What is best latest TKL keyboard kit I could buy?

[phinix]

What is best latest TKL keyboard kit I could buy?
Anything stands out recently?

Looking for some good kit, like Frog TKL for example.

[tp4tissue]

https://mechkeys.com/products/aesco-a67-a83?variant=46341756420319

Aesco 67/ 83

Has rapid trigger,  Induction rod key switches.

This is state of the art.  comes in 67 and 83 variant.

Look at that PCB, all them chips.

[phinix]

https://mechkeys.com/products/aesco-a67-a83?variant=46341756420319

Aesco 67/ 83

Has rapid trigger,  Induction rod key switches.

This is state of the art.  comes in 67 and 83 variant.

Look at that PCB, all them chips.

(Attachment Link)

(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)

Looks cool, tp, but I need TKL - my brain cannot live without nav and cursor clusters in standard layout.

[tp4tissue]

Looks cool, tp, but I need TKL - my brain cannot live without nav and cursor clusters in standard layout.

ERgodox. Best keeb.

Tp4 rejects the existence of TKL. Tp4 no longer lives in that universe.

[omf]

What is best latest TKL keyboard kit I could buy?
Anything stands out recently?

Looking for some good kit, like Frog TKL for example.

I've been looking at the same thing. The current actually-obtainable list seems to be:

* Solar80
https://clickclack.io/collections/new-arrival/products/gb-solar-80-mechanical-keyboard-kit
* Neo80
https://www.qwertykeys.com/products/neo80
* KBD8X MKIII
https://kbdfans.com/collections/kbd8x-mkiii/products/kbd8x-mkiii
* Enter80
https://clickclack.io/collections/in-stock-keyboards-smart-collection/products/in-stock-kezewa-enter80-mechanical-keyboard-kit
* Gem80
https://nuphy.com/products/gem80

[phinix]

What is best latest TKL keyboard kit I could buy?
Anything stands out recently?

Looking for some good kit, like Frog TKL for example.

I've been looking at the same thing. The current actually-obtainable list seems to be:

* Solar80
https://clickclack.io/collections/new-arrival/products/gb-solar-80-mechanical-keyboard-kit
* Neo80
https://www.qwertykeys.com/products/neo80
* KBD8X MKIII
https://kbdfans.com/collections/kbd8x-mkiii/products/kbd8x-mkiii
* Enter80
https://clickclack.io/collections/in-stock-keyboards-smart-collection/products/in-stock-kezewa-enter80-mechanical-keyboard-kit
* Gem80
https://nuphy.com/products/gem80

oh, thanks for listing those.
Gem80 looks nice, I'm very tempted.

[tp4tissue]

What makes those boards expensive is the low production scale. The stufffs inside isn't much more advanced/premium vs mass market boards available nowadays.

[SugaryBrownie]

What is best latest TKL keyboard kit I could buy?
Anything stands out recently?

Looking for some good kit, like Frog TKL for example.

I've been looking at the same thing. The current actually-obtainable list seems to be:

* Solar80
https://clickclack.io/collections/new-arrival/products/gb-solar-80-mechanical-keyboard-kit
* Neo80
https://www.qwertykeys.com/products/neo80
* KBD8X MKIII
https://kbdfans.com/collections/kbd8x-mkiii/products/kbd8x-mkiii
* Enter80
https://clickclack.io/collections/in-stock-keyboards-smart-collection/products/in-stock-kezewa-enter80-mechanical-keyboard-kit
* Gem80
https://nuphy.com/products/gem80

How's Gem80? It looks pretty nice from the website. The pink onelooks lovely.

[wataru]

best quiet tkl ive ever tried was realforce 87u by far but it's hard to find in europe and might be slightly out of budget. you might need to get one second hand on discord or something like that.

abko and niz also have electrocapacitive tkl keyboards but idk the quality

[phinix]

best quiet tkl ive ever tried was realforce 87u by far but it's hard to find in europe and might be slightly out of budget. you might need to get one second hand on discord or something like that.

abko and niz also have electrocapacitive tkl keyboards but idk the quality

I have 3 87u topre.

I wasn't asking about quiet - I hate quiet keyboards.

[HungerMechanic]

Have you tried the Neo80 keyboard yet? That is an interesting budget board. [It's not 'budget' quality.]

That is the only one in your list that I have experience with. I also have a KBD8X MKII. What I can say is that I don't see how the MKIII stands out in today's market, but it is probably a 'solid' board.

[phinix]

Have you tried the Neo80 keyboard yet? That is an interesting budget board. [It's not 'budget' quality.]

That is the only one in your list that I have experience with. I also have a KBD8X MKII. What I can say is that I don't see how the MKIII stands out in today's market, but it is probably a 'solid' board.

I just got NK Classic TKL keybaord kit - looks really solid, good quality. I need to build it, hopefully in next few days.

[HungerMechanic]

Have you tried the Neo80 keyboard yet? That is an interesting budget board. [It's not 'budget' quality.]

That is the only one in your list that I have experience with. I also have a KBD8X MKII. What I can say is that I don't see how the MKIII stands out in today's market, but it is probably a 'solid' board.

I just got NK Classic TKL keybaord kit - looks really solid, good quality. I need to build it, hopefully in next few days.

I have a Classic TKL - typing on it right now.

It's a solid board, but I find the typing experience a little harsh. Like maybe the plate doesn't flex like it should. But I'd be curious to see how it goes with you. It could be that the Hyperglide Browns I am using with this build are snappier than pre-tooled.

[phinix]

Have you tried the Neo80 keyboard yet? That is an interesting budget board. [It's not 'budget' quality.]

That is the only one in your list that I have experience with. I also have a KBD8X MKII. What I can say is that I don't see how the MKIII stands out in today's market, but it is probably a 'solid' board.

I just got NK Classic TKL keybaord kit - looks really solid, good quality. I need to build it, hopefully in next few days.

I have a Classic TKL - typing on it right now.

It's a solid board, but I find the typing experience a little harsh. Like maybe the plate doesn't flex like it should. But I'd be curious to see how it goes with you. It could be that the Hyperglide Browns I am using with this build are snappier than pre-tooled.

Yeah, I was hoping for a nice and soft typing, but feels like its like typing on concrete
i used very pronounced tactile switches - CK x Haimu Pastel Thistle - those are even more tactile than Boba U4T. Maybe I should try linears to see how those feel. i like how heavy this plastic case is and overall estetics, but disappointed a wee bit by that hard typing. Maybe I should take out that rubber bottom sheet to see if it going to sound deeper?

I love how kbdfans Tiger lite gaming version sounds and feels like, but its a bit too light, it needs some kind of weights inside.

Is there any other plastic case keyboard that sounds so deep, feels soft when typing and is a bit heavier than Tiger Lite?

[HungerMechanic]

Yes, I'm in the same position. I admire the lightness of the new Tiger Lite. But the plate is so flexy that the F-row mostly doesn't work, they're not engaging the PCB.

It's also like a lot of these cheaper plastic-cased keyboards aren't really designed for tactiles. Which probably benefit from a soft bottom-out. Linears may work better with the Classic TKL. And many people say that the bottom rubber is integral to good sound, but I have no idea. Certainly, it is possible to modify the sound of that board using dampening materials.

Soon, I will try to switch over to a Transition Lite TKL. It seemed like it would offer a flexy / soft typing experience, but I didn't really get a chance to try it out. If I don't like the switches I have in there right now, maybe I will migrate my HG Browns to it.

Honestly, if you are primarily using tactiles, it is probably best to get a top-mount keyboard with a high-quality polycarbonate or PP plate. That is where my best typing experiences with tactiles are. No matter how much more it costs, top-mount and a really good flexy plate are the best.

In your case, instead of purchasing a Tiger Lite and a Classic TKL, it may have been better to pool your money into something like the Diversity TKL:

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=125085.0

That seems promising for tactile mounting, and was very reasonably-priced in GB.

[HungerMechanic]

Another thing: You can take one of those super-budget Ajazz or Attack Shark TKLs and strategically fill it with sorbothane. You end up with a soft and flexy keyboard with a creamy sound.

See this post here:

https://www.keebtalk.com/t/whats-on-your-workbench-today/12656/2517



I think that the value proposition for tactile switches is: buy the cheap ultra-budget AliExpress TKLs during sales. I'm talking $60 CAD max for one of the fully-outfitted wireless ones, or about $45 CAD max for a barebones.

All they need is sorbothane dampening, and maybe some work on the stabilizers. Then, you have a TKL that can compete with "budget customs," the entry-level TKLs.

If you need to move up from there, move right up to a $2-450 USD top-mount TKL. Get a custom-made PC plate for it, if you have to. That level of quality is the only functional reason to buy something more expensive than a super-budget TKL. The latest generation of entry-level sub-$100 customs don't offer much special for tactile builds beyond aesthetics.

[FOURRINGS]

Anything from MODE is nice.

[FOURRINGS]

... ALSO MACHINA! they use some very nice materials and finishes.

[phinix]

Yes, I'm in the same position. I admire the lightness of the new Tiger Lite. But the plate is so flexy that the F-row mostly doesn't work, they're not engaging the PCB.

It's also like a lot of these cheaper plastic-cased keyboards aren't really designed for tactiles. Which probably benefit from a soft bottom-out. Linears may work better with the Classic TKL. And many people say that the bottom rubber is integral to good sound, but I have no idea. Certainly, it is possible to modify the sound of that board using dampening materials.

Soon, I will try to switch over to a Transition Lite TKL. It seemed like it would offer a flexy / soft typing experience, but I didn't really get a chance to try it out. If I don't like the switches I have in there right now, maybe I will migrate my HG Browns to it.

Honestly, if you are primarily using tactiles, it is probably best to get a top-mount keyboard with a high-quality polycarbonate or PP plate. That is where my best typing experiences with tactiles are. No matter how much more it costs, top-mount and a really good flexy plate are the best.

In your case, instead of purchasing a Tiger Lite and a Classic TKL, it may have been better to pool your money into something like the Diversity TKL:

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=125085.0

That seems promising for tactile mounting, and was very reasonably-priced in GB.

No, its ok, I don't use tactiles as much as I did in the past. I prefer linear Oil Kings. I only put those tactiles in that keyboard as I used all linears in other keebs I only have one set of tactiles and then 4-5 sets of linears, so will need to try and swap those on Classic TKL and see how linears feel like.