Way before mechanical keyboard makers started packing layers of sound dampening foam into their boards, Japanese firms Topre and PFU were building expensive, whisper-quiet keyboards using a unique electro-capacitive switch for a cloud-like typing feel.

These models stood out against the growing sea of Cherry MX derived mechanicals, and attained a legendary status in the enthusiast community - particularly the expensive Topre Realforce, which was notably described by computer mag Micro Mart as the "Aston Martin of keyboards". It's a keyboard that I've longed to own for years, but outside of flying to Japan or getting lucky on Ebay, it just wasn't going to happen.

One day in December 2022, knee deep in a dissertation on German history, I just thought I'd have a look - and to my surprise, a Topre Realforce R2 PFU Limited Edition had come up for sale from a seller who seemed to specialise in old Fujitsu kit. I snapped at the chance, picking it up without really taking note of how much I'd spent, like it was the Infinity Gauntlet or the Ark of the Covenant. The box arrived in tatters, but the keyboard inside? Pristine.

So what makes the electro-capacitive switches inside the Realforce so treasured? In basic terms, under each key is a conical spring that sits inside a rubber dome, with a sensor beneath the spring that can tell when it's been compressed as it forms an electrical circuit. Combine the soft feel of a rubber dome and the tactile snap of the spring, and you have a keyboard that feels entirely different to both old-school rubber dome keyboards and modern mechanicals.

This particular "PFU Limited Edition" model is also superbly quiet, with 45g silenced switches, which makes it ideal for not annoying anyone else within earshot, and comes with adjustable actuation points - so you can choose how far down a key has to be pressed before it's registered. It's not as feature-rich as modern rapid trigger magnetic switch keyboards, but it still allows a meaningful amount of adjustment.

Elsewhere this is just a high-quality, thoughtfully constructed bit of industrial design. The case of the Realforce might be plastic, but there's no deck flex whatsoever, and all of its fixtures and fittings are also well-appointed. This goes for its wonderful dye-sub PBT keycaps that are smooth and durable under finger, as well as its full complement of keys with number pad, arrow keys and more besides. There are adjustable feet on the underside and handy cable channels, too.

So, how much did I pay for it, and is it really worth it? Get your answers in now, and try to avoid flicking your eyes to the next paragraph...

For my Realforce, I paid £175 - or around $235, so a little under the normal $300 retail price. That's still a huge amount of money, especially considering what many of the best mechanical keyboards offer for a similar price - stuff like a metal chassis, wireless connectivity, sound dampening foam, hot-swap switches and plenty of software customisability. All of these have become almost table stakes in the boutique mechanical keyboard space, and it's been a long time since 'just' a top-class keyboard on its own would be worth that asking price.

I think of other brands such as Filco when I use the Realforce, because it's much the same argument. Brands such as Filco and Topre have stuck with a tried-and-tested formula in offering quality products that come as is. For years, this was perfectly fine, as that's what top-end users demanded from mechanical keyboards. However, even in the last few years, the industry has shifted rapidly towards more of everything - materials, features, colourways, design flourishes, software, emerging technologies. It's perhaps indicative of the mechanical keyboard hobbyist community moving more into the mainstream, which is no bad thing.

I suppose it depends on what you want out of a mechanical keyboard, really. There are oodles of options that offer as much hands-on customisation and such that you could dream of, as well as a spec list as long as your arm. However, with the Realforce, you're paying the premium for Japanese craftsmanship, a complex internal mechanism, and maybe a bit on top for their fantastic reputation. It is a niche product, that's for sure, but if you can find one, it's worth it for the experience.