Matias Clicky Alps switch vs SKCM Alps switch

[snarfarlarkus]

Hey guys, just wondering which key switch feels better to you? I am wanting either and just want to decide which one is superior and which one I should get. Thanks for any help, cheers.

[Ludovician]

Just to clarify, are you talking about a specific SKCM switch? White? Blue?

I wish I could answer, but I haven't tried Matias clicky switches yet. Sorry. Tried SKCM white, SKCM blue, and SKBM grey, though. Each one is quite different.

[snarfarlarkus]

Sorry, forgot to mention. I mean the SKCM Blue

[chyros]

SKCM Blue > SKCM white > type OA2 / Matias > other clones

In my experience of Alps and Alps- like switches, there really is no comparison here. Granted, I've only tried Matiases in a tester, and they're good switches, but blues beat them hands down in every way.

[cheddarbek]

I've got SKCM orange, white, and cream, and Matias clicks on hand.

No question in my opinion, the SKCMs are better feeling than the Matias. Mind you, the Matias is a great switch. Nice high actuation point, noticeable tactile feel, and a decent click. The Matias does feel a bit scratchy, and once you advance beyond the very short tactile bump, it pretty much drops off - all the force is at the top of the switch.

The orange, white, and cream all have a longer, smoother tactile bump, and consistent force throughout. My personal preference is the white. It shares a very similar tactile feel as my oranges, but it has a noticeable, louder click. I'm a bit torn on the creams. They force required through the travel is great, but they get mushy as you bottom out - the layperson might mistake them for a nice rubber dome board.

Either way, if you can source original SKCMs, that's what I'd recommend going after.

[Hypersphere]

I've gone for Matias Click and Matias Quiet Click out of convenience -- they are currently available as new switches or already installed in some keyboards. I have two KBP V60MTS boards, one with Matias Click and the other with Matias Quiet Click. This still leaves the question of keycaps, but I was able to source dye-sub PBT alphas from vintage boards and I use Matias blank ABS caps for mods.

However, I have had the chance to sample some original SKCMs and related switches (e.g., Blue, Blue Monterey, White, Orange, and Brown), and I do prefer them to Matias. Nevertheless, Matias switches are quite good, and they are generally more available than the other switches mentioned here.

[merlin64]

I've used the following:

ALPS: Orange, Brown, White
Matias: Quiet Click

The white felt similar to the Quiet Click but Brown Alps definitely had a larger tactile brown than Orange Alps, which had a larger tactile bump than White or the Quiet Click

[bcredbottle]

You don't know what it is to be in a mech-induced happiness coma until you've typed on Salmon Alps with thick PBT caps. Holy ****. It's like MX clears with a higher actuation point, smoother, and a longer lasting bump

[Hypersphere]

You don't know what it is to be in a mech-induced happiness coma until you've typed on Salmon Alps with thick PBT caps. Holy ****. It's like MX clears with a higher actuation point, smoother, and a longer lasting bump

Which keyboard do you have with these switches and caps?

[fohat.digs]

Which keyboard do you have with these switches and caps?

I have orange Alps (arguably superior or at least equal to salmon) in a Dell AT101W with PBT caps from an AT101 (except for the bottom row), but the thicker PBT from AEK2 are even better. Too bad you can't make a complete set.

But I too am wondering whether it might be worth it to just buy a "store-bought" KBP V80 with clicky Matias rather than going through the tedium of un-re-building a major mod just to have orange or blue Alps.

[njbair]

My TMK 60% is built with orange Alps from a IIGS and PBT caps from an AEKII. I very much like that board. I even keep a couple bare orange Alps switches on my desk so that I can squeeze them for stress relief (this started by accident). I have White Alps on an older Unitek board, and I have another 60% (Infinity) with Matias Quiet switches. I also have the AEKII that the caps on my 60% came from, that one has cream damped Alps.

Out of those, I'd say Orange > Matias > White > Cream. I'm assuming Matias' clicky switches are on par with their quiets, and if so I would absolutely not regret getting a board full of them.

[Hypersphere]

I've tried Matias Click, Quiet, and Quiet Linear. In general, I need tactile feedback and don't like linear switches. Matias Clicks and Quiets both provide tactility, but I don't like the rubber landing of the Quiets. It would be interesting to try removing the bottom damper in the Quiet switches so that only the return-stroke would be damped.

[nubbinator]

OG Alps >>>>>> Matias Alps

Matias Alps aren't bad, but they feel cheaper and more wobbly than original Alps. 


In terms of clicky Alps, this is my preference:

Click modded Orange Alps = Blue Alps > Complicate White Alps > Simplified White Alps = Matias Clicky

Blue Alps feel a tiny bit better than click modded Orange Alps, but click modded Orange Alps have a more pleasing register to me.

[chyros]

It would be interesting to try removing the bottom damper in the Quiet switches so that only the return-stroke would be damped.

It would, but I think that'd be pretty hard indeed. I think they'd fall out after a single keypress.