deskthority

Polecat wrote: 26 Dec 2019, 02:30 I'd be more surprised if they didn't sound different. First, you have two completely different plates and cases. Second, the difference in keycaps. Third, there were several changes to white Alps switches which affect the sound and feel.

The Focus cases are held together at the front edge by plastic tabs. When I rebuilt my FK-2002 three of the four tabs eventually broke, so I glued some stems in place and drilled and countersunk the case for screws. I also drilled through the two locations at the top edge and put screws into the two factory posts there. Doing that completely changed the sound and feel of the Focus. I'm using it as my driver now, and it's every bit as satisfying as my KB-101A. The Dell case is held together by screws, of course, very solidly built from the factory.

Keycaps also affect the sound and feel. I have no idea what a SK-2002 is, but I have a couple SK-0002 boards here. The earlier ones had nice thick double shot caps, but the later caps were thin, and probably pad printed. I have one of each, and they definitely sound different.

White Alps switches are a whole subject in themselves. Very early ones sounded and felt like blues. Changes were made to every part over time, so there's a lot more to it than just pine vs. bamboo. There may be a correlation between mold numbering and internal changes, but I haven't found that info yet.

If you're really curious you can swap one thing at a time from one keyboard to the other to see if it's the switches, caps, or the case and plate. Most likely it's all of the above.

kelvinhall05 wrote: 26 Dec 2019, 02:41
Very interesting, thank you! I guess maybe my Dell's are very early ones and my Focus's are very late ones. I bet there are some big differences in the switches as a loose switch still sounded quite different.

Oh well. Kinda sucks they don't sound nearly as nice as the ones in the Dell, but I prefer the feel. Much less tactile.