BKE Redux Light Domes [Short review]

[Sup]

It seems like this is getting popular again, so after seven years, I’m using my better grammar to fix my old mistakes.

Introduction

Today I’m reviewing the BKE Redux light domes from KeyClack. I threw these domes on a stock HHKB Pro 2, used them for five days, and now I’m ready to share what I think.

Product Information

The BKE Redux is basically a redesigned BKE rubber dome replacement. They’re made from silicone and compressed to give you a snappy, tactile typing feel.

Weight, Tactility, Sound

Weight: They say these are 45 grams, but they feel more like 60 grams to me. Some guy on Geekhack called _Rubik did a coin test on the heavy version (supposed to be 60g) and found they actually need 86-92 grams to activate. I did my own quick test with some European coins (7x20 cents and 2x10 cents) and got around 48-50 grams. Keep in mind my testing wasn’t super precise since I didn’t test them while they were actually in my keyboard.

Tactility: Yeah, they’re tactile alright. Maybe too tactile for my taste - doesn’t really feel like proper Topre anymore.

Sound: Holy crap, these things made my HHKB Pro 2 way louder. I’m not using any silencing rings or lube, so when the dome snaps back, the plastic slider just smacks the plate hard. Sounds about as loud as those clicky Alps switches.

Quality

Can’t complain about the build quality - they look and feel just like real Topre domes, no issues there.

Is it Worth it?

Honestly? Not for me. They feel too heavy and stiff compared to the stock domes, and way too tactile - just doesn’t feel like Topre should. Plus they’re loud as hell, which might bug you and everyone around you (though maybe steel plate Topre boards handle this better). I wouldn’t recommend them for typing, but they might work okay for gaming.

[microsoft windows]

EXCELLENT REVIEW!

[Techno Trousers]

Nice review, thanks. Interesting to hear that you think the weight is like 60g. I'm assuming you're not in the U.S., but can you do a weight test with coins of a known weight to see how much force it takes to collapse a light dome?

[Sup]

Nice review, thanks. Interesting to hear that you think the weight is like 60g. I'm assuming you're not in the U.S., but can you do a weight test with coins of a known weight to see how much force it takes to collapse a light dome?

I will try to figure out how much pressure is needed to collapse the BKE light dome

EXCELLENT REVIEW!

Thanks

[Techno Trousers]

I will try to figure out how much pressure is needed to collapse the BKE light dome

Much appreciated! The more hard data we have, the better.

[Sup]

I will try to figure out how much pressure is needed to collapse the BKE light dome

Much appreciated! The more hard data we have, the better.

Surprisingly the pressure to get the dome collapsed is around 48-50 grams. I am surprised since they do feel like 60 grams.

[Techno Trousers]

I will try to figure out how much pressure is needed to collapse the BKE light dome

Much appreciated! The more hard data we have, the better.

Surprisingly the pressure to get the dome collapsed is around 48-50 grams. I am surprised since they do feel like 60 grams.

Interesting indeed! Maybe I'll get a sample pack of those light domes to try in my RF 87U.

[Wirakocha]

nice review 

[mikehotel]

I've been considering BKE Redux domes for a while. What domes does the stock HHKB have? That keyboard feels great, so I'm thinking of adding these to a plum.

[corygrapher]

Wish they sell super light again.

[MperorM]

I received my BKEredux light's today.

After reading reviews like this one, I was very worried that even the lights would be too heavy for me, considering my preference for 35g switches.

However after putting them in (wasn't too much of a hassle) I found that they don't really feel heavier than my 45g domes. They do however feel much snappier, even more so than my clicky alps! This is just the right kind of tactility. Clicky simplified alps feel flimsy, and cherry mx feels outright linear. I really am enjoying the tactility

The upstroke is also absurdly loud, like, really loud. I didn't think I would mind it, I thought I would maybe even enjoy it, but that turned out not to be the case. The upstroke is annoyingly loud. the buttery smooth topre^tm "thock" is gone, replaced with an aggressive "THOCK THOCK THOCK".

so far I am quite satisfied, however I've only been typing on them for too long, so my opinion might change.

[Boaty]

PM