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Author Topic: does the case make a difference in sound?  (Read 1317 times)

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Offline Jixr

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does the case make a difference in sound?
« on: Sat, 30 November 2013, 17:24:03 »
Hey guys, so here is the deal, I picked up another keyboard with mx blacks ( Mionix Zibal 60 ) and its noticeably quieter than my other keyboards ( XT, QFR with red switches ) Slamming on a key and bottoming out as hard as I can, the blacks on the Mionix are quieter than my QF's.

I did swap out a few of the reds for blacks on the QF's, but even those blacks are much louder than blacks on the Mionix
I swapped the caps to matching caps ( thin pbt ) and the Mionix is still quieter.

The only difference is the Case, where the QF's are very thin and minimal, the Mionix is both taller and a bit more bulky than the QF's.

Does case design really play that much of a difference in the sound? and if so, what tricks can I use on my QFR to silence it more.


Ideas, comments, tips or suggestions?


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Offline Photoelectric

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Re: does the case make a difference in sound?
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 30 November 2013, 17:27:26 »
There's definitely a difference in sound, not only due to cases themselves, but also other things like internal configuration/dampening.  If you insert some foam/rubber shelf liner between your PCB and the bottom of the case, the sound will also change.  Metal cases are extra dampened.
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Offline Jixr

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Re: does the case make a difference in sound?
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 30 November 2013, 17:51:52 »
yeah, its amazing how much quieter the Mionix is to the QFR, I don't like the keyboard as much, but if I can make my QFR's as quiet as it is that would be awesome.


I Guess I can throw a red in the board just to make sure if its really the case or if blacks are just naturally quieter than reds.
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Offline Photoelectric

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Re: does the case make a difference in sound?
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 30 November 2013, 17:55:26 »
Reds should be louder than Blacks on average, as you're more likely to bottom them out faster.  Otherwise they are the same switch with a different spring.  But the sound will also depend on your keycaps.  The rest depends on how dampened the vibrations are, which is a function of case density and insulation.  If you want quiet, do use something like foam/rubber shelf liners under your PCBs.  It helps a lot.  Also you can put your keyboard on something soft, like the same liner or a rubber/mousepad mat.
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Offline Jixr

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Re: does the case make a difference in sound?
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 30 November 2013, 17:59:31 »
yeah, i've elimitanted all the variables between the two, and the only difference is the case.

I've tried the shelf liner in the case before, and I could not tell an audiable difference, Though Maybe I can find some foam or cut some cardboard or something to place in side to take up as much space as possible

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Offline Photoelectric

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Re: does the case make a difference in sound?
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 30 November 2013, 18:02:26 »
You can try a couple of layers of thinner liner.  There's the foamy kind and a similar but thinner that I've seen.  But those should be sufficient.  It modifies sound wave travel, as sound waves are longitudinal pressure waves, and you're blocking their propagation by the dense grid of absorbing foamy stuff.  I noticed a big difference in my Filco TKL keyboards.
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Offline Jixr

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Re: does the case make a difference in sound?
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 30 November 2013, 18:56:13 »
yeah, i'll just try to stuff it full with as much fluff as I can.

I absolutely love how the blacks sound.
Just not sure if they are what I need for work/home useage.
( though I just lubed them all and they are feeling quite nice )

Damn it. I'm going to end up buying another XT in blacks and that means another round of case painting, anohter set of keycaps...

I can't win can I?
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Offline Photoelectric

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Re: does the case make a difference in sound?
« Reply #7 on: Sat, 30 November 2013, 18:58:12 »
Try o-rings for Reds?  50A from Amazon are good in my personal experience for OEM profile keycaps.
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Offline Jixr

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Re: does the case make a difference in sound?
« Reply #8 on: Sat, 30 November 2013, 19:06:13 »
I've never liked o-rings, I like the sudden stop of bottoming out.

though the blacks do fill a bit stiff, I'm sure I can get used to them.

Though i'm sure it would just be cheapest to buy some black springs and throw them in my reds.
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Offline ynrozturk

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Re: does the case make a difference in sound?
« Reply #9 on: Sat, 30 November 2013, 20:10:12 »
I've found that keycaps make a big difference in sound for me.

I like the sound of my Brown switches on my Poker II the most. Well, after the sound of my Model F, but that kind of goes without saying.
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Offline zoolzoo

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Re: does the case make a difference in sound?
« Reply #10 on: Sat, 30 November 2013, 20:19:24 »
yes
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Offline BlackWidowMan777

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Re: does the case make a difference in sound?
« Reply #11 on: Sat, 30 November 2013, 21:23:26 »
For me most definitely.

Poker 2 (browns) sounds a millions times better than CM Storm TK (browns)

Steelseries 6gV2 (blacks) sounds and feels better than Ducky Zero (blacks)

Blackwidow (blues), for me, sounds and feels better than Das Ultimate (blues)

But, that's a lot of interest for ASMR purposes, some people like me love going to youtube and listening to beautiful sounding boards. I went to Misterinterface.com and decided from that the best sounding are the siig minitouch and sgi granite. So I bought them and love them both especially the granite my second favorite keyboard. So sometimes what we discern from looking and hearing does translate to real life feel and enjoyment. The Apple Extended 2 also sounds great and many love it but I have yet to try it. 
« Last Edit: Sat, 30 November 2013, 21:25:45 by BlackWidowMan777 »
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Offline terran5992

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Re: does the case make a difference in sound?
« Reply #12 on: Sat, 30 November 2013, 22:23:22 »
Quote from: BlackWidowMan777 on Sat, 30 November 2013, 21:23:26
For me most definitely.

Poker 2 (browns) sounds a millions times better than CM Storm TK (browns)

Steelseries 6gV2 (blacks) sounds and feels better than Ducky Zero (blacks)

Blackwidow (blues), for me, sounds and feels better than Das Ultimate (blues)

But, that's a lot of interest for ASMR purposes, some people like me love going to youtube and listening to beautiful sounding boards. I went to Misterinterface.com and decided from that the best sounding are the siig minitouch and sgi granite. So I bought them and love them both especially the granite my second favorite keyboard. So sometimes what we discern from looking and hearing does translate to real life feel and enjoyment. The Apple Extended 2 also sounds great and many love it but I have yet to try it.

Make a video?
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Offline BlackWidowMan777

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Re: does the case make a difference in sound?
« Reply #13 on: Sat, 30 November 2013, 22:56:36 »
Quote from: terran5992 on Sat, 30 November 2013, 22:23:22
Quote from: BlackWidowMan777 on Sat, 30 November 2013, 21:23:26
For me most definitely.

Poker 2 (browns) sounds a millions times better than CM Storm TK (browns)

Steelseries 6gV2 (blacks) sounds and feels better than Ducky Zero (blacks)

Blackwidow (blues), for me, sounds and feels better than Das Ultimate (blues)

But, that's a lot of interest for ASMR purposes, some people like me love going to youtube and listening to beautiful sounding boards. I went to Misterinterface.com and decided from that the best sounding are the siig minitouch and sgi granite. So I bought them and love them both especially the granite my second favorite keyboard. So sometimes what we discern from looking and hearing does translate to real life feel and enjoyment. The Apple Extended 2 also sounds great and many love it but I have yet to try it.

Make a video?

Man, I ain't got a good camera, video camera, or sound mike. But soon I wanna make a review of my burgeoning collection to compare things like typing feel, speed and accuracy, sound. I'm not expert enough to talk about the internals so it'll be helpful only for noobs like me.

But go to Misterinterface.com and you can actually type on different simulated keyboards and hear the sound of clicks including spacebar and modifiers. Otherwise youtube  :)
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