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
I came from a Filco Majestouch 1 with cherry browns. I'd say the difference in feeling is pretty pronounced. Matias QuietPros are much more tactile, a little heavier, and actuate much higher than the browns. The result is a much "crisper" feeling keyboard. They're also quieter because they don't really bottom out. Really enjoying it.
Only downside I'd say is that keycaps are REALLY hard to pull, to the point that I'm worried I'm going to yank the entire switch out.
I'll break it down subjectively from my experience. I will say that both are definitely shorter than any of my Cherrys and as someone who bottoms out hard even on clears I really notice it (yeah yeah I learned to type on a selectric III). The quiets are almost abrupt with as short as they are in my travel. That said, the shorter travel of the quiet click isn't bad, it is just different. In my recent trips I've been bringing either the Pok3r with black or clear and the V60 Matias with quiet click, as it is still that good. It might be because of the shorter travel, but I'm going to say that the Matias quiet has a way more noticeable bump than the clears.
With as hard as I type, I'm not going to say that even the quiet click aren't actually all that quiet. The Clicky Pros echo quite well in this case, so they are pretty loud, but if they were in a different case I don't know if they would be nearly so loud. I like the much lower pitch of the Clicky better than the Green high pitched sound, but I'd also say that the Matias Clicky Pro is significantly louder even with the lower pitch. Neither of them are as satisfying as a buckler spring, but I can't in good conscience type with one of those near any other human being with as loud as I am with them. With my model M, my parents would walk into my room and say it sounded like I had a machine gun.
As invisibro pointed out, if you are going to pull the keycaps expect it to be hard and get one of the nice key pullers with wires as the dinky ones they include just don't cut it and you will be more likely to damage the cap than pull it.
I'm thinking about going in for a set of the Fuhua and a set of the linears as I don't have either of those.
i do like (lubed) Clears just like you, my favourite switch till now. If you ever get the chance to try 55g Topre, do it! Silenced it's an incredible quiet and smooth typing experience with a bump you may love.
Also since I'm getting that I guess I'll be going for the clicky instead of the quiet click
Right now i've around 15 Cherry mks and one Topre, the Realforce is "expensive", is even getting more expensive if you plan on moding with Cherry sliders and maybe a metal case later. But honestly, if i would have started with a Topre 55g i might have stopped to buy and try Cherry mks after the second, maybe third one, and would own two or three moded Topres instead. And this is coming from someone who really loves lubed clears, this makes me think and i wouldn't have thought that way a couple of weeks ago.
I have lots of experiance with Alps keybaords, and I always break caps when restoring them, or end up destroying a switch (even while being careful)
They come off pretty easy now.