Mechanical Keyboard Sound Isn't That Simple
Figure 1: I couldn't think of a more literal way to represent this article if I tried... Looking back just a few years ago, there’s no doubt that the huge influx of people that joined the hobby at the peak of the COVID pandemic were drawn to keyboards by way of YouTube, TikTok, and other audio-visual content platforms. Even as the output from these content creators has waned in recent months, their collective impact and legacy on the keyboard hobby is rather firmly etched in the history books. As a result of all of their sound tests, build logs, and opinion videos, the message is clear to any new person joining the hobby: mechanical keyboards are all about the sound. Thock this, clack that. Whether it’s keyboards, keycaps, or even singular switches, seemingly everyone new to the hobby meticulously pores over each component of their keyboard not in an attempt to figure out how it will feel in hand, but how it will sound as they’re furiously grinding their way out from...
Mar 27, 2024
Initially I was amazed how different it was compared to a regular non-mechanical keyboard and how it was themed towards gamers, although I immediately regretted it because it was too loud during the night, I remember waking my family up because I was "typing too loud".
I knew I needed to change, so I got rid of the Blackwidow and purchased Cooler Master QuickFire Rapid TKL which came with Cherry MX-Brown. This was good for typing and all but, i wanted change after using the browns for while, I was interested in Cherry MX-Reds which was widely known its use amongst "gamers" playing strictly FPS (at the time I was also competing in CS:S at an amateur league). So I purchased myself a Corsair K70 with Cherry MX-Reds, this is currently my main driver. Not too long ago I've also built my own mechanical keyboard with Gateron Clear switches (this requires 10g less actuation force compared to Cherry switches) and being a 60% keyboard with no plate (direct PCB mount) and a polycarbonate case, it became much lighter and easier to carry in my backpack. I'm also considering to change my daily driver keyboard to RealForce RGB (Topre switch) which will be released "before Christmas season", I have not ever used topre switch before but I believe I can adapt to it.