I am in love.
I am using this set on MX Clears, and it feels like the perfect combination of profile and weight to me. Coming from a DSA set, this is a huge step up in terms of accuracy and typing speed after only 24 hours, I am finding I am hitting the center of the keys without trying because the scoop guides you to the right place. I am also loving the scooped F and J over the 'nipple' version, very easy to locate.
From an appearance point of view, these are a very attractive but understated set; the legends are clear and crisp, and there are zero alignment issues, so it would appear all the issues from R1 are fixed. The font is nice and bold, easy to read, and makes it stand out from the Gorton Modified I have gotten used to on other sets. I love the muted colorway, but wish I had purchased some of the brighter keys; I really wish the RGB or CMKY modifiers had an ISO enter.
The caps are very thick, with zero burrs or defects, and although they are snug on the stems I had no issues. I had to remove a few keys because I forgot to use my ISO kit, and had no problems getting them off with a bit of a wiggle, and that was on clear switches that had never been used. There is a very slight texture to them which is pleasant to the touch.
Overall these are an incredible set, and I can't wait to see it in other colorways!
https://massdrop-s3.imgix.net/img_comment/POIOlgBdR6O7iE6VQjnX_00000PORTRAIT00000BURST20180917165351031.jpg
This is easily the nicest set I own right now. Being made out of very thick PBT, these caps look, feel and sound extremely solid.
https://massdrop-s3.imgix.net/img_comment/ETdKdk2OQpDyRBSMkszP_titty.jpg
The legends are nice and crisp, though upon closer inspection you can still notice they're not perfectly aligned. I'd expect MD to get this fixed after the R1 fiasco, but I'm personally not that bothered, you can't really see it from typing distance and it's something that I learned to accept with dye-sub legends.
Regarding the profile, MT3 is not very easy to use from the get-go, the keycaps are very cuppy and punish inaccurate typing with their "sharp" edges. Conversely, they also reward accurate typing, so once you get used to them (about 2 days for me) they become extremely comfortable. The sculpt is perfect, not too aggressive and the flat bottom row makes it easy to use with your thumbs.
The texture of the keycaps is very pleasant as well, it is somewhat coarse and grippy (but not to the point of being obnoxious), which works well with the deep top.
The only issue I have is that my order has been shipped late despite multiple drop delays with poor communication on MD's side.
The two most popular kinds of plastic are currently used for keyboards are:
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) - the most common keycap plastic used, tends to feel smooth, is durable, a tad cheaper and easier to manufacture than PBT
PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) - tends to have a “matte” texture, a bit stiffer than ABS, a bit more durable than ABS, and doesn’t develop a “glossy” look with use over time like ABS, harder and more expensive to manufacture than ABS
Sublimated dying infuses the ink with the plastic through a manufacturing process Elder Sage perfectly describes:
https://drop.com/talk/27150/what-does-it-mean-that-these-are-dye-sublimted-pbt/2582700
The ink sinks into the keycap just a bit so the font doesn't wear out even if the keycap gets worn down.
Hence “Dye-Subbed PBT”.
Sublimation is the process of turning a substance from a solid directly to a gasious state without passing through a liquid phase. During dye sublimation, the solid dye is exposed to high heat and turned into a gas. In the gas state it is able to permeate the crystaline structure of the PBT keycap. The end result is a legend that goes below the surface of the plastic thereby making it very durable.
not only redefine the typing experience but also bring a timeless, old-school elegance to your keyboard. Their taller profile and round tops not only enhance comfort and sound, making each keystroke satisfyingly deliberate and sonically pleasing, but their classic design aesthetics elevate the overall look, merging retro vibes with modern functionality. Perfect for those who appreciate the beauty in typing, this set is a blend of form, function, and fantastic vintage flair, making every typing session enjoyable and your setup visually stunning.
I only picked up the small spacebar set to make other sets work for both my split 65% board and my split ortholinear board. Fot $15, the set gives a lot of value by having both row 4 and row 5 AND by having two 1u spacebars for each row. Too many sets these days only have one 1u spacebar
These feel great to type on. Got them at the same time as the Cyber MT3 set, and these somehow feel better. Liked them enough that I got an ortho set for my Preonic and a full set for my CTRL.
Comfy profile, darker colours than shown in product pictures
Pros:
Thick PBT keycaps with little to no warping on walls.
Well-centred, die-sublimated legends (I guess I was lucky with my set).
Ortho kit includes convex 1.5u and 1u space bars, which is a good fit for small split keyboards.
Cons:
Too dark colours compared to the ones shown in product shots. White keycaps are light grey, while green and red ones are not as vibrant. This gets worse under a light source with poor CRI. See the reference photo comparing a key from this set against a BOW MT3 one.
Subjective, but I find the profile very comfortable when touch typing with hands hovering over a flat keyboard. Not very important for me as I am typing on a 36-key layout (as hands do not move out of position when typing) but I find deep-dished homing keys to be an effective affordance when compared to those with bars.