What is the Best Keycap Set for the CM Novatouch?

[Hypersphere]

Ever since acquiring a pre-release Cooler Master (CM) Novatouch (NT) keyboard, I have been tweaking it to get the best sound, feel, and appearance.

After installing HyperRings (Silencing Rings for Topre switches), there was a dramatic improvement in sound -- the Topre thock could better assert itself without as much interference from return-stroke clack. Some lubrication also helped reduce stabilizer rattle. However, there was still an annoying bottoming-out click sound, apparently from contact of keycaps with switch housings and/or the case.

After trying quite a few keycap sets, it seemed that the bottoming-out noise was mainly related to the profile. The sets I tried included thick dye-sub PBT from Imsto and others. These were Cherry profile, and at least some keys, such as the Enter key, were making contacts on the down-stroke resulting in bottoming-out noise. I tried the very handsome Leopold PBT sets -- same result with the Leopold profile.

One of the best sets for noise reduction -- and certainly one of the best looking -- was the Granite PBT set. Unfortunately, I had difficulty typing on the spherical tops and flat DSA profile. Moreover, although I like most aspects of the appearance of the Granite set, I prefer looking at a keyboard that has a higher and sculpted profile.

It seemed what I was looking for was something in SA or OEM profile. However, I much prefer PBT over ABS, which I believe effectively rules out SA.

In today's mail I found two sets of Ducky PBT keycaps in OEM profile -- the Cream and Green set and perhaps the last existing blank black set in thin PBT (thick is not necessarily better I have found).

I first installed the Cream and Green, but I didn't like the green, so I kept the cream alphas, number keys, and spacebar and switched all others to blank black.

Finally! The down-stroke contact noise was gone, even from the spacebar. Moreover, the spacebar did not rattle, and neither did the Enter key. There was still some rattle in the Backspace key, but I have remapped the keyboard and swapped Backspace and Backslash. The only slight annoyance that remained was some rattle in the Right Shift key, which I use quite a lot.

I've concluded that the best keycaps for the NT are OEM profile (or perhaps DSA if you have no issues typing on sphericals or a non-sculpted profile). If I just wanted OEM, I suppose I could have kept the stock caps, but these are ABS, and I much prefer typing on PBT. I've forgotten what the bottoming-out noise was like with the stock caps, because I swapped them out almost immediately and before I had installed the Silencing Rings.

The Ducky dye-sub PBT caps feel good, look reasonably attractive, and provide the best sound I have yet found on the NT keyboard. However, these caps are not as elegant as those from Topre, and the overall typing experience on the NT is still not up to the standard of my silenced RF87UB55 or silenced HHKB Pro 2.

I would be interested to learn about the experiences and opinions of others regarding the best keycaps for the NT keyboard.

[Muirium]

You know my view:



Granite looks amazing on the NovaTouch, and finally feels and sounds it too. I prefer these guys to Topre's own on the Realforce and HHKB. Much thicker, and thockier now with appropriate rings.

Perhaps your NovaTouch is a bit off. I've got two: one ISO model that I beta tested for CM, and one ANSI model which is the final shipping version. They're both pictured in my NovaTouch review, and in many pictures in the Cappening thread besides. Why I mention this is because the early version (which has no label on the underside, but did come with a full complement of LEDs) is definitely even rattlier, and some of the sliders have a very loose grip on MX caps. I damped the ANSI one, as you can see, which behaves perfectly. I am yet to find any caps in my collection that don't work admirably with it. But I'd expect less from the early ISO model.

So, a later NovaTouch might be a different story for you too.

[zslane]

I prefer Granite to be paired with a white case, but when it comes to Topre and NovaTouch you take what you can get, right?

How do Round-5 SAs feel on the NovaTouch?

[Muirium]

Well there's the thing: I've only one damped NovaTouch. I did have Round 5 on it first (back when I did my video) and was quite happy with the experience. Especially going through the different colours. But Granite was a revelation. I haven't taken it off since.

Part of this is the fact that I've hardly gotten use out of Granite since I got it on the first round. And you know how involved I was in the genesis of that set. So I'm getting good karma from those keys.

But another factor is definitely the sound. Granite brings out the best in the NovaTouch. I need to record it to show this. I like the feel of PBT, and the legends are sublime, but the sound is what I like the best with that combination. Even if I don't get my preference in sculpted rows from DSA, everything else about it is a marvel.

[Hypersphere]

Thanks, Mu. Although I got my NT before it was released on the market, according to the CM rep, it was of the same quality as units that were later sold to the general public. Moreover, mine was not free -- I paid 200 USD shipped. Even so, it might be good to compare my early model to those available currently.

The Granite set certainly is handsome, although to my eye it could look even better in a higher and sculpted profile.

As I have learned from Topre and IBM keycaps, thick PBT is not necessarily of higher quality than thin PBT with respect to dye-sub legends, sound, or fit to stems. A great thing about IBM and Topre caps is that they work perfectly with the switches they were designed for.

As an aside, I have found the handsome Leopold sets to work very well on my Pok3r keyboard. The Leopold sets have excellent fit and finish, but the profile is a bit too low for my NT to avoid bottoming-out noise.

In any event, for the NT keyboard that I have, the best keycaps that I have tried to date (out of quite a few different sets) have been the Ducky dye-sub PBT OEM profile. These have worked better for me than any of the Cherry profile sets or the Leopold sets.

The Granite set did work on my NT. Unfortunately, I find it difficult to type on the spherical tops and the flat DSA profile, and although the set is beautiful, I prefer the overall appearance of a higher sculpted profile.

Typing on the NT with the Ducky keycaps is quite pleasant. Certainly far better for me than typing on any Cherry mx board, and if I didn't have my silenced RF87UB55 and silenced HHKB Pro 2 keyboards, I could be content with the NT.

[zslane]

I imagine the answer depends in part on one's internal priority settings. I am set to look-&-feel priority. You and Hyper appear to be set to sound-&-feel priority. I don't mind bottoming out noise, or even a slight up-stroke clack (however, stabilizer rattle does irritate). I don't even have a preference for the difference in sound between PBT and ABS. But as everyone knows by now, I can't abide the look and feel of cylindrical tops.

So, Muirium, if you were to choose between DSA and SA, which would you say looks and feels better on an NT (issues of sound notwithstanding)?

[Elk]

On my top cover-less NT, I find that :

SA R5, being higher profile, wobble more and consequently cause the plungers to rattle a little more laterally than DSA.

SA R5 produces a less acute sound on release compared to Granite, which I find more appealing despite the wobbling. The sound of the space bar reminds me of a metal spoon hitting a wood bowl, which I find quite entertaining.

Also, the feel part on SA R5 is definitely unmatchable for me... smooth as silk... I find myself playing with the inside of the F and J keys embarrassingly often.

[Hypersphere]

Can't abide the clammy feel of ABS. Much prefer the touch of PBT -- dry as sun-bleached bones in the desert.

UPDATE: I've added an audio/video clip of the Novatouch with Ducky PBT OEM caps to the following thread:

http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/aud ... 11269.html

[Elk]

Dry is the word : try to the touch, dry to the ear... but at least it doesn't rattle.