"Project N" custom Kailh BOX Navy keyboard review Wyse (WY-50)

Skip to 13:00 for a typing demonstration.
I present Project N, a Wyse WY-50 decked out with the new Kailh x Novelkeys BOX Navy switches. Hope you enjoy! :)
My other keyboard reviews: bit.ly/1TbOtft
My switch teardown videos: bit.ly/2C1QGHz
I'm Thomas and I do videos and reviews on mechanical keyboards ranging from the most sickening modern RGB gaming keyboards to vintage hardware relics, or sometimes keycaps or keyswitches ranging from Cherry MX to Alps SKCM to IBM buckling springs and anything in between.
Follow me on Twitter for updates on my keyboard videos! / chyrosran22

[@dumdum7786]

The virgin cherry mx brown *The Chad kailh box navy*

[@VBCVeryBigChannel]

MOM ITS NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE Was this supposed to be funny or something? It’s not

[@razgar02]

Hm, I think you should have put the BOX Navies against Cherry MX _Greens_ instead, since those are stiff clicky switches, and can therefore be more comparable to the BOX Navies, while MX Browns are (supposed to be) just regular tactile switches.

[@ITzNybble]

@@razgar02 I use Greens daily and just got some Navies, the tactile bump fatigues my fingers soo much more than the MX Greens, just an FYI for anyone reading. I love the sound of Navies but goodness that tactility is nuts, bone shaking almost

[@sEaNoYeAh]

@@ITzNybble sounds like jades or pale blues might be the better fit for you

[@mikhail6289]

The Chad Zealios V2

[@will_c333]

This guys the Rocket Jumpa Ninja of keyboards

[@fabri1021]

He really is

[@zesky1822]

Need one for headphone.

[@taesung]

@@zesky1822 ZReviews would be right up your alley.

[@titoepfx4272]

only that RJN now sucks now that i learned about mouses more

[@arloschofield5648]

Why do you think he sucks just out of curiosity

[@Boyetto-san]

I just got ahold of BOX Navies for the first time, and after thinking about it some, I thought to myself that probably the reason why BOX clickies work so well is because, like Alps, they separated the element that produces tactility and click from the contacts. The click bar is basically Kailh's version of the click leaf, where Cherry MX insists on keeping the feedback element mated to the contacts. The principle of having a separate feedback-producing element lets these designs more easily modify the magnitude of tactility and loudness than if everything was dependent on the resistance of the contacts to generate their feedback. Kailh did prove with the BOX Royals that its possible to simply stiffen the contact leaves to generate more tactility, but it shows just how switch manufacturers have to sort of reinvent the wheel and discover missing links to the past just to start a new renaissance and pull this hobby out from the Cherry MX dark ages.

[@digitsdigitsdigits808]

And now I want a video on that weird-ass ALPS clone. Basically I love your videos

[@fluffypupper2258]

I'm curious if those are the same red and black Alps clone I have. They feel a lot like what he is describing.

[@enderbrine3000]

Same I also have this keyboard that I did some looking up and was supposedly mx stem alps clone so Im interested if that's the one!!

[@Chyrosran22]

Fluffypupper 22 they might be. Where did you get them?

[@fluffypupper2258]

Chyrosran22 I received them from a switch collector. I believe he was in the UK

[@Chyrosran22]

That'll be Daniel. He's the one that provided me with two as well. I haven't been able to find them back anymore.

[@RazzormanG1]

Holy moly those SA caps sound good.

[@toasty6986]

idk if those are sa..

[@trashmann1081]

@@toasty6986 Either SA dasher or dancer

[@MaxC_1]

@@toasty6986 yes those are SA and yes some of them got damaged by the old non retooled Box stem

[@andrewdias478]

I completely agree with you that there should be a third variant of these with a "medium tactility" option. It would be amazing! Also putting the switches in this chassis was a wyse choice!

[@Chyrosran22]

Andrew Dias I c wot u did thar!

[@TheDarthWTF]

@@Chyrosran22 There is a third option you can get aftermarket clickbars from SpriT Designs as well as springs.

[@JackOfHarts96]

@@TheDarthWTF Yeah but it's a pain to put the click bars back in after you remove them

[@johndeluca8372]

Love how honest and accurate your review videos are. I'm really looking forward to a Nexus slider and top 10 tactile review video.

[@deldarel]

I already came at the perfect pronunciation of 'Utrecht'

[@Chyrosran22]

I ought to, I was born and raised there :p .

[@deldarel]

I thought you were British and only worked here in the Netherlands

[@rich1051414]

You-tri-phlegm.

[@Chyrosran22]

It's the exact opposite!

[@ethanburton9180]

You learn something new and interesting everyday I suppose

[@robr640]

Just got 100 of these bad boys myself today & I agree with everything you've said about them. They feel great & for me at least the weighting is perfect. The sound of them under SA caps was nothing short of heavenly so I will definitely be pairing whatever board I decide to put the Navys in with a SA key set. Great video as usual man!

[@pedromartins4847]

That's actually an amazing clicky sounding switch tbf. Great review, hope to see this switches in a board someday with 60g.

[@karni6045]

well now youve done it, ive been usong gateron greens but ive felt that theyve been missing something and this review sells it to me, heaven here i come

[@ursusminimus981]

i cant stop myself from liking your videos man. please keep it up! great content!

[@jacobcrouse8350]

Those SA caps really do improve the sound. Amazing video, as always.

[@matteroftouch]

Stumbled upon your content while researching for my split planck build aka 2 hoz numpads. You are awesome!

[@Jordan4Ibanez]

Thank you so much for this video, Thomas. This helped me get the perfect christmas present this year!!

[@NintenloupWolfFR]

When you are an asmr lover, seeing that Chyrosran made a new video always makes me happy

[@KS-un4yb]

Nintenloup Wolf (FR) I am both a mechanical keyboard lover and an asmr lover and I feel the same about when he uploads a video!

[@evilsdexter5261]

they are the real deal!!! thanks Chyrosran for these reviews, I've just replaced all my mx brownies crap keys on the K70 RGB with BOX Jades and I'm soooo happy :) (all because you brought these to my attention), although the 3 hour desoldering exercise was not that fun

[@Chyrosran22]

Glad I was of help :) .

[@raulsaavedra709]

Ok only now found this video, and here @7:25 I basically got my answer to the Box Navys compared to Buckling springs and other tactile switches, thanks a lot! Definitely now considering building myself a keyboard with these Box Navys

[@ferongr]

After I saw the original video you made on the Navies, I took a leap of faith and replaced the MX Browns of my QFR-i with them. 6 months later, using the same QFR-i exlusively, I can say that it was worth it. The sound is fantastic, the feel is excellent too and they have given me no problems or sample variation. This switch is a real winner.

[@soapboi5420]

How heavy are they compared to a model m?

[@ferongr]

I haven't compared them side by side but I'd say during depression very similar but during the return stroke the Box Navy has a lot more pronounced tactility.

[@daleborge]

Great work. Love the new switches testing - more more please 😁😁😁

[@Markel_A]

Damn! I've been looking forward to your video on these and I was not dissapointed! I was immediately interested when I heard of these as I love sharp tactility and I wanted some stiffer switches as I find the standard ~50G weighting of blues/reds/browns and other common switches too light for me which causes me to accidentally actuate keys and mess up my typing accuracy. I've tried MX Blacks and Clears and quite liked the heavier weighting but I'm partial to clicky switches so these were super interesting to me. I've already ordered a set of Box Navies and DSA keycaps (I want to be able to rearrange my caps to be dvorak without fucking up the profile so it had to be DSA) and I can't wait to try them out! Anyway, thanks for the video! I definetely agree that Novelkeys and Kailh have a cool thing going right now and I'd love to see it progress some more. Personally I'd love to see some non-clicky tactile switches with as sharp tactile bumps as these Box Navy switches for use at work. 2018 is already turning out to be a pretty cool year for mech keyboards!

[@kristjanarnarsson3592]

FINAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLYY! THANK YOU CHRYO! Love your vids btw

[@Spearra]

I can confirm that the BOX Navies works with the "Drakken Technologies Prothero Spektrum". If you want a switch-modular keyboard that has a chassis to speak of, there yall go. Please bare in mind, the chassis is abnormally thick all around, including vertically. As for weight, it is slightly lower than a Unicomp EnduraPro. Flex is minimum. So its much better durability wise than those open keycap designs that virtually everyone (relevant) is doing. Its around $79.99 (US) on Amazon (US). Due to the overall weight and the borderline unnecessarily thick bezels/chassis, the BOX Navies sound great! The larger keys have some loosely fitted stabilizers though. Luckily those replacement ones from Novelkeys apparently work with the Drakken. PS: Thank you Chyros for brining the BOX switch designs up. I'd never have known they existed since everywhere else outside the keyboard community is Cherry MX this, and that. Razer this, Corsair that, etc. Though the Drakken keyboard was a hail-marry on my part since there's not a whole lot of information on it! Only a few Amazon reviews praise the abnormal build quality. I thought they were just exaggerating. Now if you ever get the chance, those Holy Panda switches sound like they have a interestingly rounded tactile curve going on. Kind of like a Topre board almost. It seems to be Massdrop only though.

[@stiky5972]

I'm watching this, without even knowing sheet about switches and I'm still enjoying it

[@jannis8218]

Would you mind uploading a typing demonstration with SA caps?

[@Chyrosran22]

Not at all! Give me a couple of days to whip one up.

[@FilthPiston]

Chyrosran22 I'm excited for this!

[@jannis8218]

Thanks a lot!

[@PhilipAlexanderHassialis]

Yes please!!!!1111onefuckingtrillionandonehundredandone

[@bbbb-mj7hd]

Nice!

[@Veezyjung]

I actually bought a GMMK TKL barebones board and put Kailh Box Navy switches and I absolutely love it. It's the best mechanical keyboard I've ever had. Going from MX Blue switches to Kailh Box Navy is a night and day difference. I like MX Blues, but they don't hold a candle to these switches. Now my entire apartment building can hear me clack away at my keyboard.

[@duraiden]

These just came back in stock and I scooped up a bunch of 'em. Super excited to get them in a board. Filco in a Vortex case + SA keycaps, perhaps?

[@Chokkan]

That legit Jade switch.

[@rstysound]

Am I the only one who loses his shit every time he swears? It's hysterical, it's like if you were listening to David Attenborough and he's just like "this bird, is a special kind of fucking stupid" without missing a beat haha!

[@radacious29]

Well this is interesting. I no joke have a Wyse-50 and have been planning to convert it and put BOX Navys in it. Guess I won't be the first anymore.

[@mickharrigan1814]

You're welcome for that one kek

[@bbbb-mj7hd]

Great review! Do yo prefer these to zeliostoteles? I already own a set of navies, and been contemplating whether it is worth it to also track down some aristoteles as well to make the mod.

[@ZanderLexx]

I was waiting for this video :) oh boy !

[@worldhello1234]

@3:36 Exactly, touch typing liberates you from foreign layouts. E. g. I use an European ANSI layout with ISO profile. The enter key is easier to reach and the "#" is just above it and I can use ASCII code to emulate the missing "" keys.

[@kriskiireonsitakschill1732]

What do you think are the best kailh switches for gaming? If reds are num 1 can you tell me what number 2 would be

[@ashleycharlesworth8358]

Good Video, Excited to try these!

[@piter4595]

Heya chyrosran, i have a question. I'm interested in buying some Kailh box switches, but I'm still split on box white or box jades. After seeing this video describing the jade's as sticky sometimes, would it be wise to opt for box whites instead? I do a lot of gaming and I'd be disappointed if the jades don't preform well under Extreme Heavy Gaming Sessions. Cheers

[@GeekLevelAsian]

I know you love the deep thick sounds of switches as do I. I recently purchased the MT3 profile switches. How do you feel those compare with SA?

[@MisterCOM]

Whait could you mod the low profile switches with the thicker clicker

[@emmanuelgharehbekloo5168]

can I get a link to the video reviewing the Wyse keyboards itself?

[@YFChan-bv1ie]

what is your opinion on split designs like the ergodox keyboard do they type or play games well after some learning?

[@topiary4669]

I got a kailh sample pack and the are now my favorite switches ever. I've had the same exact problem with the jades to unfortunately

[@GuitaristZep]

I love the cursing with that National Geographic narrator kind of voice lol

[@dhowser2008]

I would love to know what things you needed to modify to get the switches in place, or was it just a straight swap. Also i see in your other video that you have blue keys, would love to know where you got those too. The Wyse 50 keyboard is cheap compared to the IBM M model keyboards that I might have a good at this. :) Oh and you mentioned there was another guy who modded the cable to USB can you link his info?

[@Sketcher0204]

Are there any MX-compatible switches with the same tactility and weight of BOX Navy but without the click?

I freakin love these switches. I really have to get a wooden board with SA keycaps, to get even better sound out of them.

[@owlstead]

Strange question maybe, but how much feedback will they give on the upstroke? Will there be a tactile bump for that as well? You seem to suggest so because you've stated the problem between the return force and the tactile bump for these switches. Are there any tactile switches that only provide the tactility on the downstroke?

[@kjao3734]

is it actually possible to change the layout of this keyboard with the teensy?

[@TinLethax]

did you use soarer's converter? .It can replace with arduino pro micro.

[@ringsystemmusic]

What were the "yarn traps" and "ack" buttons for, if you know?

[@MrBlitzpunk]

Can you link the websites where you get these force curves from?

[@Spearra]

If you replaced the spring(s) with 150 gram springs in any of these K. Box switches, (should you wish to do so), would it still work as intended/reliably?

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

why is there not a self contained 1 key buckling spring keyboard that can be mounted as a switch on modern switchpanels?

[@IIIJFRIII]

That was good man. Thanks for the video!

[@Chyrosran22]

IIIJFRIII glad you enjoyed it :) .

[@Zillamp3z]

Hey Chyros, if I have a Model F, is there any point in getting these switches? All click switches feel shit because I'm spoilt with my ANSI Model F AT. These are very intriguing though. Thank you :)

[@greatjojek]

The waveform for Box Navy you showed in Audacity has been clipped and then reduced in gain. Not sure if that's intentional.

[@solidstate90]

Recently i acquired an Altos IV terminal keyboard which i learned is a re-branded Wyse keyboard w/ Black Cherry switches. Same layout as this board but all of the modifier, function, arrows, & some of the num pad caps are brown its a pretty slick looking unit. It uses a 4P4C telephone style connector instead of the 10 pin din hopefully i can get a Wyse converter to work with it, if anybody has any help or info it would be greatly appreciated.

[@noircat]

Perhaps a .275 mm click bar right in between the white and navy box switches could be just right? Makes me wonder what color this variation would end up being...

[@dripson6824]

i know i'm late to the party, but how much louder is the navy to the whites?

[@leepicfortnitefunniesxdfun4655]

How many grams of force to actuation is “medium”? Would 65 gram springs work?

[@protocetid]

What's your opinion on modular keyboards? Have heard several wear out after not many switch changes, but the Glorious Modular Mechanical Keyboard seems to be of higher quality. Strange they haven't caught on, their type is a strong contender for an end game KB no?

[@Cyortonic]

Found the switches to mod my K95 with. Brown switches feel so unappealing after using buckling springs

[@ZlueTheDragon]

Where do you get your force curves?

[@OliverMooney]

These switches sound so good but I tend to favour lighter switches. I was wondering though, do heavier keycaps make the switch presses lighter? Ddid those SA keycaps make the switches feel a little lighter to type on?

[@mattcrowley8993]

Will you review the new low profile Cherry MX switches when they are released mainstream? You should research them if you haven’t heard about it.

[@Ljrod95]

the loud clicky sound comes from the click bar bouncing back and stricking the plastic right? So could it be silenced a bit by adding some dampening material where the click bar strikes the plastic?

[@Chyrosran22]

From what I've gathered, tryouts on this have been not great.

[@bluelightningfilms57]

Would these be tactile, or clicky?

[@logansorenssen]

Now I wanna find one of those rare Sun Type 5s with MX Black and swap those out for some of these, see how they stack up to my IBM and Matias daily drivers.

[@Zytyx13]

I wonder how they compare to pandastotles, given my current daily driver's 100g

[@seralikethecar]

I've read that these are the "MX-compatible version of buckling springs." Thoughts on this?? Also, do you prefer these over zeliostotles??

[@vpr0]

I like tactile switches like Durock T1 and I thought I would like jades, but they are too heavy for me. It feels terrible to have to push through the huge bump

[@christophertaylor8166]

It's interesting to me that you ran into issue (or didn't) with the modded-to-be-Jades switches on some examples, but not on others. I ordered a full hundred of them for my current keyboard, and have been using them for over a month now, and I can't find any difference between any of the switches. I heavy-modded the six switches I used on the stabilized keys just in case, but I really haven't seen any difference between any of the stock Jades. I absolutely *did* see issues with the switches returning when I put them into a switch tester I have, which grips the switch housings more tightly than my plate, but that was the only thing I could do that seemed to affect them, and it had the same effect on the heavy-modded switches (for which I used BOX Dark Yellow springs, which are even heavier than Navy springs). I wonder if some of the inconsistency you saw could be down to the opening up of the switch in addition to the fact that, as you stated, the Jades are right on the ragged edge as far as being able to return. Either way, great video! I think you're spot on that it would be interesting to see some intermediate click bars. Maybe Jades should be using .29mm to be a bit safer, or we could even see something like a .27 with 45g springs. The category has a lot of potential, to be sure.

[@plazasta]

those weird ALPS clones have just gone #1 on the list of switches that fascinate me. I MUST KNOW MORE ABOUT THEM!

[@maidpretty]

Well, after quite a time testing switch samples I had at at time, I got white BOX switches and made my first compact DIY-keyboard with them. And with proper thick PBT keycaps, heavy mounting plate and sound absorbing pads on the bottom the high-pitch part of the spectrum is gone, they sound better. For my next keyboard I would like something more tactile, but not as heavy and loud as BOX Navy and with actuation point right on the bump slope down, I wonder if there will be switches like that. Thanks for your videos, man!

[@nerdyneedsalife8315]

I think box light blues are more tactile than white but less tactile than navy.

[@alexanderkurokawa8834]

Seems like box pink switches are your best bet.

[@Sovek86]

I just bought some stock Kailh navy switches straight from china. Just installed them yesterday and my lord, where has this keyboard been my entire life? I primarily game however since I dont have fast reflexes, I just wouldnt get the same benefit from linear switches, and standard blues are too easy to accidently press switches. These? I love the stiff press, and the sound is amazing. Some dont like the clicky switches but I love it.

[@ChrisEveleyTheReal]

I thought it'd cost over $300 to deck out a board with BOX Navies but then I saw that they come in packs of ten... _phew_

[@karellen00]

Luckily with the re-flourishing of mechanical keyboards market we have some rather good innovations that bring the industry standard cherry style switch closer to what was possible with the wide variety of switches available yesterday. But I still feel bad thinking of what could have been if the market would have chosen alps instead of cherry, and all the innovating companies like kailh, novelkeys, input club and so on would have put their efforts on alps style switches...

[@Chyrosran22]

Marco Toselli yes, I agree. Who knows, we might get a renaissance of sorts at some point!

[@Ucceah]

where can i get that cheap alps clone? i have strong hands.

[@Sparkkoz]

I still don`t think it they can dethrone my current daily driver. I love my Model F XT to death. It's incredibly crisp, not too heavy, and not too light. I've even grown to love the heavy space bar since I like to smash down on it. Everything about this thing is extremely satisfying.

[@NunkaOlvidar]

Hope they made one with guide pins for PCB mounts keyboards, like my lovely G80-1000 Nixdorf Computer version.

[@Boyetto-san]

I only noticed now, but the click bar mechanism makes a click both on the down and upstroke. Would you say that's a good thing that each key clicks twice per press?

[@Chyrosran22]

Some people mind it, others don't. I don't mind, myself.

[@donkey3454]

What are SA keycaps?

[@abastien2908]

how did you get so into keyboards

[@dreamstate01]

I still have a bag of Kailh Bronze switches with pink sliders, I'm thinking the Tada68, or just a 60%

[@TommyFenstermacher5150]

Hey Chyros, do you have anything to say about the recent findings with BOX switches ruining keycap stems? I don't want to detract from how nice these switches feel--they're a joy to type on. That said, seeing that you used thin ABS doubleshots on the Navies, can you observe any damage now that they've possibly been there for months? Specifically, I'm talking about stress marks or cracks on the stems.

[@Chyrosran22]

Yes, and in fact I showed them in my BOX Royals video!

[@FindecanorNotGmail]

Hmm.. The waveforms look compressed... Might not be, but are you sure they are not?

[@NeonSonOfXenon]

The box navy switches are my favorite for typing. Closest I can get to the heavy tactility of the alps switches on Dell AT101 keyboards, and honestly I think I like them a bit more

[@notnubilous3804]

Honestly combined with a steel plate and SA caps it truly gives me that mid 80s true heavy typing feel. I love em so much

[@ethanoux10]

Kinda late comment but the Jade switches have 65g springs vs the 55g of the whites

[@SicSemperBeats]

since we're talking about heavy switches whats your opinion on Mx Clears, ive been using clears on a ducky mini for a while, but I just got a hhkb custom with 78g zealous and the bump is so much more tight on those compared to the clears, but I do really appreciate the weight of the clears

[@Chyrosran22]

Sic Semper Beats I have a Clears review planned for the far future. Not a huge fan tbh.

[@kevadu]

I haven't been able to actuate any of my Box whites before the click either, and I have deliberately tried to do so. I got them more recently than your video on them though so maybe that's something they fixed in a later revision?

[@karellen00]

I tried now on my keyboard (two months old switches, box white obviously), and if I push the top of the key, pushing also forward, I can make them click without actuate! On the contrary if i slowly press the keys pulling the keycap towards me I can make the switch register the press without click, but it's a lot more difficult, I managed to do it only with the left and right arrows that I can grasp between two fingers. Anyway in the real world it has never been a problem, and I usually don't even bottom out while typing.

[@MoonNewin]

HEllo~ Does the navy wobble?

[@gbaysinger]

You are the Barry White of keyboard reviews. 11:07 ... yeah. Never change.

[@BareSphereMass]

Why not learn to touch type? 10FastFingers and Keybr.com are the two web sights I use to get faster.

[@nug511]

Kailh sample pack from novelkeys teardown video plz

[@MegaRotors]

I'm typing on jades right now and I haven't had any problems except for the actuation being a little early, so I don't get the click before the keyboard sends the character.

[@emirkoc1544]

Yooo ur accent is like ur native from an english speaking country!! Goeie video trouwens, lekker man!

[@Michael-Hammerschmidt]

11:07 You're welcome.

[@dreamstate01]

Hey, in your opinion, what are your favorite clicky and tactile switches, where do these place? What are your favorite switches (that are currently in production) for the sound? How about for the feel of the switch? How do they compare to Matias Click? What are your favorite keycaps (material and profile)? Thick ABS are good for sound? Where's a good compromise between the amazing feeling of thicc PBT and the lovely waking up my neighbors sound of thick ABS? SA caps are the absolute best? SA is pretty expensive, but I could get them if they're really all that. How does SA compare to DSA? I heard that you can't really find SA in PBT, is that real, or just false?

[@gearsgamer7115]

He likes Alps blue. The best sounding and almost perfect feeling clickies out there

[@aluxannar]

Please try to lube the stabs in your custom projects because the sound of spacebar really destroys the sound test!

[@Jekkin]

Just ordered these for my barebones GMMK kit, and I plan on using SA caps with them. Can't wait.

[@pettttson]

It's 3 weeks later, have you started using 'em? If that's the case, how are they like? I'm also interested in buying these!

[@Jekkin]

@@pettttson Yes, they're absolutely fantastic so far, and they are LOUD. I love it.

[@pettttson]

@@Jekkin sounds sweet! I'm very sceptical of Jades due to the sticking issue but is the weighting ok on these?

[@Jekkin]

@@pettttson Yes the weighting is perfectly fine, but it's possible for these switches to bind just a little bit if I press on the corner of the keycap and push down away from the center of the switch. That could also be due to the size of the caps I'm using. All in all, it's a great typing experience. I'm quite fond of heavier switches as I used to play piano so I have stronk fingers.

[@MyReviews_karkan]

Two years later, do you still use them? I just ordered mine and getting them soon.

[@user-md3is4dq2d]

Love the intro