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Product Description
The Drop CTRL High-Profile is just like the original CTRL, but now it comes with a tall CNC-aluminum case that covers the switches. Machined at a 6-degree angle, the case is ergonomically crafted for a natural feel—and it’s quite a bit heavier than before Read More
Just got my Drop barebones keyboard. I got some Zilents V2 (https://zealpc.net/products/zilents) 67g switches, and Ducky Pudding keycaps. The keyboard looks & feels amazing !
The only catch with the Zilents switches, is the plastic feet need to be clipped.
I really like the high profile look where the switches aren't as exposed on my old keyboard that wasn't designed for modding. The aluminum frame is quite beefy, so it isn't going to move around allot. Hot swap switches mean that you save a lot of time because you don't need to solder.
The hot swap motherboard is designed for 3-hole switches, so the Gateron Aliaz Silent switches I used required removing 2 plastic pegs. The socket is recessed, so there were multiple times where the soft metal leads of my switches curled in the recess instead of going in the socket. Using the tweezers from my iFixit kit allowed me to uncurl them from the sides and still use them.
All in all, it's a solid keyboard which let me pick the parts I wanted. Since this is my first real custom keyboard, I am very happy with the process.
It is indeed a keyboard. If you're not into modding board (foam/stabs/lube/etc) it's fine. Easy to put switches in. That's about all the positives I can say about it. Getting switches out of the edges is a pain due to solid metal top. Unless you go with silent switches (which I hate the feel of), it tends to be quite loud, even with linear switches. Taking it apart and putting it together is a pain, and when modding it myself, I ended up stripping a screw due to compression. Due to machining, I often get shorts due to static build up.
If you don't plan on modding your board, this is the board for you. If you do, there are plenty of more premium options for the same price range.
The 'e' key double types all the time. The F12 stopped working and the down arrow LED stopped working. I exchanged it for another one and this one had the same exact issues. The right arrow and spacebar do not light up and both the 'r' and 'w' keys randomly double type or don't work. So I've had 2 of these and both of them had poor quality after about 6 months of use. Finally, the warranty expired and I'm stuck with it. I would not recommend DROP.
ddunneHey I'm sorry to hear about the double input issue.
Have you tried flashing QMK XAP based firmware for your CTRL? It can potentially address the double input issue.
For the Configurator Application
Its an amazing choice in terms of getting into real the quality custom keyboard community. I do have to mention in particular the aluminum case you can just feel the weight of it. Would definitely recommend to anybody considering getting into the hobby.
Overall, this is a great keyboard. This keyboard is very easy to mod, which is good because, in all honesty, it's only alright stock.
The aluminum case produces a lot of ping, and it doesn't sound too great. I cut up some foam I had lying around, and placed it in some of the more hollow spots, which helped a little. I'm sure it would have made a bigger difference if I had bought a foam kit, or used a different material, like I said there's potential!
The stabilizers didn't sound or feel too great, but after a little Lube and a bandaid mod, I'm actually impressed with the stabs it came with!
A light tape mod on the back never hurts either.
For switches I had DROPs Holy Panda X clear switches. Without Lube... ehh.
Too much ping, and not a very smooth feel, and overall they didn't sound amazing.
I lubed a few, to see the difference, and I can't wait to Lube the rest!
It's not the sound I'd prefer, but I got the switches (and keycaps, captain america MT3) from the mystery box.
So, for a fun little "partial mystery" build, it came out fantastic! I'm happy with the way it all looks, and feels, but I'm aware that I did not pick my parts specifically for this board. Given what I had, I'm happy with the result, and it really gave me a better understanding of how I want to build my future boards.
All in all, if this keyboard it paired with the right parts and mods, it's a FANTASTIC choice, and I would very much recommend for an entry level enthusiast (like myself) or someone looking to JUST build their own custom keyboard.
However, I will mentionthe PCB came with some writing on it for some reason? It doesn't affect anything, and i didn't notice it until I pulled the PCB out, but no other issues with the board at all!
It's heavy, and very sturdy. Great, bright, vibrant RGB, and a great base for a keyboard. I paired my with the Soulcat keycaps set and Gateron Yellow Pro switches.
The build quality seems quite nice, but my board showed up missing a socket, and a small arrow sticker showing the exact spot that was missing. Seems as if the problem was known but the item was packaged anyway.