Tecware Spectre Pro

there are signs that there will be more custom kits based on topre rubber domes. i heard from multiple sources that there are increasing activities to make this a reality.

this is a good news, especially when topre clones with lower weights (like 30 to 35g), pcbs, and plungers/sliders that are compatible with mx-style key caps exist now. there is no need to solder/desolder for topre boards.

believe it or not, a lot of people do not know that topre is tactile, despite the fact that this electrostatic capacitive (ec) key switch exists for 40 years by next year. (topre's patent was granted in 1984, and expired in 2004 because patent protection period is 20 years)

.. by now, i think you can visualize how important it is to have a set of base standards to make a key switch popular, and how influential the ecosystem based on cherry mx is.

topre key switches are often called 'expensive rubber domes'. the typing feel is like typing on cherry mx pink (or any key switch with mx-style silencing implementations), but not exactly. the main difference is that the tactile bump happens at the top of key strokes, and after that it's like free falls, hard to avoid bottoming out. topre boards have their unique sound when bottomed out. (it's the origin of 'thock', versus cherry mx's 'clack')

since the heaviest resistance is near the top of key strokes (normally it's 45g), that's why i cannot get used to topre domes. i can only type effortlessly when the starting force is 35g or below. however, new domes with lighter weights should take care of this.

edit: when you find the additional spring on space bar that is installed between keycap and switch, it's normal. that's how topre add spring weight to its keys.

This post has been edited by horns: Jun 21 2023, 09:17 PM

I built a numpad using Aliaz silent tactiles before and didn't like em. Combined with the super low weights....yeah I think I'll steer clear of topre.

oh there are heavy domes as well, (e.g., deskey)

yeah tbh, i'm comfortable with mx-style switches. topre is bonus if i can also play with them haha

Theres a topre/cherry 65 with mx stem starting gb soon. Cant remember the name.

My Vertex V1 arrived from taobao, factory lubed version.
Comparing it to the Oil King that I have, (I only have 2 types of linear switches):
Smoothness: Similar
Typing sound: V1 lower pitch and quieter.
Typing feel: V1 is softer. I prefer the oil king slightly more responsive feel to it.

But for the price, I would go for the V1 as it like half the price of the oil king.
I swapped the spring of the V1 with the TX 18mm 63.5g and the WS 3 stage spring 63.5g to test it out. I like it better this way.

But i plan to use it stock in my next build as I think for the price, it is just awesome.

PS, somehow if we search for review for this Vertex V one switch, there are not many that are talking about this switch. Not so popular?

This post has been edited by zzzz52: Jun 23 2023, 02:12 PM

nice. hopefully there will be more coming. it's a long overdue for topre clones to rise.

yes, vertex v one is a linear with full-nylon housing. because of that, it's relatively softer/lower-pitched/quieter, compared to the housing of oil king. if you looked closer, the obvious difference between the two is actually the bottom housing. oil king has a bottom housing which is based on material for gateron ink. the switch top of oil king is pa66 (nylon).

for now, unlubed vertex v one is one of my preferred base switches that are with full-nylon housing.

custom switches, like oil king, with unique stems/housings/springs are usually expensive. this is different from vertex v one, which is meant for mainstream.

you should progressively explore more mainstream and custom key switches, so that you will get familiar with differences from different brands. sometimes, cheap switches don't mean that they are bad in terms of own preferences. however, pay attention to qualities and areas that you should check out. for instance, you should know that kailh box series has weird stories previously. (it's not only oversized stems, but the change of tactile to clicky, which can be remedied by relubing) however, this doesn't mean other models from kailh have issues. most of these things have been reported, so a simple research before purchase will help to uncover such things.

as for general build qualities, unfortunately these need time to have proofs. for instance, previously we had switches with brittle stems/switch tops. these were not present when they were fresh out of box.

this is also one of the reasons we stick to brands with relatively good histories (e.g., cherry, gateron, kailh, jwk, tecsee)

edit: as for your postscript, maybe it's not hyped enough. this is typical. stuff from cn were missed internationally from time to time. sometimes it took a while before international market is aware of such products.


This post has been edited by horns: Jun 23 2023, 06:23 PM

Legendary Graywood v3 upgraded into v4 (price wise)
changed top and bottom material (Leobog yet announce the material)
single 20/22mm spring changed to double 20/22mm spring

This post has been edited by josh5671: Jun 24 2023, 09:36 AM

It is time for new mechanical keyboards - Asus ROG Azoth.
This is fully customizable, but I don't think I will ever do it, I just don't have feel to do it as I don't like altered the actual look for anything. It is probably just me.

I used thing as it original - I don't modified, don't overclock, don't change parts, don't spray, don't skin. 😅
I just prefer everything in its originality, don't know why, don't ask me, I cannot answer. 😅



And I just simply love this tiny screen. 😀



This post has been edited by Andrewtst: Jun 25 2023, 11:10 AM

everyone has own preferences. it's up to you to do what you want, including nothing, for own comforts.

i did go through the specs of rog azoth previously. tbh, it has all the bells and whistles, e.g.,
- 75%;
- switch hotswapping (north facing; ttc switch sockets; 3- and 5-pin key switch support);
- gasket-mount (silicon plate foam, poron foam and silicon pads for plastic bottom case);
- top aluminum frame;
- steel plate;
- double-shot pbt;
- tri-mode connections;
- knob;
- oled display;
- rog-exculsive costar-like stabilizers, with inserts (stock pcb supports pcb-mount stabilizers also)

packaging wise, it also includes stuff like:
- switch puller;
- switch opener;
- lube station;
- brush;
- lube (krytox gpl 205gd0);
- keycap puller;
- usb dongle/extender that can be clipped onto deskmat.

(i just typed whatever i can remember; i surely missed out something)

here are few yt videos on rog azoth, which explained more.



from the construction, it's oriented for feel not sound by default imo. stock keycaps use cherry-like profile. stock stabilizers are prelubed. i think they sacrifice metal bottom case for relatively better wireless performance.

in a nutshell, it's an option that bundles almost everything for a beginner.

The price of the Asus ROG Azorth is RM1070.

ahahaha....
have a second wanna to check how good this ROG Azorth and i read your 1070 comment lol...


btw,
anyone here using graywood v3?...i feel something weird happen on my side, for both wireless MG75 and wired M1
kinda easy to missed or double.

For example: you talking '1718' using top row number (as 75% keyboard)
sometime will become '718', or '17118', either missed or double.
this is switch issue or board issue? yet recognize the source as it not always happen, and not happening on ALL keys.

^ above problem not 100% annoying me yet, as I believe maybe i press & hold on the key trigger the double tab. (will observe first)

This post has been edited by josh5671: Jun 26 2023, 03:19 PM

My old razer optomechanical switch causes this sometimes.
Threw it away into the bin.
Caused me to miss my flight as my passport number was wrong by 1 digit here.

i know, but i think there are users who will still pay for it.

there are different kinds of mkb users. not all are interested in mechanical keyboard tuning or customizations. some just want a new keyboard, with features that they want.

in my cases, for hotswap boards, the most common cause should be bad key switches (which might be due to the switch being literally bad, or bad lube job); the second is bad contacts between switch pins and sockets.

first, try replace the key switch for '1', or whatever key that causes issues, and see if this still happens.

yeah we all had this kind of lousy incidents before lol (mine was locking myself out during an online banking session, because of one character difference)

will check the switch..if board problem then i will throw it away or make it as display board. (but i think less chance kot)

will do. as graywood v3 cheap switch, maybe i will change all to oil king see the problem still there or not.

find out the actual root cause first before further actions.

it's not that easy to break a hotswap pcb, if everything is done properly, e.g., my first-gen gk64 (with stock pcb and switch sockets), is still actively used as my break-in unit (currently mounted with tuned 5-pin kailh box v2). the board is six years old now.

The shop quota me RM 1009 with my point voucher of RM 10+10 as I do buy new mouse also. So I consider paid RM 999.00 for the keyboard. 😅

I think the price is similar with others brand like Logitech and Corsair.

My previous Logitech G913 was RM 949 the time I buy.

This post has been edited by Andrewtst: Jun 26 2023, 07:34 PM

yes, i believe that's the typical price range of premium gaming boards in the market today.

with that budget, i will go for monsgeek m1, gmk wob, vertex v one, and tx stabs. (i can still bring the total cost down with shenpo's thick pbt dye-sub) then again, we have different preferences and priorities, hence we just pick different paths for our own mechanical keyboard journey.

tbh, rog azoth is meant for modding. you should tune it.