Kailh Box Red, Yay or Nay?

[Hyde]

A little bit of background about me, the switches I like are MX Red, MX Brown, and Topre.

A while back I wanted to see what the hype is all about so I tried 62g gold springs, and I actually didn't like the force curve (start too light, end too heavy), in comparison I actually like stock MX Red much better (sigh what a wasted effort).  So now I hit a dilemma where because I didn't like the custom springs so I'm not using the keyboard much.  Now I'm thinking to mod it again to something else.

Kailh box switches look interesting because it has very little wobble and it's suppose to be super smooth out of the box.  I know people usually get the clicky one but I don't like clicky switches so I'm thinking to try the linear one.

Would you guys say this would be a good idea or should I just try other linear switches.  Another one I'm looking at is Gateron yellow, but I just figure Kailh box red might be more "different"?

Though I hope I won't mind the shorter travel (3.6 mm as oppose to 4 mm) since typically I do enjoy the longer key travel.

What do you guys think?

[Harms]

If you like MX red you will like BOX red even more I think.

The bottom out sounds and feels better in my opinion due to the box design. Also there is less wobble.

The shorter throw should not bother you. It is only 0.4mm. It is barely noticeable. Finally, they are nice and smooth out of the box. They are solid linears and you should give them a shot. Spring weight is like stock MX red.

Sent from my STV100-3 using Tapatalk

[Hyde]

Ohhhhh awesome thanks for the feedback.  Though I've been reading about both today and now I'm not sure which one I want anymore lol.

Box Red:
MX Red weight. (Not bad but a tiny bit heavier would be nice)
No wobble. (Preferred)
Shorter travel.
Box design looks nice. (Not a huge thing but slightly preferred)

Gateron Yellow:
Between MX Red and MX Black weight. (I think this would be ideal actually, MX Red is a tiny tiny bit light)
Wobble more.
Same travel as MX Red. (Preferred)
Yellow stem a little bit ugly. (Not a huge deal I guess)

Smoothness from what I gather is close enough between the two.

Anyone who have tried both can chime in? 

[Harms]

Ohhhhh awesome thanks for the feedback.  Though I've been reading about both today and now I'm not sure which one I want anymore lol.

Box Red:
MX Red weight. (Not bad but a tiny bit heavier would be nice)
No wobble. (Preferred)
Shorter travel.
Box design looks nice. (Not a huge thing but slightly preferred)

Gateron Yellow:
Between MX Red and MX Black weight. (I think this would be ideal actually, MX Red is a tiny tiny bit light)
Wobble more.
Same travel as MX Red. (Preferred)
Yellow stem a little bit ugly. (Not a huge deal I guess)

Smoothness from what I gather is close enough between the two.

Anyone who have tried both can chime in? 

I have tried both.

The box red switches are just better in my opinion. They are more solid in feel. It is hard to describe.

It is more then just less wobble, but the bottom out sound and feel is just fantastic.

The only edge I give Gateron yellow is how it is a tiny bit heavier to your liking and more travel.

[Hyde]

Ok I'm sold.  I've placed an order on box red switches LOLLLL.

I'd imagine it's probably similar idea when I mod my Topre to silent it sort of fill in the gap and removed all wobble and made the switch feel "expensive" and refined.

My wife also think the box switches are more interesting to try and more different.

Thanks again for all the suggestions I'll let you know later when I get the switches.



Oh one last thing.  Would you say the force curve for box red spring is pretty constant gradually ramping up?  I prefer a constant steady rise as oppose to start off really light then ramp up very heavy at the end.

[Harms]

Ok I'm sold.  I've placed an order on box red switches LOLLLL.

I'd imagine it's probably similar idea when I mod my Topre to silent it sort of fill in the gap and removed all wobble and made the switch feel "expensive" and refined.

My wife also think the box switches are more interesting to try and more different.

Thanks again for all the suggestions I'll let you know later when I get the switches.



Oh one last thing.  Would you say the force curve for box red spring is pretty constant gradually ramping up?  I prefer a constant steady rise as oppose to start off really light then ramp up very heavy at the end.

Good choice

Here is the force graph for BOX red: https://plot.ly/~haata/370

It looks like it is a steady rise in force through the press.

[Hyde]

Ohhhh looks good!  Though is it me or all the Box switch measurements seem 10g lower than where it should be?

For example Box Red is measure at 23g start, 35g actuate, 50g bottom out.

Where you'd probably expect 33g start, 45g actuate, 60g bottom out to be inline with MX Red.

[Harms]

Ohhhh looks good!  Though is it me or all the Box switch measurements seem 10g lower than where it should be?

For example Box Red is measure at 23g start, 35g actuate, 50g bottom out.

Where you'd probably expect 33g start, 45g actuate, 60g bottom out to be inline with MX Red.

Yea, but it does not feel like that.

Besides it seems like some of Input Clubs graphs have lower numbers.

Look at MX red for an example: https://input.club/the-comparative-guide-to-mechanical-switches/linear/cherry-mx-red/

[Hyde]

Oh true, ok I'll trust the actual switch should be fine then haha.

[rich1051414]

Box reds feel just like cherry reds, except without the stem wobble. They did not feel any lighter to me, but both are 'too light' for me, so maybe I just can't tell. The box reds noticeably feel better. The feeling of box reds is like they are on rails, which feels very reassuring.

[Hyde]

Box reds feel just like cherry reds, except without the stem wobble. They did not feel any lighter to me, but both are 'too light' for me, so maybe I just can't tell. The box reds noticeably feel better. The feeling of box reds is like they are on rails, which feels very reassuring.

lol that's good too know hahaha, I think this is exactly what I'm looking for.