Mechanical Keyboard Sound Isn't That Simple
Figure 1: I couldn't think of a more literal way to represent this article if I tried... Looking back just a few years ago, there’s no doubt that the huge influx of people that joined the hobby at the peak of the COVID pandemic were drawn to keyboards by way of YouTube, TikTok, and other audio-visual content platforms. Even as the output from these content creators has waned in recent months, their collective impact and legacy on the keyboard hobby is rather firmly etched in the history books. As a result of all of their sound tests, build logs, and opinion videos, the message is clear to any new person joining the hobby: mechanical keyboards are all about the sound. Thock this, clack that. Whether it’s keyboards, keycaps, or even singular switches, seemingly everyone new to the hobby meticulously pores over each component of their keyboard not in an attempt to figure out how it will feel in hand, but how it will sound as they’re furiously grinding their way out from...
Mar 27, 2024
Oddly enough, Massdrop sells mechanical keyboards in their Tech section sometimes. I bought a Nixeus Moda Pro from there just before the holidays and it’s better than I expected for $50. And there is a drop open now for a Gigabyte Force K83 Cherry MX.
Are you typing in QWERTY, or a different layout? One of the nice things about the WASD boards is being able to throw a toggle switch to change to a few of the more common alternate layouts.
The Gigabyte keyboard is attractive! I'll be typing in QWERTY, anything else is too fancy for me lol.
Do you have any good sources for coiled cables? I think I'll just get an Amazon Basics micro-usb to usb-c.
Wow, good luck! Be sure to share images when you are done, I'm super curious to see what it will look like in the end.
But someone in that drop's discussion commented that a "better" keyboard is available on Amazon, and it happens to have blues: https://www.amazon.com/Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard-Cherry-Detachable/dp/B01N23BAFB
I cannot find the type of USB cable socket on either board. Be careful not to buy the wrong cable, both Mini & Micro USB are common. I'd wait until you have the board in hand before ordering a coiled cable. And I don't know anything about cable sources. If you just want black, Amazon is probably your best bet.
Thanks for the tip, I typically buy my cables from Amazon, my preferred brand is Anker, but Amazon Basics makes good cables as far as I've experienced. I needed a usb power hub so I could easily power a bunch of Raspberry Pis for work, so I ordered retractable cables. They probably won't last, but I am worried about desk clutter more than anything.
I think finding a coiled cable will be more about luck than anything else lol.
Amazon's price is a bit more than Massdrop's was when I bought it. Massdrop will probably run it again.
If a TKL is enough, there is a drop open for the next 4 days with blues as an option: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/nixeus-moda-v2-mechanical-mechanical-keyboard?utm_source=linkshare&referer=AV5F4D
I wish I could safely remove that nexeus logo.