Author Topic: Difference in sound between same Model F keyboards  (Read 7535 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Wazrach

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 53
  • Location: Tyne and Wear, UK
  • Buckling Spring Fanatic
Difference in sound between same Model F keyboards
« on: Sat, 30 June 2018, 13:10:15 »
I know this is super, super trivial, but I'm interested in finding out why the sound differs so much between the same model of keyboard. This new out-of-box Model F XT sounds completely different to the other one I had, which I sold to a friend. This one is higher-pitched and the ping is more twangy, like an instrument. It also sounds more bassy and thocky than the other one, which had a lower pitch and a more resonant, ringing sound. My customised Model F AT sounds nothing like the ones on YouTube, sounding like I floss-modded half of the keys, which is a shame because I wanted the full-on musical ping. :(

If anyone knows the reason for these differences, I'd love to know!

Offline fohat.digs

  • * Elevated Elder
  • Posts: 6565
  • Location: 35°55'N, 83°53'W
  • weird funny old guy
Re: Difference in sound between same Model F keyboards
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 30 June 2018, 13:38:34 »
The simple and unsatisfying answer is: every buckling spring keyboard is different and has a personality of its own.

I have owned dozens, and no 2 are alike.
"We are on the precipice of signing an agreement to advance talks with Iran that preserves the good parts of former President Barack Obama’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) while amplifying its flaws.
Mr. Obama came to an agreement that did not involve America’s most precious treasure, the lives and limbs of our soldiers.  The 1.7 billion dollars of frozen Iranian assets released by Obama pales in comparison to the 300 billion being floated as a rebuilding fund.
So far, speculation that Iran will be free in the future to continue its nuclear program is the opposite of Trump’s stated goal for the war and in direct opposition to what Mr. Obama negotiated.
"
- Bill Roberts 2026-06-17

Offline davkol

  •  Post Editing Timeout
  • Posts: 4983
Re: Difference in sound between same Model F keyboards
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 30 June 2018, 13:40:45 »
Some call it inconsistency.

Offline Wazrach

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 53
  • Location: Tyne and Wear, UK
  • Buckling Spring Fanatic
Re: Difference in sound between same Model F keyboards
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 30 June 2018, 13:44:21 »
Ah well, it's still cool. Sound is really important to me, so I think that justifies collecting them... :P

Offline Carcharocles

  • Posts: 101
  • Location: In the lonely, desolate wasteland of South Kansas City
    • The Deathscape Mythos
Re: Difference in sound between same Model F keyboards
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 30 June 2018, 17:08:01 »
Minor differences in manufacturing will affect these things. Model F, like the Model M, was produced over a fair period of time. Brand new ones will sound different from older ones because the older ones are more broken in, and dust and dirt can still affect any switch even if you otherwise can't see or feel it. And because it's a relatively old keyboard, we can assume that fabrication for old models just wasn't as refined as it is today, so there will be differences in how they feel or sound even when compared to a completely accurate reproduction.

It still happens today on more common and "refined" switches (refined being a relative term here). As far as I'm concerned, it gives each keyboard its own character, so I don't see it as a bad thing. It only becomes a problem to me when one switch on the same board has a wildly different feel from the others.

As for why they sound different on Youtube than yours does, that's easily explained by a mix of your speakers and their mics. I don't think even the best microphones and speakers on the market today can 100% faithfully reproduce any real world sound, and most Youtube reviewers don't have access to the extremely expensive/highest quality stuff anyway.
T1000 , Firmware ver. Doge.

Most deadly of them all.
Keyboards: Drevo Gramr (Outemu Browns); Logitech K480

Offline Giorgio

  • Posts: 1846
  • Location: Italy
Re: Difference in sound between same Model F keyboards
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 30 June 2018, 18:03:17 »
Wait until Eclipse discovers this. He'll wait four more years to deliver.

Offline romevi

  • Formerly romevi
  • * Exalted Elder
  • Posts: 8942
  • Location: The Windy City
Re: Difference in sound between same Model F keyboards
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 30 June 2018, 21:09:50 »
Wait until Eclipse discovers this. He'll wait four more years to deliver.

Was thinking the same.

What if the same sound F he hears is not the same sound F we hear...?