[SOLVED] Clear vs Brown - Heavy vs Light - Can't decide [Decided on Clears.]

[Vozella]

I have a Cherry MX keyswitch tester and I can't decide between Brown and Clear switches?
I'm worried that if I get Brown switches, they'll be too light.
I'm worried that if I get Clear   switches, they'll be too heavy. I love the tactile feedback though.

Edit: Is there any way that if I get Clears and I think they're too heavy that I can mod them to be lighter? Will it keep that same tactile feel?

[romevi]

Browns are WAY too light for me. They feel fine on a switch tester, but put them all over a board and you can't even feel the bumps.

I'd say go with Clears and mod them later if you need to.

[azhdar]

You can indeed change the spring to modify the weight of it, it even make it more tactile since you feel less the weight and more the tactility.

On stock keyboard you have to desolder the switches to modfify them.

[Vozella]

Browns are WAY too light for me. They feel fine on a switch tester, but put them all over a board and you can't even feel the bumps.

I'd say go with Clears and mod them later if you need to.

So you CAN mod them!

You can indeed change the spring to modify the weight of it, it even make it more tactile since you feel less the weight and more the tactility.

On stock keyboard you have to desolder the switches to modfify them.

That sounds like a really fun project.

[yowaffle]

If you're too lazy to mod them you could always get the Zealios switches http://zealpc.net/collections/switches/products/zealio. They're pretty much Ergo Clears. I actually have a keyboard with MX browns, MX clears, and Zealios [65g Tactile] and switch between the 3 depending on my mood. I'd say clears are my least favorite out of the 3.

[Vozella]

You can indeed change the spring to modify the weight of it, it even make it more tactile since you feel less the weight and more the tactility.

On stock keyboard you have to desolder the switches to modfify them.

I just changed the springs from the blue and clear switch.

If you're too lazy to mod them you could always get the Zealios switches http://zealpc.net/collections/switches/products/zealio. They're pretty much Ergo Clears. I actually have a keyboard with MX browns, MX clears, and Zealios [65g Tactile] and switch between the 3 depending on my mood. I'd say clears are my least favorite out of the 3.

I'm planning to order the Sampler Pack. http://zealpc.net/collections/switches/products/zealio-switch-sampler-pack

[gadzkun]

You can indeed change the spring to modify the weight of it, it even make it more tactile since you feel less the weight and more the tactility.

On stock keyboard you have to desolder the switches to modfify them.

I just changed the springs from the blue and clear switch.

If you're too lazy to mod them you could always get the Zealios switches http://zealpc.net/collections/switches/products/zealio. They're pretty much Ergo Clears. I actually have a keyboard with MX browns, MX clears, and Zealios [65g Tactile] and switch between the 3 depending on my mood. I'd say clears are my least favorite out of the 3.

I'm planning to order the Sampler Pack. http://zealpc.net/collections/switches/products/zealio-switch-sampler-pack

aw so zealio sampler pack already available..
i want to test zealio too but cant decide what spring should i pick..
it would be nice if we can test it first

[bcredbottle]

Have you tried both switches? Browns are not just light clears. Browns have almost no tactile feedback because there is no bump (it has nothing to do w/ spring weight). If you were to put a clear spring into a brown switch it would still feel almost linear.

Clear switches have a defined bump regardless of weight.

[rowdy]

You really need to try both switches on actual keyboards, not just a sampler.

Pressing a single switch in isolation is a very different feeling to typing on a whole board of a particular switch.

Many, including me, feel browns are too light, and prefer stiffer switches like blacks, greens and clears.

Many others say stiffer springs are too hard and result in finger/wrist pain.

[SpAmRaY]

The trick with clears is to not bottom out when typing, then they aren't heavy anymore.

[jaffers]

I'd go clears myself. Nice and heavy with a definite tactile bump. As it's been said earlier in this thread you can change the springs to tune the key to your preference

[Vozella]

Have you tried both switches? Browns are not just light clears. Browns have almost no tactile feedback because there is no bump (it has nothing to do w/ spring weight). If you were to put a clear spring into a brown switch it would still feel almost linear.

Clear switches have a defined bump regardless of weight.

What are you talking about? I never said anything about putting a clear spring in a brown switch. I DID put a blue spring in a clear switch though.

You really need to try both switches on actual keyboards, not just a sampler.

Pressing a single switch in isolation is a very different feeling to typing on a whole board of a particular switch.

Many, including me, feel browns are too light, and prefer stiffer switches like blacks, greens and clears.

Many others say stiffer springs are too hard and result in finger/wrist pain.

Okay. That's fine, but there's no way I'm going to buy two keyboards only to use one of them.

[ideus]

It is a fact that only trying a full board you can know if a particular switch may fit your needs, even more, the construction of the keyboard assembly affects the final feeling.