So, I am writing this post to summarize my experience with the Dynacap electro-capacitive (EC) switches and stabilizers sold by Omnitype. They just debuted back in November, and I’ve worked with them a bit off and on since then. My goal with Dynacap was a quiet, tactile, custom/DIY-built, Topre-based board. I’m sharing these experiences not to dunk on Omnitype (they did a good job with these and for other folks, they are great), but rather to provide constructive feedback from my perspective.
One other background note about myself: I’ve never had a Topre OEM board and probably won’t. I’m usually not happy with off-the-shelf boards anyway, but the real deal-breaker for me is being able to compile and edit the firmware myself. Sure, I could get an OEM one and mod it, but if I’m gonna be modding something, plastic cases suck (clips break and screws tapped directly in plastic stop holding). I have built a few custom Topre keebs at this point (see this thread for one of them), though, so it’s not my first dome rodeo.
I’ve tried them in 2 keebs, one successful, the other not.
- The successful build was an EC Bauer Lite. I already had a MX-based one to compare it to, so it seemed a good First Start to try Dynacap out. Everything fit together fairly nicely using the provided kit from Omnitype. Mostly satisfied with the build at this point, save for the stabilizers (see rant below). I wound up using Deskeys T1 domes instead of the Omnitype “doems,” but otherwise it’s an all-Dynacap build.
- I also tried using some Dynacap parts in another keeb, to less success. I tried switching them in to the DIY EC-converted KBD8Xmk3 I’ve got, but was disappointed in the results – significantly noisier than the Deskeys housings and sliders I had before. I even tried the Deskeys sliders with the Dynacap housings, but they still wobbled and were louder (though slightly less loud than all-Dynacap parts).
Comments on Individual Parts
“Doems”
Selling them in lengths of 6 is fantastic. However, they suffer from the same problem of a lot of domes I’ve tried, in that they’re barely tactile, especially compared to Deskeys’ T1 domes. Weight doesn’t seem to affect tactility much.
Sliders
I like the colors and the MX compatibility. I dislike that they fall out of the housings if you invert the board after they’re inserted (Deskeys and other sliders I have used do not), whether you use Dynacap housings or otherwise. They are also a bit “loose” in the housings – there’s a gap around the collar that means you can wobble the stem some. I believe this is the source of the increased noise, BTW – I think it’s coming from the sliders rattling around in the channel they move in.
Housings
I love the slimmed vertical footprint that allows using north-facing stabilizers (instead of cutting them to fit). I like whatever the plastic they used better than the polycarbonate for the Deskeys housings. However, the major downside is the tolerances – the housing/slider combo wobbles quite a lot, resulting in increased noise/rattle. In comparison, the Deskeys slider/housing combo barely wobbles at all.
In terms of wobble, Dynacap : Deskeys :: JWK : HMX.
2U stabilizers
Same problems as the 1U housings, with even more rattle/looser tolerances.
The Dynacap ones are just loose and rattly, with no amount of lube removing the issue (can gunk it up with Krytox 206g2 til it barely moves and it still rattles). They feel a bit like older Cherry stabs that you just can’t quite get the rattle out of. Probably going to eventually replace the Dynacap 2U sliders in my EC Bauer Lite.
Space bar stabilizer
I hate it. While you CAN get it to be quieter than the 2U stabs, under NO circumstances should you invert these housings with the sliders in them. It will just fall out if you tip it even slightly sideways and now have to go hunting for the stem that needs re-done because the lube is now covered in carpet and cat hair. (The other Topre space bar stabs I’ve used won’t immediately fall out if the wire’s inserted.) Their tolerances are so loose you can jam the slider in the housing and get it stuck cock-eyed.
Topre Stabilizers Rant
I’m coming to the conclusion that Topre stabilizers just kinda…suck. They feel like 5 years behind the state of the art in MX stabilizers (like Typeplus or Knight stabs).
Even the Deskeys stuff I’ve been praising I never can quite get quiet as I want. I wound up using “Holee” like mods Poron tape on the wires and housing, along with Krytox 206g2, plus Poron “landing pad” stickers on the PCB itself. Deskeys “landing pads” are a giant PITA to keep in place and make a tiny extra bit of noise as they flutter up and down on the PCB itself. The amount of lube required to keep the small wires from rattling makes a tiny squelching noise.
I realize the design of Topre stabilizers has to be a little different than MX ones, just to accommodate the Topre dome and spring mechanism itself, but it definitely feels like there’s a bunch of things they could be improved by from the world of MX stabilizers. Probably the top two things I’d like to see are:
- Silicone/TPE overmolding, as used in Knight stabs, et al., either the top of the slider or the underside of the housing. This can substantially reduce collision noise.
- Tighter tolerances for sliders and wires with the housings.
Though really, if Topre boards could use use MX-stabs (like with the latest boards from Cipulot), that would probably be better. 
(I suppose they could be worse; they could be Costar stabs.)
Conclusion
In summary, Dynacap is probably worth it if you’re doing something like a Bauer Lite where it was designed with Dynacap in mind. It also is probably great if you don’t care about noise, but unfortunately that’s a major deal-breaker for me. There is also definitely room for future improvements.