I just received a Realforce R4 30g (Japanese layout) and it’s so lovely to type on. I have an HHKB Hybrid Type-S keyboard as well that I love to use in the “Sonshi Style” on my laptop. That got me thinking how amazing it would be if an HHKB existed in a 30g version instead of 45g (I also love 45g by the way). I am aware of the existence of Realforce RC1, but I just think the HHKB looks much nicer. Are there any recognized 30g (or similar weight) domes that can be swapped out for the 45g ones on the HHKB? Is it difficult for a novice to swap them? Or have you heard something about whether HHKB ever plans to release such a keyboard? Thanks!
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No official 30g has been released and I haven’t heard of any plans. But, it’s fairly easy to swap the domes out! You can find all sorts of dome options. There’s Deskeys.io who has been around for a long time with very reputable domes, there’s MetaKeebs.com who are newer but have very nice domes, and we have a new option with dynacap.io (I haven’t seen any reviews on the light domes yet).
Swapping is as easy as opening up the case, pulling off the OEM domes, and then reassembling. Honestly if you have modded MX, swapping domes on Topre is going to be pretty straightforward. Only tips I have are to not push the springs into the domes but to just rest them in the dome, and to not over tighten the pcb screws when putting it back together. Barely snug is fine for them.
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cc: @topre_user
update! HHKB has now released 30g boards!
https://hhkeyboard.us/hhkb/pro-hybrid-type-s/white-30th-anniversary
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I could have used this 6 months ago… initially I was kind of excited to experiment and go down the rabbit hole of topre after market domes but I was quickly overwhelmed and didn’t like the response from the community.
This is exactly what I was looking for out of the gate.
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I hear that. I didn’t run across anyone being actively unhelpful or anything, but people build up a wall of “it’s too different to describe.” Okay… but… try, please?
I was also insanely lucky when it comes to the potential for being overwhelmed. I spent so much on my Hangul Realforce that out of sheer orneriness I just MADE it my daily for work and I got to a point where I knew exactly what I wanted: slightly heavier and poppier than the stock silent-45g domes. I’m exaggerating of course, as it’s not like I hated the stock build or anything; still, I doubt another board that felt similar would have sat on my desk long enough for me to know what I needed to do.
Fortunately, this was also exactly when the Astro Domes with a 50g variant were coming out, so I was able to pull the trigger with confidence, and they met my needs. It would be hellaciously time-consuming and expensive to try to wade through everything and get to a place where you were making a clean purchase. If the 30g HHKB sounds good, get it and live with it, and then you’ll know which direction and roughly how extreme you need to go.
That is similar to what I faced.
I went in knowing I wanted lighter domes, so I asked the community what third party dome options are there?
Person A: DES domes suck. Astrodomes ok.
Person B: Astrodomes suck. Metakeebs ok. Don’t buy DES.
Really the only thing I came away with was everyone one hated DES, but then opinions were 50/50 on everything else 
Like come on guys….
The kicker was, DES were the only ones in stock too. So everyone had hot takes on the creator but then said creator was the only store with inventory to get and try.
Luckily, I didn’t have to wait long and there was the Metakeebs GB at Divinikey, so I was able to pick up some 35g and 40g domes from there. I really believe that one of those two should solve my issue and give me a weight I like to use all day.
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i am wondering if you and @wjrii were on a popular chat-based server and got lackluster responses. empathizing with it but also if it is so, its fast paced yell into the void free-for-all and it’s not really built for long-form thought. @techbeezin @Jucko myself and quite a few others here on KT who lurk the topre/ec threads are more than happy to do long-form dome discussion any time.
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Absolutely echoing what insolentpotato has stated. Always happy to help spread the joy of cup rubber.
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Same here, I’m always down to talk domes 
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I am hoping the two Metakeeb domes will my answer. I like the weights (35g and 40g), and I believe one of my issues with the Astrodomes was the shape. Metakeebs has the classic HHKB dome shape, not BKE.
The weight on the Astrodomes Shiners was nice, but after installing them, they added a TON more rattle and it made my HHKB feel and sound very cheap. My hunch is that the dome shape towards the tip did not push up the keycaps enough. I asked around and no one else had this issue, it seems to just be with the lighter weight Shiners.
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Yes, It was on d****d, IIRC, LOL. My particular path, using my best guess OEM dome until I was confident that any remaining complaints were not due to any need to get used to Topre, led me to a good place. The Astro Dome Peppers have been very nice, and just for giggles I put the 500g Texas Tea on Esc, PS, PB, and SL.
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Something I have been very interested in acquiring are super heavy domes, I felt a board with what I think said “BKE something Domes 100g”(?) and it BLEW me away. After typing on that person’s board I have been wanting to do/get something similar. So I guess my question for the Topre Experts is, can I buy these domes or something similar? I did a quick search and I’m assuming people get these domes by harvesting them from those Sony BKE video editor boards. Regardless of whether or not I can obtain them, would I be able to replace the domes in my HHKB Hybrid or are they not compatible?
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not sponsored or affiliated:
depending on what year or time period you tried that board - bke 100g or keyclack bke redux extreme (100g) has been out of production for a while; you could try astrodomes (for sale in the US here: Astro Domes by BlindAssassin – Sneakbox ) and look at the Big D or Texas Tea 500g pack. @techbeezin @Jucko cause i havent used those heavier weights. im more of a light domes user.
Sony BKE domes are much lighter (they feel like 45g-55g oem topre but more tactile to me at least) so if you wanted max weight id look at the above aftermarket offerings first or try to go for what is likely Keyclack’s BKE dome bc that has a very specific, sharp, violent tactility and weight in the keypress. Astrodomes have the weight, but their tactility is more polite (thats the breaking/falling feeling after you overcome the press)
most after market domes should be compatible into the stock hhkb hybrid
hope that helps
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Ahhh gotcha gotcha, thanks so much for the info. I also didn’t know the SP-111 GOAT made domes, the more you know. I think you are most likely right with it being the Keyclack BKE domes because I remember the tactility being very sharp and “violent” as you said. When I felt that tactility for the first time, mann….my life was changed for a moment.
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i have shiners and use them in a realforce with 0.5mm silencing rings and black sliders.
your hhkb is silenced (type-s) or unsilenced (regular Pro 2, Classic, etc.)?
FYI from BA:
and
i don’t really know what is the ideal build setup for astrodomes. for me, i need my realforces to have 0.5mm rings whether that is poron or silicone, and i prefer the shorter black sliders as opposed to purple sliders (that come silenced from factory) that have a longer travel. type-s hhkb also has longer travel and im sensitive to that.
astrodomes feel more precompressed in the build setup i have in my realforces, but it doesn’t sound any rattle-y er or looser. if anything i added more precompression since BA said build on black sliders without rings. to me, the added precompression on my shiners in my setup is actually making them feel shallower and heavier bc ive already changed the dome shape and im starting my keypress at a different point of the dome if that is still comprehensible to you rn…
anyways, there’s a ton of info scattered in Disc. i want to address the rattley part and would need more info as to what your hhkb is setup like. is rattley loose or is it also the nature of stock hhkb plastic plate which is overall louder and sounds different than a realforce which has less space underneath and has a metal plate. astrodomes and all these third party domes also sound very different and can be louder and less smooth sounding compared to oem topre + poron silencing rings, etc.
everyone’s been chasing
Sony BKE
which turned into keyclack BKE’s v1 and v2 offerings - in ultra light, light, heavy, and extreme - dont know the gram weights off the top my head atm
when they went away
Deskeys released their v1 open top BKE domes (now also out of stock), and a side project (still tactile, but far too polite) called the Carrot domes - their website is still down for repairs at this time i guess or id link it
2025/26 attempts at tactile domes - some alr in stock, others still otw
Astrodomes - closed top tactile
Metapulse made an open top version preorder in the US called the BS (Blue-Series) dome
as always with goddamn topre/ec you should have bought stuff before you knew you even wanted to be in this hobby bc by the time you need it you have to shop used / aftermarket 
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Does the open top vs closed top really make a difference for the sound (which I’m assuming is the reasoning based on what I read on the product listings)?
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mmm open top and closed top domes do sound slightly different. its more that ive noticed open top tactile domes are my preference. like the sound amplifies and affirms the keypress/break characteristics (to me at least and thats probably placebo.) whereas the closed top domes sound is milder so maybe im also perceiving the experience as “milder” tactility
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Type-S.
Not really sure what to make of all this info. Does this mean in theory I would need thicker silencing rings if I want to continue to use these?
I left my “mod” keys with the stock HHKB domes and only swapped the alphas with the Astrodome Shiners. When I rub my finger over the 1u stock mod keys with OEM domes, there is some wiggle and play. However when doing the same with the Shiner 1u keys, it isn’t like there is a ton more, but it definitely feels like more play. Honestly, it is really tough to say. Sometimes if feels like there is more play, but it could also just be the difference in sound between the two.
Like I said, I feel like my working theory is that the BKE Shiner domes must just have a 1mm or so difference with force pushing the keycap up, and that tiny bit just makes them feel more rattle-y.
Personally, I don’t think I am married to BKE style. I think I prefer the OEM dome shape, which is why I am excited for my Metakeeb GB domes to deliver.
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