I'll have to pick up some of those Akkos. I've avoided buying Boba U4s just because they seem like they're pretty heavy. I don't like anything much heavier than MX browns. Even blacks are a little heavy for my tastes.
Wish I had seen this earlier. I have experience with all of these switches.
For Ale210, he is looking for something in the range of Durock Medium Tactile. Some switches like that are:
-AKKO CS Ocean Blue and Lavender Purple
-Frankenswitches where you put Brown-style or Gateron Orange stems in a T1 or Boba housing [lubed with 3204]
-Gateron CAP Brown V2 [it's between a light and medium tactile]
-Everglide Jade Green V2 [3204 and filmed]. Like a smaller DMT.
-SP Star Purple and especially SP Star Magic Girl
-Huano Banana [punchy switch that's less-tactile than T1, like a super-Ergo-Clear]
-Midnight [it's a DMT stem in a T1 housing]
-Brown Panda [MX Brown stem, YOK Panda housing, YOK 60 G spring]
-Ergo Clear [lubed with 3204 or 205g0, using 62-65 G springs]
There's also a variant of Durock Medium Tactile called RARA V2, which is one of the first of its type. RARA V2 has same stem, I think, but uses a ThicThocc 63.5 G long spring, which makes it more punchy and deeper-sounding than Durock Medium Tactile. I prefer regular Durock, so I could have sold you my professionally lubed+filmed RARA V2.
But the closest alternative to Durock Medium Tactile is Zealio V1 Redux - yes, V1 is back. They go on sale for .70 cents at times, which is 'affordable' by Zealio standards. They need lube on the stems with 205g0, then they sound kind of like raindrops. Zealio V1 is a bit less tactile, softer and smoother equivalent to Durock Medium Tactile. It's what inspired the switch.
For Riverman, who wants close to MX Brown or just a little heavier...if you lube Durock Medium Tactile generously with 3203 and film it, it basically feels like a bigger MX Brown with more 'negative space' after the bump. Works great on polycarb plates. Or use heavier lube to turn it into a slushy almost-Brown.
Put Gateron Orange [or Brown-style] stem into Boba housing, give it 62-65 G 14mm springs, and they are light, poppy and very straight Ergo Clears. No filming necessary, and Gateron Orange comes pre-lubed. So you could get away just lubing the springs.
Durock Light Tactile is supposed to be like MX Brown but tighter housing. Try to get a pre-lubed version maybe, like the "Cotton Candy" switch from Loobedswitches that uses a nylon housing.
Other than the rest of the near-Brown switches I mentioned above [Jade Green, CAP Brown V2], there's SP Star Meteor Orange, which has a good rendition of the Cherry light tactile, but needs lube + film for sound. KTT Mallo also has a great, smooth light tactile feel, but it squeaks, so you might want to check the thread on Keebtalk.
TTC made lots of Brown-equivalents. They tend to have slightly greater tactility, and about 5 G heavier spring. Lots of people say good things about TTC Gold Brown V3, so try a 4-pack sample. The V2 was bad, but good housing for making Silent Skies. TTC Watermelon Milkshake is a smooth and well-functioning switch that needs lube+film to improve sound. I think it's 5 G heavier than it should be, ideal spring might be a 65 G Progressive Spirit, as 63.5 P is a bit light for it.
If you like Browns, then light Ergo Clears are good too. 63.5 G Progressive Spirit springs give a light, crunchy, and tactile Ergo Clear that actuates around 55 G [i.e. MX Red in feel], while 68 G Progressive is much closer to traditional MX Brown weight. They both benefit from generous 3204 and spring lube, films have less impact. 65 G 14mm TX and careful 205g0 gives you a 'bigger Brown' feel.
As someone who uses Browns fairly regularly, I was impressed by Mode Signal, a Durock Medium Tactile. Mine are generously lubed with 3203, and filmed with TX films. The 3203 [don't lube legs] preserves the tactility, the films improve the sound. The polycarb plate rounds it out. Crisp upper bump followed by a 'negative tactility' vacuum and relatively soft bottom-out with polycarb. Still poppy. It's better to use heavier keycaps with these [thick Cherry PBT, thin OEM, or better yet, hi-profile options].
Finally, BOX Brown is a more hardcore Brown. Requires a more definite actuation, and a thinner alum plate is better than thick steel here [unless you like that]. It slams a bit, but it's more authoritative. Others prefer Greetech Browns as a different spin on Browns.
