Lighting and Performance

The Montech MKey TKL 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 far more important. As mentioned before, this is a TKL form factor keyboard but omits Print Screen, Scroll Lock, and Pause/Break.


Those three keys are replaced by indicator LEDs as well as a multi-functional rotary knob that has three operating modes—zooming in and out, volume adjustment, and RGB mode switching. Pushing down on the wheel to change the mode already makes it a more useful tool than the usual volume wheel found on keyboards. Montech has also added in a lighting ring around the knob at the bottom which it has applied a patent for with the justification being that it helps show the current mode. This explains all those LEDs on the PCB around the wheel encoder we saw on page four.


Given this keyboard has opaque keycaps on the pre-assembled 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. Montech provides both onboard and software control over all these LEDs in the form of not only brightness steps but also many static, dynamic, and reactive lighting effects to choose from. The light ring around the knob is also nice, it reminded me of what FiiO has been doing on its recent desktop DAC/amps. It's also easy to use the wheel to quickly go between the various lighting effects and then use the software drivers for finer control. For what it's worth, the combination of the new G Pro 2.0 switches with the integrated light condenser as well as the white plate makes makes this still among the brighter lit keyboards—at least on the Freedom color version with its lighter colors.


I mentioned before how the Montech MKey TKL comes with the option of three Gateron G Pro 2.0 switches and I have the G Pro 2.0 Brown switch on my sample. This is a tactile switch that Gateron says has an upgraded mold compared to the previous G Pro version, in addition to the light condenser, and Gateron also claims the self-lubricating design has reduced spring noise and less stem wobbliness as well as that its anti-oxidation alloy contacts help with a longer switch lifespan. In practice, this is quite similar to the Cherry MX Brown down to the rated 55 gf actuation force at 2 mm travel and a tactile bump that arises earlier than actuation—not that it really matters as you are guaranteed to actuate once you hit the bump. It is a better tactile switch compared to the MX Brown though—in pretty much everything—and I really could not discern the difference between this and the older Gateron Brown (not even G Pro Brown) in a blind test. I'd say this switch version is best as an all-rounder for working and gaming alike given the other two switch options are both linear and also lighter.


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 Montech MKey TKL keyboard sample at ~105 WPM as it comes out of the box with the Gateron G Pro 2.0 Brown switches. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with tactile 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, although the steel plate composition still makes for a harder impact sound compared to, say, a polycarbonate/brass/FR4 plate. The combination of the thick PBT keycaps and case in addition to the pre-lubed switches and stabilizers also help make the overall sound somewhat crisp and this can be a quiet typing experience should you get used to touch typing without bottoming out.