In the past few months, I’ve taken a short break from the keyboard hobby because I was
focusing more on PC builds and wanted to grow that side of my business. And also,
I just didn’t see a lot of keyboards or group buys
that interests me lately so I just didn’t feel like it was worth making content.
However, I’ve just started to jump back in to see what’s new. At the same time,
I wanted to document my current collection for archival purposes and also share with you what
I use in my main rotation. I’ll be covering the specs of each keyboard build along with their
sound tests, and I’ll also briefly talk about the new boards I have coming in. So, let’s dive in.
Right now, I have six keyboards in the rotation and I’m going to start with the least used all
the way up to my top three main. Starting off is the Keychron Q8. The reason why this
is the least used is because this is more of a practice board for me to get use to the Alice or
Arisu layout as it is not my main preference but something I’ve always wanted to try out.
It’s an entry level board and I kept it pretty stock and minimal when it came to
mods as it wasn’t something I wanted to spend a whole lot of time and money on.
The only thing I spent extra for was the FR4 plate which was an extra $15
as that is typically my main preference for plates over the default aluminum.
My Q8 is in silver grey, FR4 plate, kept the stock stabilizers as is,
hotswap PCB with lavender switches that are lubed and filmed. Keycaps
I topped off with KAT Arctic. I’ve also tape modded the PCB just to improve the
sound a tiny bit as this is a quick and easy mod to do. Here’s the sound test.
There’s really not much to say about this entry level board that costs just under $200 for the
barebones. I mean it sounds and feels like an entry level board around that price range,
nothing special. It’s not great but it’s also not terrible either,
and it’s got some hollowness and pingyness and there’s some rattle in the default stabilizers.
On that note, normally I do buy my own Durock or Owlab stabs to replace stock stabs, but for this
one I just think it’s not worth the extra $20-25 for better stabs especially when this layout is
not my main preference. I’d much rather save my better stabs for mid to higher tier keyboards.
Moving on to the MODE SixtyFive. The reasons why this comes in at number five is because
I do have a preference for TKL layouts, anything smaller isn’t quite my thing,
but I also put it above the Keychron Q8 because this is just way better build quality in pretty
much every aspect. It’s not even in the same ballpark. Different price range, different tiers,
completely different keyboards aside from the fact that they are both 65%-ish range layouts.
Build specs is a black aluminum top case, black aluminum bottom case and I also got the shiny
brass bottom case as well that I switch off from time to time, shiny mirror back piece,
carbon fiber plate, solder PCB in stack mount which uses the silicone dampener because I
wanted to reduce the tiny bit of hollowness I hear when it’s built in isolated top mount,
Durock teal 62g linear switches that are lubed and filmed, Durock V2 stabilizers,
and GMK Hammerhead keycaps. Here’s a sound test.
Coming in at number four is the MODE Eighty 2022 WKL version in navy top
and gold bottom. This is my silent keyboard. And it’s at number four
because my preference is currently TKL WKL but silent keyboard for me is situational.
The internals include an FR4 plate, solder PCB, Alpaca silent switches lubed and filmed,
Durock V2 stabilizers, plate foam and poron base,
GMK Blue Samurai keycaps for the navy and gold color theme. Here’s a sound test.
Now number two and number three come really close to each other, they often switch around
for me. It’s the Space80 Apollo by GrayStudio and the MODE Eighty 2020 version. They are pretty
comparable in terms of feel and their sound signatures, especially with what I had built
into them. There are certain things that one does better than the other but they are really close.
The Apollo is a lot more fun to play with, move around,
and easier to pick up as there are grooves built into the design around the case of the
keyboard. The MODE Eighty is a bit harder to pick up because you really have to clamp
your fingers on to it and lift it up as it’s just flat around the sides.
Aesthetically I like the MODE Eighty better and it’s something I can rock on any desktop theme,
but the Apollo gives me something fun to look at and only fits in certain desktop themes. In terms
of sound, the way I built both made them pretty similar except the Apollo is slightly deeper.
I will also add that the spacebar on the Eighty sounds much cleaner than the Apollo. I want to
say it’s probably due to the fact that the GMK MODO 2 spacebar I have is a bit loose
on the stem and does wobble a bit which does affect the sound when pressed. The PBT Light
Mode keycaps from MODE Designs hugs the stems on the switch and stabilizers pretty tight
and there isn’t any wobble at all so I would say that’s why it sounds cleaner and solid.
Specs on both keyboards will be dropped in their sound tests. I also want to note
that all the heavier keycaps like the brass and metal artisans I’m using are
on vintage MX Black switches with heavier spring weights.
I actually really like the sound on my MODE Eighty 2020 especially with the tight keycaps that don’t
wobble and I will have to say it’s hugely also because of the Waterking V3 switches.
I have both the 55g and 62g, which are manually lubed. I don’t think even my
well-controlled sound test environment and Deity D3 PRO microphone actually
does it justice. In person, it sounds like somewhere between a bubblewrap
and a snappy waterdrop is the best way I can explain it. It’s lovely.
By far, Waterking V3 switches are my favorite non-long pole stem linear
switches. I’ve reviewed the 55g ones on my channel so you can watch that if
you’d like. I like them so much I recently bought the 62g ones and I will talk about
them further also in another keyboard video I have coming up, so stay tuned for that.
My favorite at number one is the Mr. Suit by Owlab. It’s because it
does the best job all around overall in terms of sound, feel, looks and design.
Now, Owlab carried over their signature sound from the Jelly Epoch into the Mr.
Suit which is a 75% into the TKL and TKL is my preference and I love it. Now the Jelly Epoch,
if you know you know. Unfortunately, I was not a fan of the Jelly’s aesthetics.
Mr. Suit is classy, it looks nice from top to bottom and left to right,
I can fit it in any desktop theme. I love shiny and heavy brass weight. It’s also lifted with
space under both sides so it’s easy to move and pick up, sounds great, I really can’t say more.
I got the black and gold with chamfered edges, hotswap PCB, all foam installed, Tungsten
switches also by Owlab which are currently my favorite long-pole stem linear switches,
Dark Mode PBT keycaps by MODE Design, silver polished brass artisan ESC keycap by Esc Lab
and the artisan rose keycap that came with my Mr. Suit package. Here’s a sound test.
I really like the Mr. Suit and I got the hotswap PCB in this because I do want to try out some
other switches on this board without desoldering every single time. Like the Waterking switches
in my MODE Eighty that I love so much, I haven’t tried those in this keyboard yet.
I have a Sonnet by Mode Designs coming in as well as a Frog TKL from Geonworks. I will have
dedicated videos on building those keyboards so please stay tuned for that. Anyways,
that’s all I got for this video, questions and comments down below,
thank you so much for watching, I’ll catch you in the next one.