deskthority

So, I've tried boards with MX Blue, Brown, Black, Red, Clear, and Topre, and while I enjoy them all in their own ways, I've still always felt that the best sounding board was my old Focus FK-2001 with clicky Alps, my childhood keyboard and the one that I had before I even cared about keyboards. I much prefer the lower pitched sound of the Alps to the high pitched MX Blues; it's a lot more satisfying to me.

Still, I don't use it since it lacks Windows keys, it requires a DIN port, and it feels like crap to type on anyway (I suspect the switches are full of dust after all these years). So, I decided to get my hands on a clicky Matias board - I purchased the KBParadise V80 with Matias click switches.

First impressions already started out bad with the ludicrously tight Mini-USB connector, but when I began to type on it I noticed the entire board was making a metallic ringing sound every time I typed. I don't mind the spring "ping" on the Cherry MX boards I own - in fact I kinda like it - but on the V80 it's everywhere, even if I brush my fingers over the keycaps without hitting any keys the whole thing echoes in a symphony of vibrating metal.

Without the metallic echoing, this board would sound just as great as my Focus. Still, I noticed something else, the switches don't click when pressed at certain angles. The left Ctrl is especially bad, it doesn't click at all unless I hit it at precisely the correct angle. The old Focus had none of these issues.

All in all, it's still got that great Alps sound, but that's basically the only reason for me to use it. This one fell very short of my expectations. Any V60/V80 owners want to share their thoughts? I wonder if the the cheaper V80 with Fuhua Alps clones would have been a better choice...

I definitely prefer my FC660m with Zealios over the v80-MTS-C, but the Matias switches are so easily modifiable so it's fun to tinker with them to try and figure out how to make them better. And you don't even have to feel guilty about destroying a few switches here and there since they're still in productin, unlike vintage Alps switches.

I currently have half-damped stems from a set of Matias Quiet switches in mine. I clipped off the bottom part of the rubber dampers on them so they only clack on the downstroke, not the upstroke. Planning to remove this mod soon since it's not as good as I'd hoped, but was fun to try.

I also have 65cN return springs in them, which is slightly heavier than stock, and I'm thoroughly in favour of this mod.

For my next trick I'm thinking about cutting some little slits into the top housings, in a possibly-misguided attempt to get them closer to that classic SKCM feeling.

I'm not really noticing the ping at the moment. I seem to have a vauge memory of it tho, so I guess it goes away on it's own after a while.

I try to view Matias switches in context; if you want Alps straight of the factory, this is what you're looking at. As usual, the older designs are better, but if you want your switches new and fresh, that's not an option. And while I consider complicated, especially first-gen, Alps switches better than Matias, I think that among modern switches Matias are some of the best out there, personally.

Chyros wrote: I try to view Matias switches in context; if you want Alps straight of the factory, this is what you're looking at. As usual, the older designs are better, but if you want your switches new and fresh, that's not an option. And while I consider complicated, especially first-gen, Alps switches better than Matias, I think that among modern switches Matias are some of the best out there, personally.

I total agree , better than anything cherry put out at least. I like how hackable they are, i have a few to mess around with and made a dampened click switch and thats strange but awsome!

Regarding ring
You could try to insert some foam or cork inside the board to absorb the sound.

Chyros wrote: I try to view Matias switches in context; if you want Alps straight of the factory, this is what you're looking at. As usual, the older designs are better, but if you want your switches new and fresh, that's not an option. And while I consider complicated, especially first-gen, Alps switches better than Matias, I think that among modern switches Matias are some of the best out there, personally.

Is it normal to have the switches only click properly if you hit them at specific angles? That certainly wasn't the case with my Focus.

Very simple, while Matias switches as based on Alps SKBM. I am not the least suprised you are disappointed, I was shocked in a negative sense when I first tried Matias switches on the Matias ergo tour. A shame really.

M4dn3ss wrote:

Chyros wrote: I try to view Matias switches in context; if you want Alps straight of the factory, this is what you're looking at. As usual, the older designs are better, but if you want your switches new and fresh, that's not an option. And while I consider complicated, especially first-gen, Alps switches better than Matias, I think that among modern switches Matias are some of the best out there, personally.

Is it normal to have the switches only click properly if you hit them at specific angles? That certainly wasn't the case with my Focus.

it can happen , they are simplified alps after all so there is some funkyness with the click in my opinion.

I don't know how the Matias switches have changed over time, but the feel of my older Matias keyboard (Tactile Pro - one of the early versions that takes two USB ports) is much better than the one they are selling now (version 4?). The new one is so different that I sent it back. But that could be the build, keycaps or switches, or even the ageing process (doubtful since the worst part of the new version was how much it rattled when typing).

The first mechanical keyboard I owned had ALPS switches (a Northgate) - maybe my memory is overly generous, but I think it was better than the Matias versions.

evoman wrote: I don't know how the Matias switches have changed over time, but the feel of my older Matias keyboard (Tactile Pro - one of the early versions that takes two USB ports) is much better than the one they are selling now (version 4?). The new one is so different that I sent it back. But that could be the build, keycaps or switches, or even the ageing process (doubtful since the worst part of the new version was how much it rattled when typing).

Interesting.

evoman wrote: The first mechanical keyboard I owned had ALPS switches (a Northgate) - maybe my memory is overly generous, but I think it was better than the Matias versions.

Your memory serves you right!

seebart wrote: Very simple, while Matias switches as based on Alps SKCM …

SKBM :)

The V80 is a great board for putting real Alps switches into.

Though, you'll have a hell of a time desoldering it. It uses really tiny amount of RoHS solder and has a giant ground plane so getting the pins free will be tough.

I love my V80 with blue Alps.

Daniel Beardsmore wrote:

seebart wrote: Very simple, while Matias switches as based on Alps SKCM …

SKBM

Right, my mistake and my wishful thinking. There is a good reason I find them quite inferior to SKCM.

XMIT wrote: The V80 is a great board for putting real Alps switches into.

Though, you'll have a hell of a time desoldering it. It uses really tiny amount of RoHS solder and has a giant ground plane so getting the pins free will be tough.

I love my V80 with blue Alps.

I love my V60 with Amber Alps

Although it doesn't feel as "sticky" as my probably-dust-filled Focus I'm still not a big fan of the feel and I definitely do not appreciate the complete lack of consistency. I think I'll take this board back, good thing I can return within 30 days if I pay postage.

It's a shame because I love the sound of clicky Alps, but I prefer the feel of MX Blues and I type even faster on MX Browns, and clicky Alps just sound that much better than clicky Cherries - in terms of sound I prefer Clicky Alps > Topre > MX Blue.

Can anyone recommend any boards that sound like clicky Alps but feel more like MX Blues? Even with thick PBT keycaps the MX Blues don't sound nearly as satisfying as the Alps (or Topre). If it matters, I'm actually fastest on the MX Browns because it's less tactile... much more boring but faster for me and it would be great if I could have the best of both worlds - something that I can type on as fast as MX Brown, feels as nice as MX Blue, and sounds as great as clicky Alps . Strangely enough, the best balance between those three factors for me is my 55g Realforce.

@TS

I think that you just got a bad board? If not, then is it inherent in the current iteration of the Matias switches?

M4dn3ss wrote: Although it doesn't feel as "sticky" as my probably-dust-filled Focus I'm still not a big fan of the feel and I definitely do not appreciate the complete lack of consistency. I think I'll take this board back, good thing I can return within 30 days if I pay postage.

It's a shame because I love the sound of clicky Alps, but I prefer the feel of MX Blues and I type even faster on MX Browns, and clicky Alps just sound that much better than clicky Cherries - in terms of sound I prefer Clicky Alps > Topre > MX Blue.

Can anyone recommend any boards that sound like clicky Alps but feel more like MX Blues? Even with thick PBT keycaps the MX Blues don't sound nearly as satisfying as the Alps (or Topre). If it matters, I'm actually fastest on the MX Browns because it's less tactile... much more boring but faster for me and it would be great if I could have the best of both worlds - something that I can type on as fast as MX Brown, feels as nice as MX Blue, and sounds as great as clicky Alps . Strangely enough, the best balance between those three factors for me is my 55g Realforce.

No switch I've tried or heard of - and that's a fair few by now - can truly replicate the sound of complicated Alps IMO, but if any metal-click-leaf sound of a vaguely Alpsish type will do, you might want to consider a board with Montereys. Cindy has a whole bunch of NIB Chiconies on offer with them in, if you're interested. Delightful switches, lighter than Alps, very smooth, and with a crisp, sharp tactility. Make you type very delicately.

Chyros wrote:

M4dn3ss wrote: Although it doesn't feel as "sticky" as my probably-dust-filled Focus I'm still not a big fan of the feel and I definitely do not appreciate the complete lack of consistency. I think I'll take this board back, good thing I can return within 30 days if I pay postage.

It's a shame because I love the sound of clicky Alps, but I prefer the feel of MX Blues and I type even faster on MX Browns, and clicky Alps just sound that much better than clicky Cherries - in terms of sound I prefer Clicky Alps > Topre > MX Blue.

Can anyone recommend any boards that sound like clicky Alps but feel more like MX Blues? Even with thick PBT keycaps the MX Blues don't sound nearly as satisfying as the Alps (or Topre). If it matters, I'm actually fastest on the MX Browns because it's less tactile... much more boring but faster for me and it would be great if I could have the best of both worlds - something that I can type on as fast as MX Brown, feels as nice as MX Blue, and sounds as great as clicky Alps . Strangely enough, the best balance between those three factors for me is my 55g Realforce.

No switch I've tried or heard of - and that's a fair few by now - can truly replicate the sound of complicated Alps IMO, but if any metal-click-leaf sound of a vaguely Alpsish type will do, you might want to consider a board with Montereys. Cindy has a whole bunch of NIB Chiconies on offer with them in, if you're interested. Delightful switches, lighter than Alps, very smooth, and with a crisp, sharp tactility. Make you type very delicately.

The Chiconies sound like a good option except I use the Windows key a lot. I wouldn't say I necessarily prefer lighter switches since I use a 55g RF87 and prefer MX Black over MX Red. I've been reading about the Dell AT101W but what confuses me is that there appears to be clicky ones but when I read about them they aren't actually supposed to have clicky switches...