Silent mechanical keyboard: recommended models
Table of contents:
- Silent keyboard: a matter of switches
- Cherry MX Silent Red
- Cherry MX Silent Black
- 100% complete silent mechanical keyboard
- Fnatic Gear Streak
- Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2 MX Silent
- Silent mechanical keyboard TKL or lower
- Fnatic miniSTREAK
- DREVO BladeMaster PRO
- Ducky One 2 Mini
- Silent mechanical keyboard: O-rings
- Custom silent mechanical keyboard
- Silent cherry switches
- Gateron Silent Switches
- Keyboard chassis
- Conclusions about the silent mechanical keyboard
The most staunch typists have always defended the experience of working with a mechanical keyboard. When writing a good mechanical switch on a computer, it is usually very satisfactory to use, although listeners may not think the same. The truth is that although these keyboards are excellent for working, they have always been too loud, which makes them annoying for people who share our environment. It is for this reason that today we bring you a small guide on the quietest mechanical keyboard models on the market today. Let's start!
Index of contents
Silent keyboard: a matter of switches
On a mechanical keyboard, switches are the key. If what we are looking for is silence or minimal loudness without having to go to the membrane or the rubber domes, the switches are the first thing we should look at. In the market we have many brands and models to choose from, but the ones we recommend from a professional review are the Cherry MX from the Silent range.
Cherry MX Silent Red
Are you looking for silence? Take two cups. Obviously given the popularity of the MX Red switch it was impossible that the first candidate for the Silent range was not the red switch. Its acting force is the same, finding with the conventional MX Red only two fundamental differences:
- Shorter activation distance: goes from 2.0 to 1.9 mm. Lowest total distance: 4.0 to 3.7 mm.
Cherry MX Silent Black
As we described earlier, although the MX Red has displaced the MX Black from the podium, it is still very popular, which is why it is the brand's second Silent model. As with Red, the differences with the conventional Black model are:
- Shorter activation distance: goes from 2.0 to 1.9 mm. Lowest total distance: 4.0 to 3.7 mm.
100% complete silent mechanical keyboard
Fnatic Gear Streak
Fnatic is a well-known brand and team in the world of E-Sports. Its peripherals are eminently aimed at the gaming world but it is also thanks to this that we can count on the presence of keyboards with the characteristics and qualities that we are looking for.
- Switch type: Cherry MX Silent Red Key layout: Spanish Backlight: yes, customizable Memory: local and Anti-Ghosting software : with N-Key Rollover Cable: braided
Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2 MX Silent
You already know everything that is needed about Corsair. The brand has always worked with Cherry MX and like Fnatic it is especially geared towards users and gamers who are very demanding with the performance of peripherals and hardware.
- Switch type: Cherry MX Silent Red Key layout: Spanish Backlight: yes, customizable Memory: local and Anti-Ghosting software : with N-Key Rollover Cable: braided
Silent mechanical keyboard TKL or lower
Fnatic miniSTREAK
The reduced version of the Fnatic Streak retains all its features regardless of the numeric keypad to gain space and portability.
- Switch type: Cherry MX Silent Red Key layout: Spanish Backlight: yes, customizable Memory: local and Anti-Ghosting software : with N-Key Rollover Cable: rubber
DREVO BladeMaster PRO
A Drevo project born from crowdfunding and born to impress. The Pro version in addition to removable cable and aeronautical aluminum cover presents the possibility of choosing between several Cherry switch models. The paste? Well unfortunately the current layout is only in English.
- Switch Type: Cherry MX Silent Red Key Layout: English (US) Backlight: Yes, Customizable Memory: Local and Anti-Ghosting Software : With N-Key Rollover Cable: Rubber
Ducky One 2 Mini
One of the best keyboard manufacturers in the industry could not be missing from our list. It is also the smallest model that we offer you since we know that there are code diggers and lovers of the minimalist who know how to take advantage of a keyboard with the bare minimum.
- Switch Type: Cherry MX Silent Red Key Layout: English (US) Backlight: Yes, Customizable Memory: Local and Anti-Ghosting Software : With N-Key Rollover Cable: Rubber
Silent mechanical keyboard: O-rings
Desperate measures for desperate times, that's what the O-rings bring. Silicone rings are a circumstantial solution that dampens the sound of the buttons when pressed. They are generally one millimeter thick and compatible with the best-known brands on the market (Cherry MX, Corsair, Kailh, Outemu or Gateron).
However, we also do not want you to think that O-rings are a panacea, not all are advantages. Its use is not highly recommended for backlit keyboards since they generate a shading effect on the keys that can reduce their brightness. Adding them to the mechanism also increases the force necessary to activate the buttons, although we can find several types of hardness. To determine it, a Shore A durometer is used to establish the hardness of compounds made of rubber. The Shore A scale is the most frequent in the United States and its readings vary from 30 to 95 points. In the O-rigns the common thing is to find:
- 40A: very low hardness 45A: low hardness 70A: very high hardness
Custom silent mechanical keyboard
A last alternative is to "assemble" a keyboard by pieces. We can buy switches to our liking and assemble them into a full-size, TKL, or 60% chassis. The most fond of computing usually opt for this type of assembly and make a custom model. Fortunately these days it is easy to buy silent switches from various brands in variable number packs. This also guarantees the possibility of replacing them in the event of any incident.
Silent cherry switches
Wholesales Cherry MX Switch - Mechanical Switch (3 Pins), Color Brown, Blue, Red and White Silent Red, 3 Pins. 75 pcs 46, 67 EUR Wholesales Cherry MX Switch - Mechanical Switch (3 Pins), Color Brown, Blue, Red and White Black Silent 3 Pins. 75 pcs 64, 17 EURGateron Silent Switches
Gateron MX Switch 3 Pins and 5 Pins Transparent Housing Black Red Green Brown Light Blue Compatible Mechanical Keyboard Switches Cherry MX Silent Red 5 Pin 47 pcs 23.82 EUR Gateron MX Switch 3 Pins and 5 Pins Transparent Housing Black Red Green Light Blue Switches for Compatible Cherry MX Silent Black 5 Pin 47 pcs Mechanical Keyboard 23.82 EUR Gateron MX Switch 3 Pins and 5 Pins Transparent Housing Black Red Green Brown Light Blue Switches for Compatible Cherry MX Silent Brown 5 Pin 47 pcs Mechanical Keyboard Switches 23.61 EURKeyboard chassis
Okay, now that we have the switches it's time to look for a chassis to mount them on or (if necessary) solder them. Basically we should have two clear points:
- The desired format: 100%, TKL or 60%. Key layout: A Spanish keyboard must be ISO.
Given this, in the market you can find various brands in which you should not only watch the price but also the quality of the finishes, rubber or braided cable, lifting lugs… Here are some models:
Glorious PC Gaming Race Gmmk Full-Size - Barebone, ISO- High quality material. 99.88 EUR Glorious PC Gaming Race Gmmk TKL Barebone, ISO-Layout High quality material. 105, 94 EUR Glorious PC Gaming Race Gmmk Compact - Barebone, ISO-La High quality Material. 106, 70 EUR A last point would be the keycaps, and if you want to get creative we have a great article that you can consult: Personalized keycaps: materials, designs and finishes.Conclusions about the silent mechanical keyboard
To be honest, mechanical keyboards unfortunately make a noise yes or yes. The only thing that varies is its intensity. It is for this reason that there are palliative methods such as silicone rings or hybrids such as mecha-membrane keyboards. The main problem with mechanical keyboards is that searching for models with silent switches is not always an easy task. Generally the standard models proliferate much more although their performance is similar.
In the situation of not finding a model to our liking we can always approach the adventure of assembling our own keyboard. Doing so usually requires a larger budget since we must invest in chassis, switches, and keycaps separately. As an advantage, the end result is usually a very personal design and we will generally have the full ability to replace each of its components separately.
And you, what type of mechanical keyboard do you use? Is it scandalous, or have you resorted to some method to avoid noise? Leave us in the comments!
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