[IC] Noxary Evija - HHKB Reimagined - Preorder Open!

[xondat]

Preorder is now live, check it out here: https://noxary.co/collections/evija

Locking as the interest check is over.

Evija
(e-vee-a)



Evija is a metal case for the Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2. Utilizing the same construction method as a Realforce, Evija combines the best of both to create a new segment of Topre keyboards.















Preorder Page

How does it work?

Evija requires two donor boards - a HHKB Professional 2, and a Realforce R1.
Evija provides the Top, Bottom, and Plate - HHKB Professional 2 provides the Main PCB, Daughterboard, Domes, Springs, and Keycaps - Realforce R1 provides Housings, and Stabilizers.

An Assembly Guide is being finalized and will be published shortly. Here is a video showing the process once the plate is made ready.

Typing Test

Plates & Anodizing Colors

Plates:

• Aluminum (Anodized Lightning Silver)
• Brass (Sandblasted & Clear Coated)
• Polycarbonate (Frosted White)

Anodizing Colors:

• Lightning Silver
• Blue Gray
• Jet Black

Details

Specification:

• Seamless Case Design
• Top Mount Plate
• 8° Base Angle
• 19.5mm Front Height
• ~1060g Kit Weight / ~1375g Built
• HHKB Layout

Contents:

• 1 x Top (Anodized Aluminum)
• 1 x Base (Anodized Aluminum)
• 1 x Plate (Aluminum or Brass or Polycarbonate)
• 2 x M3 Hex Screws
• 21 x M2 Hex Screws
• 4 x Custom Rubber Feet

Preorder Information:

• Kit With 1 Plate - $450
• Additional Plates - $40
• Starting on July 31st @ 1PM EDT
• Shipping in November
• 40 Units Available

Further Links:

• Evija Showcase
• Discord
• Instagram

Finally, a massive thanks to regionfree - this project would not have been possible without him.

[zekkin]

first

this is a hot keyboard

[belgium_waffles]

yes

[Agilr]

nice

[noricon]

Very excited. V sleek.

[Krelbit]

xondat is a good boy

this is a good board

this is a good board by a good boy

[Midori]

v nice board, v pog

[superdoedoe]

Xondad bringing heat

Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk

[Crack85]

Damn that's good. Too bad I don't have an R1

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[Lormania]

yesssss! Also I vote for pink

[bisoromi]

 

[alwayswarren]

yummy

[Crooks]

Nut

[yui_]

nice

[Zeelobby]

Oof. This and Norbauer's Heavy Grail. Loving all these wrappers.

[rope]

yes please very hot

[SirShakes]

Hothothot

[Hrage]

  Such a great looking board.

[edasaur]

Really excited about this. Are there any typing tests to get an idea of what the sound signature is like?

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[tomu]

Noxary once again delivering the spice

[minnus]

Would it work with the Topre Clone housing/dome/spring by Niz?

[dantambok]

guess i'll have to buy an hhkb after seeing this  )

[remdell]

I don't mind gutting one of my full-sized R1's, but an 86U/87U might be tough pill to swallow. Eh, the sacrifice should still be worth it. 

[shnizlon]

YES

[lovidore]

Love the sleekness of it! Good luck!

[futurecrime]

So hot

[Aerizu]

Will it work with Novatouch housing?

[ak_xf1re]

Am in. Got a u87 sitting there doing nothing anyways 😂

[Shikada]

You know how people outside this hobby look at us like we're crazy when they hear how much we spend on keyboards? This is how I feel when I see something like this.

Don't get me wrong, the case looks great and everyone who wants one should enjoy the hell out of it, but you have to pay $450 for just the case and cannibalize two other boards to build this thing. It's like... at this point I have to nope out

[xondat]

Really excited about this. Are there any typing tests to get an idea of what the sound signature is like?

Will post one in the next few days.

Would it work with the Topre Clone housing/dome/spring by Niz?

If Niz keep to the same specification as traditional Topre housings, then yes, but it's hard to say for sure.

Will it work with Novatouch housing?

I believe it's the same housings looking at pictures and talking to people that have taken them apart, however I won't officially say it works until I've seen it done.

You know how people outside this hobby look at us like we're crazy when they hear how much we spend on keyboards? This is how I feel when I see something like this.

Don't get me wrong, the case looks great and everyone who wants one should enjoy the hell out of it, but you have to pay $450 for just the case and cannibalize two other boards to build this thing. It's like... at this point I have to nope out

I agree it's a bit wild, however I think there are some elements that can be considered.

Using a top mounted plate with separate Topre housings allows different plates to give hugely different feel and sound profiles. If you prefer a HHKB typing experience, a plastic (Polycarbonate) plate would closely reproduce that, and if you prefer a Realforce feel, then a harder plate such as Stainless Steel will do a similar job.

If you look at it from a cost perspective, initially it can seem a lot, however there are two key points imo. You can pick up both the HHKB and Realforce for around $300-340, so all in it's around $850-900. For a completely built high-end board, I don't think that's too different from anything MX. It's also well known that Topre enthusiasts can be a little crazy, myself included, when it comes to getting the ultimate board. A common mod is to buy a whole other board just purple sliders or keycaps. I personally think this is very similar to what people do with MX boards too, such as vintage dyesubs or switches.

Of course it's crazy if you're not looking for end-game Topre, but taking everything into account, I personally can't think of anything better.

[Shikada]

Heh, thanks for sharing your point of view on this. I kinda get it, but it's still not for me. Hope the board turns out great and the group buy goes smoothly! Peace

[Aerizu]

Will it work with Novatouch housing?

I believe it's the same housings looking at pictures and talking to people that have taken them apart, however I won't officially say it works until I've seen it done.

Thanks! I hope I can secure a spot. With 40 units, it's probably going to be tough.

[nmur]

You know how people outside this hobby look at us like we're crazy when they hear how much we spend on keyboards? This is how I feel when I see something like this.

Don't get me wrong, the case looks great and everyone who wants one should enjoy the hell out of it, but you have to pay $450 for just the case and cannibalize two other boards to build this thing. It's like... at this point I have to nope out

topre people are pretty weird though

I happen to somehow already have a spare hhkb and realforce R1 bits (from another donor build...), so not everyone would be a position where they're buying 3 boards for 1

[Vigrith]

(...)so all in it's around $850-900. For a completely built high-end board, I don't think that's too different from anything MX.

??

This hobby is so ****ing doomed.

[xondat]

Some pictures of built Evija HGs from today









Evija HG features a polished stainless steel base, along with a matching plate. It's the same model as the 3rd prototype (aside from the base engraving), and I'm confident based on initial feedback that nothing will change between Evija HG and Evija

I've had a lot of people ask if there will be a R2 of HG, the answer is sadly no as I'd like to keep these special. For the regular version, if the demand is there, I will continue to produce the board.

[btctopre]

Some pictures of built Evija HGs from today

Show Image

Show Image

Show Image

Show Image

Evija HG features a polished stainless steel base, along with a matching plate. It's the same model as the 3rd prototype (aside from the base engraving), and I'm confident based on initial feedback that nothing will change between Evija HG and Evija

I've had a lot of people ask if there will be a R2 of HG, the answer is sadly no as I'd like to keep these special. For the regular version, if the demand is there, I will continue to produce the board.

jesus the polish on that plate came out nicely.

with the limited quantity, any chance of attempting to somehow control the purchasers so that actual topre hhkb users end up with them? i'd hate to miss out on this because the order gets bumrushed by people looking to use it as flip fodder for higher-end mx boards.

if not- any will additional runs be made in the future (iirc one of your instagram posts said something about unlimited)?

[xondat]

with the limited quantity, any chance of attempting to somehow control the purchasers so that actual topre hhkb users end up with them? i'd hate to miss out on this because the order gets bumrushed by people looking to use it as flip fodder for higher-end mx boards.

if not- any will additional runs be made in the future (iirc one of your instagram posts said something about unlimited)?

I'm not sure that's really possible to control, but I have a feeling that only Topre enthusiasts will pick these up.

Was thinking about unlimited but setting a limit means everything can be controlled much easier (selling, production, fulfillment and everything in between).

[Sycomore]

Wow, I need a justification to buy myself a HHKB, to add alongside my ever expanding realforce collection

[Gondolindrim]

Some pictures of built Evija HGs from today

Show Image

Show Image

Show Image

Show Image

Evija HG features a polished stainless steel base, along with a matching plate. It's the same model as the 3rd prototype (aside from the base engraving), and I'm confident based on initial feedback that nothing will change between Evija HG and Evija

I've had a lot of people ask if there will be a R2 of HG, the answer is sadly no as I'd like to keep these special. For the regular version, if the demand is there, I will continue to produce the board.

That looks freaking beautiful

So I wager there is no more ways to get an HG?

[Zeelobby]

Some pictures of built Evija HGs from today

Show Image

Show Image

Show Image

Show Image

Evija HG features a polished stainless steel base, along with a matching plate. It's the same model as the 3rd prototype (aside from the base engraving), and I'm confident based on initial feedback that nothing will change between Evija HG and Evija

I've had a lot of people ask if there will be a R2 of HG, the answer is sadly no as I'd like to keep these special. For the regular version, if the demand is there, I will continue to produce the board.

That looks freaking beautiful

So I wager there is no more ways to get an HG?

Seconded. That HG is fyre

[kema]

✨

[clik_clak]

I'm confused. Was the Evija HG already offered, or is going to be offered alongside the Evija? And if it's going to be offered alongside it, what is the cost of that?

[MatthewPham]

compatible with pro 1? i get that you said pro 2 but just making sure, sorry to bother ya

[btctopre]

I'm confused. Was the Evija HG already offered, or is going to be offered alongside the Evija? And if it's going to be offered alongside it, what is the cost of that?

the evija hg was offered in a small batch earlier this year, and i believe the cost was $840. per xondat's comment in this thread, it will not be making a return.

[xondat]

Seconded. That HG is fyre

So I wager there is no more ways to get an HG?

I'm confused. Was the Evija HG already offered, or is going to be offered alongside the Evija? And if it's going to be offered alongside it, what is the cost of that?

It's already been offered, all 10 have been produced and sold. It will not be offered again.

the evija hg was offered in a small batch earlier this year, and i believe the cost was $840. per xondat's comment in this thread, it will not be making a return.

Correct, thanks

compatible with pro 1? i get that you said pro 2 but just making sure, sorry to bother ya

If the dimensions of the PCBs haven't changed, then yes, however I don't have a Pro 1 to confirm. I can't seem to find any PCB pictures of the Pro 1 to get an approximate idea - if you don't mind then I'd love to get some pictures of the PCBs

[xondat]

Brass plate, stock sliders, lubed with 205g0 (I am not good at lubing).

[btctopre]

If the dimensions of the PCBs haven't changed, then yes, however I don't have a Pro 1 to confirm. I can't seem to find any PCB pictures of the Pro 1 to get an approximate idea - if you don't mind then I'd love to get some pictures of the PCBs

the physical pcb dimensions between the pro 2 and 1 are the same (or close enough), but the location of the mini usb port is shifted much farther to the right on a pro 1 (far enough that not even one of the usb a holes in the case would work as an entry point for it), and the pro 1 does not have the usb ports. so realistically the only way the pro 1 would work is if the pro 2 controller worked with it (which is possibly the case, given that the tmk config file is the same for both the pro1/2 hasu controllers), or you made a custom top plate for them (even as a pro 1 user, i don't think that's a good use of resources).

i'd say long-term offering a hhkb classic compatible topcase >>>>>>>>>> offering a pro 1 topcase (given the longevity of usb-c), but i don't think it matters all that much for this batch since the 40 will probably sell out in <5 minutes regardless.

Brass plate, stock sliders, lubed with 205g0 (I am not good at lubing).

sounds as expected with stock sliders (more of a chattery metallic echo than the plastic case; reminds me of the digilog sound), but the spacebar definitely could use some love. any chance you could pop in purple realforce sliders and give them a test as well? they helped a ton with the echo in the digilog.

[nmur]

Brass plate, stock sliders, lubed with 205g0 (I am not good at lubing).

sounds as expected with stock sliders (more of a chattery metallic echo than the plastic case; reminds me of the digilog sound), but the spacebar definitely could use some love. any chance you could pop in purple realforce sliders and give them a test as well? they helped a ton with the echo in the digilog.

yeah eliminating this sound is definitely the way to go IMO

not sure how much room there is inside the housing, but I also added dampening foam inside my norbaforce and it improved it further in this regard

[xondat]

the physical pcb dimensions between the pro 2 and 1 are the same (or close enough), but the location of the mini usb port is shifted much farther to the right on a pro 1 (far enough that not even one of the usb a holes in the case would work as an entry point for it), and the pro 1 does not have the usb ports. so realistically the only way the pro 1 would work is if the pro 2 controller worked with it (which is possibly the case, given that the tmk config file is the same for both the pro1/2 hasu controllers), or you made a custom top plate for them (even as a pro 1 user, i don't think that's a good use of resources).

i'd say long-term offering a hhkb classic compatible topcase >>>>>>>>>> offering a pro 1 topcase (given the longevity of usb-c), but i don't think it matters all that much for this batch since the 40 will probably sell out in <5 minutes regardless.

Thanks for the info, it's possible to change the base piece to have two sets of mounting points - both for Pro 1 and Pro 2. I think the trade off might not be worth it though, I doubt people would choose a Pro 1 over a Pro 2 to donate parts for Evija.

I opened up my Classic today and it's very different to Pro 2. It'd be possible to have both work in one design, but like the Pro 1 vs Pro 2, the Pro 2 would be the more likely donor due to price and the additional functionality it offers.

sounds as expected with stock sliders (more of a chattery metallic echo than the plastic case; reminds me of the digilog sound), but the spacebar definitely could use some love. any chance you could pop in purple realforce sliders and give them a test as well? they helped a ton with the echo in the digilog.

yeah eliminating this sound is definitely the way to go IMO

not sure how much room there is inside the housing, but I also added dampening foam inside my norbaforce and it improved it further in this regard

Check out the video I've posted below this reply, I think it better represents the actual sound profile. I have some Type-S sliders somewhere I could swap in, although I think it sounds great in a proper usage environment.

[xondat]

I had a few people request a typing test on a deskmat, as that's how most people will use it - take a listen