Are cherry mx switches really THAT different between them?

[Nikelu]

Currently I am in look for my second board. I was using cherry mx blues all this time and I heard that reds and browns are mostly used for gaming. Red are linear browns are tactile and bla bla you all know the stories. I listened to tons of videos previewing the sound of all the cherry mx switches.To me there aren't such huge differences to how they sound. But I really can't tell how they feel,because in Greece you can't go to your local shop and check keyboards out as we pretty much don't have anything. So internet,please help me. From the videos I watched and the forums and articles I read tons of times my conclusions are, Reds aren't silent and they do have a click,Browns feel like cheap reds with a bit of tactility maybe but they seem like they have sand inside for red users and people don't find a point in brown switches too,Blues are great from personal experience and they are great for typing too,and the other switches are just enhanced versions of these that need more force or are more silent etc.Well I have to buy a keyboard because this is going to stop working really soon,I am sure about this.So should I buy reds,browns,maybe blues again? Also what's the matter with clears and greens,people seem to love them.And how will the switches feel if I use noise dampeners 0,2/0,4mm

[Joey Quinn]

For a second board I'd recommend a switch change just so you can see what's out there. Yes there is a big difference between the switches but it's all subjective so you may not think so. I personally am partial to heavy linear blacks, ergo clears, and heavy clears or tactile greys. Switch dampeners decrease the keystroke so the press will feel shorter and the bottom out will be softer. I don't like .4mm but .2 is ok.

Also don't get browns, if you want tactile get clears.

[limitz]

Cherry switches are different even among themselves (vintage Black and modern Black). They're certainly different between each other.

[ideus]

I learned by experience that watching videos and reading others experience on switches cannot tell if you may like a particular switch. Only by direct use you may know if a particular switch, and board is for you. The switch is only one part of the typing experience, the case, the plate, if any, and the caps are also part of the overall experience. Thus, the only way for you to understand if you would prefer one switch over other is to actually typing on a board with it.

[snipars]

yes, entirely

[demik]

The switch is only one part of the typing experience, the case, the plate, if any, and the caps are also part of the overall experience. Thus, the only way for you to understand if you would prefer one switch over other is to actually typing on a board with it.

bingo. many people like many different switches in many different configurations. nobody can tell you what you'll like, they're only telling you what they like and are comfortable typing on. the beauty of this hobby is the many different choices we have. granted, it costs us a pretty penny to finally land on that perfect set up. but in the end, it's worth it because your whole typing experience will be joyful.

[Snowdog993]

bingo. many people like many different switches in many different configurations. nobody can tell you what you'll like, they're only telling you what they like and are comfortable typing on. the beauty of this hobby is the many different choices we have. granted, it costs us a pretty penny to finally land on that perfect set up. but in the end, it's worth it because your whole typing experience will be joyful.

I'm still waiting for demik to get a buckling spring keyboard.

[demik]

bingo. many people like many different switches in many different configurations. nobody can tell you what you'll like, they're only telling you what they like and are comfortable typing on. the beauty of this hobby is the many different choices we have. granted, it costs us a pretty penny to finally land on that perfect set up. but in the end, it's worth it because your whole typing experience will be joyful.

I'm still waiting for demik to get a buckling spring keyboard.

want to try a model F sometime in the future

[Snowdog993]

You got a pm demik.  I don't want to throw the thread off topic at all.  And two SSK's to boot!  Wow.

[JinDesu]

I just got my Cherry MX CM Storm, after playing with my Filco blue all weekend. I also have a Unicomp Model M right behind me.

The difference between the MX blue and MX green is nowhere near the difference from either to the Model M. The buckling spring is still the most fun in my opinion, with great spring response and tactility. The unfortunate part is that I don't have a SSK or else I'd give up everything else right now.

But that being said, I do notice a difference in the MX greens from the blues. It's especially noticeable in that some of my peripheral keypresses (i.e. outer keys and pinky keys) are not actually registering because I'm used to hitting blues with just the minimal force to activate. I think I do like the green springs, but I really need to get used to them. Tactility is the same as the blues, just the spring rate is heavier.

The blues and greens are definitely different from my Race S with MX browns. The browns feel very light and not a lot of tactility (and no noise either, to me). I don't like it anymore. And having played with reds before, I really don't like reds. No feel at all, unless you bottom out.

[Merranza]

Since you already have a tactile switch, I'd go with a linear one for a change.

[snipars]

I just got my Cherry MX CM Storm, after playing with my Filco blue all weekend. I also have a Unicomp Model M right behind me.

The difference between the MX blue and MX green is nowhere near the difference from either to the Model M. The buckling spring is still the most fun in my opinion, with great spring response and tactility. The unfortunate part is that I don't have a SSK or else I'd give up everything else right now.

But that being said, I do notice a difference in the MX greens from the blues. It's especially noticeable in that some of my peripheral keypresses (i.e. outer keys and pinky keys) are not actually registering because I'm used to hitting blues with just the minimal force to activate. I think I do like the green springs, but I really need to get used to them. Tactility is the same as the blues, just the spring rate is heavier.

The blues and greens are definitely different from my Race S with MX browns. The browns feel very light and not a lot of tactility (and no noise either, to me). I don't like it anymore. And having played with reds before, I really don't like reds. No feel at all, unless you bottom out.

the MX blue and green are the same, just with different spring weights 
the real differences are between the linear/clicky/tactile switch types

[jamster]

I'm new to Cherry switches so have been trying out as many as possible recently. I find the switches are quite different, but as everyone else is saying, it's hugely down to personal preference. I am finding that I really don't like switches that a lot of other people here seem to like, and have a preference for switches which a small number of people seem to look down on (Model M buckling spring). Doesn't bother me, it just means it's pure personal preference.

I also think that the whole "X is for GAMING!!! Y is for typing" is completely overblown, and probably mainly an indicator that the person saying this is unnecessarily dogmatic and probably not really worth taking too seriously.

[hwood34]

yes

[Sifo]

I have tried 62g gold spring clears with my method of lubing on over 6 different boards (for my own builds and customer builds) and they all felt completely different to me. As ideus said, "The switch is only one part of the typing experience, the case, the plate, if any, and the caps are also part of the overall experience."

I think as with any hobby (like myself in audio right now ) you just have to keep exploring until you find what you like. Some people reach their destination quicker than others, some always fall back to the same place, some settle for what they've got, etc. But if you're in it for the hobby it's not so much about the destination itself, but the journey along the way. Otherwise you just have to hope that you get lucky or convince yourself to settle on something

[Nai_Calus]

They really are. My clears are vastly different from my Blues and different from the browns on another board I have and well obviously the gateron clears on another but those aren't MX.

Reds: Nothing. Typo city, no feel, too easy to press. Tried typing on them on a demo unit hooked up to a computer once at a Fry's.
Blacks: Weird. Pressure but no feel. Probably less typos than reds. Haven't gotten to actually use them for typing, but it's not a switch I'd search out because linear isn't my thing.
Blues: Nice feeling, light, loud as heck. Typed/gamed on these for most of a year. Nice switch but occasionally painful for me, I'm a heavy typist apparently and I realized I was bottoming out all the time.
Browns: Not scratchy reds. They do have a tactile feel to them. They're as light as reds, which can be an issue. The bump is pretty small. Note the newer browns I haven't tried typing on that I felt at a meetup felt a little different from the 90s-era browns on the board I have.
Clears: Not heavy browns. They have a different slider and a much more pronounced feel. The stiffness isn't as bad as the numbers might indicate, and I bottom out a lot less now since there's more resistance. The initial press is actually not much worse IMO than my blues but past the bump it suddenly goes up for the pressure.

Others: Haven't tried.

[Sygaldry]

Linear MX is the best MX

[chyros]

Yes, Cherry switches are very different among them. It's not that their spectrum is so vast that is a Cherry for everyone, but among them they are quite different.

[Oobly]

Yes, they are very different.

The sound of MX on videos is often the same due to the video maker bottoming out really hard all the time. Many MX sound clip videos I have seen are like this.

Blues and Greens are clicky and the switch itself makes a sound, Reds, Blacks, Browns and Clears do not make a sound, but on all the switches, when the switch slider hits the bottom of the casing it makes a "clack" and again if you release the slider quickly it makes a sound when it hits the top of the casing.

The three main types definitely feel different from each other (clicky, linear, tactile), although the clicky and tactile can feel similar. Greens are the same as Blues, but with harder springs, likewise Blacks and Reds. Clears are very different from Browns, though, and have a much bigger tactile bump and springs with a different spring constant / force curve. They start off light, but get harder quicker. Browns are tactile enough to prevent typos and accidental presses.

Also, as others have mentioned, there are other factors that affect how a keyboard feels such as case design and material, plate or PCB mount, keycap profile and mass, etc.

The "sound dampeners" you mention are actually small orings that you place on the keycap stems. They cushion the bottom out a little, dampen the sound and depending on how thick they are they can reduce the travel a bit. I like them on tactile (Brown and Clear) switches, but I much prefer adding little silicone balls inside the switch to do the same job (trampoline mod), since those are not dependent on the keycap design and don't change feeling when swapping keycaps.

So should I buy reds,browns,maybe blues again?

Depends what you want... If you want to be able to "hover" around the actuation point for FPS games, then get linears (Reds or Blacks). If you need tactile feedback when typing, don't get linears, but rather clicky or tactile. If you like the sound of the clicky switches and it doesn't matter if your board is noisy and you don't mind the hysteresis (actuation and reset point in different positions), then get clicky switches (Blues or Greens). If you want a quieter board, but still want to feel when the switch actuates, get tactile switches (Browns or Clears). If you want light tactile switches with mild tactility, get Browns, if you want more pronounced tactility get Clears. My personal favourite is Clears, specifically modified with trampolines, stickers, 62g springs, lubed, plate mounted, aluminum case and SA profile keycaps

[wyatt8740]

They really are. My clears are vastly different from my Blues and different from the browns on another board I have and well obviously the gateron clears on another but those aren't MX.

Reds: Nothing. Typo city, no feel, too easy to press. Tried typing on them on a demo unit hooked up to a computer once at a Fry's.
Blacks: Weird. Pressure but no feel. Probably less typos than reds. Haven't gotten to actually use them for typing, but it's not a switch I'd search out because linear isn't my thing.
Blues: Nice feeling, light, loud as heck. Typed/gamed on these for most of a year. Nice switch but occasionally painful for me, I'm a heavy typist apparently and I realized I was bottoming out all the time.
Browns: Not scratchy reds. They do have a tactile feel to them. They're as light as reds, which can be an issue. The bump is pretty small. Note the newer browns I haven't tried typing on that I felt at a meetup felt a little different from the 90s-era browns on the board I have.
Clears: Not heavy browns. They have a different slider and a much more pronounced feel. The stiffness isn't as bad as the numbers might indicate, and I bottom out a lot less now since there's more resistance. The initial press is actually not much worse IMO than my blues but past the bump it suddenly goes up for the pressure.

Others: Haven't tried.

If you liked blues but were bottoming out, greens or buckling springs may be for you.

[Firebolt1914]

The similar sound you heard was most likely the bottom out of the keycaps. The surface under the keyboard influences this.

I honestly believe that key switch feel is mostly subjective except for the basic idea. If you find a store with a good return policy, you can try one out and then return it. If not, you can try to resell it. If none of these work, you could either try to find someone with a keyboard and try it out, or do as I did and choose a random keyboard and see how it is and let it grow on you.

[Dihedral]

The switch is only one part of the typing experience, the case, the plate, if any, and the caps are also part of the overall experience. Thus, the only way for you to understand if you would prefer one switch over other is to actually typing on a board with it.

bingo. many people like many different switches in many different configurations. nobody can tell you what you'll like, they're only telling you what they like and are comfortable typing on. the beauty of this hobby is the many different choices we have. granted, it costs us a pretty penny to finally land on that perfect set up. but in the end, it's worth it because your whole typing experience will be joyful.

I'm confused. Demik didnt mention hhkb or topre once in that post.

[werear]

FWIW recording has ceiling 0db. All sound above this is clipped under 0db. That's why you hear little difference. In real situation Blue sounds considerably loud for people near by. Clicky sound contains high frequency and fast attack characteristic. This contributes the loudness of Blue.

[davkol]

This is kinda pointless, because the perception is mostly subjective and even varies over time.

Go to the Deskthority Marketplace and start a WTB thread looking for a keyboard with PCB-mounted switches (e.g., some used German Cherry G80) plus a couple of extra switches/stems&springs. Then, swap around the springs and stems in something like arrow keys and play some arcade games with that. It should give you a pretty good idea what to expect in general.

[ideus]

This is kinda pointless, because the perception is mostly subjective and even varies over time.

Go to the Deskthority Marketplace and start a WTB thread looking for a keyboard with PCB-mounted switches (e.g., some used German Cherry G80) plus a couple of extra switches/stems&springs. Then, swap around the springs and stems in something like arrow keys and play some arcade games with that. It should give you a pretty good idea what to expect in general.

This is really a good idea. I can do that with my Poker X, which has plate mounted switches by the way. The only think I may hate is to change its soft springs, that give you and awesome feeling with something else just for the sake of experimentation.

[JaccoW]

As some other have mentioned already, yes there are some really big differences between the switches. I prefer heavier ones so that's why I prefer Clears and Blacks.
But Keycaps (thin/thick, ABS/PBT), the way they are mounted (PCB/Plate) and the case itself (plastic/aluminium) can make a big difference as well.

Each and every single MX Clear board I own feels slightly different and sounds different. Mostly sounds different.
I really liked MX Browns with O-rings because it was almost silent but the lightness of the switch meant I was making too many typos.
Keep in mind this is coming from someone that can still bottom out on Clears. I am simply a very heavy typist because I train my fingers a lot at work.

[ideus]

As some other have mentioned already, yes there are some really big differences between the switches. I prefer heavier ones so that's why I prefer Clears and Blacks.
But Keycaps (thin/thick, ABS/PBT), the way they are mounted (PCB/Plate) and the case itself (plastic/aluminium) can make a big difference as well.

Each and every single MX Clear board I own feels slightly different and sounds different. Mostly sounds different.
I really liked MX Browns with O-rings because it was almost silent but the lightness of the switch meant I was making too many typos.
Keep in mind this is coming from someone that can still bottom out on Clears. I am simply a very heavy typist because I train my fingers a lot at work.

Heavy fingers?

[JaccoW]

As some other have mentioned already, yes there are some really big differences between the switches. I prefer heavier ones so that's why I prefer Clears and Blacks.
But Keycaps (thin/thick, ABS/PBT), the way they are mounted (PCB/Plate) and the case itself (plastic/aluminium) can make a big difference as well.

Each and every single MX Clear board I own feels slightly different and sounds different. Mostly sounds different.
I really liked MX Browns with O-rings because it was almost silent but the lightness of the switch meant I was making too many typos.
Keep in mind this is coming from someone that can still bottom out on Clears. I am simply a very heavy typist because I train my fingers a lot at work.

Heavy fingers?

They are freakishly long but mostly because I often work at the hiking shoes department where I work so I am tying around 10-80 shoes a day. For comparison, most people start getting sore fingers or blisters after just 5-6.
 P.s. Why the hate Ideus? 

[ideus]

As some other have mentioned already, yes there are some really big differences between the switches. I prefer heavier ones so that's why I prefer Clears and Blacks.
But Keycaps (thin/thick, ABS/PBT), the way they are mounted (PCB/Plate) and the case itself (plastic/aluminium) can make a big difference as well.

Each and every single MX Clear board I own feels slightly different and sounds different. Mostly sounds different.
I really liked MX Browns with O-rings because it was almost silent but the lightness of the switch meant I was making too many typos.
Keep in mind this is coming from someone that can still bottom out on Clears. I am simply a very heavy typist because I train my fingers a lot at work.

Heavy fingers?

They are freakishly long but mostly because I often work at the hiking shoes department where I work so I am tying around 10-80 shoes a day. For comparison, most people start getting sore fingers or blisters after just 5-6.
 P.s. Why the hate Ideus? 

'


No hate pal, only acknowledging your comment.

[JaccoW]

As some other have mentioned already, yes there are some really big differences between the switches. I prefer heavier ones so that's why I prefer Clears and Blacks.
But Keycaps (thin/thick, ABS/PBT), the way they are mounted (PCB/Plate) and the case itself (plastic/aluminium) can make a big difference as well.

Each and every single MX Clear board I own feels slightly different and sounds different. Mostly sounds different.
I really liked MX Browns with O-rings because it was almost silent but the lightness of the switch meant I was making too many typos.
Keep in mind this is coming from someone that can still bottom out on Clears. I am simply a very heavy typist because I train my fingers a lot at work.

Heavy fingers?

They are freakishly long but mostly because I often work at the hiking shoes department where I work so I am tying around 10-80 shoes a day. For comparison, most people start getting sore fingers or blisters after just 5-6.
 P.s. Why the hate Ideus? 

'
No hate pal, only acknowledging your comment.

Ha, I was referring to the gif you posted. No problem.

[KHAANNN]

They are also different in-between themselves, especially clicky ones, they don't all click the same

So don't try 0.4mm reduction o-rings with clicky switches, however they go well with red switches from my experience

Combining o-rings with clicky switches turned out to be a nightmare for me

Browns have a small bump, clears have a stronger bump, they both feel like a stuck switch in my opinion, o-rings might make that sensation worse, as the switch bumps, and then you experience a secondary bump on the bottom-out, disturbing

Red/Black's only have the bottom out sound, if you add o-rings they are pretty nice, but very dull (you just bottom out and experience the o-ring bump)

I would suggest getting green switches without o-rings, very beasty

[ideus]

As some other have mentioned already, yes there are some really big differences between the switches. I prefer heavier ones so that's why I prefer Clears and Blacks.
But Keycaps (thin/thick, ABS/PBT), the way they are mounted (PCB/Plate) and the case itself (plastic/aluminium) can make a big difference as well.

Each and every single MX Clear board I own feels slightly different and sounds different. Mostly sounds different.
I really liked MX Browns with O-rings because it was almost silent but the lightness of the switch meant I was making too many typos.
Keep in mind this is coming from someone that can still bottom out on Clears. I am simply a very heavy typist because I train my fingers a lot at work.

Heavy fingers?

They are freakishly long but mostly because I often work at the hiking shoes department where I work so I am tying around 10-80 shoes a day. For comparison, most people start getting sore fingers or blisters after just 5-6.
 P.s. Why the hate Ideus? 

'
No hate pal, only acknowledging your comment.

Ha, I was referring to the gif you posted. No problem.

She hates both of us. )