Case material
Weight, sound, price and that premium feel.
The case material drives heft, acoustics and cost. Dense materials like aluminium and brass make a board feel planted and premium and lower the pitch of the sound; plastics keep it light and cheap. The case material also interacts heavily with the mounting style and any foam to shape the final sound signature.
CNC-machined aluminium is the enthusiast standard — heavy, rigid and premium, with a deeper sound. Brass weights are often added inside. The priciest option by some margin.
A semi-translucent plastic prized for a softer, deeper, "marbly" sound and a slightly bouncier typing feel. Great with RGB underglow, and friendlier on the wallet than metal.
Stacked acrylic layers are cheap, customisable and look fantastic with lighting. Moulded ABS plastic is the lightest and most affordable, common on entry kits.
Wood looks warm and unique but varies in acoustics. FR4 (the same material as PCBs) is a niche, lightweight choice with a distinctive sound, often used for plates and budget cases.
Every choice you'll see for this decision in the builder.
Machined from a solid billet. Substantial, beautifully finished, and the deepest, most refined sound. The most "gift-worthy" feel.
- Premium heft & rigidity
- Deep, refined acoustics
- Anodised in many colours
- Most expensive
- Heavy to travel with
A favourite for its bouncy feel and mellow, marbly acoustics. Semi-translucent, so it glows beautifully with underglow.
- Soft, deep sound
- Bouncy, forgiving feel
- Glows with RGB
- Less premium heft
- Can flex if thin
Sheets of acrylic stacked together. Affordable, endlessly customisable, and stunning with RGB shining through the edges.
- Affordable & customisable
- Spectacular with lighting
- Easy to source
- Can scratch / show fingerprints
- Less "solid" feel
The standard for mass-market and entry kits. Light, cheap and perfectly serviceable, if less luxurious.
- Cheapest option
- Very light / portable
- Widely available
- Hollow-sounding if undampened
- Least premium feel
A wooden case (often walnut or oak) gives a warm, organic aesthetic unlike anything else. Acoustics vary by wood and build.
- Beautiful, unique look
- Warm aesthetic
- Pleasant to the touch
- Acoustics less predictable
- Can warp / needs care
Built from FR4 (fibreglass PCB material), often as a layered "sandwich". Lightweight, affordable and with a distinctive clacky sound. Common on DIY and ergo boards.
- Lightweight & cheap
- Distinctive sound
- Great for DIY/ergo
- Utilitarian look
- Less rigid than metal