YU01

First, I bought the JIN01 Santorini, and it was wonderful. The solid, heavy aluminum case and the gasket-mounted design (the PCB is isolated from the case) create an astonishingly stable and smooth typing feel—exactly the kind of “JIN (金)” impression you would expect: dense, steady, and precise. Then I learned that the Rosewood switch was originally designed for MU01. Around the same time, I happened to watch Hipyo Tech’s video where he mentions a “homework” (his challenge) about avoiding a hollow sound in wooden keyboards (https://youtu.be/XB9ueZBL-EA?si=_rGN464IY-bh5vuK ). Since he clearly loves wooden boards, I started thinking: “A walnut wooden case, combined with a gasket-mounted / ‘floating’ PCB, could be Akko’s answer to that challenge.” So I ordered MU01. When MU01 arrived, I was convinced: MU01 is truly “MU (木)”. The deep, quiet, present sound and feel match the world of the famous Chinese poem Mountain Dwelling in Autumn Dusk (山居秋暝) by Wang Wei (王維). And what impressed me most is that the design goes beyond simply printing the poem: the subtle red marks and layout evoke the feeling of a traditional Chinese hanging scroll (掛け軸-style presentation). (As a Japanese user, I also want to add: in Japan we have a long tradition—well over a thousand years—of reading Classical Chinese through a special method called kanbun kundoku, which is still taught in high school. That’s one reason this theme resonates so strongly with me.) Naturally, I became curious about YU01 as well. It belongs to the same product line in name, but it takes a completely different approach: instead of a wooden or metal case, it uses a seamless resin unibody case with the PCB firmly fixed inside. With the name “YU (玉)”, I simply couldn’t resist ordering it from Akko’s official store. Today I received it, and I have no better words than: it is truly “YU (玉)”. The sound, touch, and overall feel are excellent—and this time, the visual impression is also stunning. Yes, YU01 includes some practical improvements compared to MU01 and JIN01 (it’s the newest of the three, and even offers VIA compatibility). But to me, those are secondary. What matters more is the complete “world” Akko created with this trio—three different answers to the same design challenge, each with its own material philosophy: MU (wood), JIN (metal), and YU (jade/resin). And please remember: each one is around $120, not $200–$300. MU01 (the eldest), JIN01 (the second), and YU01 (the youngest) are very different keyboards, yet clearly part of a unified, beautiful, Chinese-inspired aesthetic and concept. You only fully understand it when you put them all in front of you—like in my photo. If budget forces you to choose only one, it’s honestly a difficult decision. If you want the origin or “starting point” of the series, I’d recommend MU01. If you want what feels like the “end of the story,” I’d recommend YU01—especially for the refinements and VIA support. But I must confess: my first was JIN01, and I have rarely experienced this level of solidity and precision in a keyboard. It reminds me of a great vintage turntable—heavy, stable, and so rigid that it allows no unwanted movement—built to extract everything from a record. If you are also an audio enthusiast, you may understand why JIN01 feels special. Sorry for the long story, but I couldn’t hold back. These are truly lovely products, and I sincerely respect the engineers, designers, and planners who created this series.

One word, beautiful!

Love this keyboard. I love how it looks, especially when it’s lit up!

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