DON'T BUY: RETURNED my Drop CTRL for Key ghosting after several months.
Channel: ireakhavok
Date: 2021-05-09

THIS KEYBOARD PCB FAILED MORE OVER TIME. Multiple key presses would happen.

Intro: (0:00​)
Overview, Pro's and Cons: (0:23​)
Switch ping on the Drop CTRL: (2:08​)
How to fix Switch ping: (3:06​)
 Lubing Switches: (3:25​)
Sound Test, Kailh Box Brown: (4:35​)
Sound Test, Halo Clear: (6:58​)
Should you buy the Drop CTRL: (9:20​)
Outro: (10:18​)

The Drop CTRL is the most well-known mid-level enthusiast keyboard, and although it is a spectacular board, it does have some minor drawbacks to its otherwise stunning composition. In this video, I will give an overview of the board, mod the keyboard with different key switches, try out some different keycap profiles, and then give you a sound test of each setup, before and after. 
This keyboard features Hot-swap sockets, dual USB C input, RGB, QMK support, PBT shine through keycaps, and custom switches with a form of fiber optics they call “light pipes” to increase light transfer through to the keycaps. These RGB friendly switches are only available on Drop.com 

The RGB has many built in lighting modes, and the SMD LEDs are sunken below the PCB to increase switch compatibility, one feature that cheaper boards, like the royal kludge RK68, often overlook. But one feature the cheap RK68 has that this PCB doesn’t have is 5 pin support.  Furthermore, at the 200$ price point, I can gripe that the lighting strip looks atrocious with poorly diffused light. The black finish is great, but attracts fingerprints. 

The board is well constructed, and feels very sleek. But It doesn’t come with a wrist rest.
I also feel that at this price point, there should either be built in macro support, or support other than QMK that makes programming the keyboard a little easier.

 I don’t want to lie: Overall, I am very impressed, but these facts beg to question: With boards that have more features, like the Everest Max, with a detachable number pad, and media dock, and boards, like the GMMK TKL, that have many of the same features at less than half the price, why get this particular board? I have one answer: The one feature that the majority of competing boards don’t have: The case is 100% solid aluminum, not just the top plate. 

But this combination of a solid case and the stiff switches attributed to the most annoying problem that I have ever had with a keyboard: Switch ping.

 Because the other switches were sold out, this board originally shipped with 65g Halo clears, which had an unbearable amount of spring ping and a high actuation force. Here is what it sounded like:
The harmonics from the case allowed for neighboring springs to resonate, which you will be able to hear from the sound tests of the Halo Clear. 

I’ll share with you a secret: the best way of eliminating switch ping isn’t greasing your springs, it is using softer springs. 

So, I ordered some 45g Gold-Plated springs, to replace the stiff steel ones.

Because I couldn’t stand the constant sound of a tuning fork while I waited for the new ones to arrive, I swapped in some Kailh box browns. 

Lubing the box switches was a little annoying because the stems are oddly shaped, and the top housings have integrated sliders that are hard to align.

 I Clipped, band-aid modded, and lubed the plate mounted stabilizers, and put it all back into the board.

When the gold-plated 45g springs arrived, I began to lube, spring swap, and reassemble the halo clear switches. I am really happy with how much better the Halo clears feel and sound, as there is no more spring ping, more tactility, and an unrivaled smoothness now that they are lubed with Krytox 205g0. Use the link and coupon code down below for 5% off at keyboardlube.com. 
Do I feel that this keyboard can be improved? yes. 

despite the small gripes that I have with this keyboard, the overall construction, feel, and sound of it in the long run is unparalleled, and I can overlook many of the missing features that other boards have when I have ways around them. 

Affiliate Links: (These links support the channel financially)

LINK TO DROP.COM
https://drop.com/?referer=NLYDWP​

Keyboard can also be bought on amazon:
https://amzn.to/3fvN5T8

Item list:

Krytox 205g0:

5% off COUPON CODE: JOELCOLLINS
https://keyboardlube.com/?ref=joelcol...​

KBDFans lube tools:
https://kbdfans.com/collections/lube-...​ 

KBDFans lube station:
https://kbdfans.com/products/kbdfans-...​ 

typing test website:
https://monkeytype.com/​


Recording peripherals! 
---------------------------------------

Canon 80D:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...​ 

Blue Yeti:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...​


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