Cooler Master new flagship's product, Cooler Master Novatouch TKL is released (Retails Price: RM699).

Is this keyboard expensive in its league (Topre)? No.

This review will cover pro and cons of this keyboard and inside out including tear down and modding possibilities which interest fellow enthusiasts and new users.

Topics:
- Overview
- Technical Specifications
- Features (part 2)
- Impression (part 2)
- teardown (part 3)
- comparison with other Topre keyboard (part 3)
- modding possibilities (part 3)

Update log:
- Close-up image of shift-key MX-compatible stem slider (post #3) [23Sep 2014]
- Keycaps damages after 300 hours of typing (post #4) [23Sep 2014]
- Novatouch's PCB manufacturing date indicator (post #4) [6Oct 2014]

Overview

NovaTouch TKL comes with really nice packaging design.


Very thick packaging foam protecting the keyboard.


This is what you will get from the box:
- NovaTouch TKL keyboard
- Wire keypuller
- a packet of rubber o-rings (sound dampeners) [~100 o-rings inside]
- Detachable micro USB to USB cable
- Quick Start Guide

Technical Specifications



When you look at "key switch = hybrid capacitive" at the technical specification, feel confusing?
It's actually master race tactile, Topre switch. Topre patent

Topre switches are hybrid switch and capacitance by nature.
The Topre mechanism uses a spring underneath a rubber dome, and the depression of the spring causes a change in capacitance between the underlying capacitor pads.
With this change in capacitance; the switch activates.

Topre Switches are considered some of the finest switches available, as they offer a very enjoyable typing experience with a quieter experience compared to a Cherry MX, Alps, or Buckling Spring switch.
The reason is Topre switches have the smoothest force gradient even compared to Linear switches like MX-Reds and MX-Blacks. (Credits to CycloneChuah).



With the collaboration of Topre and CM, they produced the new edition of switch.
This switch is using MX Compatible stems rather than default Topre stem. As can see in the below image.


So, in short this keyboard is using Topre switch with new MX-compatible stem.
Cooler Master Novatouch TKL (Topre 45g Uniform)

This post has been edited by quovadis123: Feb 15 2017, 03:48 PM

Features

Function keys

FN + F1 - F4
Toggle repeat rate adjustment. i.e when toggle 4x, when press "a" will become "aaaa".


FN + F5-F8
Multimedia keys provided for those want media keys.


FN + F9 Win Lock
FN + F10 - F12 Sound


Other Features
- N-Key Rollover & Anti-Ghosting (All keystrokes are simultaneously registered over USB)

Impression

Top view of NovaTouch without any keycaps on.


Close view of stem.


Most of the time, for mechanical keyboard, we talk about long lasting switch, after-market keycaps replacement and modding.
Since many years ago, Topre keyboard is recognised as end game keyboard in terms of best tactile switch and has limited selection of keycaps set.
After you get the Topre, mean you can't do anything like finding keycaps replacement or modding.
The life of Topre is just dull back then before Novatouch.

Now NovaTouch can support for best tactile switch and able to use after-market Cherry MX keycaps.
With Novatouch release, Topre users can enjoy different profiles of keycaps like Cherry Profile, DCS, DSA, SA and many more not restricted to OEM only back then.

Novatouch + IMSTO's blank blue thick PBT (Cherry Profile)




My impression towards this keyboard was very good.

The spacebar is very responsive when press. It's better feel than spacebar on HHKB, Filco MJ2 (costar stabs), Ducky (cherry stabs).
The spacebar come with the spring just like HHKB and Realforce.

Typing just feel so smooth and heavenly.
Since this keyboard using steel plate, the sound relatively louder than plastic plate keyboard.
That's why Novatouch come with a packet of o-ring if user feel want to lower the typing sound.


As a final thoughts for part 2:

Pro
- solid build of the keyboard
- standard layout (more selection of after-market keycaps in standard layout)
- housing on steel plate (keyboard more sturdy)
- MX-stem compatible
- Tenkeyless form (more ergonomics)
- Price is cheap for a Topre keyboard

Cons
- No LED indicator for Caps Lock, Scroll Lock
- Stocked abs keycaps (shiny less than 1 month of using), cheap quality keycaps

Room for improvement
- Support 55g Topre
- LED indicator for Caps Lock, Scroll lock
- silent version of Novatouch (like HHKB Type-S)
- Stocked keycaps come with quality PBT materials

This post has been edited by quovadis123: Sep 23 2014, 12:13 AM

Teardown

This is the part interest enthusiasts, they want see the guts of Novatouch.
I think I made this as guide also.

The first step is remove 4 screws at the back.
The middle screw is hidden beneath of the sticker.


Remove the front case using card. Then remove the 2 screws on the steel plate.
1 is below the scroll lock, another is below F1-F2 key.


Remove the back case. You will see Topre corp mark on the green pcb.
The pcb and Topre switch made in Topre Factory in Japan.
Outside China, inside Japan.
The cable is connected to the micro USB (female), can remove it too.
There are lots of screws as you can see from the white arrow, so remove all the screws and voila.


45g Topre dome with conical springs when you start to remove the dome from the pcb.


Picture 45g Topre dome without conical spring and pcb.


Conical spring.


Bare pcb


Housing with MX-compatible stem on steel plate.
For those shift keys, the stem is in 1 piece, not like cherry or costar stab.


The mx-stem compatible for HHKB and Realforce too. So, master race Topre can buy this board as donor board for HHKB or RF.

Close-up image of shift-key MX-compatible stem slider.
The slider is stabilised. same design with Topre slider.



This post has been edited by quovadis123: Sep 23 2014, 10:56 AM

Comparison with other Topre keyboards


Note: Only Novatouch switch is renamed as Hybrid capacitive (old name of Topre switch) because Novatouch use its own stem instead of using default Topre.

Modding Possibilities

- donor MX-compatible stem slider to HHKB and Realforce
- get a donor 55g Realforce and mod Novatouch to 55g Topre (mod to 30g also can)
- LED mod (there are 3 LED holes on pcb: scroll lock, caps lock, F9)

- case modding , seems can replace the case.
- Topre silent mod (adding thin washer on the slider)
- Lubrication of cylindrical area of slider and housing

Stocked ABS keycaps shininess

FAQ: Is keycap shiny bad? Very bad. The inconsistence surface of keycaps reduced productivity and feel "geli" when typing on it.

After 300 hours of typing, the keycaps become shiny as expected since it's ABS materials keycaps.
Here is the damages.
Keys like "~" and "CTRL" remains as new, because I never touch those keys at all.
Caps, Shift and alphabetical keys all become shiny.


Middle area of "J" shiny but nearby the bump still ok.


Very harsh condition the keycaps after long time of using.


Here is the comparison.
Left "~" is like new (never touch that key), and the right side shiny
In conclusion, this abs keycaps not suitable for typist use.
Typist still prefer pbt materials which resist shiny after long time of typing.




If you guys have any questions about this product, feel free to ask me


Extra Update:


Topre do provide the manufacturing date of the PCB. The highlighted area indicated the date section on the sticker.
The format is Y MM DD #### (Year, Month, Day, 4 Digit Number).
So, this pcb board is manufactured in 17 June 2014.

This post has been edited by quovadis123: Oct 6 2014, 05:18 PM

Support from mkb thread

Nice and clear review.

Very nice review. The teardown really show that the topres from japan and possible led mod. Buybuybuy

I need a sugar mommy.

Great review, but Geekhack seems to downvote this, perhaps the pre-launch review unit is slightly lower quality?
And obviously, most of us will definitely replace the keycaps right away after opening the package, probably some won't even touch the stock keycaps...
Nice to know CM sticks to quality products, aiming for this as my next?

Very detail review and Exellent guide too . Thanks for opening up and voiding the warranty too . LOL.

Why did they downvote? May I know their reason?

CM Storm has high reputation for their keyboard since QFR series.
The guts of Novatouch is from Topre The top quality is there.
"I buy, I try and I speak."



Note for others: Thanks for other supporting.

would like to see the damage on the keycaps after your review!!

Ok, no problem. I will update during noon.

Update: Updated in post #4. Done

This post has been edited by quovadis123: Sep 23 2014, 12:37 PM

Very detailed review, covers almost everything we need to know .

Very detailed review, great job!

You mentioned that the spacebar is better than the one on the HHKB?
is it as noisy as the Realforce or the HHKB?

Yup. Best spacebar feeling as compared to costar, cherry stab and hhkb space bar.
The sound is louder than hhkb.
You can check my typing sound video above.

What I meant was the spacebar rattling noise,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk-uPtaEOEE


My realforce has the same problem too, oddly only poker2 doesn't have that problem...
I didn't hear the Nova's spacebar making much noise... is it as good as the poker?

This post has been edited by kaysa: Sep 25 2014, 01:50 AM

If you are talking about rattling sound of spacebar...

Novatouch do not has rattling sound like those costar stab keyboard like filco or hhkb and realforce.

It's like cherry stab keyboard like your poker don't make rattling.
Novatouch is much better spacebar than poker (cherry stab).
Just that the feeling of pressing the spacebar is much polished feel.
The best space bar feel that I'm feel so far in mkb.

I think I m gonna sell off my RF.

What??
You are selling Realforce 10 anniversary?
Everyone thought you already retired and end game with your RF 10years anniversary.
Unexpected now you want "out mountain" ..