How exactly loud are mx blues when typing?

[davkol]

...and don't forget position of your ears. I can't type on MX switches and bottom out heavily with the keyboard on my lap, because it's ridiculously loud, but if I move it a bit away from me, it's fine.

[Krigo]

...and don't forget position of your ears. I can't type on MX switches and bottom out heavily with the keyboard on my lap, because it's ridiculously loud, but if I move it a bit away from me, it's fine.

For me personally, I find that typing on the lap dampens the sound, like putting a piece of paper towel under it as I described; absorbs the shock/resonance. Might just be specific to me and my desk(s) though.

Edit for further clarity: It might not  sound louder/quieter but it sounds like "just the board itself". And that's usually quieter for me.

[davkol]

...and don't forget position of your ears. I can't type on MX switches and bottom out heavily with the keyboard on my lap, because it's ridiculously loud, but if I move it a bit away from me, it's fine.

For me personally, I find that typing on the lap dampens the sound, like putting a piece of paper towel under it as I described; absorbs the shock/resonance. Might just be specific to me and my desk(s) though.

Edit for further clarity: It might not  sound louder/quieter but it sounds like "just the board itself". And that's usually quieter for me.

That's irrelevant in that context. If I move the keyboard farther, it still either on my legs (knees instead of lap), or on a soft mousepad. What I actually mean is that distance and barriers (such as keyboard's case) make a difference.

[Krigo]

...and don't forget position of your ears. I can't type on MX switches and bottom out heavily with the keyboard on my lap, because it's ridiculously loud, but if I move it a bit away from me, it's fine.

For me personally, I find that typing on the lap dampens the sound, like putting a piece of paper towel under it as I described; absorbs the shock/resonance. Might just be specific to me and my desk(s) though.

Edit for further clarity: It might not  sound louder/quieter but it sounds like "just the board itself". And that's usually quieter for me.

That's irrelevant in that context. If I move the keyboard farther, it still either on my legs (knees instead of lap), or on a soft mousepad. What I actually mean is that distance and barriers (such as keyboard's case) make a difference.

Yes I know what you meant. Also it's not irrelevant as the resonance absorption in your lap does contribute to the sound as well as distance and physical barriers as you describe.

But I wasn't sure if you didn't understand what I meant by the difference in sound by typing on the lap or if you were actively trying to talk about something different since you also talked about typing on the lap. I misunderstood and now realized you were trying to talk about a different  element that contributes to the sound. So I was trying to clarify what I meant but clearly you're not on the same page. Never-mind.

[1391406]

BTW the buckling spring crowd must be deaf... I had lend a decibelmeter, and based on that data, longer exposure to BS-loving typists should be dangerous to healthy person's hearing

It's no more dangerous than long term exposure to the sound pressure level associated with, or slightly below, everyday conversation, which is between 50-70 decibels. How do I know? Well, I became curious after reading your post, so I grabbed my sound level meter and measured it. Using an IBM Model M, I measured between 60 to 65 decibels with the meter pointed toward the keyboard at ear level. Even with the meter right down beside the keyboard, I was reading approx. 70-75 dB, which isn't necessarily a damaging level, either, at least according to the National Institutes of Health, "Sounds of less than 75 decibels, even after long exposure, are unlikely to cause hearing loss."

[1391406]

Incidentally, my room is acoustically treated, hence sound reflections are much lower than a typical room, which can and will play a part in the results mentioned above. However, even after measuring sound levels with the keyboard sitting on the counter in my bathroom, which is a highly reflective environment, there was only a 5dB difference. In the the bathroom, I was measuring just under 70dB.

[Emospence]

Make sure to raise your keyboard to ear level for optimum sound

[rowdy]

Make sure to raise your keyboard to ear level for optimum sound

Or type with your ear pressed against the desk.