Whats the best quiet mech board for a dad at home

[n0rdlad]

  I've been looking at different mechanical keyboards for a while now. I need a reasonably quiet one for the family PC in the living area to do a bit of eveything on. So sadly no MX blues   
  First I researched the Das Silent (reds) and was quickly discouraged by the good people of GH, on the grounds of inferior quality and a large price tag. Secondly I noticed the Matias Quiet Pro with dampened Alps. The keys seemed suitable only the height of the board itself was a bit much, especially if my young kids going to be typing on it soon. Also just like the Das, it is glossy which makes it a bit tacky in appearance. Glossy plastic just doesn't promote an ideal "mechanical" look to me.
  Why Im posting this is I'm going to purchase the 40A-L (red) O-rings from WASD andpurchase a Filco Majestouch 2 with brown switches to get the quietest result without shortening the key stroke too much hopefully. MX Browns are so light compared to membrane it'll be very different but I think it will be very awesome too. 

  Do you think this is a wise choice? .........  What is your ideal board for stealth and practicallity?

[BucklingSpring]

Have you to typed on Mx Reds? They are extremely light and linear. It's a love and hate affair depending to who you talk.

Try before you buy.

[tjcaustin]

Could always go topre as well.  They're fairly quiet and well made. 

[catnipz0098]

Could always go topre as well.  They're fairly quiet and well made.

And expensive 

[tjcaustin]

Could always go topre as well.  They're fairly quiet and well made.

And expensive 

No more than a majestouch 2 with o-rings. 

http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=topre_keyboards,1&pid=za0100

http://www.amazon.com/Filco-Majestouch-2-Tenkeyless-FKBN87M-EB2/dp/B004WOF7QM/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1384650771&sr=1-1&keywords=majestouch+2+brown

[catnipz0098]

Could always go topre as well.  They're fairly quiet and well made.

And expensive 

No more than a majestouch 2 with o-rings. 

http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=topre_keyboards,1&pid=za0100

http://www.amazon.com/Filco-Majestouch-2-Tenkeyless-FKBN87M-EB2/dp/B004WOF7QM/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1384650771&sr=1-1&keywords=majestouch+2+brown

How's the quality on the type heaven? Aren't the keycaps ABS?

[rowdy]

http://www.matias.ca/quietpro/

[n0rdlad]

http://www.matias.ca/quietpro/

You reckon the Matias is a better board overall than O-rings on a Majestouch brown Rowdy? I know I could just get a nice wrist rest to make the MQP a bit more ergonomic but doesn't a filco just look better.. :/   It's an endless circle of compromise.

[dorkvader]

The thing about o rings and cherry switches in general is that they don't make anything quieter unless you are bottoming out. Also, and this is the case with many keyboards, they do nothing to dampen the "top out" noise the switch makes when you lift your finger off it.

Now the keyboard I'm typing on right now (cherry MX clear with light springs) is pretty quiet, and one with reds would be quieter still, but they still make a distinct noise on top out. many keyboards do this.

One thing about the matias quiet switches is that they use a bit of rubber to dampen the bottom out noise and top out noise both. They have slightly less travel than cherry or IBM switches, but it's not too hard to get used to. They are very quiet indeed. I have a bag of 100 or so in my room for a project and they are probably the quietest tactile switch I've yet tried.

Then again, many cherry keyboards are about as loud as your average rubberdome on "top out" so maybe it's not an issue.

[n0rdlad]

Could always go topre as well.  They're fairly quiet and well made.

And expensive 

No more than a majestouch 2 with o-rings. 

Yeah I did youtube the Topre Type Heaven and It is pretty cool but II think it might be louder than the Filco plan.. Its almost imposible in Australia to find a place that has many mech boards, let alone that will let you have a feel of them..  If I had NO fear of some kind of castration for fiscal crimes I would just buy them all.. As it is One keyboard is all Im being allocated to purchase which is fine but makes me cautious to get the best choice..

http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=topre_keyboards,1&pid=za0100

http://www.amazon.com/Filco-Majestouch-2-Tenkeyless-FKBN87M-EB2/dp/B004WOF7QM/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1384650771&sr=1-1&keywords=majestouch+2+brown

How's the quality on the type heaven? Aren't the keycaps ABS?

[divito]

I just listened to the sound samples of the Matias switch on the website, and it makes an interesting case for quiet keyboards. Given their location, I need to see if I can try it out somehow.

[tp4tissue]

NEW  $8 rubber dome boards are +50 quiet +20 ninja skillz +30 stealth pr0n.....

[Pacifist]

I remember seeing a latex milk mod on the top of the inside of the switch cover which made it quiter

[CPTBadAss]

I also give my vote for the Matias Quiet and Topres for quietest stock switches. For a modded switch, Jailhouse Blues is the quietest MX switch I've tried.

[tp4tissue]

I remember seeing a latex milk mod on the top of the inside of the switch cover which made it quiter

yea this works.. but the contact area is too small, and it tends to fall off..

[tp4tissue]

I also give my vote for the Matias Quiet and Topres for quietest stock switches. For a modded switch, Jailhouse Blues is the quietest MX switch I've tried.

NONE of those are quiet..

Not even the topre silent edition is all that quiet..

The ghetto $8 rubber domes, use very very thin domes and thin caps..  they are a whisper silent....


The thin domes don't accelerate the cap as quickly and the thin caps mean it won't conserve as much momentum..

[daerid]

AFAIAC Topres win for quietest switches overall, but on the MX side I'd have to say lubed and o-ringed clears are probably the quietest. Although, if you can float on reds/blacks without bottoming out they might be quieter.

[swill]

  I've been looking at different mechanical keyboards for a while now. I need a reasonably quiet one for the family PC in the living area to do a bit of eveything on. So sadly no MX blues   
  First I researched the Das Silent (reds) and was quickly discouraged by the good people of GH, on the grounds of inferior quality and a large price tag. Secondly I noticed the Matias Quiet Pro with dampened Alps. The keys seemed suitable only the height of the board itself was a bit much, especially if my young kids going to be typing on it soon. Also just like the Das, it is glossy which makes it a bit tacky in appearance. Glossy plastic just doesn't promote an ideal "mechanical" look to me.
  Why Im posting this is I'm going to purchase the 40A-L (red) O-rings from WASD andpurchase a Filco Majestouch 2 with brown switches to get the quietest result without shortening the key stroke too much hopefully. MX Browns are so light compared to membrane it'll be very different but I think it will be very awesome too. 

  Do you think this is a wise choice? .........  What is your ideal board for stealth and practicallity?

That is my exact keyboard. I still love browns even with topre a in the mix.  The only difference I added was thick pbts.

I find it very reasonable regarding its noise level. If you need to be quiet, you can focus on not bottoming out too hard and be quite quiet.

I love this setup and I think it is a great keyboard for your needs.

Yes, topre is quieter than this setup.

[swill]

I remember seeing a latex milk mod on the top of the inside of the switch cover which made it quiter

Yes, I think that is in the trampoline mod thread.  He dramatically reduced the sound of those switches and they do sound awesome.  However, if this guy is going to get a Filco, he probably will not want to open it up and desolder all of the switches to try it.

[tp4tissue]

I remember seeing a latex milk mod on the top of the inside of the switch cover which made it quiter

Yes, I think that is in the trampoline mod thread.  He dramatically reduced the sound of those switches and they do sound awesome.  However, if this guy is going to get a Filco, he probably will not want to open it up and desolder all of the switches to try it.

link to thread pwee.

[Emospence]

Topre

Mine is non Type-S but I already find it so quiet.

[spiceBar]

  I've been looking at different mechanical keyboards for a while now. I need a reasonably quiet one for the family PC in the living area to do a bit of eveything on. So sadly no MX blues   
  First I researched the Das Silent (reds) and was quickly discouraged by the good people of GH, on the grounds of inferior quality and a large price tag. Secondly I noticed the Matias Quiet Pro with dampened Alps. The keys seemed suitable only the height of the board itself was a bit much, especially if my young kids going to be typing on it soon. Also just like the Das, it is glossy which makes it a bit tacky in appearance. Glossy plastic just doesn't promote an ideal "mechanical" look to me.
  Why Im posting this is I'm going to purchase the 40A-L (red) O-rings from WASD andpurchase a Filco Majestouch 2 with brown switches to get the quietest result without shortening the key stroke too much hopefully. MX Browns are so light compared to membrane it'll be very different but I think it will be very awesome too. 

  Do you think this is a wise choice? .........  What is your ideal board for stealth and practicallity?

Cherry MX is not the best choice if you want silence. O-rings reduce the noise a little bit on bottoming-out, but do nothing to reduce the noise on the upstroke. So you will need to use some low viscosity grease for the switches.

How far do you want to go? You can go almost totally silent if you want, but not with Cherry.

You need Topre silenced switches. These are DIY silenced Topre switches:
  http://www.chesstiger.com/images/keyboards/RF87_silenced_before_after.mp4

How to do it:
  http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=49046.msg1056220#msg1056220

[berserkfan]

Not making fun of you or anything, but since this is for your dad, I suggest you get him to test out a rubber dome first.

If dad likes it, stay with rubber dome. There was some talk on a thread about a really good early IBM rubber dome that has near buckling spring quality - I just don't remember the name. But it seems early IBM rubber domes were substantially above the $5 China mades quality that break in a few months.

I don't know how your parents think, but a keyboard is very personal and not everyone appreciate mechanical keyboards. My parents would never spend $300 on a Topre and they would be furious if I gave them a $300 Topre. In fact they actually like Chiclets. (They do not type, they only surf, so their usage pattern is different from a 10,000 word a day programming geek.)

AFAIAC Topres win for quietest switches overall, but on the MX side I'd have to say lubed and o-ringed clears are probably the quietest. Although, if you can float on reds/blacks without bottoming out they might be quieter.

[demik]

bad advice.

bad advice everywhere.

[tjcaustin]

Not making fun of you or anything, but since this is for your dad, I suggest you get him to test out a rubber dome first.

If dad likes it, stay with rubber dome. There was some talk on a thread about a really good early IBM rubber dome that has near buckling spring quality - I just don't remember the name. But it seems early IBM rubber domes were substantially above the $5 China mades quality that break in a few months.

I don't know how your parents think, but a keyboard is very personal and not everyone appreciate mechanical keyboards. My parents would never spend $300 on a Topre and they would be furious if I gave them a $300 Topre. In fact they actually like Chiclets. (They do not type, they only surf, so their usage pattern is different from a 10,000 word a day programming geek.)

AFAIAC Topres win for quietest switches overall, but on the MX side I'd have to say lubed and o-ringed clears are probably the quietest. Although, if you can float on reds/blacks without bottoming out they might be quieter.

So you know he's saying that *he's* the dad, right?

[tp4tissue]

bad advice.

bad advice everywhere.

cept' mine...

[demik]

bad advice.

bad advice everywhere.

cept' mine...

Show Image

anything keyboard related i just figure you're going to mention ergodox so i tend to read over it >.<

[swill]

I remember seeing a latex milk mod on the top of the inside of the switch cover which made it quiter

Yes, I think that is in the trampoline mod thread.  He dramatically reduced the sound of those switches and they do sound awesome.  However, if this guy is going to get a Filco, he probably will not want to open it up and desolder all of the switches to try it.

link to thread pwee.

Show Image

Here is the trampoline mod thread.  In case you wanted to hear it...

[BucklingSpring]

Go Matias Go!

You'll even get two stealth USB ports. So quiet, you won't even noticed they are there ;-)

[berserkfan]

Damn well caught!

I thought it was for his dad at home. My eyes! So HE'S the dad?

OK. Cheapest rubber domes! Cheapest rubber domes!

Before any Cherry overfiends pounce on me and cut me to pieces, let me remind you, if HE's a dad with young kids, it's going to be way nigh impossible to keep milk and juices (and occasionally drool and vomit) off his keyboard. Real dads know it - everything in the house is ruined in no time at all unless it is kept out of toddler reach, so you can never have a $250 ergodox unless you are mentally prepared to post a "Please gimme Advice How to Repaid Ergodox" thread in a few months.

ON my part, I use buckling springs mainly, so I let the kids hammer away at a brightly colored Model M with colored keycaps. The weight of the keyboard, and my rubber pads mounted underneath, help to keep the kids from pulling the keyboard off the table. Kids are very easy to distract provided you are willing to provide them with something that looks like what you are doing. Then they will keep hammering away at that keyboard until they get tired, and if they are tired they won't bother you at your keyboard.

Not making fun of you or anything, but since this is for your dad, I suggest you get him to test out a rubber dome first.

If dad likes it, stay with rubber dome. There was some talk on a thread about a really good early IBM rubber dome that has near buckling spring quality - I just don't remember the name. But it seems early IBM rubber domes were substantially above the $5 China mades quality that break in a few months.

I don't know how your parents think, but a keyboard is very personal and not everyone appreciate mechanical keyboards. My parents would never spend $300 on a Topre and they would be furious if I gave them a $300 Topre. In fact they actually like Chiclets. (They do not type, they only surf, so their usage pattern is different from a 10,000 word a day programming geek.)

AFAIAC Topres win for quietest switches overall, but on the MX side I'd have to say lubed and o-ringed clears are probably the quietest. Although, if you can float on reds/blacks without bottoming out they might be quieter.

So you know he's saying that *he's* the dad, right?

[n0rdlad]

  I've been looking at different mechanical keyboards for a while now. I need a reasonably quiet one for the family PC in the living area to do a bit of eveything on. So sadly no MX blues   
  First I researched the Das Silent (reds) and was quickly discouraged by the good people of GH, on the grounds of inferior quality and a large price tag. Secondly I noticed the Matias Quiet Pro with dampened Alps. The keys seemed suitable only the height of the board itself was a bit much, especially if my young kids going to be typing on it soon. Also just like the Das, it is glossy which makes it a bit tacky in appearance. Glossy plastic just doesn't promote an ideal "mechanical" look to me.
  Why Im posting this is I'm going to purchase the 40A-L (red) O-rings from WASD andpurchase a Filco Majestouch 2 with brown switches to get the quietest result without shortening the key stroke too much hopefully. MX Browns are so light compared to membrane it'll be very different but I think it will be very awesome too. 

  Do you think this is a wise choice? .........  What is your ideal board for stealth and practicallity?

That is my exact keyboard. I still love browns even with topre a in the mix.  The only difference I added was thick pbts.

I find it very reasonable regarding its noise level. If you need to be quiet, you can focus on not bottoming out too hard and be quite quiet.

I love this setup and I think it is a great keyboard for your needs.


Does the Majestouch 2 not have PBT keycaps?

Yes, topre is quieter than this setup.

[n0rdlad]

urgh. tried to reply on my phone earlier but failed.. Lots of great suggestions guys.. I'll check out the DIY topre silencing now as it might be fun. I'm well aware of the dangers of childrens grubbiness and dont mind, theyre pretty good and have kept the cheap membrane clean for years now.. The spill recovery proceedures look tragic!!!!! Having said that though I probably just cursed myself to it happening hahahah...
Thanks everyone for your suggestions again. This site is so passionate and intelligent, It's really refreshing to find solace in these forums in amidst such the mindless cyber wasteland of the internet 
 

[tuxsavvy]

Sitting here with my Type-S keyboard (yes yes I know it is really expensive and all), I am fairly amazed at the sound that the Type-S gives off. It is as virtually quiet as my other cheap membrane keyboards. One could almost be fooled that the silenced topres are almost like those cheap membrane keyboards.

This is my only (new) mechanical keyboard, and comes with factory silencing so I am not sure how a Type-S will fair with a non Type-S. The same I guess more or less likewise goes with a silenced versus a non silenced but modified (to be silenced) topre keyboard. I guess if one were to be nitpicky about it, they really need some audio testing equipment lol.

I am not sure what sort of keyboard your dad owns but I am certain there's a topre for virtually every size. If budget is an issue then I suggest looking into sourcing a topre keyboard straight from Japan or something (and then going through proxy/forwarding services of course). It might work out way cheaper there.

[BucklingSpring]

Damn well caught!

OK. Cheapest rubber domes! Cheapest rubber domes!

LoL - Right.

Then +1 for RD or THIS - Quiet and soakable.

[zoolzoo]

I dont think any MX switch is quiet unless you type very softly or use o-rings.

[davkol]

Damn well caught!

OK. Cheapest rubber domes! Cheapest rubber domes!

LoL - Right.

Then +1 for RD or THIS - Quiet and soakable.

Show Image

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Scissor switches with a rubber skin are next on the list. I mean seriously, TypeMatrix 2030 with a skin is *amazing*.

http://www.matias.ca/quietpro/

You reckon the Matias is a better board overall than O-rings on a Majestouch brown Rowdy? I know I could just get a nice wrist rest to make the MQP a bit more ergonomic but doesn't a filco just look better.. :/   It's an endless circle of compromise.

Resting your wrists while typing isn't ergonomic at all, quite the contrary actually. It's one of the most straightforward ways to get CTS.

[berserkfan]

This is not a great keyboard by any means, but it is highly practical. If the dad in question needs to work at his home office, I guess he'll have to invest in a Topre or Buckling Spring and hope nothing goes wrong, or to keep the keyboard away when he's not working. But if the dad is a casual computer user, then yes, cheap, flexi rubber domes are a very sensible solution and I think Buckling Spring had the right idea.

Oh, by the way, Kensington mice are a great favourite for children. That's because it is easy for them to take the trackball off and play with it. The only solution that works is to get the kids their own trackball. I had to chase my trackballs lots of times because the kids want to play soccer with them. So my dear Mr. Dad, I recommend THE CHEAPEST LOUSIEST MICE as an anti-kid measure!

Damn well caught!

OK. Cheapest rubber domes! Cheapest rubber domes!

LoL - Right.

Then +1 for RD or THIS - Quiet and soakable.

Show Image

Show Image

[BucklingSpring]

From Topre to flexi, I wonder what will end up on Dad's desk :-)

But if the dad is a casual computer user, then yes, cheap, flexi rubber domes are a very sensible solution and I think Buckling Spring had the right idea.

[n0rdlad]

Haha sorry if my wording was confused. I am the dad lol.. I got a few spare cheap mice.. I type softly and play rpg games now n then. The board has to be a full 104 as my partner needs the numpad

[tuxsavvy]

Haha sorry if my wording was confused. I am the dad lol.. I got a few spare cheap mice.. I type softly and play rpg games now n then. The board has to be a full 104 as my partner needs the numpad

For a moment there I realised that I made some sort of a mistake. I thought some kid who was going to give his/her dad the ultimate gift which was a mechanical keyboard. A very nice kid indeed it would have been...

Well in either case, it makes some of the case pretty simple, besides you already have lots of hints from us anyway (in general).  Again I am still sticking with quiet topre regardless if it was d-i-y silencing or not. Seriously the noise it produces is quite deceiving.

[n0rdlad]

From Topre to flexi, I wonder what will end up on Dad's desk :-)

But if the dad is a casual computer user, then yes, cheap, flexi rubber domes are a very sensible solution and I think Buckling Spring had the right idea.

Still leaning towards the majestouch, just as it hasn't been to offensive an idea so far - and that the type heaven and other topres are just a bit too expensive. Also the shop that I'd probably pick it up from (which has awesome w'sale prices - even in AUD) doesn't stock anything by Topre. You can buy so many inferior boards with all the bells and whistles that you never end up using but just testing out high quality keyboards is difficult in regional locations like mine.

[tuxsavvy]

From Topre to flexi, I wonder what will end up on Dad's desk :-)

But if the dad is a casual computer user, then yes, cheap, flexi rubber domes are a very sensible solution and I think Buckling Spring had the right idea.

Still leaning towards the majestouch, just as it hasn't been to offensive an idea so far - and that the type heaven and other topres are just a bit too expensive. Also the shop that I'd probably pick it up from (which has awesome w'sale prices - even in AUD) doesn't stock anything by Topre. You can buy so many inferior boards with all the bells and whistles that you never end up using but just testing out high quality keyboards is difficult in regional locations like mine.

That is probably one of the few downsides of living in somewhat remote places, every country has good and bad sides. To make matters somewhat worse, topre keyboards are hardly distributed (vendor-wise) as much as outside SE Asia region. You can find a few distributors here and there but regardless it is not like you can walk into a store and test it out, etc before making your purchase.

This was the story with my HHKB, even though I admired the layout done my homework and all. There isn't really much else I can go by prior to my purchase. To be frank, I am the sort of bloke that would love to be able to feel things rather than having to think creatively how or what it would feel like. The lack of mechanical keyboards being distributed in Australia is a little amazing in my opinon. You only have big brands namely logitech whom is pushing forward with their mechanical gaming keyboard and that is more or less what you will see in shops by physically getting there. For the rest of the various switches floating out there, unless you can find someone else whom is into keyboards that you can probably go test it out. There isn't really much choice.

[Oobly]

  I've been looking at different mechanical keyboards for a while now. I need a reasonably quiet one for the family PC in the living area to do a bit of eveything on. So sadly no MX blues   
  First I researched the Das Silent (reds) and was quickly discouraged by the good people of GH, on the grounds of inferior quality and a large price tag. Secondly I noticed the Matias Quiet Pro with dampened Alps. The keys seemed suitable only the height of the board itself was a bit much, especially if my young kids going to be typing on it soon. Also just like the Das, it is glossy which makes it a bit tacky in appearance. Glossy plastic just doesn't promote an ideal "mechanical" look to me.
  Why Im posting this is I'm going to purchase the 40A-L (red) O-rings from WASD andpurchase a Filco Majestouch 2 with brown switches to get the quietest result without shortening the key stroke too much hopefully. MX Browns are so light compared to membrane it'll be very different but I think it will be very awesome too. 

  Do you think this is a wise choice? .........  What is your ideal board for stealth and practicallity?

Yes, that is a wise choice. Browns with orings are relatively quiet, especially if you don't release the switches too quickly. I have modded my keyboard with oring pieces in the stem tube and latex on the top casings to make them REALLY quiet (trampoline and latex mod), but it is a lot of work and would require desoldering the switches on the Filco to do.

Heavy caps help make the sound when you bottom out or release the keys quickly more deep, less "clicky" and more "clacky". PBT and POM are denser than ABS, so thick PBT or POM caps will help reduce the high frequencies the most. It doesn't necessarily make it quieter as such, but the sound is less penetrating.

[rowdy]

There is a whole thread about O-rings and dampeners.  A little light reading

[n0rdlad]

Yeah thats the thread I lookex at which guided me to the 40a-L red o ring preference..

How nice would these thick pbt caps be for kids! 

[n0rdlad]

Top print would be better... Hard to find though and more $$ it might be something achieved over sometime.. Xmas tends to drain our funds a bit

[rowdy]

Yeah thats the thread I lookex at which guided me to the 40a-L red o ring preference..

How nice would these thick pbt caps be for kids! 

My daughter saw a pic of a keyboard here recently with a similar set, and she was like WOW!

[berserkfan]

I don't think you want the kids to be overly attracted to your keyboard. Otherwise everytime your back is turned, the kid comes over and messes around, destroying the Microsoft Excel sheets you spent the last few hours working on.

Give them a durable colorful keyboard to play with. Tactile and noisy seems to work well for kids.

And Topres? HAH. When you are a dad you get used to most things at home being in bad shape. Let's see how kid proof a Topre really is.

Yeah thats the thread I lookex at which guided me to the 40a-L red o ring preference..

How nice would these thick pbt caps be for kids! 

My daughter saw a pic of a keyboard here recently with a similar set, and she was like WOW!

[n0rdlad]

Very true.. Perhaps stock caps would be better with the orings aswell. Apparently thick pbts don't work well with orings.. Might mod it up in the future perhaps.. Its payday and time to order the orings!   

[berserkfan]

Hey, don't take my suggestion of cheapo mice and rubber domes as an offensive solution, ok? They're just practical. I am assuming you are a new dad or at least have a baby in the house, and if you do, cheap always beats expensive because kids have magical ways of inflicting damage when you least expect it. That Filco Majestouch, which can last for 30 years in a normal office environment, will probably die after your baby decides to taste-test it.

I think TG3 has great stuff that is both quiet and extremely durable (Eg their TG3 black compact switches with splatter guard are incredibly cheap in the USA). However since you are living far from the US it's not a good solution (add $60 for shipping).

From Topre to flexi, I wonder what will end up on Dad's desk :-)

But if the dad is a casual computer user, then yes, cheap, flexi rubber domes are a very sensible solution and I think Buckling Spring had the right idea.

Still leaning towards the majestouch, just as it hasn't been to offensive an idea so far - and that the type heaven and other topres are just a bit too expensive. Also the shop that I'd probably pick it up from (which has awesome w'sale prices - even in AUD) doesn't stock anything by Topre. You can buy so many inferior boards with all the bells and whistles that you never end up using but just testing out high quality keyboards is difficult in regional locations like mine.