Bottoming out: Novatouch vs Realforce

[nuzey]

I want to know how you guys feel about the two in terms of bottoming out. I had the chance to try out the NT at a local store and my first impression is that the NT has a hard bottom-out feel compared to the soft "membrane" bottom-out feel on the RF. Does anyone feel differently?

I personally own the RF 55g and the NT really felt like a MX keyboard with the tactile topre because of how the bottom-out feels like. Is there something different inside the switch/plate of a NT vs the RF besides the Cherry MX keycaps compatibility? In my opinion I much prefer the feel of the RF bottom-out because it feels soft but not too mushy compared to the hard bottom-out of the NT.

The reason why I created this thread is because I want to try out a RF 45g but there is none available in my country so the closest thing I can get is the NT (layout and TKL). But the moment I tried it, it did not feel like it is coming from what I expected from a RF 45g or at least close to the RF 55g. Maybe you guys have other opinions or a mod that can be done to replicate the bottom-out feel of the RF.

Let me know what you guys think!

[Magna224]

That's unfortunate. That bottom out feel of the 55g RF is one my favorite attributes. I was looking forward to getting a novatouch sometime.

[Findecanor]

I see what you mean, but I think that it is mostly perception ... but again, perception is everything when it comes to keyboard feel.
I agree with you on the stabilised keys. Most of all though, the Novatouch does also have much flimsier keycaps and a less sturdy construction which makes also the regular keys on the Novatouch louder - and louder feels harder.

[saturnotaku]

Having used the Novatouch, HHKB, and both variable and uniform Realforce keyboards, the former definitely feels the least "refined" of the bunch. However, doing a soft-landing-pad modification or adding these silencing rings to the Novatouch supposedly improves the feel rather dramatically. It definitely makes the keyboard sound better. Not quite as "perfect" to my ears as the HHKB Type-S, but pretty darn close.

[nuzey]

I see what you mean, but I think that it is mostly perception ... but again, perception is everything when it comes to keyboard feel.
I agree with you on the stabilised keys. Most of all though, the Novatouch does also have much flimsier keycaps and a less sturdy construction which makes also the regular keys on the Novatouch louder - and louder feels harder.

You are right. I did not expect much from the Novatouch when I tried it. And yes, it is definitely louder than the RF which made me feel that maybe the landing pad is harder than the RF. I guess I will just wait for a RF 45g to be available in my country.

[Hypersphere]

This is interesting, as just this evening I put my HHKB aside to try out the Novatouch and RF87U 55g again. I was struck by the harsh bottoming-out sound of the Novatouch, in addition to the return-stroke clack and stabilizer rattle. In my case, I thought the bottoming-out sound of the NT might have been accentuated by the Leopold PBT keycaps.

I've developed silencing rings for Topre-switch keyboards, but ironically, on my own keyboards, I have thus far installed them only on my HHKBs -- one modded with 55g domes, the other with stock 45g domes. Others have reported a dramatic difference in the sound of the NT by installing silencing rings, but they should only affect the return-stroke sound and not the bottoming-out sound.

Because the NT has Cherry mx-compatible stems, you can also install conventional O-rings on the keycap stems to damp the bottoming out sound. I recall trying O-rings on the NT when I first received it, but I didn't like the effect on the feel of the keyboard.

Overall, although I like the fact that I could put Cherry mx keycaps on the NT, I prefer the sound and feel of the RF, but I should try installing silencing rings on both boards before reaching a final verdict.

[XMIT]

Because the NT has Cherry mx-compatible stems, you can also install conventional O-rings on the keycap stems to damp the bottoming out sound. I recall trying O-rings on the NT when I first received it, but I didn't like the effect on the feel of the keyboard.

I never understood how this is supposed to work. The Novatouch slider completely surrounds the Cherry MX mount of a key cap button. There is still a direct connection between the two. The O-ring does not act as a dampener at an interface between two surfaces.

[Axollott]

I read somewhere that the topre keycap stems are longer than the mx ones, could that be it? Mkawa also mentioned he tried a higher SA profile and felt the tactility improved. I got the Novatouch also because I wanted the 45 gr actuation for my weak fingers and the RF is not available around here, IMO the 100 bucks difference doesn't translate the value of a nicer bottom out but I would also understan it does for someone who types way more than me.

[Bevo]

I've got both 55g RF and NT with vortex PBT caps. I actually find the NT easier to type on for long periods and the sound changes dramatically with different keycaps. I wouldn't say one is better than the other bar build quality. You really need to try the NT with different caps before you make a decision.

I use the RF at work where i do most of my typing and the realforce at home for gaming + porn