Thanks, yeah DCS definitely helps it not sound super low pitched. Will report back on the platless setup! I actually finally got a new microphone so I can put some sound tests again!
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I found a good fit for KKB PSL that didn’t involve moving much around, 
Here is Pumpkin Spice Latte on my maple Tree80
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That is a nice fit! The browns & oranges go super well with the wood case!
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If I may recommend a new hobby, coffee making instead of the nespresso machine? 
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Ha! I love making coffee! This was later in the day and that’s when I usually break out my Nespresso for a decaf pod. My daily is a bit boring, but I love it.
Not only is it beautiful, it actually makes good coffee. If I’m feeling adventurous I may break out the French Press, but two good cups from this Krups and I’m usually set. I owned several Cuisinart auto drips for the past two decades and I finally decided they were shit. They just can’t brew at proper temps for more than a month. I always grind my own beans and in the past year I got more serious about my coffee to water ratio when I finally got a kitchen scale (which, by the way, I use in the kitchen almost every single day and I cannot believe it took me this long to purchase one). I found out that I had been using significantly less coffee than needed for a proper cup. Turns out, if you use the correct amount of coffee you don’t need to drink an entire pot to satisfy your caffeine needs.
Speaking of… I’m out of coffee beans! Coffee store trip incoming!
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Built my Cloudnine with Outemu Ice Purples that I’ve saved for something special. Loved these switches when I first started this hobby, and it seems like a good fit for this build.
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You must have been saving up those Ice Purples for a LONG time!
How do they type vs. Zealios and Durocks?
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Commissioned a new PCB for my Adélie with a layout more to my liking. Excited to use this board again. Built with PBS BOB.
PCB was done by calvin0563 (highly recommended if you need to commission a PCB)
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That looks great with the maple and you get to keep DSA alchemy on the classic TKL!
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This is really pushing me to get myself a set of PBS… I got an MTNU set and the scoop they had didn’t really do it for me. LDSA remains the best feeling scoop I’ve felt, and I’m chasing it in MX form factor.
Yeah I really like PBS even though I generally prefer sculpted sets. The kitting is great for 40s/Ortho too.
Yeah, you sold me on giving it a try. Just ordered a set from CannonKeys.
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I only have some Durock Medium Tactiles, also L+F. They sound very similar. The Outemus have a more muted scratchier sound, while the Durocks are slightly less scratchy and louder on bottom out. Real subtle.
Here’s a small comparison, with Durocks on JKL and Outemu on the rest. Typing hard to try to hear the difference but it’s really hard to tell with this low quality video. I’m sure if I mixed the two switches I’d have a hard time sorting them apart.
Durocks on the left.
Something about these switches feels nostalgic, like back when the hobby felt fresh (to me)
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Thanks! That’s very helpful.
Yeah, the Durocks are kinda loud on the bottom-out. I concur with the results of your test.
I asked because I’ve been experimenting with Durock Medium Tactiles again, so it was interesting to see you post about these switches.
I have to agree that it’s a nostalgic switch. I remember picking up samples from Flashquark in the pandemic era. Tried to find the right spring + lube combination for them. Now, I’d probably use 58 G Spirit and 3204, similar to the Durocks.
Sometimes I think about buying some, pulling the stems, and putting them in a modern housing such as Boba linear.
Yes, they feel “fresh” with their clear, icy design. You can still buy Ice Dark Purples!
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Finally got around to putting the F1-8X together (in it’s MX form…
)
Since this one is going to see a couple of different setups, I decided to go with configurations that let me go a little outside of my comfort zone…
Ingredients
- Geon F1-8X v2 in Raw Aluminum with Copper Weights
- Coreless CEM3 PCB
- Red Anodized Aluminum Half-Plate
- KBDFans Roller Linear Switches
- Swagkeys Knight V2 Stabilizers
- Aluvia Aluminum Keycaps
- Hibi Olivia No.3 1u and Enter Artisans
In-Depth Build Summary
PCB: I picked up the CEM3 PCB because I have never used one, but have heard good things. Going aluminum half-plate was going to give me a good idea of how it sounded as well. The CEM3 PCB I used on this build, I went with the “coreless” 1.6mm version, and was delighted to see that it was opaque. Would be interesting to have a PCB like this paired with tasteful RGB lighting on the underside, as I believe it would diffuse the light nicely…
SWITCHES: For switches, I went with KBDFans Roller Linear Switches. I have used before and am pretty familiar with. I have also heard that there have been good batches and some not so good batches… Luckily, the ones I have used on this build were from a good batch that have been waiting patiently in their storage container since just after my first build with them. I immediately went to go buy more because the sound, and feel were just what I was looking for, but the absolute lack of stem wobble had blown me away!
STABILIZERS: When it comes to stabs, I am a fan of Cherry clip-ins, not only for their amazing value, but they also sound as good, if not better than stabs costing twice as much. Sure, you have to put in a little work, but it pays off in the end. When you get them right, you know it.
Lately, though, I have been enjoying Swagkey’s Knight V2 stabs, simply because I am sometimes lazy. They have been very consistent with wires that don’t need a lot of tuning, and their tolerances are pretty spot on and require very light lube, but can they be made even lazier? Yes, but you have to spend a little more money… That’s where Geon’s balanced stab wires come in. I picked up a few packs to see how they would stack up to my stringent standards. To my surprise, they were arrow straight, and even chamfered edges!!
Now, I had the perfect stabs for people who like building keebs but hate stabs!
(Editor’s note: Knight V3 stabs now chamfer the edges of their wires as well now…)
Final Thoughts
My F2-84 is half-plate as well, but is FR4 on FR4 with lubed, filmed, and spring-swapped vint MX blacks that I also broke in to 1M more actuations, and RO-59 treated stems. Absolutely went all out on that build and is honestly one of my favorite sounding boards in my collection… until now.
I know that the PCB is doing a LOT of the heavy lifting here, but there is much to be said for the KBDFans Roller linears as well. I have used these Aluvia keycaps on a few builds now, and have always seemed to have a very minuscule amount of ping that let you know that you are using aluminum keycaps. This setup has none. I am not sure if it’s just how solid the build of the Roller switches are, or the PCB being CEM3 and/or coreless, or even mounting style, but this setup is just absolutely Peak Keeb for me!! 
Can’t imagine the other configs I have planned sounding any better, but I am excited to find out!
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Sweet setup & looks awesome! Yeah it’s hard to say what in your setup keeps the alum caps from having that metallic sound (I know exactly what you’re referring to). Although the little of messing around I’ve been able to do with my F1 makes me lean towards mounting style. The pieces of o-ring sandwiching the plate is probably the best mounting style I’ve ever come across for truly isolating the PCB/plate assembly from the case.
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Nice build!
You makes me want to try those Roller linears
As @Rob27shred said, the lack of any metallic sound is due to this oring sandwitch that the F1 has. Not only it isolates the plate but it also dampens nearly all metallic sound from the top case (also a bit for the bottom case but the copper weights do most of the job).
Just tap on your case at different locations with your fingernails and you’ll understand the big difference with other boards
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Viktus Sinne atomic purple is pretty diluted purple IMO. Been struggling to find keycaps for it. I had NK Taro on it but that felt meh. I think PBTFans Lucy kind of works better, but someone tell me if I’m wrong.
NK Taro
Also rebuilt some old builds and swapped around layouts and keycaps.
Cat themed blackout Fjell 
Pelican looks nice on the Sirius. The curves kind of match the theme 
Just waiting for R2 to drop to snag the deskmat and spacebars kit.
Putting my KalamKorn up for sale so I put the Mitolet back on the Salvation. No 2.75u spacebar in the kitting so it’s just going to be forever wonky 
was toying with the idea of sharpie-ing the shift like Redacted but I haven’t gotten my courage up yet lol
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I think Lucy looks real good on the Sinne!
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