Great post! Thanks for the detailed thoughts, solo-act. I will examine them.
I have my own subjective impressions of the CAP Golden and Milky Browns after using them for several months.
After some medium-term use, I can’t say I am pleased with them. I would say that they are an aggressively mediocre switch.
I say that because the sound-profile, while resembling somewhat that of hand-lubed switches, is also still inconsistent. There are squeaks and swishing noises. They are especially noticeable with the stock Milky Brown in a Rakk Lam Ang Pro. So while they don’t sound as bad as something like stock hyperglide Browns in a pre-built case [or similar], they don’t sound as good as lubed Ergo Clears or Pandas and such.
It’s this banal kind of ‘clop-y’ sound. It’s not scratch, but it’s not pure thock either.
In terms of the tactile profile of the switch, which is more important to me, I also am not satisfied. It looks like Gateron wanted to go with user suggestions and implement a tactile bump that’s larger, more noticeable and crisper than MX/Gateron Brown. And they largely succeeded in this regard.
Unfortunately, there is only a rapid collapse after the larger tactile bump, then it’s bottom-out city. They probably should have investigated a progressive or slow-spring solution as you see with Kailh Pro Purple or some more exotic switches. As it is, the spring then has to push up through that crisp tactile bump again. Some people have resorted to using Long springs to soften the tactility at the top and maybe provide a greater return force through the bump.
So I would say that there is a disconnect between the bump profile, and the spring that is used. They should have investigated other options. My CAP Browns feel a lot like 62-65 G Ergo Clears, but the latter doesn’t slam down as hard. [They both might have mild return issues, though].
CAP Browns also use non-standard parts and springs. So they will be more inconvenient to mod. This all suggests to me, as I wrote earlier, that CAP Browns are ideal for people who just want to stick their CAP Browns into a board and get on with things. Not for modders.
I have CAP Golden Browns in an MK870 with a polycarb plate, and it turns out it’s a great gaming board. The polycarb plate softens the action somewhat, and provides a more resonant sound. I had been aiming for a typing board, I’ve only used it for light testing. It’s a great setup for gaming overall, so I think I will gift it to a friend. But it lacks the subtlety I prefer in light tactiles, the kind that allows you ryhthmically to glide across keycaps without heavy bottom-out.
Your analysis appears to be more objective, less subjective, more analytical and detailed. So I will think about what you have to say about the switches. I think they are a reasonably successful mass-produced tactile with some enthusiast characteristics. Kind of like how you see enthusiast features creeping into mass-production boards.