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
In contract with Costar stabilizers you just have to lube them a bit then they're good to go.
As for the difference, an easy way to find out is to go to your local computer shop and try any Corsair keyboards (they all have Cherry stabilizers) and try pressing on the larger keys (shift, enter, spacebar) then you'll notice as you bottom out, it doesn't have a clean / hard bottom out and instead you'll feel a mushy resistance. So people perform this mod to make it feel better: https://youtu.be/C6hPoe3srcw
Drawback is that on plate mounted keyboard you can't get to those stabilizer stems without desoldering a few switches. Leopold and Vortex are the only 2 companies that come with pre-clipped Cherry stabilizers.
:)