Semi-silent tactile switches w/o mushiness?

[Mumpitz]

Hey there,

do you know any tactile semi-silent switches that are noticeably quieter than average while not feeling mushy?

I recently tried the Geon HG Yellow with the "innovative" Haimu stem design. While being dead silent the typing experience is not too impressive imo. The bottom out does still feel quite mushy, like typing on a conventional rubber-damped switch.

Are there any switches that combine the best of both worlds? Tactile, noticeably quieter than average with still a good typing experience?

Appreciate your help!

Regards,
Mumpitz

[davkol]

I wish I could tell, but the fact of the matter is that my quietest keyboard has been ErgoDox with vintage MX Black switches that I didn't bother dampening in the end. Most of the noise comes from my fingertips hitting keycaps.

Actually, that kind of answers the question: you can dampen the upstroke, sure, and use springs that help prevent you from bottoming out; that avoids both the respective noise and the mushiness associated with dampening it.

[Delta Research]

If you're willing you could stem swap the Haimu silent switches with something like an MX clear stem. The bottom housing has holes in it that makes the switch quieter, so that could work for you.

Lubing the switches and/or putting foam in the case can also help lower the overall volume of the keyboard as well.

[Mumpitz]

Thanks for your replies!

springs that help prevent you from bottoming out...

Ok. But that would require stronger springs and higher actuation force, right?

If you're willing you could stem swap the Haimu silent switches with something like an MX clear stem. The bottom housing has holes in it that makes the switch quieter, so that could work for you.

Is there anything you can recommend? Something tactile with roughly 50-60g?

putting foam in the case can also help lower the overall volume

My board is damped quite well already: Monsgeek M1. I feel like the switch itself is more important here.

Lubing might be a further thing to consider, indeed.

[davkol]

springs that help prevent you from bottoming out...

Ok. But that would require stronger springs and higher actuation force, right?

Not quite. There's the spring length too; or it can be nonlinear.

See, my vintage MX Black switches have springs swapped for old sprit's 78g springs inspired by Cherry MX Clear. These have a steeper force curve, i.e., they're relatively easy to compress early on, but the force ramps up quickly, so they're relatively harder to bottom out.

There are more options these days.

[RBC]

Have you tried the TG3 "Copre" mod on silent linears?

[engr]

Do these have to be discrete switches?

If not, Topre boards can be made very silent and do not have a mushy feel.

Niz boards use the same principle (capacitive rubber dome) as Topre. Some actually prefer their feel and sound more.

[Muirium]

Some are objectively wrong.

[Delta Research]

Some are objectively right.

[Muirium]

Something tells me this dispute won’t end well.

[engr]

Some are objectively wrong.

I have only tried Topre, so I can't comment on how Niz feels, but I can see how its sound can be appealing. It sounds... fuller? Meatier?

[Mumpitz]

Tried the U4TX meanwhile and kinda like them. But the travel is rather on the shorter side. Its spec'd with 3.7mm but I can only measure 3.3mm. Sound is quite nice, though. It strikes the middle between loud and quiet while feeling more or less clean on the bottom out. More or less, because there is still a tiny bit of rubber on the stem facing downward (Cherry MX Silent style). Nowhere near the mushiness of regular silent switches though.

My next candidate will be the Kailh Deep Sea. Might remove its rubber on the bottom to make it feel less damped while maintaining the upstroke dampening.

[Muirium]

I have only tried Topre, so I can't comment on how Niz feels, but I can see how its sound can be appealing. It sounds... fuller? Meatier?

I know this will sound fanboy, but it's my honest opinion whenever this comes up: different switches in different chassis is no comparison at all, especially in a vid and not in person.

But FWIW I really don't like the way that Niz 'sounds.' Way too smacky.

To be fair, they're also hammering the shit out of their Realforce. Easy on those keys, cowboy, this ain't no MX clear!

[Tribal]

Some are objectively wrong.

I have only tried Topre, so I can't comment on how Niz feels, but I can see how its sound can be appealing. It sounds... fuller? Meatier?

There’s some setting most keyboard YouTubers are using that amplifies even the tiniest sound. I’ve used regular 55g Topre and 45g silenced Topre and neither sounds like that unless I have my ear literally pressed to the keyboard. From a normal sitting position, either is whisper-quiet and I’d feel comfortable using one in a library. Each is as quiet as normal rubber dome switches and is slightly quieter than scissor switches.

Also, I just got some Boba U4 silent and they’re…silent. They feel like a hybrid of a Holy Panda and Topre and are about 90% as good as either.

[Muirium]

I often literally use my silenced HHKB in a library:



And it's definitely quieter than most MacBooks. Some people piledrive those with their two good typing fingers!

[apastuszak]

Matias makes a quiet click switch, which is not bad.

I think the quietest mechanical I own that doesn't feel "mushy" to me is the Apple Extended Keyboard II with cream alps switches.

But that's a beast of a keyboard. Not something you would carry around in your bag.

[guidemetothelight]

If you're willing you could stem swap the Haimu silent switches with something like an MX clear stem.

Or just use this.
Great switch. no mush, good tactility, affordable

Edit: Drink Coffee first, then read DT threads.

[Muirium]

DT's where you come to once you're caffeinated. Ease yourself awake by browsing keyboard porn first, before tangling up in all the words.