Somewhat quiet mechanical keyboard?

Anyone have any suggestions for a somewhat quiet mechanical keyboard? Will be used for work-type duties. Have heard many can get a bit loud. . .

Thanks,

Mike

 

Any keyboard with MX brown or topre switches.

 

MX browns are fine if you want a clicky feel. If not, a keyboard with MX black or red (less common) will do the job without the clicking noise. My keyboard has MX reds, and I also installed some o-rings on the keycaps in order to minimize the noise from the keys bottoming out.

 

Mechanical Keyboard Guide - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net

Heres a very good overview of mechanical keyboards and their switches.

 

Thanks everyone -- good input (and great link).

Mike

 

Topre will be the quietest in normal use. This is because there's less return noise than the reds (which will be the quietest Cherry mechanical).

If you're used to the keyboard, there's no real reason to have the silly o-ring mod with the Cherry boards - which adversely affects key feel anyway - as you won't be hard-bottoming the keyboard all the time. It's surprising how much effort many put into making a keyboard feel like a really bad rubber dome.

Why not a scissor keyboard for quiet work duties? A hell of a lot quieter than even the Topre. Logitech illuminated is also debatably (depends on how much you buy into the mechanical = superior thing) a better keyboard to type on than any mechanical, if not gaming-suitable.

 

I hadn't considered a scissor keyboard -- thanks for the thought.

Mike

 

Glad to help.

It ought to be mentioned that whatever the mechanical-keyboard-afficionados say, asking for the quietest mechanical keyboard is, in the overall scheme of things, like asking for the most shy and retiring right-wing TV anchor.

 

Haha, i like your comparison, a mech keyboard will always make noise, that's unavoidable. The topre realforce keyboard would be the only notable exception, still not completely silent of course and mightily expensive.

I prefer the feel of a mech over any regular membrane keyboard. I have to say that scissor type kbs do feel better than your standard membrane keyboard. A low profile membrane like the sidewinder X4 also feel better than let's say my old logitech MX3200. I still prefer the feel of a mech over those, but it wouldn't bother me to use a low profile or scissor kb.

 

Well, it is marketed as silent but at speed, something like the Sidewinder you mention would actually be slightly quieter. Fact is, any of these alternatives would be noisier than a relatively tightly built short-travel rubber dome, let alone a scissor.

Personally I can only stand the Topre for typing duties among the non-dome / scissors. None of the Cherrys, be they plate or PCB-mounted make me feel there's an actual benefit beyond a certain nerdy satisfaction in the key action - and of course, the Topre is basically a rubber dome.

For gaming, I don't mind the reds. However I usually stick to RD - specifically the Sidewinders, for the balance of function and features, or keep the Topre on.