Geon F1-8X v2 - MX Black HG | sound test + written review

Build details and written review below

Board: Geonworks F1-8x v2 (silver top, gray bottom)
Plate: Aluminum v1.1 full
PCB: Hiney H87nu-H (FR4)
Keycaps: GMK JAGS
Switches: Cherry MX Black Hyperglides w/ 62.5g geon 22m springs (lubed with 205g0), filmed with .15 TX films
Stabilizers: TX, C3 on spacebar (lubed with 205g0)
Misc: Viton gaskets, no foams
Weight: 7.37lbs

Getting this thing to sound the way I wanted was a bit frustrating, mainly because I was looking for a particular sound based on other sound tests but couldn't get mine to match irl. I think tightening the case fully and also breaking in the switches a bit helped, at least to the point where in the sound test it's somewhat comparable. I think if I had a higher fidelity mic it would be pretty close at this point. But irl doesn't sound like online tests, and I guess I should know that being in the hobby for as long as I've been.

Getting the spacebar to sound half decent also took a while. I had to switch from a TX stab to a regular screw-in stab to get it to return relatively smoothly, and even after holee modding, lubing extensively, and balancing the spacebar keycap, it still ticks on the left side. Thankfully I'm a right spacer so I never hear it tick, but I've tinkered with it so much at this point that the only thing left to do is keep switching out stabs until I find one that doesn't tick; might need to look into getting cherry clip-ins in bulk. On top of that, I still have some weird interference/noise coming from the stab that seemingly has no explanation, so idk if this board is cursed or what but I'm done investigating lol. Even now the spacebar doesn't quite match what I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be; it's a bit "thuddy". To me it should be more clean and clear, but it seems to get lost somewhere (similar to the frog tkl).

That all aside, this keyboard in general is a joy to look at and type on. The viton gaskets on the leaf spring give it a subtle bounciness that is hard to explain, but leaves keypresses feeling more responsive, while still not too stiff. As an added note, the 22m single-stage springs by geon are AWESOME and would be in all my builds if I could go back in time. It further adds to the responsiveness and quite literally makes me type more accurately. The top outs feel strong without having to make the spring weight high, and it's *chef's kiss*. The MX blacks give the acoustics a pleasant scratch (in my opinion), and the board overall does well to let the sound shine. Using foams in a board like this would be sacrilegious.

The aesthetics are also top tier, even if they're a bit boring. The anodization quality and machining accuracy are so nice. One word: chamfers. The side profile shows these chamfers off, especially with the two tone top and bottom, and paired with GMK JAGS, aesthetically this is my favorite board. Simple, maybe, but so so clean. The lowered front height is a welcome change from the OG, and coupled with the 9 degree typing angle, it's a pleasure to type on all day, with no fatigue. I also like the 9 degree angle aesthetically; it just looks more proper and pointed towards you while you're using it, if that makes sense.

All in all, this board pretty much lives up to the hype. I'm going to chock up my dissatisfaction with the sound up to skill issue + expecting too much from sound tests vs. reality. Perhaps I'm just not a mx black + alu guy. (Even as I'm typing on this, I feel like I'm hearing the pitch and sound improve. But again I'm probably just going crazy). In this hobby, sound is by far my most important aspect, and this keyboard definitely delivers in that department. Even with my personal qualms, it's miles ahead of most other boards, both in uniqueness and general quality. Aesthetics and weight are the cherry on top, but for me it delivers there as well. Typing feel is also great. Couldn't ask for more from a custom keyboard, and with another unlimited GB coming up, to me it's a no brainer if you're looking for a Korean custom that in many ways has become the backbone of the enthusiast category.

Side note: the up arrow is straight electric, not sure if this is characteristic of all f1's but yeah

Side note 2: I have a strange theory that using a soldered pcb could solve my sound issue