
Top 10 most SILENT keyboard switches of all time
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
Nice. I know how long you’ve been grinding on this. Some of them are tricky buggers.
I await the ever amusing reactions to whatever precise ordering you’ve settled on…
I await the ever amusing reactions to whatever precise ordering you’ve settled on…
Not sure why 3 non mechanical keyboards are represented while 10 "mechanical keyboard switches" are mentioned. I personally miss QMX clips (which are a modification but also available in prebuilt boards and therefore deserve a review in the video, especially cause they have pretty much the same effect as silent cherry switches) and O-rings (cause they have their flaws but are used by many people). The later ones also came on prebuilt boards (Nixdorf softkeys) and nixie switches always came with o-rings so imo they are part of the switch too.
- Chyros
- Location: The Netherlands
- Main keyboard: whatever I'm reviewing next :p
- Main mouse: a cheap Logitech
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM Blue
- DT Pro Member: -
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- Location: London
- Main keyboard: hhkb
- Main mouse: logitech
- Favorite switch: topre
- DT Pro Member: -
Great video.
The good news is all the boards are easily available and even the “loudest” one seems completely usable in a shared office.
I like the sounds of the alps/matias switches. I would be curious to know your opinion on the Matias QCs at some point. I like their tactility and sound but the bottom-out feel is pretty weird.
For the silenced topre, there are silenced realforces as well. It’s worth noting though that the plastic construction certainly impacts the feel/sound. Also, the type-s seems to me slightly less smooth than stock hhkb. Does anyone have an plausible explanation for that?
Btw, my hhkb spacebar is never that loud when I use it. How brutal are you with your keyboards? :p
The good news is all the boards are easily available and even the “loudest” one seems completely usable in a shared office.
I like the sounds of the alps/matias switches. I would be curious to know your opinion on the Matias QCs at some point. I like their tactility and sound but the bottom-out feel is pretty weird.
For the silenced topre, there are silenced realforces as well. It’s worth noting though that the plastic construction certainly impacts the feel/sound. Also, the type-s seems to me slightly less smooth than stock hhkb. Does anyone have an plausible explanation for that?
Btw, my hhkb spacebar is never that loud when I use it. How brutal are you with your keyboards? :p
- zrrion
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: F122
- Main mouse: Microsoft IntelliMouse
- Favorite switch: ALPS SKCC Cream
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
I'm sorry you had to type on that abomination again. Cant wait for a loudest video to compliment this one.
- Tias
- Location: Finland
- Main keyboard: Various Realforce R1 boards, various Cherry G80's
- Main mouse: MX Master 2
- Favorite switch: Og Sony BKE domes + purple sliders, MX Black
- DT Pro Member: 0214
Great video with great content as usual.
Your videos on keyboard reviews, switch teardowns, top x videos etc. are always well made and very informative. It is thanks to you and this forum that I discovered mechanical keyboards and namely vintage mechanical keyboards in the first place. Currently on the hunt for my first one but still trying to decide where to start...
As you mentioned you have not yet done a review of a keyboard with Quiet Click switches. Would also like the hear your opinion on them. My first mechanical was actually a V80 with Quiet Clicks, and i loved the typing feel they provided. The only problem was that they chattered like crazy. Luckily i was able to mend the using some tips from your Alps maintenence video.
Also regarding the "implant keyboard". When i did my military service my engineering company actually had two of the same type of keyboard ( not actually Fold 2000, but with a identical design) that where used in various field tasks. I remember them as absolutely horrible.
Your videos on keyboard reviews, switch teardowns, top x videos etc. are always well made and very informative. It is thanks to you and this forum that I discovered mechanical keyboards and namely vintage mechanical keyboards in the first place. Currently on the hunt for my first one but still trying to decide where to start...
As you mentioned you have not yet done a review of a keyboard with Quiet Click switches. Would also like the hear your opinion on them. My first mechanical was actually a V80 with Quiet Clicks, and i loved the typing feel they provided. The only problem was that they chattered like crazy. Luckily i was able to mend the using some tips from your Alps maintenence video.
Also regarding the "implant keyboard". When i did my military service my engineering company actually had two of the same type of keyboard ( not actually Fold 2000, but with a identical design) that where used in various field tasks. I remember them as absolutely horrible.
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
Got around to watching this just now. Nice work! That mad array of switches you open with had me wondering what infinite vortex we could be about to slide into, but fortunately you kept it tightly focussed on ten.
Reassuring to see the HHKB Type-S come as highly in the pure quietness stakes as it did. Like Nicolas, mine isn’t quite that THUNDERFULL on the spacebar, though it is clearly the loudest key. May I politely suggest that you’re doing it wrong? Topre’s gotten me thumbing lightly now, as when I’m on this board my most emphatic key is now the much more cognitively satisfying Return. THOUGHT ACCOMPLISHED.
I also appreciate your “haitch haitch kaybee” pronounciation. You’ve been in albion too long!
Spacebars, which is to say stablisers, are definitely to be borne in mind when talking silenced keyboards. Thanks for highlighting that. My silenced MX plans are going to need some thought.
Reassuring to see the HHKB Type-S come as highly in the pure quietness stakes as it did. Like Nicolas, mine isn’t quite that THUNDERFULL on the spacebar, though it is clearly the loudest key. May I politely suggest that you’re doing it wrong? Topre’s gotten me thumbing lightly now, as when I’m on this board my most emphatic key is now the much more cognitively satisfying Return. THOUGHT ACCOMPLISHED.
I also appreciate your “haitch haitch kaybee” pronounciation. You’ve been in albion too long!
Spacebars, which is to say stablisers, are definitely to be borne in mind when talking silenced keyboards. Thanks for highlighting that. My silenced MX plans are going to need some thought.
- Chyros
- Location: The Netherlands
- Main keyboard: whatever I'm reviewing next :p
- Main mouse: a cheap Logitech
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM Blue
- DT Pro Member: -
With respect to the loud spacebar; because the switches are very silent, I used fairly high gain for most of the video, otherwise it's hard to hear anything xD . And yeah, I never even knew "haitch" was a thing, but now the UK has me corrupted to not being able to say it normally anymore xD .
Just like I can't stop saying "cheers" anymore :p .
Just like I can't stop saying "cheers" anymore :p .
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
Ah, cheers, the noncommittal vocal lube of choice! It’s damn infectious. You don’t even need to bother keeping state in mind: use it when asking, use it when getting, use it whenever. Cheers! It’s cheery and lazy all in one. No wonder we love it.
As for haitch, note that we say “an haitch haitch kaybee” and “an hotel.” Why not “a?” Because what’s really going on is we trim off the beginning of each. Only Scots routinely say “ho tell”, and only some of us at that. And we’ll say “so you’re staying at a ho tell?” The English, especially non-rhotic southeastern types, actually say “an o’tell” and “an ay-ch aych kaybee.” The actual h sound is what’s missing from “haitch!”
As for haitch, note that we say “an haitch haitch kaybee” and “an hotel.” Why not “a?” Because what’s really going on is we trim off the beginning of each. Only Scots routinely say “ho tell”, and only some of us at that. And we’ll say “so you’re staying at a ho tell?” The English, especially non-rhotic southeastern types, actually say “an o’tell” and “an ay-ch aych kaybee.” The actual h sound is what’s missing from “haitch!”
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- Location: Denmark
- Main keyboard: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Trackpad 2
- Favorite switch: Topre
- DT Pro Member: -
Cool 
I like the sound of the Matias Quiet Click actually.

I like the sound of the Matias Quiet Click actually.