Just an info for someone like me with no experience with KAT/KAM: how would a KAM profile compare to an XDA? I have the impression that KAM has a more concave printed area while still keeping a similar side shape to the XDA, but I'm not sure I'm getting it right.
They are quite different visually when put side to side..
Taking my KAT R2 keys (from KAT Alpha) and XDA keys (from various sets) together (disclaimer: i know KAM is symmetrical, while KAT R2 is not, but it's the closest thing, i am still waiting for KAM Wraith..), lets see the differences, calling KAT R2 "KAM" to keep things simple:
- KAM sits a tad higher, 1mm about so
- KAM sides are a lot more rounded, the shape is very different there, with XDA having a progressive bevel on the edge leading to the rounded corners from the top
- XDA keycap is indeed flatter, and they keycap surface is noticeably larger
- XDA surface corners are rounded, while KAM corners have notable square-ish shape
- the XDA sets i have (all PBT dye subs) have a rougher texture. Not as much as DSA but still on the rougher side of most profiles. KAM is either glossy ( = zero texture) or matte (i suppose like KAT, so kinda silky)
- something you only see if you remove the keycaps, is KAT / KAM is very thick (1.6mm or so) while XDA is thin (1.1mm or so). The difference in thickness will affect sound, and feeling.
There's another profile called XDAS (like "XDA Square") that might be a closer thing to KAM, with the difference of texture again (my XDAS sets are mid-rough i would say, smoother than XDA though). XDAS is thicker than XDA at 1.5mm, sits higher and has that square-ish top shape, but still has the same sphere radius as XDA so KAM will be more concave, also the corners are more straight leading to a larger key top surface.