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Keycap Kevin: The Sound of Mechanical Keyboards – Episode 1

4.8.2023

Translation: Patrik Stainbrook

Do you like mechanical keyboards and how they sound? Then let me flatter your ears today with four keyboards.

I’m into sounds. Especially those produced by mechanical keyboards. It’s the best kind of ASMR. If it’s the same for you, you can enjoy four of my keyboards in this episode.

Bakeneko60

The Bakeneko60 is a 60 per cent cast aluminium keyboard. It uses a so-called O-ring gasket mount. For this, a rubber ring, the O-ring, is tightened around the circuit board and cover plate. This unit is placed in the aluminium housing from above. The only point of contact between the unit and the keyboard housing is the O-ring. This holds the keyboard in place, making the typing feel a bit softer than a tray-mount keyboard, where the top plate and PCB are screwed to the bottom of the body. Here are the specs of my Bakeneko60:

Switches: Kinetic Labs Salomon (tactile)
Keycaps: JTK Azure Keycaps (ABS plastic)
Material cover plate: FR4 (glass fibre)
Insulation material: none

And here’s what the keyboard sounds like:

The Bakeneko60 is one of the first keyboards I owned. It’s also one of the few custom keyboards you can buy off the shelf. If you’re really serious about getting into homebrew keyboards, I’d recommend it. It also comes in the 65 per cent form factor with arrow keys, making the switch easier for anyone coming from a 100 per cent keyboard.

HEX 4.B

The HEX 4.B is a PCB O-ring mount keyboard in the 75 per cent form factor. Four O-rings, two at the top and two at the bottom, are clamped over corresponding recesses on the circuit board. The circuit board, in turn, is screwed between the upper and lower parts of the aluminium case. As with the Bakeneko, the O-rings are the only points of contact between the board and the case. This makes typing feel pleasantly soft. Here are the specs of my HEX 4.B:

Switches: Gateron Oil Kings (linear)
Keycaps: Osume Year of the Tiger (PBT plastic)
Material cover plate: none
Insulation material: none

And here’s what the keyboard sounds like:

The HEX 4.B is the only keyboard I own two of. Why? I once left the model presented here on the train. Since I absolutely love the typing feel it provides, I didn’t want to take the risk of never typing on it again. So I ordered one of the last available copies from Singapore. A few days later, I got a message from SBB that my keyboard had been found and was ready for pickup. So now I have two!

Salvation

The Salvation is a 60 per cent keyboard with so-called leaf-spring mounting. The keyboard consists of only one aluminium part. Its circuit board is supported by silicone spacers attached to fibreglass leaf springs. These are in turn attached to the back of the body. Foam pads under the leaf springs provide vibration damping and force modulation. The Salvation’s typing feel isn’t only soft, but bouncy too. Here are my Salvation’s specs:

Switches: C³ Equalz x TKC Tangerine (linear)
Keycaps: GMK Serika 2 (ABS plastic)
Material cover plate: none
Insulation material: none

And here’s what the keyboard sounds like:

Still, I had to be patient until Salvation arrived and I finally held the keyboard in my hands. I ordered it in April 2021 and received it in March 2023. I waited nearly two years – my longest keyboard group buy to date. I love the look of the keyboard, as well as the typing feel. Unfortunately, the aluminium case produces a strong pinging noise, which I haven’t been able to control yet.

Mammoth75

The Mammoth75 is a classic gasket-mount keyboard in the 75 per cent form factor. The cover plate and PCB are clamped between the upper and lower housing sections and held in place with so-called gaskets made of Poron foam. This provides a soft typing feel. Here are the specs for my Mammoth75:

Switches: Rebult Penyu (linear)
Keycaps: GMK Mecha-01 (ABS plastic)
Material cover plate: polycarbonate
Insulation material: PE-Foam

And here’s what the keyboard sounds like:

I picked up the Mammoth75 because of its design element: the mammoth. It wasn’t until later that I realised it was perfect for the Evangelion Unit 01-inspired keycaps. For me, a Neon Genesis Evangelion fan, at least one keyboard in the style of this legendary anime is a must. However, in terms of typing feel and sound, the Mammoth is simply another gasket-mount keyboard. Still, it’s quite okay for casual use.

Which keyboard do you like best? Do you have one you’re particularly proud of? Then share it in the comments. I’ll show you four more of my keyboards very soon.

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Kevin Hofer

Senior Editor

kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.ch

From big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.

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