Lighting and Performance

The Ducky ProjectD Tinker 75 supports NKRO out of the box, which tested successfully using Aqua's test. No key chatter was detected on all the keys using Switch Hitter. The image above also shows what the base layer on the keyboard is programmed to as far as dedicated keys go. As with most keyboards these days, there is no right Windows key, as it has been substituted by an Fn key here which is more useful since you can use the Fn layer for a lot of things such as volume and media playback controls, shortcuts to commonly used programs etc. This is again where VIA helps and you can easily set up different layers to even be game- or program-specific profiles.


Given this keyboard has opaque keycaps on the pre-built version, there's not a bright light show to expect or any backlighting of the legends. The RGB LEDs end up doing accent lighting only thus and seen above are some of the pre-programmed effects available. We have good control over not only brightness steps but also many static, dynamic, and reactive lighting effects to choose from and customize. Interestingly, VIA has got to the point where you already have a lot of good lighting effects to choose from without necessarily having to go with more niche solutions and many of these are also better programmed than on some OEM software solutions I've seen used on keyboards as recently as 2023.


The newer Cherry MX2A switches are functionally no different from their direct predecessors. This is to say that the MX2A Speed Silver has the same rated performance specifications as the MX Speed (Silver) switch. It's a "fast" switch in that the shorter actuation distance of 1.2 mm—compared to the usual 2.0 mm—can result in the keystroke and programmed action appearing sooner than a standard switch. But there are still a lot of other variables involved in the overall process and not everyone needs such a switch, let alone benefits from it. In fact, if you are prone to trigger typing or have a heavy hand then you might end up having unnecessary mistakes or multiple taps inadvertently, especially given this is still a medium force switch with rated actuation force of 45 cN. You are also likely to bottom out given the shorter travel distance of 3.4 mm compared to the usual 4.0 mm and this is a linear switch without any tactile bump to help train you against it either. Let's say then that this is a switch that can be handy for gaming, especially for rhythm games such as Osu. The newer iteration is certainly smoother to use given the pre-lubed stem and spring but otherwise I felt the MX2A Red was a better example of the newer lineup.


As always, the sound of a keyboard is based on more than just the switch type. So when comparing sound clips, consider the keyboard as a whole. In this case, I have provided above an example sound clip of me typing on the Ducky ProjectD Tinker 75 keyboard sample at ~95 WPM as it comes out of the box with the Cherry MX2A Speed Silver switches. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with linear switches. I did bottom out here and it helps test the effectiveness of the gasket mount used here as well as the various dampening sheets used between the plate and PCB as well as between the PCB and the case. These all come together to ensure there are no reverberations or pinging off the plate, but it's still a fairly high-pitched sound and this can be at least partly attributed to the switches themselves. Not the quietest keyboard on the market!