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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: navy2x on Wed, 05 April 2017, 13:51:39
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What are your thoughts on the KUL ES-87 as a starter mechanical keyboard? I haven't seen too much talk about them lately, but the initial reviews a few years ago were glowing.
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Still using mine 3 years later lol. It's my at home board. It will soon be replaced by an Octagon V2 though, not because it's bad or anything, simply because I like the Octagon V2 layout better.
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I dumped mine because the batch of reds installed were the scratchiest linear switches I've ever tried.
It's not KUL specific but if you can't try before hand ....
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I think it depends on what you want out of the keyboard, what switches you prefer, keycaps etc.
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very good keyboard
only thing that stops me from using it more is that i don't like the set i have on it and have been too lazy to change it
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If you are going to buy a KUL you should do it soon. Elite Keyboards is running out of things to sell. :D
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Elite Keyboards were already out of the one I wanted. I found a smoke version on r/mm which is arriving today.
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Elite Keyboards were already out of the one I wanted. I found a smoke version on r/mm which is arriving today.
Let us know what you think of it. :thumb:
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That was my first modern mechanical keyboard. It's very heavy, solid, feels well built. I've no doubt I could've used it for many years if I hadn't discovered Topre :)
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That was my first modern mechanical keyboard. It's very heavy, solid, feels well built. I've no doubt I could've used it for many years if I hadn't discovered Topre :)
So what's the deal with Topre? Why does everyone like them so much?
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That was my first modern mechanical keyboard. It's very heavy, solid, feels well built. I've no doubt I could've used it for many years if I hadn't discovered Topre :)
So what's the deal with Topre? Why does everyone like them so much?
Not everyone likes them. Some even prefer certain membrane rubberdomes over them.
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I've had my KUL with MX clears for over a year.. fantastic board and I use it every day.
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I actually really like the case on this keyboard, especially the white!
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That was my first modern mechanical keyboard. It's very heavy, solid, feels well built. I've no doubt I could've used it for many years if I hadn't discovered Topre :)
So what's the deal with Topre? Why does everyone like them so much?
Personally, I find the Topre switch has a great feel. All the resistance is at the top of the stroke, and it falls down to the bottom in a way that I find very clean and satisfying. The HHKB also has the switches mounted the case, which gives it a lot of "give" when you bottom out -- and it also has really great PBT keycaps that contribute to the sound and feel.
side rant: It's a damn shame it's so hard to just try out a variety of these things before one makes a purchase. After doing all my initial reading and research on this site, I went for my first mechanical keyboard with the big mainstream (Cherry brown) choice at the beginning and liked it OK. But then I found I liked Topre more, and to me the feel (and sound) of Cherry switches just seemed kind of rough and scratchy after that. But then again, some people will just hate Topre and love some specific type of Cherry switch, or buckling spring, or whatever. So it turns into this rather expensive trial-and-error process.
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The barrier for entry when it comes to Topre is higher than Cherry MX even with the "electro-capacitive clones". I guess that's one reason why I've never owned one.
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What are your thoughts on the KUL ES-87 as a starter mechanical keyboard? I haven't seen too much talk about them lately, but the initial reviews a few years ago were glowing.
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KUL with clears was my first mech. I just sold it to someone on mm with the MOD Keyboards thick PBT black dyesub set from Originative, and I hope they love it as much as I did. It was my office board. My FC660c is out for delivery today and will replace my KUL in my office. The KUL is a tank and a very nice retail board.
Also, if you're looking at TKL, check out Leopold FC750R. Similar pricing, better switch selection, and a dampening pad that sounds and feels very nice. I have one at home with blacks that feel so buttery and nice, I love that board as much as I loved the KUL.
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I still have one from their first run on MK.com -- MX Browns. It was my daily driver at work until I got my GH-122 up and running, and I still use it on a secondary computer. Still rocking the Midnight DCS set on it too. :P
I got nothing but good things to say about it. It's an excellent board that ought to last a lifetime.
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LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT.
I have the KUL ES-87 with MX Clears in Smoke White. I really hate the stock caps though. I tried them out initially for a month and already the letters started fading. W T F
But I replaced the caps with some PBT caps that I had laying around, so all is good.
I must say that my board suffers from some pinging (metal noise when you press the key). I don't know if it's the board, or the springs in the switch. MX Clears have a stiffer spring, so that may resonate more perhaps.
Anyway, it is really sturdy. It has dip switches. It has detachable cable. Really solid board overall.
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Anyone know of a metal plate that can be placed in a kul es-87?
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What are your thoughts on the KUL ES-87 as a starter mechanical keyboard? I haven't seen too much talk about them lately, but the initial reviews a few years ago were glowing.
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Practically every opinion I've read on them was favourable—that, for the money, it was an especially good value.
I'm glad to see you're using your iPhone, BTW... Considering you can get just as much functionality in an Android phone costing half as much, you may as well get a good deal of use out of it. :?)
So what's the deal with Topre? Why does everyone like them so much?
Not everyone likes them. Some even prefer certain membrane rubberdomes over them.
Feh, that's just sour grapes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fox_and_the_Grapes).
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iPhone is great, thanks!
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