Alu vs Brass vs FR4 vs POM vs Polycarbonate Plate (Tactile)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:00 - Intro
0:45 - Mode Signal tactile switches
1:13 - Test setup
1:19 - Plate comparison sound tests
4:42 - My thoughts on plate preferences
6:50 - Conclusion and outro
Mode Designs - modedesigns.com/haurjie
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ABOUT THIS VIDEO
Part 2 out of 2 videos. Using the Mode Eighty TKL hot swappable keyboard for comparing different plates using the Mode Signal tactile switches. I will be discussing the feel and sounds using my own personal experience. Please note that everyone’s experience and preferences will be different.
Comparisons include - FR4 plate vs POM plate vs PC plate vs brass plate vs aluminum plate.
DISCLAIMER
This video description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links to shop, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows me to continue making videos like this. This video was also made intentionally for viewers of ages 13 and older. Thank you so much the support!

[@alexonstott4954]

Almost a year old now, and still a very useful video. Impressive amount of work to put this together

[@justinhille8151]

This is so impressive! I haven't been able to find such well-thought-out comparison videos anywhere else!

[@TheFutura8888]

Just came across this comparison, really useful, thanks for taking the time to setup all of these configurations

[@simonegalelli2440]

very simple , and yet a very professional video, thanks for your thoughts on the plates , really helped in getting a decision

[@lt3997]

I just got into this hobby, your videos are gold. thank you for taking the time out and doing these.

[@fragile784]

best plate comp vid i’ve watched. learned a ton

[@bodabodaguy3193]

hey man thanks for this! I'm loving the fr4, I'm actually back into this hobby, got some bubba u4t silent tactile switches like nearly 3 years ago, and finally I decided to make a new build. so this vid has helped me a lot! cheers!

[@Linc-77]

Poms and tactile hits different! thank you for sharing your research. :D

[@bobbyhutter5654]

god DAMN IT do i ever regret getting into this hobby - i remember when i could make decisions. those were good times. However, because of your hard work and thorough documentation of these varying materials - i can now confidently say FR4 is my favorite; something i wasn't able to say before I had watched. im very appreciative of your scientific approach and i thank you for having done all this hard work for all of us.

[@JustinHernandezkhz]

Nice! Appreciate you doing the hard work and documenting it in high quality. I just put the FR4 plate and V3 Everglide Water Kings in my Eighty and I’m pretty happy, it feels and sounds the best to me. Switched from the aluminum plate with Signals.

[@haurjie]

I heard good stuff about Everglides. Which ones you recommend? Do they have more than one type of switch?

[@radicallad]

This is really thorough and I appreciate your effort!

[@haurjie]

Thank you so much!!

[@jdbaker82]

These videos were amazing thank you I feel the same way!

[@neiylaQQ]

From the bottom of my heart I appreciate your honesty of not being able to tell exactly which plate is which by sound. I was starting to think that there was something wrong with me :D

[@haurjie]

Oh trust me, majority of the world can't... At least not without a decent amount of time spent training your ears by watching and listening to a bunch of sound tests or trying by first hand experience lol.

[@mrjohnjones]

These are great comparisons. I appreciate them a lot. If you'd do a sound test similar to this in the future, I would suggest using a metronome to match the speed you're pressing the buttons across different video cuts.

[@haurjie]

I've realized that lately, I need to match my patterns

[@mrperlai]

Great video! Thanks for putting in the work. I'm like you, more able to distinguish by feel than sound. I spent too much time at concerts I guess (but will end up saving hundreds of dollars on audiophile equipment). Maybe with time I'll begin to pick up on the nuanced differences. As for feel, I've yet to try FR4 or POM (though I have both on the way). So far I don't dislike PC's relative flex. It's an interesting experience using really tactile switches on it (Holy Bobas). Maybe I'll like PC less with linears. Anyway, like you, still a lot of experimentation to be done. Cheers!

[@TriggerBotted]

3:59 - Aluminum 4:08 - Brass 4:17 - FR4 4:25 - Polycarbonate 4:34 - Pom (For quick sound comparions)

[@swisher5950]

Nice video like always!

[@haurjie]

Thanks swisher!

[@clydegriffiths4085]

Very useful, thank you

[@Arguing101]

Awesome video. Straight to the point, great methodology, and not afraid to diverge from the mass opinion of how plates make a drastic sound difference. Also cool to see someone have the same unorthodox right hand typing style. IDK when but I stopped using my thumbs for spacebar and shifted to using my index finger

[@haurjie]

Someone pointed out my typing style and I've been trying to correct it. I know it's not proper, but after a few months of trying to type "properly", I'm done. I been typing with index hitting space since forever... habit is burnt in lolol

[@Arguing101]

@@haurjie ironically I'm pretty sure I started hitting space with index finger after spending a week trying to change to correct home row. It just feels more ergonomic having my hand angled I will say my WPM went from 110 to 130 when i started doing index finger space bar 😂

[@JL-fh4qw]

Brass seems to boost both low and high end simultaneously, FR4 is similar but less high end and more midrange. POM and Polycarbonate are very similar, not much midrange or top end, maybe low midrange and lower end but at the same time you can't say it's thockier than FR4, a lil more muted. Aluminium has a little scratchiness to it despite it also adding some low midrange, which makes me think it boosts a bit of some very high frequencies above brass even though it's not a clacky sound.

[@raymondmichalak1026]

Personally I don’t like how brass feels it’s too stiff. I don’t think high end is the right word to describe it. It’s just different.

[@mk177]

@@raymondmichalak1026 brass is very stiff and feels scratchy to me

[@durian1600]

@@raymondmichalak1026 they meant high end as in high pitched frequencies

[@durian1600]

@@raymondmichalak1026 they meant high end as in high pitched frequencies

[@reviewforthetube6485]

I absolutely hate brass in person it's much worse then this video. Pom has the most pop in person. Pc is right there with it and alu is great with Mx blacks or op blacks on this board. Brass is the worse out of the bunch tbh. But then again it's all preference tbh it would of helped if he actually did good with luring the stabs and switches he had so little pop compared to what there should of been and pc/pom with switches that sound unused sound worse when lubed though sound way way better if they were all lubed correctly these plates would of sounded much different I am not trying to be rude but it was horrible lol

[@jeremymusa1544]

Thank you so much for this! Appreciate you man

[@haurjie]

will have a new plates comparison coming out soon! going to include a couple plates that weren't in this line up (copper and carbon fiber)

[@eliasvaly2273]

really nice video! I think I prefer alu and pom for sound. Pom has a more poppy sound

[@MichaelBertolino]

Thank you so much for this! I saw the linear one first and hoped there was a tactile one and I'm so glad there is!

[@haurjie]

I will have another plates comparison video coming up! This time it's for a 65% and it will also include 2 plates that weren't in this lineup. Carbon fiber and copper.

[@MichaelBertolino]

@@haurjie Awesome! I just picked up a Portico over the weekend and am going to be using it with Boba U4 switches! I have a GMMK Pro right now and am using it with a Polycarbonate plate and U4 switches and it's awesome! Definitely excited to get the FR4 plate though, which everyone seems to love!

[@arlokkkk]

Thanks for the video. I wonder what's your favorite switch and plate nowadays. Thanks!

[@gabrielcoqueiro5476]

Nice video my friend, you can solve a lot of doubts that people that want to buy this type of keyboard can have. Thank you.

[@SheGamesAllDay]

Thank you so much for this video, your kinda my inspiration now. I really want to start my KZbin channel up.

[@haurjie]

I'm glad it helped! And starting up is gonna be quite the journey 🙌

[@bengtakevarg]

Great video! For me though it is not all about the sound, its more of tbe feeling combined with longlivety and build quality. Will a pc plate hold up in the long run compared to aluminium for example? After changing the switches a couple of times will the pc plate get worse or is the switches mostly seated on the pcb?

[@robsinHL]

Ironically carbon fiber is my favorite. One for my dz60 from kbd fans and one for my preonic, a PLA / carbon fiber blend that I printed. Stiff but not harsh sounding. Sounds great in aluminum cases.

[@caseykukielski2410]

I currently have a hotswap PCB with FR4 and POM plates. The FR4 is less flexy but to me it feels a little softer and has a better sound profile. I think I'm gonna order a solder PCB and POM or FR4 half plate for more flex. You still think FR4 would be the best half plate option?

[@Indra_Ninja]

Brass has always been my go to but interested to try FR4. It sounds thockier in your sound test!

[@haurjie]

It is thockier

[@Rhoadspc]

Insane amount of behind the scenes on both parts of these comparisons, but it’s valuable to anyone watching. I gotta say Brass and Aluminum take it for me with both types of switches

[@haurjie]

Ill be doing a new plates comparison video with Mode's new 65% keyboard soon. Will include carbon fiber and copper plates

[@bodythetan]

Thanks man, these are awesome videos and I appreciate the effort that went into this. Personally I like Alu a lot and FR4 is great too - the others don't really add much for me but Brass is kinda unique and sometimes you just want that slap, know what I'm sayin'? :D

[@haurjie]

I like brass because it's shiny... 🤣

[@bodythetan]

@@haurjie and it makes the spacebar sound nut

[@haurjie]

@@bodythetan I've also recently learned about certain popular switch and plate combos too. Despite what my preferences are stated in my two videos here, JWK + FR4, Inks on POM being one of those combos, I'll try that one out. I'm definitely going to have multiple keyboards to myself with all these different builds to fully experience them over a long term period and see how it changes my preferences :)

[@kennethfajardo3604]

Hii, did the tactility feel less when you go for a softer plate compared to a stiffer one?

[@muhammadali-io8hl]

I hope you or anyone could reply, im actually using a keyboard with full plastic build and im hoping to switch the pcb plate if i switch it with aluminium would it be safe ? And what would be better aluminium or acrylic (plexi glass or what ever people call it) the keys are black optical.

[@bernreccion]

Hi! My current keeb has a steel plate(stock) and I'm rocking u4ts in it. I have an option to upgrade my plate to a POM plate only. Would it make a difference in terms of sound and feel? I'm fairly new in the keyboard world. Btw nice comparisons!

[@haurjie]

Yes, steel and POM are basically on the complete opposite ends of the spectrum for both sound and feel. POM is very soft and firm for typing. Steel is solid and can sound high pitched in comparison.

[@davieslm]

Great video and it was very useful in helping me to pick a plate. When the Mode Eighty becomes available to order this month then I am going for all Black with Boba U4T and GMK Wob switches and the FR4 plate. Have you preordered the Mode SixtyFive? If so when what colourway did you pick? Andy Nguyen did some tests with the Mode SixtyFive and brass bottom with tactile switches. The cheaper aluminium bottom sounded much nicer. Does the same apply for the Mode Eighty? I.e. stick with the stock aluminium bottom.

[@haurjie]

I did order the 65. I'm also working with Mode to make some videos for them, one of the videos being a plate comparison like I did here. The main reason why I'm redoing the plate comparison in 65 is to incorporate two plates that weren't available for the 80 back when this was uploaded (copper and carbon fiber). I'll be getting my samples and the 65 this month (in a couple weeks). Stay tuned :)

[@davieslm]

@@haurjie Great! Look forward to your video.

[@wh0tube]

Talk about the law of diminishing returns! Specially, when it comes to the most scarce and valuable of resources, our time!

[@user-qn1zj5bs5p]

i once have the brass plate but the ping noise is really awful even with plate and pcb foam , after change to PC everything goes really well .

[@vaxtrixradicalbro4295]

How did you get any other material for the plate besides alu? I checked mode's website and I couldn't find it. Is this something you got that was made by another creator or was this some sort of group buy for the Eighty that I might have missed? EDIT: Nevermind, I've found it but I'm disappointed to find that these other material options are only available for the solderable plate. I plan to get a hotswap pcb but now knowing this I'm not so sure anymore. Do you think that the solder plates will work on a hotswap pcb?

[@haurjie]

You are correct, the plates are for the solderable PCB. But I used these with the hotswap as well and they are compatible

[@vaxtrixradicalbro4295]

@@haurjie ah ok. So i wouldn’t run into any major problems mixing the solder and hotswap plates then. Thanks

[@sprazer]

When you say the POM is too soft, can you elaborate how you not enjoying it? I just bought the Keychron V1 and then I just learned about the gasket mount and I am thinking about investing money on modifying the board to be gasket like (cutting the standoffs and such) The thing is I have never tried a gasket keyboard and I don't have access to try it out in where I live and I am not sure if I will really like super soft feeling....

[@haurjie]

So plates like POM and PC are softer than the other materials. This video is a bit old and I will say my preferences have changed a bit and I can appreciate POM and PC plates more now, but they still aren't my main preference. To elaborate, I think at the time of doing this video, I just didn't like the installation process of POM and PC plates, switches take a bit more work to fully seat into the plate/PCB stack is all.

[@muCephei_]

I actually like Aluminum sound the most

[@n3lls81]

Thanks for the video, yeah tactile makes the plates sound a bit similar. I prefer brass for sound and feel but then the sound difference for me is minute when I am actually typing normally and not spamming like in youtube sound tests videos.

[@ChickenMcNublets]

Now i'm questioning whether or not i'll prefer the softer typing feel of PC... Guess there's only one way to find out lol. Still really want to try FR4 though.

[@haurjie]

There's no right or wrong. You can always just get the one you want and can always get the other later. Experience is good

[@junchristianalagban5328]

What keycaps is this¿

[@janmichaelsuarez2996]

which plate is more thockier please.

[@jacobcar442]

Love the sound of POM and PC, but hate the soft, bouncy, feel. I probably just stick with brass. Super stiff. and why'll that musical tone isn't as nice as the "thock" is still nice, and feels a 1000x better.

[@helenari9283]

Do you have the link to where you bought the Pom plate???

[@haurjie]

It's on shop.modedesigns.com/collections/eighty

[@xtrasin6659]

Thx for the review! In ur comparison the Pom plate is clacky

[@tombaker2510]

When I built my mode with alum vs FR4 it sounded totally different

[@haurjie]

What did it sound like to you? The differences that is

[@tombaker2510]

@@haurjie The alum plate was definitely a higher pitched sound comapred to the fr4, FR4 is definitely the more thockier sound. I understand you might not like the soft typing feel of the pom and poly but they really do sound different even in your sound test.

[@johnathanchan6590]

Have you tried the pe foam on your mode80?

[@haurjie]

What's the PE foam?

[@johnathanchan6590]

@@haurjie www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/nv4ce4/guide_do_you_like_the_jelly_epoch_sound_but_dont/ read about it here! but keep in mind that as per Mechmerlin, this kind of foam has its risk static issue although i've not heard about it happening to anybody and my friennd has been using it for quite awhile

[@haurjie]

@@johnathanchan6590 I have not used this sort of foam and most likely wouldn't either. If there's a risk for static then I wouldn't throw that in my $900 Mode Eighty lol, even if it hasn't happened to anyone. Besides, I like the way my Mode Eighty sounds with the gaskets that they provided already anyways

[@marcojimenez2369]

Which one has the deepest sound profile?

[@bodythetan]

Sounds like FR4 to my ears

[@riceoverwife]

the scratchiness is probably just the mic tbh

[@15tekkenking]

For thoccc, which would you go for? Fr4 or polycarbonate???

[@haurjie]

I think PC had more "pop", emphasized the sound more

[@15tekkenking]

@@haurjie so if i were to get a plate for thoccc then fr4 would have a deeper sound ???? Btw thanks for the reply i really appreciate it man!

[@haurjie]

@@15tekkenking FR4 seems to be the common vote for deeper sound yeah. But also depends on your switch choice too

[@Dane3412]

aluminum and polycarbonate sound best to my ears

[@mikelim1894]

use your thumb bro!!! thank you for the video :)

[@bateau986]

4:00 and 4:17

[@im_a_blobfish]

You spent way too much effort lol but it helped ty

[@haurjie]

The effort I put into these two videos were necessary for a proper test setup. A lot of the sound test I see other people upload, testing methodology makes no sense lol

[@tejjaskaul5881]

Can you check out the kbd 67 lite r2?

[@haurjie]

I don't have one, if kbdfans decides to hit me up and send me one I would haha. Andy Nguyen also recently put out his review on it, he does a great job!

[@Saddy3441]

why would you use such a quiet board to compare sounds

[@haurjie]

"such a quiet board" is subjective. Mode Eighty is also the only custom keyboard I personally own that has this many plate variations. And it's also a board that was more accessible to the public with a fast delivery time. EDIT: Also, it wouldn't have really mattered if I used some other boards, because each one will sound different regardless. If I did one with a Keycult, RAMA, NK65, Tofu... whatever, people are going to ask for comparison in another board. So I used what I have.

[@Saddy3441]

@@haurjie understandable, but having to put my volume on 100 for both youtube and my pc is hard to hear.

[@haurjie]

@@Saddy3441 Hmm, different sound/listening devices are also factors to consider. What speakers are you using? I have the Creative SoundblasterX Katana soundbar, speakers set to 50% may be too loud for me. Also each person's hearing sensitivity too. You're actually the first person to say this is too quiet lol. Digging through the comments, everyone else seems to hear it fine.

[@Saddy3441]

@@haurjie Wow, i have razer headphones and i can blast it and i can barely hear a difference. Although i definitely prefer hearing the tactiles over linears since the linears are just impossible for me

[@haurjie]

@@Saddy3441 Razer huh. Welp.... I have nothing to say about that 😆. No comments.

[@reviewforthetube6485]

Pom is Def the way lol but man them stabs need some help lol

[@haurjie]

Yea this video back then I barely got into the hobby and didn't know about properly doing stabs haha

[@typhoontenn2034]

4:17 4:35

[@troyc294]

3:59 4:20

[@hong4033]

with how much rattle your stabs have theres no point watching this video.