Build details and written review below

Board: Leopold FC660C (black)
Plate: Steel
Keycaps: Stock (double black)
Switches: 45g Topre (sliders lubed with 105 + 205 mix)
Stabilizers: Stock (lubed with dielectric grease)
Weight: 1.40lbs
Mic: Tonor TC30 on boom stand

Not my first topre board, but my first recorded sound test. I initially got the hhkb, and found I love topre for work (especially silenced), but had to try out a Leopold board as I heard good things about the feel and sound on a stiffer plate. Found it for a decent price online, so went and got it. I also fell in love with the DBOKEY 1-hour sound test on youtube, and could sort of tell the sound would be a bit different, so I drank the kool-aid. And, it's definitely different. I don't know if it has to do with the board being used and/or being 4yrs old already, but these domes feel STIFF compared to my hhkb. I don't necessarily think it's the steel plate, it just feels harder to press. But it also feels significantly more tactile, which is really cool. Topre is true tactility when it comes to keyboards in my opinion, because physically it involves the collapsing of something (rather than mx which is just a bump rubbing up against something). This takes that tactility to another level, it just feels super proper and distinct when you make each keypress. The only complaint I have is that the stiffness is borderline fatiguing for my hands.

This is also my first time trying a 105 + 205 mix; that could be a factor as well, although I doubt it. To me I haven't noticed a significant difference going between 3204, 205g0, and 105 + 205, at least on topre sliders. For my preference, topre should always be lubed. It sounds tighter and smoother to me. Stabs being lubed goes without saying.

I think if you're into topre, you should definitely try a Leopold out. It's a distinctly difference experience from an hhkb, with the build quality to match. I actually don't hate the layout either. I think the dip switch feature is obviously outdated but still cool, and offers some flexibility. Us programmers like to tell ourselves we use hjkl in vim all day, but arrow keys are always gonna be useful and necessary in some cases. Something about topre just makes me feel like a "coder" as cringe as that sounds.

Side note: mini usb is a bit annoying. I get that it's an older board but I might need to get an adapter or something.

Side note 2: This spacebar is so sharp, I was basically forced to flip it. I normally don't, but after a few minutes of typing on it I literally have an indent in my thumb. The keycap profile must be unique.