geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: coelacanth on Sat, 04 November 2023, 17:10:20
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I have the leaf spring aluminium plate that came with the kit and then an extra fr4 half plate. I originally thought I would use the half plate but upon looking into it further some people claim it feels 'inconsistent.' I know aluminium is hard to go wrong with and it all comes down to preference, but could anyone give me a little more insight on what each plate's pros and cons are?
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This guy probably can inform you about plates:
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This guy probably can inform you about plates:
Haha, I'm in his discord server already! Thanks for recommendation though :thumb:
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I can't say specifically for the Frog since I got the 8K version & the alum plate it has is not leaf spring. Although overall I'd say the full alum leaf spring plate will for sure give you a more consistent & softer feel over the whole board, also more consistent sound. The FR4 half plate will give a less consistent feel & sound between the alphas & everything else just by it's nature, also I suspect it would have a stiffer feel overall since it does not have the leaf spring cuts. IME half plate is best used with a boards that have stiffer mounts, as at least the alphas will feel a little softer. The trade off there is inconsistent feel & sound between the alphas & everything else IME.
Edit: I should mention we're not talking huge inconsistencies when using half plates, the alphas will feel a bit softer & sound a bit deeper than the switches that are in the plate part is all. Just was pointing out that by it's nature a half plate will introduce inconsistencies between the alpha plateless section & the plated sections.
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Yeah that's fair. I think what concerns me the most is that FR4 as a plate material often dulls the sound of the board and can feel a bit... dead? I think with something as nice as the Frog, a board that has a lot of character in it's sound profile, I wouldn't want to dampen that.
I understand that half plates by nature are inconsistent in feel, just wanted more opinions on it specifically in the Frog TKL.
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Yeah that's fair. I think what concerns me the most is that FR4 as a plate material often dulls the sound of the board and can feel a bit... dead? I think with something as nice as the Frog, a board that has a lot of character in it's sound profile, I wouldn't want to dampen that.
I understand that half plates by nature are inconsistent in feel, just wanted more opinions on it specifically in the Frog TKL.
Gotcha, like I said I own the Frog 8K & it only comes with a no leaf spring alum plate so I can't say specifically for the Frog TKL.
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I had a Frog TKL - two builds, one with alu and with POM and I think alu was slightly better feel with linears.