Need recommendation mod or new keyboard.

[Arukado]

Hello,

looking for a TLK or 75% keyboard based on silent switches. Soon, a new member of the family is to be born so quiet keys is a must. I've looked on many sites (based in EU) but only cherry mx silent red builds are available. Are there any per build alternatives on the market? I saw that gateron have silent switches but I couldn't find any keyboard based on those. Also as I mentioned new family members means that I want to pay as little as possible.

Mod version:
Right now I have meeto tlk (X51 model) from aliexpress (red switches) and it's to loud.
I've found that I can buy cherry mx silent red developer kit (DMX3A-L1NN) for around 40 euro so right now I'm leaning toward modification of my current metoo keyboard.
This really bad rainbow backlit which annoys me wouldn't be an issue anymore cos cherry mx are solid so no problem with leds anymore
Two things bother me tho. First is this feeling that it would be waste of money cos pcb would be pretty cheap and second that I need to spent additional amount to buy keycaps. I really like this set.
That would be in total around 110-120 euro if I get a coupon from banggood.
I know there are cheaper keycaps sets on the market so I can bus something whitish / greyish for ~40 euro and I'll end up spending around 80 euro.

New keyboard version:
I'm really into Varmilo VA87M Panda but this price is killing me (175usd plus shipping / taxes).
I've searched for this keyboard in Europe but it's either out of stock or in iso format or just simply costs an arm and a leg (>200 euro). So after discussion with my better half this option is most likely out of the table.

I'm torn apart so I'm asking for any advice / different point of view from more advanced users

Any help would be really appreciated.

[bananasplit_00]

You could get something with hotswap sockets and put whatever silent switches you want in that?

[Arukado]

Oh... that sounds pretty promising! Are we talking about base only or about whole keyboard with keycaps?
Can I get any recommendation? I mean particular model number etc?

Already found that topic hot swap keyboard so I'm looking for cheap option.

[nevin]

if you just want to replace your switches, you could get a desoldering iron, desolder & remove switches and solder in new ones. this would probably be your cheapest option.
- this is the desoldering iron i recently picked up and it's decent for the price.

if you want to buy a production keyboard with silent switches in TKL form factor, choices will be limited as well as probably not programmable.

if you want to build a custom board... probably the most expensive, but you get to pick and choose every component and build it the way you want it.

switches
silent tactile

Aliaz            
Gateron Silent Brown   
Zeal Zilent   (aqua)      

silent linear

Cherry Silent Red      
Cherry Silent Black      
Gateron Silent Black Inks   

Gateron Silent Clear   
Gateron Silent Red      
Gateron Silent Yellow   
Gateron Silent Black   

Zeal Rosélios / Sakurios   
Zeal Healios (orange)

if you're looking for a production TKL (off the top of my head...) the Filco Majestouch 2 TKL is available in silent red. and filco has a pretty good reputation.


GMMK had a TKL version of their hot swap board (no soldering to swap switches)

budget custom/programmable kits you could try offerings from KPRepuiblic (xd84 75%)

KDBFans KBD8X is pretty well regarded as a budget programmable TKL as well

DROP CTRL BAREBONES hotswap/programmable

[Arukado]

Soldering is not a problem cos I have soldering iron so it's only a matter of time
Nevertheless I've looked at KPRepuiblic and man you've made my day with that website!
Durgod Taurus K320 is so damn neat that I almost instantly forgot about panda themed keycaps.
I've watched few reviews and all of them were positive so I'll most likely end up with that keyboard instead of modification mainly cos of pcb and software.
I can always sold my metoo x51 for like 15 euro so in the end I'll spend around 85 euro in total so that's a pretty good deal.

So last question is there anything that I should know about taurus 320 before ordering?

[nevin]

sorry, i don't know anything about that board. watch/read a LOT of reviews, and draw your own conclusions.