Noisy/Clacking/Clicking/Annoying versus Silent/Stealthy/Ninja like keyboards

[bigpook]

As soon as I figure out how to add a poll I will.

The question is simple. What do you prefer when it comes to noise and your keyboard.
Are you someone that likes it loud like a BS key or not so loud like a blue cherry. Or, must it be non-clicky and quiet.

Does it matter to you either way?

[lam47]

I like the sound of noisy boards but at night when I type the most I have to use something quiet so as not to wake Eloisa.
I love the feel of the blue Cherries as well as the sound of them. Same goes for the Model M.

So basically I need a poll option for 'I like everything'

[itlnstln]

I like both, but I think the biggest aspect is feel.  A keyboard can be loud as Hell, but feel crappy, while a silent switch might feel awesome.  I would rather have a silent 'board with great feel so that can be the focus typing (as well as subject matter) instead of being distracted by sound.  A clicking switch is OK (say, blue Cherries) but switches that clack on bottoming and topping out (non-damped Alps) tend to be distracting and annoying at times, especially since, IMO, those sounds are not germaine to the typing experience (like the BS click is).

[wellington1869]

I like both - medium tactility and medium noise. For me the quest has been to define what I mean by "medium". But so far I've rejected boards that were too soft or too much in either category.

I guess it was easier for me to start with the old heavy switches and tune them down (since its much more difficult to tune switches UP in these things).

[itlnstln]

10-4.  I started with rubber domes (after using Model Ms for years; go figure), and looking for a (drastic) change, I switched to white Alps.  Now, I want something in between: great feel with less noise (Cherry browns).

[iMav]

Reasonable tactile feedback and great layout is what keeps me, primarily, on my HHKB Pro.  I love a variety of switches (Cherry browns and blues, Alps black and white, buckling springs) and each are enjoyable in their own way.  

At a minimum, I need good tactile feedback and no numpad for a keyboard to last any length of time on my desk.  Everything else being equal, I'd choose decent audible feedback as well.

[Chloe]

I found the Cherry MLs and brown MX to be quite noisy compared to rubber domes and scissor switches. I don't mind the noise so much now but I would prefer near silence. Occasionally I like the mechanical feel and sound of clicky white ALPS.

[megarat]

I absolutely love noisy keyboards.  There's nothing like jamming out some text at 80wpm on a clacky, BS keyboard.  Whatever I'm writing feels that much more important and decisive.

That said, noise is not a critical factor in my keyboard selection process.  E.g., I retired my Endurapro for my HHKBPro2, mostly because of the layout, and the quality of Topre switch doesn't hurt either.

[Qwertyuiop]

I absolutely love noisy keyboards.  There's nothing like jamming out some text at 80wpm on a clacky, BS keyboard.

Me too, though I don't type that fast.

I think I need the noise as feedback as much as the feedback from the feel. While it was low on my list of dislikes about it, the Filco I had with the Cherry brown switches was too quiet to my liking.

I think the crispness of the actuation sound may be more important to me than how loud it actually is, as I found the sound of the IBM M4-1 satisfying as well, even though it's not really that loud to me.

[Korbin]

The soft "thocking" noise of Topre switches in the best combination of low noise audible typing orchestration and feel. That is all.