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The U4T isn't a silent switch. Do you mean the U4?

I'd assume so. U4Ts are very not silent.

Sorry I meant the U4 Boba! Fixed it.

Would love to try the Outemu Peach and Lime switches. I use both U4 and Midnight Pro (the very lightly tactile one) and I enjoy them both despite the latter being more noisy, it makes a very soothing marbly sound on in my kbd67 lite (PC plate, foams).

U4 was the quietest switch I had tried until Mode Anthracite. They initially felt too heavy, but they're growing on me. I'm so pleased that mode even bothered making a silent switch and they bring something new. Less tactile than U4 but still noticeable.

To make a quiet keyboard you have to start with the switches, they are the source of vibrations to begin with. But the plate material and case have a lot to say what happens to the sound that is left. A metal plate in an open case is certainly going to accentuate any spring ping, leaf making contacts and plastic scratching.

Actually I'm not that surprised - a lot of good silent switches aren't focused on complete silence so much as maintaining decent feel while being very quiet. If you give up 5% noise to get 20% better feel, most people will make that tradeoff.

Haimu Heartbeat are the quietest switch I've ever tried and it does it all without rubber dampeners, so it feels exactly like a regular switch. Can really recommend for office use

Wow I gotta try those, thanks

What other silent switches have you tried in the past?

They are still pretty far from a normal switch, better than traditional silicone for its quietness, but still mushy

Uh oh, I was going to get Whispers for my next build because I hate the mushiness of U4s. Are they noticeably bad?

Feeling wise they are better than u4 in regards to bottom out feeling (less mushy), less tactile than u4 though but very comfortable

I wanted the boba but they were sold out in my region. Went with the durock shrimps due to their availability on Amazon and easy returns. Non lubed they’re quite mediocre but after lubing they totally transform. Compared to my friends board which has the boba switches I don’t feel I’m losing out and they’re cheaper too.

They are a normal linear switch with holes drilled in the bottom to allow sound to escape which is what makes them silent, so there is absolutely no mushiness.

Edit: haven't tried the whispers since tactiles aren't my favourite but I believe the whispers aren't quite as silent since that tactile bump produces a little bit more sound of course.

I'm not sure we're talking about the same switch

Zilents, U4, Cherry and Gateron silents. And then some UHMWPE linear switches which aren't marketed as silent but I do find them quieter than pom or nylon based switches and without any dampeners.

Less mushy than u4 but still slightly mushy at the bottom

The stems also have little leaf spring type bits that dampen the bottom out (might be on the top out too). That’s the part that makes them feel slightly mushy.

I got the Heartbeats to try out, but I couldn’t get over the feel. Silent switches just aren’t for me.

Just clarifying but are they quieter than U4s or just quieter than switches without dampeners? If it's the former, then I'll probably be trying them out.

Mushy is not the word, they have a slight cutout at the bottom of the stem which softens the impact a little bit but it's more like bending your knees a bit when landong after a jump compared to landing on a mattress. So not even remotely like the mushy feeling rubber dampeners have.

I can't say for sure regarding the whispers tactile since I haven't tried those, but comparing the U4 with the heartbeat the heartbeat is quieter, and feels just way, way, better. I would guesd that the whispers are probably on par with the U4, the tactile bump probably increases the sound just slightly over the linears. But the whispers I would assume have the U4 beat in feel.

They are not quieter than u4, u4 is still one of the quietest tactile switches. Whispers still have a bit of a top out noise. It isnt as dampened on the upstroke.

Gotcha, I appreciate the info! I think I'll get a few to try out before I commit to a board's worth.

https://cannonkeys.com/products/switch-sample-packs

CK has sample packs where you can try a bunch of switches before buying

Give the Outemu Cream Yellows a try if you can. They're a better Boba, more silent, same feel.

Definitely better than the silicon dampeners, but also definitely not like a normal switch either.

Will do, thank you!

Gateron Aliaz switches are extremely quiet as well.
The bump on them has a bit of pre-travel, then crosses the bump, and increases in weight as it approaches bottom out.

By contrast, my Zeal Zilents, drop off the bump almost immediately, and decrease in weight as they approach bottom out.
That feels better to me, but is a bit louder than the Aliaz switches, although still very quiet.

I run both of those with Gateron White springs in them, to lighten them up to 35g.

How do the mode ones stack up to anyone who owns this.

What should I buy if I want mid budget silent switches (up to 40 bucks 70pcs) to use at the office? I like the linear and tactical switches but like you I'm a newb to this so I don't really know, based on what you said the Gazzew or the Outemu seems pretty attractive to me but I don't know how I'd appreciate it, at the office I have currently a basic cherry keyboard (the first one you usually see on their website) at home for gaming I have proprietary linear switches from my Corsair keyboard but for desktop work at the office I don't really know

I had many people complain in the office when I had normal linears (they were very loud) and that's why I switched to silent switches. No one complains anymore.

If what you want is minimal sound, then definitely go for the Outemu. The feel on the Gazzew is better, but they are also heavier which makes typing for me a bit more tiring. The Outemu are lighter and also cheaper.

Thanks you so much for the fast answer, I think I'll go for the outemu but I wonder if the colour of the switch make it ugly on the keyboard overall,

Planned to get myself an alpha 87 barebone with domikey-knight keycap set (mostly white - blue colours)

Don't know If I could go for a cheaper alternative for a keyboard tho

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May I ever know what my man was trying to tell me 😂🙏