cherry MX sample switches

[HermanT]

I am looking to buy cherry mx sample switches, something like this http://www.cmstore-usa.com/mechanical-key-switch-demo-board/ .

In fact, exactly this thing... but I cant find it anywhere (probably because the bastards dont sell it anymore)... can anyone link anything similar to this?

 

The only thing I could find is this > http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Max-Keyboard-Clear-Keycaps-Cherry-MX-Switches-Rubber-O-Ring-Sampler-Tester-Kit-/181495831598?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2a41fe9c2e ,

which is good and all, but if theres a board with more switch variety, that would be better!

 

Thanks!

[HermanT]

btw while on the subject... those rubber rings that go on the switch... they damp the click sound right? Are they included with keyboards or bought separately (like if I were to buy a corsair keyboard or CM or steelseries keyboard or whatever).

[Anthony10]

I am looking to buy cherry mx sample switches, something like this http://www.cmstore-usa.com/mechanical-key-switch-demo-board/ .

In fact, exactly this thing... but I cant find it anywhere (probably because the bastards dont sell it anymore)... can anyone link anything similar to this?

 

The only thing I could find is this > http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Max-Keyboard-Clear-Keycaps-Cherry-MX-Switches-Rubber-O-Ring-Sampler-Tester-Kit-/181495831598?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2a41fe9c2e ,

which is good and all, but if theres a board with more switch variety, that would be better!

 

Thanks!

That ebay link looks like your best bet, in the US atleast.

As for the rubber grommits, they are called o-rings which you usually buy separately but are cheap. I'm pretty sure most mech keyboard don't come with them.

[Heisenbleurgh]

Max Keyboard sells a kit with 8 switches but I can't find it in stock on ebay or Amazon. Might be worth waiting around to see if gets restocked.

Here's the page if you want to buy it directly from them: http://www.maxkeyboard.com/max-keyboard-keycap-cherry-mx-switch-o-ring-pro-sampler-tester-kit.html

[Heisenbleurgh]

btw while on the subject... those rubber rings that go on the switch... they damp the click sound right? Are they included with keyboards or bought separately (like if I were to buy a corsair keyboard or CM or steelseries keyboard or whatever).

These are usually sold separately and are meant to dampen the sound of pressing the key all the way down. If the switch is clicky by nature (such as blues or greens) then that sound will still be present, with or without O-rings.

[HermanT]

Max Keyboard sells a kit with 8 switches but I can't find it in stock on ebay or Amazon. Might be worth waiting around to see if gets restocked.

Here's the page if you want to buy it directly from them: http://www.maxkeyboard.com/max-keyboard-keycap-cherry-mx-switch-o-ring-pro-sampler-tester-kit.html

thanks, thats perfect... even better than CM one...

 

there is almost no point in waiting... I doubt its out of stock... manufacturers stop producing an item and they dont update their website for obscure reasons... I see it time and time again... I will send them a letter right away to clarify it...

 

thanks for the o-ring explanation.

 

will there be a slight feel that an o-ring is present, or theres no feel at all, just the sound feedback?

[Heisenbleurgh]

will there be a slight feel that an o-ring is present, or theres no feel at all, just the sound feedback?

There is a difference, it shortens the travel so no matter how hard you press you're not going to go all the way down. I personally like them a lot on blue switches but hate them on linears like red and blacks. it makes bottom out feel softer.

[aduman]

There is a difference, it shortens the travel so no matter how hard you press you're not going to go all the way down. I personally like them a lot on blue switches but hate them on linears like red and blacks. it makes bottom out feel softer.

I hate the loudness of the blues. Should I attempt the o-ring tweak? I have a Black Widow Ultimate btw. Not 2013 or 2014.

[Heisenbleurgh]

I hate the loudness of the blues. Should I attempt the o-ring tweak? I have a Black Widow Ultimate btw. Not 2013 or 2014.

Before you spend money on O-rings, let me try to show you how the sound will change (because it doesn't work miracles, blues are meant to be loud):

Press one key all the way down with some force, make sure it goes all the way down. 

Now press another one softly as you can, just barely enough to hear the 'click'.

 

In the first case you'll hear a 'clonk'-like sound, in the second a higher pitched, softer 'click'. That 'clonk' noise is from bottoming out, or pressing the key all the way down. The O-rings remove that 'clonk' but keep the 'click'. Blue switches won't register until you hear the click so you can't get any quieter than that.

[aduman]

Before you spend money on O-rings, let me try to show you how the sound will change (because it doesn't work miracles, blues are meant to be loud):

Press one key all the way down with some force, make sure it goes all the way down. 

Now press another one softly as you can, just barely enough to hear the 'click'.

 

In the first case you'll hear a 'clonk'-like sound, in the second a higher pitched, softer 'click'. That 'clonk' noise is from bottoming out, or pressing the key all the way down. The O-rings remove that 'clonk' but keep the 'click'. Blue switches won't register until you hear the click so you can't get any quieter than that.

That was an epic explanation! Thank you very much for that. I guess I'll have to live with it. Can you suggest me a quieter switch for gaming? Blues are amazing when it comes to "feeling" but the noise is too much for my liking.

[Heisenbleurgh]

That was an epic explanation! Thank you very much for that. I guess I'll have to live with it. Can you suggest me a quieter switch for gaming? Blues are amazing when it comes to "feeling" but the noise is too much for my liking.

You're welcome! The most common and accessible choice would be browns, which also have a tactile bump but it's less noticeable than the blues. My first mechanical keyboard had brown switches and it felt great but after using blues I've fallen in love with the much more noticeable tactile feedback of blues, even at night when they're a bit too loud to use comfortably.

I've heard good things of the less-common "clear" switches, which are usually compared to browns but stiffer since they need a little more force to press down. I can't recommend these from personal experience though, as I've never used them.