Comments
inspyral t1_j0qucqk wrote
The space saving aspect is great, but I ended up using some rubber keycaps just for the arrow keys so I could easily differentiate them from the num keys by feel. That pretty much eliminated hitting right arrow by mistake when I was going for num pad zero. The cramped f key row is still an issue though, which is why I use my 1800 layout board most of the time now.
dimensiation t1_j0qsd8a wrote
I have a K8 and Q5, and the sound and feel of the Q5 is so much higher. The Q series is damn good.
TheSchneid OP t1_j0qty7j wrote
Yeah it's so nice. Ive always had cheaper mechs, and usually felt like I needed to add foam, replace keycaps / switches, and just do mods to make them better. This is just amazing out of the box though.
Like I know myself well enough to know I'm never going to sit down and lube switches myself. I'll do a tape mod or add foam, etc, but no way am I going to ever take the time to spend hours lubing switches.
If I replace the switches on this I'll def be getting some that are pre lubed though, huge difference there.
dimensiation t1_j0qvpt4 wrote
I did the tape mod before I built mine, but that's it. It sounds SO MUCH nicer than the K8 (that I'm typing on now) that I'm honestly tempted to build another Q5 (I have two PCs).
Which switches did you get? I got the barebones and have Akko V3 Cream Blues, which are a nice tactile. My K8 has gat reds, which I find are too light for my taste and I make mistakes with them. Not sure if I want more tactiles or to try a heavier linear.
TheSchneid OP t1_j0siqh4 wrote
So I ended up opening it up and putting down a super thin layer of neoprene foam and tape modding the back of the PCB. Also stuck a couple small strips of neoprene foam inside the spacebar to deaden that a bit. Way deeper sound.
Looking at maybe getting lubed glorious pandas, But I'm in no rush. Going to just stick with it as is for now and see if I get used to the lubed browns.
dimensiation t1_j0ubhm2 wrote
Interesting, I might try the spacebar trick. I just left the foam that came in it in the bottom, and did tape. Honestly it's felt fine since then, though the switches I got contribute a lot. I came from old cherry browns, and have a set of Kailh silenbox browns in my split keyboard. The v3 cream blues feel much stiffer than browns, but they aren't scratchy.
TheSchneid OP t1_j0w1vxf wrote
Nice, yeah adding extra foam made it sound better, but sort of negates having the gasket mount though since it's all now tight, so if the bounciness is your thing, I wouldn't add any more foam under the board. I personally don't care about stuff VS bouncy, they both feel fine to me so I'm just trying to get the best sound I can.
dimensiation t1_j0w2khm wrote
I'm happy with the sound I have now, so I'll leave it as-is.
jojowasher t1_j0r060a wrote
I have the same one, only thing I have done to it is put orings on the keys, searching for a set of shine through keycaps right now!
RockyValderas t1_j0s5owy wrote
I’d suggest trying out the Haimu Heartbeat linears instead of using o-rings on normal switches. Those switches are damn near completely silent, and have a much better feel than the extra mushy bottom out that o-rings give you.
Edit: they will tint your RGB though. So that’s something to consider also.
Blue-Bird780 t1_j0vay8q wrote
How do you find the 1u 0 key on the numpad? I want to love 96% so much but I lean really hard on the left side of the 2u 0 so I’m not sure how I’d end up liking it. I’m Torn between a 75% and a numpad or a 96%. I’ve got a TKL right now but I kinda hate the dead space of the Insert/Home cluster that I never use.
TheSchneid OP t1_j0ve0ln wrote
Yeah that's why I like this 1800 layout a lot more than the cramped 96% layout.
At least now there is a space separating the arrow keys from the 0 on the numpad.
Def takes some getting used to, the smaller right shift really threw me off for a while too, as someone that came from using a full size board for the last 25-30 years.
You get used to it eventually though. Maybe just stick with a full size of the smaller 0 is a concern though.
SkykingThrGreat t1_j0qs1it wrote
I got my husband the k4 and he loved the space saving aspect of the design but he keeps complaining that he keeps making typos on it so I’m strongly considering upgrading him to the Q5 too.