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
Laptop Specification: - Just a regular Dell laptop, i5 CPU with 16GB of RAM, a work laptop issued by my company. You can think of this more or less as a thin client that connects to VMs hosted from my desktop remotely for software development.
Keyboard: - Cooler Master CMSTORM Trigger Mechanical Keyboard (blue switch)
Mouse: - Mad Catz R.A.T 3 (for gaming) - Anker Vertical Mouse (for working)
Speakers/Subwoofer - Cerwin Vega XD3 Active Studio Monitor - Blue Octave SW6D Powered 6.5" Subwoofer (got it on EBay for cheap, just need a little bass)
Headset/Headphone - Creative Sound Blaster Wireless Tactic 3D Rage - Plantronics GAMECOM 818 Wireless Headset - Plantronics Wired Headset (not sure about the model, it's 10+ years old) - Sennheiser HD439 Wired Headphone
Monitor: - Acer B286HK 28" 4K monitor (middle) - AOC e2450Swd 24" FHD monitor (top) - AOC E1659FWU 16" USB monitor (bottom) Why 3 monitors? For work, top monitor is usually for e-mail and chat, middle monitor for coding, bottom monitor for reading references or editing document. When using it for joy, top monitor is typically playing video and middle monitor is for web surfing. Bottom monitor is not connected to my desktop. It is used for work only when I am on my laptop.
Network Gear: - Thecus N4100EVO NAS - 9TB in RAID5 - Motorola Arris Surfboard SBG6700-AC cable modem/wireless router combo (not using the wireless router capability) - Ubiquiti EdgeRouterX (primary needed a router to allow me to setup VLANs at home for cheap) - Netgear GS108Tv2 8 ports smart switch - Netgear GS108Ev3 8 ports smart switch (not using at this moment but shown on picture) - Ancient Raspberry Pi 2 Model B using it as a wireless G router for my wireless printers
Others: - Z-Line Belaire Glass L Desk - Varidesk 48" Pro Plus stand desk conversion - Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer (keep my coffee warm, extremely important! Highly recommended!) - A bunch of Raspberry Pi(s)... - A bunch of hot wheels just because I collect them for fun.