CODE 87 w/ clears vs. KUL ES 87 w/ clears: Anyone actually used both?

[macguy80]

I'm wondering if there is any difference in sound (ping issues notwithstanding) or feel between the two boards, based on their construction?

One video review I saw, the reviewer said the code had the best feel of all the clear boards she had tried, without offering any specifics.

Just curious if one feels more solid than the other, etc, or if there is any acoustic difference, based on case, keycaps, or mounting. I ask you because it is so difficult to find video reviews that may be influenced by different desks and/or mics. I have yet to find a video review of both by the same person, with an appreciable typing sample (ie., more than just quickly tapping random swaths of the keyboard)

Thanks!

[jwaz]

Yes, and unfortunately they both have ping issues. Both are pretty solid and I prefer the stabs on the WASD but the ping in the few I tried was pretty bad. (my coworkers was fine). KUL has same ping on the first one and was less noticeable on the second but the Cherry stabs just don't feel as good as the Costars to me.

Stock key caps on both should be replaced with thick PBT but that's pretty much par for the course.

[daerid]

Yes, and unfortunately they both have ping issues. Both are pretty solid and I prefer the stabs on the WASD but the ping in the few I tried was pretty bad. (my coworkers was fine). KUL has same ping on the first one and was less noticeable on the second but the Cherry stabs just don't feel as good as the Costars to me.

Stock key caps on both should be replaced with thick PBT but that's pretty much par for the course.

+100. Could not have said it better myself.

[macguy80]

Two questions from a Cherry newbie  (well, only the first is a real newbie question, but...)

1. I'm not familiar with the differences between Cherry and Costar stabilizers. Isn't that an issue just for the longer keys (space bar, shift, enter, etc.)?

2. Any recommendations on a good source for thick PBT keycaps? That's one thing I really do like about my Topre RF 55. I found Ducky, but they only seemed to offer Chinese/English dual keycaps. I only need or want English

[Oobly]

Yes, and unfortunately they both have ping issues. Both are pretty solid and I prefer the stabs on the WASD but the ping in the few I tried was pretty bad. (my coworkers was fine). KUL has same ping on the first one and was less noticeable on the second but the Cherry stabs just don't feel as good as the Costars to me.

Stock key caps on both should be replaced with thick PBT but that's pretty much par for the course.

And I prefer Cherry stabs, so I would definitely go with the KuL.

Clipped Cherry stabs feel as good (or better) than Costar and are much easier to change keycaps with. Not to mention not having to mod thicker keycaps so the stabiliser bar doesn't rub.

Of course it can be a bit of a pain on some boards to remove Cherry stabs to clip them, but I mod all the switches on my boards anyway, so I usually have to desolder them all.

[Bigpock]

I just got my KUL w/ clears in the mail yesterday. First time using clears and I think im in love coming from loud obnoxious mx blues for a year a half. Also this board is super super silent!

[jwaz]

Two questions from a Cherry newbie  (well, only the first is a real newbie question, but...)

1. I'm not familiar with the differences between Cherry and Costar stabilizers. Isn't that an issue just for the longer keys (space bar, shift, enter, etc.)?

2. Any recommendations on a good source for thick PBT keycaps? That's one thing I really do like about my Topre RF 55. I found Ducky, but they only seemed to offer Chinese/English dual keycaps. I only need or want English

1. Costar OEMed boards use they're own stabilization system. You can google around for discussions: http://bit.ly/1JRYOYc as well as see the DT wiki entry: http://deskthority.net/wiki/Stabiliser

2. My reccomendation would be Ivan's Dark PBT GB (my set is currently on my KUL-87 Clears and I love it), also they're super cheap if you get blanks:

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via https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=71995.0

I just got my KUL w/ clears in the mail yesterday. First time using clears and I think im in love coming from loud obnoxious mx blues for a year a half. Also this board is super super silent!

How is the ping?

[Bigpock]

I just got my KUL w/ clears in the mail yesterday. First time using clears and I think im in love coming from loud obnoxious mx blues for a year a half. Also this board is super super silent!

How is the ping?

I'm not getting a pinging noise, or I'm not hearing a pinging noise. Obvious as it is, bottoming out or pressing the switches with force will produce a noise.. not sure if it is the ping your looking for.. but coming from blues... silence 

[n3ro]

I just got my KUL w/ clears in the mail yesterday. First time using clears and I think im in love coming from loud obnoxious mx blues for a year a half. Also this board is super super silent!

How is the ping?

I'm not getting a pinging noise, or I'm not hearing a pinging noise. Obvious as it is, bottoming out or pressing the switches with force will produce a noise.. not sure if it is the ping your looking for.. but coming from blues... silence 

From this video, you can hear the keyswitches E and K have the loudest ping. Some surrounding keys have it also but not as loud. As long as yours is not like this, then should be fine.

[limitz]

I own both. One is my work keyboard, one is at home. Both have aftermarket caps, with DSA Dolch on the CODE, and Vortex PBT sideprints on the WASD.

Both feel pretty solid, and I have no major preference for Costar or Cherry stabilizer. I have tried clipped Cherry stabs, regular Cherry stabs, and Costar stabs. From a feel standpoint, this will be the biggest differentiator. 

The KUL has more options for the case colors, and the CODE has backlighting.

Typing experience on both is pretty solid, and ultimately, you'll be happy with either.

[TBone]

Have a KUL in clear. Clipped the stabs last summer. Still solid. Would buy again. I was thinking of going Costar, but after using clipped cherry, they are definitely my favorite and so much better than anything else I've used.

[Bigpock]

zero pinging

[daerid]

From this video, you can hear the keyswitches E and K have the loudest ping. Some surrounding keys have it also but not as loud. As long as yours is not like this, then should be fine.

Hey, that's-a me!

I'd just like to disclaim that the board in that video is my full size Code. My tenkeyless (with Vortex PBT doubleshots) has significantly less ping (still a tiny bit when you bottom out, but virtually none during regular usage).

[n3ro]

From this video, you can hear the keyswitches E and K have the loudest ping. Some surrounding keys have it also but not as loud. As long as yours is not like this, then should be fine.

Hey, that's-a me!

I'd just like to disclaim that the board in that video is my full size Code. My tenkeyless (with Vortex PBT doubleshots) has significantly less ping (still a tiny bit when you bottom out, but virtually none during regular usage).

So, did some of the pinging go away on your full size after use? My filco tkl has two pinging keys, caps lock and print key which i dont mind.

[daerid]

Just pulled it out and checked it, and yeah it seems as though the pings have lessened quite a bit.

[n3ro]

Just pulled it out and checked it, and yeah it seems as though the pings have lessened quite a bit.

Thanks for checking, glad they got quiter.

[macguy80]

Hey all,

Just thought I'd tell you the decision I made. I've decided to go with the KUL.

Why? I'm a Mac user, and the KUL's Mac Mode is just more thought out.

The CODE's "Mac Mode" (per WASD tech support) simply switches the modifier keys around. The Mac can already do this in software.

The KUL Mac Mode does this and also has other shortcuts.

And I really like the blue LEDs

[daerid]

Which one did you get? I have my eye on the smoke white one w/ Clears

[macguy80]

I haven't yet. The one I want is the original black one with clears. Unfortunately, it is currently out of stock, with no ETA.

That tends to happen with every model I want from EK