gh60 in a kbdfans tray to test out a batch of switches, actually feels really nice, almost beat my personal best in 15s lol. i should probably replace with a hotswap pcb though since i basically only use it to test switches.
What's that above it? One of the aluminum Aliexpress boat anchor cases? If so, what have you got in it?
Are you asking about the LZ-S
I suppose so. It looks very similar to the Aliexpress aluminum TKL cases. I hadn't even heard of the LZ-S. There doesn't seem to be a lot of results if I Google it, yet it seems people in-the-know swoon over them.
Those are both wonderful switches though. They give navies a run for their money if you ask me, especially the SMKs.
The SMKs are pretty nice, I agree, but I really like the feel and sound of clickbar switches. Though, it probably doesn't help that the keycaps on the Monterey are HORRIBLY cheap, with a completely smooth top on all keys and a very bad sound profile. If they were the MX-mount design, I'd likely keep them around, but I don't feel like searching for replacement Alps-mount keycaps when the rest of the board's quality also sucks. Not to mention, I'm just curious what Box switches will feel like when I use them for a while.
The Space Invaders sound really nice, but they feel pretty scratchy. Granted, they weren't exactly clean when I found them. The F key row sounds and feels a lot nicer, though.
EDIT: I realized I could temporarily steal some nice quality caps from my Apple IIc to test on the Monterey board, and I am gladI I did. I might be inspired to keep these switches after all, with how big an improvement better caps made on the feel and sound. That is...if they still work after I spilled a ton of pasta sauce on them
You could get some brand new Tai-Hao caps for it if the layout is relatively standard. They're thin, but they're doubleshots if that matters. They're ABS though, so they'll wear smooth if that bothers you (I like it). What have you got in that Apple IIc then, SKCM orange? Never tried those myself. SMK switches, in general, don't sound as nice as something like Alps SKCM ... or even Matias, unfortunately (to most anyway, eye of the beholder, etc). They are still very smooth, pleasant, and seem to be some of the least finicky in both feel and function of the extended Alps family though.
What do you want a clicky to sound like? Navies are amongst the most pleasant/satisfying of the box family in terms of feel, but they're relatively high-pitched. The force required to actuate them seems to also cause and/or increase the volume of ping with a metal plate and/or chassis that's particularly susceptible to it. Personally, I find it endlessly entertaining in the aluminum of the Das Pro 4 and Corsair K65 I swapped them into, but it seems the trend is to dislike ping. They're also a lot stiffer than any clickies you may be used to if you're currently typing mostly on SMK and space invaders. I got used to them surprisingly fast, but I was also already used to typing on Alps SKCM and capacitive buckling spring regularly. They did seem, to me, to be less difficult to acclimate to than a heavy linear like MX black.
If any of that bothers you, you may want to look at lighter and/or bassier variants of the box family like jades and pinks. Jades are also
more tactile than navies, although the extent of the tactility juxtaposed against the comparatively light spring weighting bothers some. I just think it helps them feel just a little more like Alps SKCM.
Space invaders do sound more consistent and crisp than SMK, I suppose. Very high-pitched though. If you particularly like their sound, you may be right at home with box navies in that regard. Yours are scratchy? I would have to try my board again, but I can't say I have ever noticed as much. I don't think mine was all that clean either, but I know how some of those recycler boards are abused. I have tried Hi-Tek's earlier linears (with similar contacts) in an old Atari computer and those were wonderfully smooth as well. Maybe
fohat.digs can chime in on that. I know he's a proponent of the Hi-Tek 725 series.
If you get the chance, you should also try NEC blue ovals if you have not and like high-pitched pingy switches. Very entertaining.