Has anyone tried the Topre Realforce RGB with APC?

[tjcertified]

I'm not sure if this post is in the right spot, and would be happy to move it.

Has anyone tried this keyboard? Link below. The Actuation Point Changer sounds interesting...but also potentially buggy. Any opinions (whether you have used it or not) on whether this is a good idea or a failure waiting to happen?

Also, obviously, I would love to hear about any usage, especially compared to other Topre boards. I have tried the Novatouch (too spongy for me), the HHKB (loved the feel, hated the layout), and the Realforce 87U (55g, I think, but may be 45). I only kept the Realforce.

Thanks for any feedback.

Link:
https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2114

[dgneo]

To be honest with you, the review videos I've seen make it sounds like absolute garbage.

Even with PBT Keycaps

I haven't used the board myself, however I have no interest in it after those videos (on top of the RGB nonsense, but that's just personal preference). Nothing will beat 55g 86/87u in my opinion

[daerid]

The PBT caps make it sound a little better, but dear lord... the thock is gone

Definitely can't bring myself to spend $200+ on one of these without the thock

[Tempest790]

I bought the Realforce RGB.  It's my first Topre board, so I can't compare to other ones.  I will say that the actuation point change really doesn't seem to affect typing very much.  It's only noticeable to me when I very softly press a single key to test it.  I'm not that soft with typing or gaming, so it doesn't really change anything.  All of the keys actuate just fine no matter which setting I use.  I just keep it on the standard 2.2 mm.

If you want the Realforce for its RGB lighting or Cherry MX compatible stems, that's fine.  But I probably wouldn't bother buying it just for the changeable actuation points.

Overall, I'm happy with the keyboard, although I agree it doesn't sound like the other Topre keyboards.  I may still get the high profile Topre as well.  I wish they had a 55g 104 keyboard.  I'd like to try that too.


I would also check with ZSLANE.  He bought one and didn't like the sound either.  He salvaged some switch silencer from an old Noppoo board which he said improved it a lot.

zslane:

It is my main driver at home right now, outfitted with PuLsE keycaps.

I am primarily a linear switch guy, but I also appreciate a good tactile switch, and for my money there's none better than a genuine Topre switch. The only thing I didn't like about the RealForce RGB board out of the box was how loud the upstroke noise was, and so I installed silencing rings (harvested from a crappy Noppoo board). Doing so transformed the board into something truly sublime.

In fact, I like this board so much I bought a second one.

[hking0036]

Has anyone heard if they're planning to move these new sliders over to the old RFs? This tempts me to get one, but I'd really prefer one of the 87s with than one of these  The sound issue is kind of strange, but it makes topre a lot more appealing when I know I can swap caps on them that much easier. The backlighting is cool I guess, but the size of the RGB one kills it for me.

(or I guess, is there any place to get sliders that isn't paying assloads for Novatouch sliders?)

[tjcertified]

Those videos don't encourage me. I just noticed that they were 45g, and my current Realforce is also 45g (universal), so I won't be looking into this one anymore. I may make a run to the MechanicalKeyboards shop in Fairview, TN to play with it myself though. I didn't realize how close I was to those guys.

[_PixelNinja]

Cooler Master had somewhat of an excuse in regards to the Novatouch not having the most appealing sound out of the box, as they wanted to keep the price down and they weren't having the easiest of times collaborating with Topre. Topre, however — provided those videos are an accurate-ish representation of how the Realforce RGB sounds — do not have an excuse at all considering the price these boards are being sold for. Compared to classic Topre, they sound horrible, and if my experience in anything to go by, chances are they don't feel that great either (notably the stabilized keys).

[zslane]

The RealForce RGB isn't for RealForce purists, or HHKB fanatics, or even fans of the NovaTouch. Each of those groups of users will find something to disapprove of.

However, I am grateful this product came along because each of the above three keyboards are insufficient in some way for me. They are either too small or they don't take MX-stemmed keycaps. The RealForce RGB board is the only full-size board with Topre switches and MX keycaps compatibility. That's (tactile switch) endgame right there for me.

Yes, the switches need to be silenced with rubber rings (a tedious procedure to be sure), and yes it has a useless feature or two (e.g., RGB backlighting). But my RealForce RGB board functions as a daily driver for me, while no other Topre-equipped keyboard can.