Topre boards

[Tactile]

I'm in the market for my first Topre board and have scoured the web for reviews, opinions and videos. There are a lot of them. My problem is that all I have found digress into aspects I'm not interested in. I thought I'd ask here for some distilled opinions. I'm simply interested in the OOTB typing feel between:

Novatouch
HHKB Pro 2 (non Type S)
Leopold FC660C
Realforce 87U (either 45 or 55 gram uniform)

I don't care about: cost, keycap quality or interchangeability, layout, or aesthetics. I'm just trying to get an idea of:

Typing feel (75%)
Sound (25%)

The Realforce is appealing because it's made by Topre and presumably is set up as the Topre engineers intended. As I understand it the case mounted switches of the HHKB give it a distinctive feel that no other Topre board has. And that's about all I've been able to get from hours of scouring the web.

So, from the list above, which out-of-the-box, unmodified Topre board feels the "most Topre"?

[Polymer]

It's all completely subjective though...

The feel of say, the HHKB vs. the RF is similar but different..which is better?  That will depend on who you ask...But for the keyboard you're using for yourself the only person's opinion that matters is yours...

The most unique of the Topre boards will be the HHKB...it will feel "warmer" and a bit more organic....

You might think that if you like plates in MX you'll like the plate better in Topre but that doesn't seem to run consistently either....You see quite a few people that prefer plates in MX but HHKB feel/sound. 

The one thing people agree with though is that the HHKB has more "thock" to it..

[klennkellon]

The HHKB has more an accentuated "thock" and it sounds quite nice but the typing feel is more or less the same as all of the other keyboards listed (sans the Novatouch which uses inferior sliders).

 

[Polymer]

Its close..they're the same switch after all..

But the HHKB has a bit more give..which gives it a more organic feel...

The sound contributes to that but purely on feel, with earplugs in because what most people perceive as feel is often sound..there is a slight feel difference..

[dgneo]

I'm in the market for my first Topre board and have scoured the web for reviews, opinions and videos. There are a lot of them. My problem is that all I have found digress into aspects I'm not interested in. I thought I'd ask here for some distilled opinions. I'm simply interested in the OOTB typing feel between:

Novatouch
HHKB Pro 2 (non Type S)
Leopold FC660C
Realforce 87U (either 45 or 55 gram uniform)

I don't care about: cost, keycap quality or interchangeability, layout, or aesthetics. I'm just trying to get an idea of:

Typing feel (75%)
Sound (25%)

The Realforce is appealing because it's made by Topre and presumably is set up as the Topre engineers intended. As I understand it the case mounted switches of the HHKB give it a distinctive feel that no other Topre board has. And that's about all I've been able to get from hours of scouring the web.

So, from the list above, which out-of-the-box, unmodified Topre board feels the "most Topre"?

IMO either HHKB or 55g87u. You really can't go wrong with either board. If you don't might slightly heavier switches and/or TKL, go with the 87u. If you're looking for slightly lighter switches and/or a great compact board, go with the HHKB.

[yomammary]

Get a RF87U-55g.

[supamesican]

fullsized : realforce

tkl : realforce tkl

smaller than tkl : hhkb

[rowdy]

Many people don't seem to like the FC660C for some reason.

Novatouch gets more love, but is still quite low on the list, unless MX-compatible sliders are important.

HHKB is great, but does have a different layout to most keyboards you've probably used.  It's also very light, which is great for portability, but can slide around on the desk a bit.  I use a folded sheet of drawer liner under mine to stop that, others stick little rubber things under the keyboard.

RealForce is great, especially the 55g version.  TKL gives you all the keyboard you need, and nothing you don't need.

[klennkellon]

Many people don't seem to like the FC660C for some reason.

Novatouch gets more love, but is still quite low on the list, unless MX-compatible sliders are important.

HHKB is great, but does have a different layout to most keyboards you've probably used.  It's also very light, which is great for portability, but can slide around on the desk a bit.  I use a folded sheet of drawer liner under mine to stop that, others stick little rubber things under the keyboard.

RealForce is great, especially the 55g version.  TKL gives you all the keyboard you need, and nothing you don't need.

yea I don't get the hate for it. it uses a very useful layout and is built well with nice caps.

[clankgy1]

The choice should be form dependent.  I prefer 60% at work and TKL at home (to appease the wifey and kidlet) and end goal for me will be HHKB and RF87U 55g.

Novatouch is an interesting concept hampered by inferior sliders,  The feel is mostly there, the sound is not.

[TopreFan333]

You left out Type Heaven. Since you're not hung up on the quality of the keycaps (which are OK, but not great), the TH has a good solid feel and good build quality. The ABS caps, though, do make the sound a bit more hollow and rattly than it sounds with PBT Realforce caps on. But if you want to get a general idea of how Topre feels, this is not a bad way to go.

[Tactile]

Thanks to all for the advice. I ordered a 55 gram Realforce. In the end the 55 gram won out over the HHKB, even though I'm a 60% fan (typing this on a Pok3r). All of your opinions helped and are much appreciated.

[stage3k]

I got my FC660C a few weeks back, and this has been easily the best board after all those MX boards. I think I will order HHKB at some point, but the layout was the reason I chose FC660C.

[Hypersphere]

Thanks to all for the advice. I ordered a 55 gram Realforce. In the end the 55 gram won out over the HHKB, even though I'm a 60% fan (typing this on a Pok3r). All of your opinions helped and are much appreciated.

Let us know how you like your 55g RF.

I have a collection of Topre-switch keyboards including a standard HHKB Pro2 and a HHKB Pro 2 with 55g domes, RF87UB45, RF87UB55, and Novatouch. I had a Leopold FC660C, but I gave it away. I liked the sound and feel of the FC660C, but I didn't like the in-between form factor -- I prefer either 60% or TKL. I rotate among the other boards -- I like each of them for different reasons. I have also installed Silencing Rings and lubed all of my Topre-switch keyboards.

[tkim]

Car analogy - RFU55G is like riding in a luxury mercedes its a smooth, luxury and refined feel.

HHKB to me feels more like a sports car, it's a bit bumpy but when extremely satisfying when driving it fast 

I sold my dye-subbed FC660C soon as I got the HHKB because I enjoyed it much more, I intended to do the same after I had harvested the 55g domes out of the RF, but felt as if I was going to regret it at later date (also figured I needed a work/home setup). I think you will be very happy with your purchase, best of luck.

[edit] removed a flipped image

[yomammary]

Thanks to all for the advice. I ordered a 55 gram Realforce. In the end the 55 gram won out over the HHKB, even though I'm a 60% fan (typing this on a Pok3r). All of your opinions helped and are much appreciated.

I'm sure you won't regret it.

(typed on a 55g RF87U)

[clankgy1]

Daily driver at work

Cable - /u/B1G_B1RD on reddit
Mat - fohat.digs here

EDIT: names edited to actually be correct (or at least more correct)

[UnFocused]

I think my Realforce 87U 55g is an all around fantastic keyboard.

I wanted to try Topre and since my favorite layout is TKL, my choices were between the Novatouch and Realforce. I went with the RF because I wanted 55g switches and wasn't quite convinced of the overall quality of the Novatouch. It took me a while to get used to it and I nearly sent it back twice, but I'm happy I decided to keep it.

[clankgy1]

I think my Realforce 87U 55g is an all around fantastic keyboard.

I wanted to try Topre and since my favorite layout is TKL, my choices were between the Novatouch and Realforce. I went with the RF because I wanted 55g switches and wasn't quite convinced of the overall quality of the Novatouch. It took me a while to get used to it and I nearly sent it back twice, but I'm happy I decided to keep it.

I've looked at that very board (the RF55g) but am not prepared to pay for it and the inevitable replacement caps.  I don't like the look of the white, and the black caps are too dark.  :shrug:

I wasn't unhappy with the quality of the Novatouch, but it was a different experience.  I may get a Novatouch assuming I can find somebody willing to hypersphere it for me as I botched the one I had rather badly.  In my experience, the sliders were not as "topre-like" as the HHKB or RF.  Having the ability to use cherry keycaps was pretty slick though.

[UnFocused]

I've looked at that very board (the RF55g) but am not prepared to pay for it and the inevitable replacement caps.  I don't like the look of the white, and the black caps are too dark.  :shrug:

I feel the same about the color choices. I went with the black keyboard, but I can touch type, so not being to always see the legends is usually OK except when I'm trying to type one handed.

[Aricil]

I like the Novatouch. Then you can do a silencing modification and add different kinda of very nice keycaps! Also, you can get it for much cheaper than the other options, which although you said you don't mind spending the money, who doesn't like to save some? I know that I got mine on reddit's mechmarket for 120 bucks, then the soft landing pads cost like 14 bucks with shipping, and about an hour of my time putting them in. Currently I have a set of Cherry profile Triumph Adler keycaps on it. I really like it a lot, very quiet, good feeling, and the sound when I'm typing fast isn't quite as thock-y as say, the HHKB, but its still there!

[Tactile]

The 55 gram Realforce arrived about 2 hours ago & I'm delighted. Having never been in the same room with a Topre board, I'm grateful for the advice from everyone. The 55 gram typing experience is just what I was hoping for and the overall quality is impressive. Thanks again to all of you. And a shout out to EliteKeyboards, too! 

[clankgy1]

The 55 gram Realforce arrived about 2 hours ago & I'm delighted. Having never been in the same room with a Topre board, I'm grateful for the advice from everyone. The 55 gram typing experience is just what I was hoping for and the overall quality is impressive. Thanks again to all of you. And a shout out to EliteKeyboards, too! 

Congrats!  BTW, if you happen to live in the SoCal area, they have a showroom with demo boards so you don't need to buy blind again.  Also saves on shipping

[rowdy]

The 55 gram Realforce arrived about 2 hours ago & I'm delighted. Having never been in the same room with a Topre board, I'm grateful for the advice from everyone. The 55 gram typing experience is just what I was hoping for and the overall quality is impressive. Thanks again to all of you. And a shout out to EliteKeyboards, too! 

Congratulations on your acquisition.

May you both have a long and fruitful life together

And thank you for following up on this thread.