[cross post from r/mk]
Just finished the laborious process of HHKB dis- and reassembly. Previously had BKE ultralights + Silence-X rings and was just not quite satisfied—I wanted a little more tactility and a little less noise. So I decided to swap to BKE lights and add Deskeys #3 rings on TOP of the Silence-X rings. Actually, I didn't start out with this plan but was worried that the #3 rings alone would not give me enough silencing with the BKE lights. I probably should have ordered the #4. But anyhoo. The feels and sounds are just what I was hoping for. I think I've finally hit the sweet spot in terms of noise and tactility! (I should also note that I have the HHKB silencing mat as well.)
But here is the interesting part. I put a single Deskeys ring on one key and a single Silence-X on another, to test for noise and loss of travel distance compared to the double-ring keys. To the naked eye, the two keycaps on the single ring keys look identical in height, and the height difference between these and the rest of the keys is just barely discernible. However, the single Silence-X ring is louder both on the downstroke and the upstroke, giving a plasticky clack sound especially on the upstroke, whereas the single Deskeys #3 does a much better job in both directions. In fact, it does such a good job that it's hard to detect any difference in sound between the single #3 and the #3 + Silence X. So in retrospect, I would have been better off removing the Silence-X rings. I suppose I'll do that eventually, if I ever get around to it.
TL:DR Deskeys #3 are awesome and they beat Silence-X for BKE lights.
