Any new "silent" offerings close to a Cherry Browns in feel?

[keyjay]

I'm in love with my Cherry Browns and really don't want to bother trying anything else, but for business I'm trying to go paperless as much as I can so instead of writing notes while talking on the phone I'm trying to type instead. Some people are distracted by the sound.

I've been through this issue quite thoroughly in the past and it seemed Topre "silent" wasn't going to be much quieter than the Type Heaven I picked up, which still is rather noisy, and I still greatly prefer the Cherry Browns over the Type Heaven Topre keys anyway.

I've already added rubber o-rings to my Cherry Browns boards (did that when I first got my Cherry Browns keyboards a few years ago).

I'm just back checking in case there's a new offering with trying.

I use a PC. I prefer a full-sized 104 over a tenkeyless but can always add a numpad if needed. I prefer white lettering on black keys but if the sound and feel are really both very impressive I can go to black on white. (I'm not able to use a keyboard without high-contrast lettering.)

I read that Razer makes a "silent' with Cherry Browns? DAS Keyboards makes the model S. And there's a Quiet Pro? Should I look into any of those? Any other new keyboards out that I should look into?

Or should I just stay with what I have and be diplomatic in explaining the typing to people I'm talking with?

Thanks.

[rowdy]

No new switches from Cherry, no.

There's a Gateron brown switch with the same weight as Cherry MX brown.  Some say that the Gaterons are smoother than the Cherries.

There's a Gaote brown, which is apparently similar to the MX brown.

The Kailh switches seem to all have stiffer springs.

Keycaps can be replaced on most keyboards - just make sure you get one with a standard layout, US ANSI if you use that layout.

Have you also considered backlighting?  Although most backlight-friendly keycap sets are ABS, nevertheless they are eminently visible in low light conditions.

[keyjay]

No new switches from Cherry, no.

There's a Gateron brown switch with the same weight as Cherry MX brown.  Some say that the Gaterons are smoother than the Cherries.

There's a Gaote brown, which is apparently similar to the MX brown.

The Kailh switches seem to all have stiffer springs.

Keycaps can be replaced on most keyboards - just make sure you get one with a standard layout, US ANSI if you use that layout.

Have you also considered backlighting?  Although most backlight-friendly keycap sets are ABS, nevertheless they are eminently visible in low light conditions.

Thanks.

Still on a quest for a considerably lower noise level, though.

[rowdy]

No new switches from Cherry, no.

There's a Gateron brown switch with the same weight as Cherry MX brown.  Some say that the Gaterons are smoother than the Cherries.

There's a Gaote brown, which is apparently similar to the MX brown.

The Kailh switches seem to all have stiffer springs.

Keycaps can be replaced on most keyboards - just make sure you get one with a standard layout, US ANSI if you use that layout.

Have you also considered backlighting?  Although most backlight-friendly keycap sets are ABS, nevertheless they are eminently visible in low light conditions.

Thanks.

Still on a quest for a considerably lower noise level, though.

You won't get much quieter with MX switches than with non-clicky switches and O-rings.

Matias has an Alps clone switch that is said to be the quietest switch ever.  The Quiet Pro - the world's quietest mechanical keyboard: http://matias.ca/quietpro/

[keyjay]

No new switches from Cherry, no.

There's a Gateron brown switch with the same weight as Cherry MX brown.  Some say that the Gaterons are smoother than the Cherries.

There's a Gaote brown, which is apparently similar to the MX brown.

The Kailh switches seem to all have stiffer springs.

Keycaps can be replaced on most keyboards - just make sure you get one with a standard layout, US ANSI if you use that layout.

Have you also considered backlighting?  Although most backlight-friendly keycap sets are ABS, nevertheless they are eminently visible in low light conditions.

Thanks.

Still on a quest for a considerably lower noise level, though.

You won't get much quieter with MX switches than with non-clicky switches and O-rings.

Matias has an Alps clone switch that is said to be the quietest switch ever.  The Quiet Pro - the world's quietest mechanical keyboard: http://matias.ca/quietpro/

That Quiet Pro looks interesting, especially those magic words "for PC."

Anyone have any idea if they feel even remotely as unbelievably-amazingly-don'tevengetmestarted-perfect as Cherry Browns for rapid typing all day?

Thanks!

[hwood34]

No new switches from Cherry, no.

There's a Gateron brown switch with the same weight as Cherry MX brown.  Some say that the Gaterons are smoother than the Cherries.

There's a Gaote brown, which is apparently similar to the MX brown.

The Kailh switches seem to all have stiffer springs.

Keycaps can be replaced on most keyboards - just make sure you get one with a standard layout, US ANSI if you use that layout.

Have you also considered backlighting?  Although most backlight-friendly keycap sets are ABS, nevertheless they are eminently visible in low light conditions.

Thanks.

Still on a quest for a considerably lower noise level, though.

You won't get much quieter with MX switches than with non-clicky switches and O-rings.

Matias has an Alps clone switch that is said to be the quietest switch ever.  The Quiet Pro - the world's quietest mechanical keyboard: http://matias.ca/quietpro/

That Quiet Pro looks interesting, especially those magic words "for PC."

Anyone have any idea if they feel even remotely as unbelievably-amazingly-don'tevengetmestarted-perfect as Cherry Browns for rapid typing all day?

Thanks!

Well, my opinions on new Cherry browns are that there are a whole helluva lot of switches better than it. People generally seem to have pretty positive feelings towards matias quiet switches

[CPTBadAss]

Theres those new Cherry silent switches that are a Corsair exclusive. I like Matias Quiets too

[keyjay]

When you say "new" Cherry Browns, I assume you mean a new board or new switches as opposed to once that have been used a while, correct?

They haven't changed the specs with a new version, correct?

I assume it goes without saying that keyboard preferences are a very personal thing. My point was to say that for me the Cherry Browns are the ideal choice thus far from all that I've tried (which is a lot, including some Alps).

Thanks again!

[suicidal_orange]

That Quiet Pro looks interesting, especially those magic words "for PC."

Anyone have any idea if they feel even remotely as unbelievably-amazingly-don'tevengetmestarted-perfect as Cherry Browns for rapid typing all day?

Thanks!

I've never used Browns (I have some in a bag) but I did borrow an Ergo Pro with Matias Quiet Click switches and they are my new favourite switch as they have a bigger bump than Browns.  Definitely not heavy enough to be tiring on an all day typing session and that board was noticeably quieter than my Ducky with MX Reds, about the same as my HHKB (Topre) but with a different pitch.

Unless you're going to get a chicklet (think laptop) board you're not going to get much quieter so your colleagues will have to learn to live with it!

Oh and "new" Browns are new as opposed to vintage ones found in old boards (10+ years?)  The old ones of every switch are allegedly smoother than new ones

[Hypersphere]

I like the feel and sound of Matias Quiet switches better than Cherry browns.

If you are interested, I've made a recording of Matias Quiet switches on a KBP V60 along with recordings of assorted other keyboards for comparison:

http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/audio-and-waveforms-of-assorted-keyboards-t11269.html

[keyjay]

Great, now I'm on the prowl for 12-year-old+ boards.  )

So, if a Quite Pro has about the same amount of noise as Topres, would it probably be about the same amount of noise as my Type Heaven, would you guess? With a similarly noisy thock?

[Hypersphere]

I've not tried a Type Heaven board. If I had to guess, I would anticipate that the Quiet Pro would be somewhat quieter.

[keyjay]

I like the feel and sound of Matias Quiet switches better than Cherry browns.

If you are interested, I've made a recording of Matias Quiet switches on a KBP V60 along with recordings of assorted other keyboards for comparison:

http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/audio-and-waveforms-of-assorted-keyboards-t11269.html

Sounds like I'll have to try a Quiet Pro.

Thanks!

[keyjay]

Lots of complaints on Amazon about the build quality of the Quiet Pro.

[Hypersphere]

I don't have a Quiet Pro, but I like my KBP V60MTS with Matias Quiet switches.

When I am in my home office where my keyboard noise will not bother anyone, I prefer my KBP V60MST with Matias Click switches; the undamped Matias switches feel better to me than the damped Quiet ones.

[fohat.digs]

If you are a touch typist, then the higher activation point of Alps/Matias switches may make bottoming out unnecessary, and that would reduce noise quite a bit. I prefer orange Alps to Matias but they are not quieter.

And, if you are good with your hands at the workbench, the blue "jailhouse mod" with O-rings might be ideal.

[keyjay]

If you are a touch typist, then the higher activation point of Alps/Matias switches may make bottoming out unnecessary, and that would reduce noise quite a bit. I prefer orange Alps to Matias but they are not quieter.

And, if you are good with your hands at the workbench, the blue "jailhouse mod" with O-rings might be ideal.

I applied an o-ring mod to my Cherry Browns keyboards just fine.

So, which keyboard specifically are you suggesting I might want to apply the "jailhouse mod" to, please?

Thanks!

[hwood34]

When you say "new" Cherry Browns, I assume you mean a new board or new switches as opposed to once that have been used a while, correct?

They haven't changed the specs with a new version, correct?

I assume it goes without saying that keyboard preferences are a very personal thing. My point was to say that for me the Cherry Browns are the ideal choice thus far from all that I've tried (which is a lot, including some Alps).

Thanks again!

It's more the usage amount for me yeah, but the formula was changed a while ago, hence the term "vintage browns."

[keyjay]

So, my new Quite Pro for PC arrived today and am just now trying it out. So far, not terrible. Not so quiet but compared to the Browns it's definitely quieter.

It seems to have substantially higher weighted keys than the MX Cherry Browns, though (and than Topre Type Heaven) -- requiring considerably more force than I'm accustomed to or can probably become accustomed to.

Anyone know the activation force on these keyboards?

Thanks.

[keyjay]

Oh, never mind. Seems it's 65 grams. http://www.keyboardco.com/blog/index.php/2012/09/matias-quiet-pro-for-pc-and-mac-featuring-brand-new-quiet-click-switches/

That's way above my tolerance level.

The Browns are 45, and so are the Topre Type Heavens. I think I'll have to stay with those two choices, unless I can find a Topre in a full 104 (or, if necessary, a TKL) with 45s that's quieter than the Type Heaven -- and with clearly visible lettering. Anyone know of anything like that?

Thanks!