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Why Are Mechanical Keyboards So Loud?
Before you can learn how to make mechanical keyboard quieter, we will need to understand why are mechanical keyboards noisy. Mechanical keyboards are invariably louder. This has more to do with the switches used in the keys. The mechanical keyboard noise may not be much disturbing in normal circumstances; it can be quite annoying in a quieter office environment. The amount of noise developed by a keyboard can be ideal due to the mechanical switches used on the keyboard.
If you want to understand the exact reasons why does a mechanical keyboard produce noise you need to understand the different types of switches used in a mechanical keyboard:
- Clicky Switch: These switches produce a bump in the middle of the keypress. This is accompanied by the sharper clicking sound. Clicky switches are known to produce more sound.
- Tactile Switch: The tactile switches experience a bump in the middle. They can produce a slighter sound.
- Linear Switch: These switches provide smoother and consistent performance. They can be your best bet for the quietest mechanical keyboard switches.
If you are checking out the best options on how to make your keyboard quieter, picking the linear switches for your DIY keyboard or buying the best keyboards with linear switches is what would help you achieve better standards.
How to Make Mechanical Keyboard Quieter?
Well, there are several ways you can make your mechanical keyboard quieter. While a few of them may involve a little technical knowledge, a few other options can be employed by any layman user.
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Use O Ring for your Mechanical Keyboard
O rings or dampeners are a few of the options, and they have been observed to work wonders when it comes to reducing the sounds from a mechanical keyboard. In fact, these o rings work as a shock absorber for your key presses. The o rings or dampeners prevent the keycap from clattering against the surface of the switch.
These o rings are in the form of thick rubber mini rings and are slid under the keycap on its stem. The dampeners reduce the distance of the actuation point. This further makes your keyboard noticeably quieter.
The o ring dampeners available from several manufacturers can be quite effective in this context. It has been observed that this method has been an extremely powerful option for achieving the best possible relief against the noisy mechanical keyboard. It can be much helpful in how to make mechanical keyboard quieter.
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Effective Lubrication to Reduce Mechanical Keyboard Noise
Lubing the key switches and stabilisers can be yet another excellent option that can reduce the mechanical keyboard noise. You can turn your keyboard much smoother with a proper lubrication. Cleaning the keyboard before you can lubricate them is one of the thoughtful options.
You can simply apply a very small amount of lubricant to the friction point of the switch. You can apply the lubricant to the housing and stabilisers as well. It may also be a great option to use the right lubing products as well if you are looking for such an option.
You can simply unscrew the keyboard and split it into two. Once you have opened it, check for debris that may be producing the unwanted sound. Once you have cleaned the debris, you can apply the lubricant so that you can have access to a quiet mechanical keyboard.
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Keyboard Covers can be a Good Option to Dampen the Sound
Keyboard covers can make the keyboard get quieter. They will not reduce the sound as such, but it can suppress the sound coming from your typing exercise. It can be a great option if you are looking to dampen the sound but would love to continue to get the experience with the clicking sound. However, if you want to remove the noise altogether, this may not be the right option.
However, keyboard covers come with a disadvantage as well. We use the mechanical keyboards for the aesthetics, and the keyboard cover can make the keyboard look uglier. You may also find it quite uncomfortable to work on.
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Place the Keyboard on a Soft Surface
Placing the keyboard on a softer surface can be one of the excellent options for ensuring the best experience in turning your mechanical keyboard into the silent mechanical keyboard. You can pick a huge mouse pad, or even a towel to dampen the heavy sound. This can be an effective option to help you dampen the sound from your mechanical keyboard.
The soft surface can be useful in absorbing the vibrations and thus reduce the sound. When you compare the sound from a keyboard placed on a hardwood or glass with the keyboard placed on the softer surface. Of course, the difference in the sound reduction will not be considerably significant.
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GMK Switch Clips
The GMK switch clips can be one of the excellent options for reducing the noise of the mechanical keyboards. These clips would be similar to the soft foams. The only difference lies in the fact that they come with a bracket which is helpful in absorbing the noise as you click the switch.
These GMK Switch clips can be clipped onto your keyboard keys. This can be useful in reducing the noise and preventing the dirt that can be accumulated onto the keyboard keys. They would act as a mini jacket for your keys. You can check out a few of the good options for the GMK Switch clips for an enhanced experience.
What Switches are the Best Suited for the Quietest Mechanical Keyboard?
Like we have already found out, the sound of your mechanical keyboard has a lot to do with the switches used in the keyboard. Of course, Cherry MX switches are known to be one of the excellent options for your needs in a silent mechanical keyboard. But, you do have a host of other options among the best keyboard switches from different manufacturers like Gateron and Kailh.
If you think your keyboard makes a lot of noise, you may need to change the keyboard switches.
Some of the greatest options for the silent mechanical switches can include a few of the following:
Cherry MX Silent Switches
The Cherry MX silent switches have been designed with downstroke and upstroke dampening. You would find them available in the linear and tactile variant of the Cherry MX switches.
Gateron Silent Red/Black
These belong to the Linear switches category and provide you access to very smoother and extremely quiet operation. Moreover, they have been observed to be quite budget-friendly making them all the more powerful options.
Matias Quiet
If you are looking for the best linear silent switch ever, the Matias Quiet switches have been one of the prime options. It can be a great option for the best possible experience in an office environment where you need to typing sound needs to be very low.
Topre Switches
Topre Switches are a new range of silent key switches. These are actually electrostatic capacitive non-contact keyboard switches. Developed by the Topre Corporation from Japan, they have been a little controversial when it comes to the mechanical keyboard switches.
The switches have been considered to be the smoothest of all keyboard switches, thanks to a rubber cup installed in the key stem. In any case, they tend to be the most expensive key switches among all the mechanical key switches but quite preferred on the quiet gaming keyboards. Topre switches generally produce a “thock” sound which doesn’t seem noisy.
Conclusion
If you are wondering how to make a mechanical keyboard quieter, we just assume that the tips shared here should prove to be effective in more ways than one in helping you get access to the best quiet gaming keyboard for your needs. Getting access to the best silent mechanical keyboard experience would be creating a very perfect degree of ergonomic office environment ever.
Applying the tricks explained above can prove to be extremely efficient in letting you get access to a quiet mechanical keyboard that ideally meets your individual requirements. You can even try making the keyboard work smoother and trouble-free in every respect.
