesser brand.
It was also advertised as ANSI which I thought I could live with, but turns out it arrived and is ISO UK so even better. I bought it to use at work but I want to replace the Filco now as well at home. Is it mad to buy another? Maybe I should build or go for a higher end model but from a value perspective this is great. I was prepared to spend this much (sub £45) on a lesser brand.
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Hi folks.
I think I may be close to diving back into the world of mechanical keyboards again, and wonder if I could get some advice from anyone experienced with Keychron keyboards.
History
In the past, I have used Filco Majestouch 2 and Filco Majestouch 3 keyboards, spanning over Cherry MX Black, Red, Brown and then Blue switches, all with fairly beefy 2.5mm O-Rings fitted. I enjoyed the keyboards, but not the noise, as I am very into quiet computing these days.
I returned to a very basic mass-market Logitech K120 membrane keyboard for work purposes, and felt it had real merit for online video calls and such. Coming from a noisy Cherry MX Blue switch experience, I even preferred it for professional usage.
On the recommendation of another OCUK forum user, I've now made a modest upgrade to a Cherry Stream wired "scissor membrane" keyboard, plus a Cherry Gentix "Silent" ("very quiet") wired mouse, and I am liking this combo a lot. I posted about it here. It's a solid "very quiet" (albeit, not silent) solution, and works flawlessly with my Unitek SJW-KM202B KVM Switch (Link). I have no qualms recommending that solution to anyone not wanting to go mechanical yet, but who wants to upgrade over basic mass-market equipment, and who is looking for a reasonably quiet wired setup.
Plan
However, once again, I'm getting the nagging temptation to upgrade -- this time to the following:
(1) Keychron Q6 Max QMK/VIA 100% Sized UK-ISO Layout, Any Switch Type (as they are getting swapped out). At time of writing, these are available from anywhere between £184 to £240, dependent on vendor. I will not be buying from Keychron's official UK site, due to a gamut of fairly disconcerting customer service experiences, as set out on their TrustPilot page, here.
(2) Keychron Coiled Aviator Cable, Black.
(3) Batch of "Silent"/"Very Quiet" Tactile Switches from MilkTooth, for experimentation:
(a) 120 x TTC Silent Bluish White
(b) 120 x Outemu Silent Yellow Jade
(c) 120 x Outemu Lime
I made these choices after reviewing the following Milktooth videos:
Concerns
I only really have one concern.
Apparently, a number of users have reported issues when using their Keychron, wired, with a KVM Switch. For instance, some issues have been reported and discussed on some Reddit threads here and here. Some of the fixes looked to be quite elaborate and time-consuming to implement, and I'm not sure I can be doing with that kind of headache right now.
Questions
(1) Do any folks on here have any experiences with using new Keychron keyboards with a KVM switch? Did you experience any problems, and if so, did you achieve any solutions?
(2) Does anyone have any views on my three preferred tactile "silent"/"very quiet" switches? I realise this can be subjective, but I'd be very grateful to hear from anyone who has experienced any of these switches for "quiet/professional computing" purposes.
Thanks so much for reading my post folks, and all the best.
I think I may be close to diving back into the world of mechanical keyboards again, and wonder if I could get some advice from anyone experienced with Keychron keyboards.
History
In the past, I have used Filco Majestouch 2 and Filco Majestouch 3 keyboards, spanning over Cherry MX Black, Red, Brown and then Blue switches, all with fairly beefy 2.5mm O-Rings fitted. I enjoyed the keyboards, but not the noise, as I am very into quiet computing these days.
I returned to a very basic mass-market Logitech K120 membrane keyboard for work purposes, and felt it had real merit for online video calls and such. Coming from a noisy Cherry MX Blue switch experience, I even preferred it for professional usage.
On the recommendation of another OCUK forum user, I've now made a modest upgrade to a Cherry Stream wired "scissor membrane" keyboard, plus a Cherry Gentix "Silent" ("very quiet") wired mouse, and I am liking this combo a lot. I posted about it here. It's a solid "very quiet" (albeit, not silent) solution, and works flawlessly with my Unitek SJW-KM202B KVM Switch (Link). I have no qualms recommending that solution to anyone not wanting to go mechanical yet, but who wants to upgrade over basic mass-market equipment, and who is looking for a reasonably quiet wired setup.
Plan
However, once again, I'm getting the nagging temptation to upgrade -- this time to the following:
(1) Keychron Q6 Max QMK/VIA 100% Sized UK-ISO Layout, Any Switch Type (as they are getting swapped out). At time of writing, these are available from anywhere between £184 to £240, dependent on vendor. I will not be buying from Keychron's official UK site, due to a gamut of fairly disconcerting customer service experiences, as set out on their TrustPilot page, here.
(2) Keychron Coiled Aviator Cable, Black.
(3) Batch of "Silent"/"Very Quiet" Tactile Switches from MilkTooth, for experimentation:
(a) 120 x TTC Silent Bluish White
(b) 120 x Outemu Silent Yellow Jade
(c) 120 x Outemu Lime
I made these choices after reviewing the following Milktooth videos:
- Top 5 silent linear, 2025, here. Linear switches are not really for me, but there's no doubt some nice quiet options highlighted in this video.
- Top 5 silent tactile, 2025, here.
- Top 10 silent (mixed), 2025, here.
- Top 5 "Quiet" (mixed), 2025, here.
Concerns
I only really have one concern.
Apparently, a number of users have reported issues when using their Keychron, wired, with a KVM Switch. For instance, some issues have been reported and discussed on some Reddit threads here and here. Some of the fixes looked to be quite elaborate and time-consuming to implement, and I'm not sure I can be doing with that kind of headache right now.
Questions
(1) Do any folks on here have any experiences with using new Keychron keyboards with a KVM switch? Did you experience any problems, and if so, did you achieve any solutions?
(2) Does anyone have any views on my three preferred tactile "silent"/"very quiet" switches? I realise this can be subjective, but I'd be very grateful to hear from anyone who has experienced any of these switches for "quiet/professional computing" purposes.
Thanks so much for reading my post folks, and all the best.
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Soldato
- Joined
- 19 Jun 2012
- Posts
- 5,536
I can only comment on my own experience - my Q6 Max with banana switches was a lovely keyboard but started to suffer double pressing issues after only a few months of regular use.
The internet suggests Keychron may have admitted there is a design flaw with the keyboard that means the switches can lose contact with the PCB.
Given the cost I was not impressed and so returned it for a full refund.
Someone else on here said they use switches with longer pins and don't have an issue. So it may be you want to check if your list of possible switches have the same or shorter pins than the switches that come with it as standard. If they are the same or shorter, then you may experience double pressing issues. Or you may not. The keyboard gods will decide your fate!
The internet suggests Keychron may have admitted there is a design flaw with the keyboard that means the switches can lose contact with the PCB.
Given the cost I was not impressed and so returned it for a full refund.
Someone else on here said they use switches with longer pins and don't have an issue. So it may be you want to check if your list of possible switches have the same or shorter pins than the switches that come with it as standard. If they are the same or shorter, then you may experience double pressing issues. Or you may not. The keyboard gods will decide your fate!
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Soldato
- Joined
- 13 Sep 2010
- Posts
- 2,718
I'd seriously love a decent 100% ISO, I'd probably end up buying 2.... Happy with my Monsgeek M1 v2 for gaming, but miss the extra keys occasionally... for work it would need to be 100% so until then I'm happy with my qpad mk85
I could eaisly get used to ANSI layout now having used it for a bit, only a handful of buttons to memorise, like backslash is ALTGR+FWD slash button (above enter), the rest of the characters are basically same position anyway so I just ignor ethe print.
A 100$ size of this Crush 80 could well be my final endgame outplacing the Q6 HE. I have asked them if one is being planned.
A 100$ size of this Crush 80 could well be my final endgame outplacing the Q6 HE. I have asked them if one is being planned.
My understanding is that issue was only with the mechanical keyboards not the models with HE switches. At least that's what I'm hoping ! If not, back to Amazon it goes ( which has an easier return policy compared to Keychron direct ).
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Yup, I saw that. Would have picked it up if it was available in black. But went with the Q6 HE instead which also saw a significant drop in price.
To be fair, I wouldn't expect them to admit to a future 100% UK ISO as it could potentially cannibalise sales of their other keyboards. Do like the look of the Crush 80 though - and the layered design for easy breakdown / access.
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Reply arrived!
I will keep an eye out for the full size version next year if it retains the same switches and layering as I really like how it feels to type on. The 80% is nice but missing the numpad and top row buttons is my only issue.
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